There’s nothing like the opportunity to spend time in nature, hang out with your peers, play games, and learn about Jesus. And I say this as an introvert, someone who gets their energy from being alone. As a child I was shy. Leaving home was difficult for me. To be honest, at first, the thought of spending a week away from my family was kind of scary. But with a little encouragement, I braved the unknown. And once I did, I found so much meaning in my camp experiences.
As a child, I learned lots of exciting new things like games, crafts, songs, and stories. As a teenager, I formed lasting friendships with folks I would have never known otherwise. At camp, I was able to ask questions about my faith and about Jesus. And with my new peers and our camp leaders, I got to explore my own answers to those questions and to learn from other people. I also learned that I was part of a large community of Christians, beyond my congregation, who faithfully loved Christ and showed me that loving Jesus could be fun.
The Episcopal Dioceses of Washington and Maryland partner together to offer stunning camp experiences over the summer at the Claggett Center. I look forward to serving as a camp chaplain one week in July at Claggett. I hope you will encourage your children to participate in camp, too. Outdoor fun, community, fellowship, and connection are all the more important after the two years we’ve been through. Consider having your children–or the children you pastor–experience the blessings of camp this summer.
The Claggett Center will host an Open House about all things summer camp on Sunday, April 3 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Come check it out!
The Rev. Amanda Akes-Cardwell
Missioner for Faith Formation and Development
