Lessons from Summer Camp

Did you go to summer camp?

Summer is the time for hectic days of school work to give way to shorts, sunshine, and swimsuits. Summer camp was that idyllic experience of lessons through the outdoors and active adventures defined by people and place. From day adventures like Camp Trinity and vacation Bible school to stay-away spots on the coast or in the mountains, camp is a time of discovery—learning more about oneself through an open mind and cheerful challenge all while building relationships with new friends.

From the pilot’s seat of a Cessna

This summer I was treated to my very own, one-on-one camp experience with Dr. Littlejohn as my camp counselor. For four days in Maine, I was immersed in new learning experiences that stretched my capabilities. We kayaked across calm bays and through choppy currents, scaled boulders and hiked trails, and sailed a boat to a curious island, exploring culture, history, and science all along the way. I even flew a plane for the first time. Like the summer camp of my youth, we came home muddy, mosquito-bitten, or even down-right soaked. My camp experience concluded with a campfire and reflection about the journey. We embraced God’s creation and listened for our place in His world.

As our summer comes to a close, and the start of school looms less than one month away, bring back a little bit of summer camp with you. Share the stories of your servant-leadership adventures as camper or counselor and… find ways to incorporate them at Trinity. Recall the nights under the stars after everyone was asleep as God gazed down and… reflect on your place in His world.  Capture the adventure of the moments and… let it excite you for a new journey and a new year.

Here are the some links of importance for 2014-2015:

• Back-to-School Shopping – The supply lists for grades 7-12 is posted in time to take advantage of the sales.
• Dress Code – It’s status quo from last year, with a few minor tweeks. We’re adding sports coats or sweaters to chapel days.
• Fall Sports – Sports practices for grades 9-12 begin this week. Contact Coach Schenk for more information.
• Summer Reading – These will be assessed in the first week of school; be ready for your first grade!
• Summer Assignments – AP work is required to remain enrolled in the course. Other work is optional.
• Textbook Ordering (grades 10-12) – Amazon’s last opportunities to deliver before the start-of-school are here.

Romans 8:31-32 reminds us, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” Summers can bring us closer to God to marvel at the people and places of His creation, given to fulfill life and define purpose. The video below captures a piece of my experience, as captured by an amateur at Acadia National Park.