News of what’s new at Camp 2015

Junior high campers volunteer during free time to help with a
maintenance project at Camp.

This was a year of “news” at West Coast Honor Camp — a new activity (archery), several new crafts, new floating toys for the lake, and even a new concrete floor in the chapel (Yay! No more choking on wood-shaving dust during worship!). But these activities and improvements weren’t the only new elements introduced this year — Camp also provided campers, counselors, and staff with two new chances to serve the Lord through ministry.

One of the core elements of West Coast Honor Camp, as well as the biggest highlight for many of the campers, is the high school ministry trip. High school campers spend Monday and Tuesday preparing to go into Redding to serve and minister in several different locations and communities. You can learn more about the ministry options in my article, “Living the Lesson.”

But this year, ministry training and service weren’t limited to the high school campers — we offered a ministry opportunity to the junior high campers as well. Like their high school peers, interested junior high campers trained on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, they served our own camp by working on a small maintenance project during free time. They replaced and painted the wooden backrests on the benches of Reflection Circle — which hadn’t been fixed or replaced for many, many years. Then they got to sign their names on their work so they and their friends can see the fruits of their service for years to come.

West Coast Honor Camp also introduced a craft ministry, which allowed not only campers, but also counselors and staff, to participate. The idea this year was that instead of paying to make crafts for themselves, interested individuals made crafts and kits for free to give to children in impoverished countries through Operation Christmas Child. Participants made small packages with cars and trucks; kits with chalkboards, chalk and erasers; colorful bookmarks; hairclips; headbands; necklaces; and more to be put in shoebox-sized boxes and given to children who may have never received a gift before. Some campers even wrote letters or decorated the boxes. People also had the option to donate money through the week and through an offering at Thursday’s chapel to help ship the boxes. Together, we raised enough money to send 82 boxes filled with our crafts, along with toys, gospel messages, hygiene products, and school supplies.

The main reason I help with West Coast Honor Camp, and with Awana in general, is that I love helping the clubbers not only learn about God and the Bible but also watching them apply what they learn through the ways they chose to live and serve. This year was truly amazing in seeing the new ministry options embraced by everyone at camp, and I look forward to seeing both the ministries and the tweens and teens who serve through them grow in years to come.

For more information about West Coast Honor Camp, visit westcoasthonorcamp.org.

For more information about Awana, visit the Awana Homepage.
To find a club in your area visit the Club Locator.