Spiritual Theme: Keep Watch
"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
Let all that you do be done with love." 1 Cor 16:13-14
Read the Full Story
Last Updated on Tuesday, 06 December 2011 20:17
Life seems to be moving at a quicker and quicker pace, even for kids. So it’s good to take a week or
two out of a hectic, crowded schedule and have time to read, to ponder, to ask, to pray, to laugh, to encourage, to grow in so many ways. It’s good to read God’s Word every morning. It’s good to watch a swallow skim the meadow for insects. It’s good to eat meals without the TV, ipod, or newspaper and to converse with people instead. It’s good to learn how to tie a clove hitch knot, hit a BB target, and upright a capsized canoe.
We who work at NeKaMo Camp count it a great privilege. We love listening to campers and learning what they’re ab
out. We love seeing Jesus change lives. We love seeing interest in his Word awakened. We love seeing girls grow in their skills and confidence.
And what’s interesting is that those changes occur in us, too. God is at work at NeKaMo, touching lives and producing much fruit in all who attend.
The benefits of camp are many—for both campers and staff. We thank our supporters for their help in continuing this ministry, and we thank God for his faithfulness and blessings.
Last Updated on Saturday, 09 April 2011 20:31
How do we evaluate camp? When I read the feedback from staff, parents, and campers, I often see opposing opinions. A meal that one person hates is another’s favorite. The younger campers wish there were no rest hour; the Explorers wish it were longer. One person says there are too many songs; another loves all the singing we do.
But over all, there was a pattern to the kaleidoscope of comments I read this year. And it reassured me that we are achieving the goals of our camp.
What are the goals? In a nutshell, they are:
-to encourage spiritual growth.
-to encourage positive relationships living in a community.
-to provide activities that are fun and help each individual grow in confidence and skill.
-to appreciate God’s creation.
So what was the pattern? It was that we are ministering to the whole person. Not just the spiritual part, not just the social part, not just self-esteem and self-awareness, not just physical skills.
It’s encouraging to hear kids realize that they “can survive a week of camp without electronics,” that they “can handle no air-conditioning better than (they) thought,” and that when they go home they hope they will “play less on the computer and look at nature.” Traditional camping activities, like cooking supper over a campfire on Wednesday evening, continues to be some of the favorite experiences of campers.
One of the greatest challenges of camp (and of life!) is learning to get along with others. That is true for both staff and campers. Camp seems to be an especially good time and place for God to work on refining us in that area. We live in close quarters with people who have very different personalities and habits from ourselves, and it is good to see how God can enable us to accept and cooperate with them. An Explorer said it well: “What I’ll always remember is getting to know my cabin–how we’re so different yet still got along.”
Campers gave a variety of answers to what the best part of the day was–from activities to freetime and just hanging out; from Morning Watch to cabin time; from Bible Exploration to meals. Ours is a well-rounded program, and each camper seems to get out of it what she needs.
That is not to say that our camp is perfect. It never has been and it never will be. There will be things that fall through the cracks; we will not always work out our differences with others; not every participant will want to return.
But it is a place where people grow, where we can hear God’s voice through his Word and see that he is real. I never heard of any professions of faith made this year at camp, but I know prayers were answered, attitudes were changed, counselors grew as leaders, and campers felt loved and accepted. One staff member said that her greatest blessing was “seeing that God really does do miracles every day and we just have to trust that he will provide for us.” That is how our faith grows–having to trust him and then seeing him provide. And that seems to happen every year at NeKaMo Camp.
A note from our director
Camp is a wonderful place to learn and grow in so many different ways. It’s a place to try new things, gain new skills, make and develop friendships. It’s a place to have FUN! It’s also a place to get away from the daily distractions of life and have time to focus on God and His Word. When I came to NeKaMo as a girl, I saw the reality of Jesus Christ in the lives of the counselors and staff. And now as a parent and director, I watch other young girls (including my own daughters) have the opportunity to explore and learn in a safe environment and to develop into the kind of people God wants them to be.
Camp life is not without its challenges. Your child may face homesickness, a fear of bugs, or how to get along with girls from different backgrounds. But God uses these challenges in our lives to make us look up–to Him–to see His goodness, His power, His love. We teach girls to study the Bible and apply its truths to their lives so that they might know that “the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5).
Debbie Morris, Camp Director
Last Updated on Thursday, 21 April 2011 21:10
NeKaMo Camp is a nondenominational Christian camp for girls in 2nd to 12th grades. We provide a positive, supervised environment where girls can learn new skills, develop confidence, build new friendships, grow in faith, form lifetime memories and have lots of FUN!
Established in 1965, NeKaMo Camp is accredited by the American Camp Association and is a member of the Association of Cedarbrook Camps. NeKaMo’s program emphasizes skillbuilding, creativity, respect for others, nature appreciation, and a recognition that Jesus Christ affects every aspect of life
At NeKaMo campers live in small groups of 6 to 8 with a counselor and participate in individually-chosen activities each morning and afternoon. Each cabin group begins the day with Bible Exploration led by the counselor. After the evening activity, campers gather around the campfire for singing and devotions.
A two-year Camper in Leadership Training program provides high school girls a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills they can use throughout their lives.
