From Nerves to Never Looking Back

It’s been a few years now since I’ve worked at camp, but this blog was a great chance for me to look back on the way I ended up at camp in the first place many years ago., and how it honestly shifted my life forever! As I finished my third year of university this year, I did not expect to end up back at camp. I assumed I would get an internship relating to my degree or go back home to see family and make money, but man was I wrong. After certain doors were closed and I realized that I truly wanted to do something life-giving and purposeful with my summer, it became clear that camp was what I wanted. Heading up to camp was nerve-racking as there were many people I didn’t know and honestly, I had no clue what the summer was going to look like. I remember at the beginning of orientation I found myself having some doubts about my decision. Doubts on if camp was right for me. Doubts on if I would make friends. Doubts on if God would actually impact my life. Little did I know that spending my summer at camp would be one of the best decisions of my life.

At camp I learned so many life lessons and most importantly I learned what truly matters in this life: my relationship with God and the people around me. Camp was such an incredible opportunity for me to spend the entire summer centering my life on the gospel. Ever since high school I have heard the gospel, studied it, and tried to practice it as best as I could, but it wasn’t until camp that I saw my life completely centered around it. My job was to show the gospel to kids in the midst of fun outdoor experiences, one on one conversations, daily Bible studies, and how we treat others. By doing these things every day, it hit me that I would be learning more and more about this good news I was teaching while working there. At camp I got to be continually reminded of the simple gospel that in Jesus’ death we received abundant life in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). I have always had some type of distraction in my life, whether it was school, sports or simply busyness, and while these are good things, nothing will ever be as important as my personal relationship with God. Camp was the first time in my life that I had the chance to get away from all the craziness of life and truly abide in my personal relationship with God.

This summer also taught me just how important my relationships with people around me are. One of my biggest fears going into camp was the idea of not making good friends and having to do the summer on my own, but God continued to show his faithfulness by giving me some of the greatest friends I could ever ask for. Everyone is so real and down to earth at camp, to the point that being fake isn’t even an option.  It’s this genuine character that makes the friendships even more real. Being in charge of 7 kids each week also taught me how important it was to be relational and invested in their lives. A kid isn’t going to care about your knowledge of the Bible, or any sort of advice, if you don’t show them you genuinely care about them first. Going through 1 John this summer taught me that the sole reason I can know what love looks like is because God loves us first. He’s the one who defines that word and He’s the one that gives us the ability to love others. Never in my life have I been in a place where each person cares so much for the people around them. It’s easy to know what love looks like when you see it lived out in every person you encounter. I learned that in order to love those around me, whether it is my campers, fellow counselors, or staff members, I have to look at the ways God shows his love to me first. I’ve never looked back since.

-Alex

From Leading at LID camp

This summer I returned for my 9th year as a counsellor at Leadership Development Camp. After so many years spending 2 weeks or more of my summer volunteers 24 hours a day some might wonder why so many of us continue to return to camp year after year, even in a world where cost of living has skyrocketed and it’s harder than ever to afford volunteering. All I can say for me is that I’ve seen God at work time and time again at camp.

One of the biggest ways I’ve seen God at work is through the way not only my life but the lives of my friends and fellow camp staff have been changed by God at camp. Thinking all the way back to my experiences as a teenager I think about all the friends and colleagues I’ve met and served with at camp. Some of us came from church backgrounds with a positive experience, some of us from no church backgrounds, and some of us had negative relationships with the church, Christians and faith. And although our camps are not some perfect place detached from the imperfections of our world, I have seen so many lives changed for the better because of camp.

I can’t even count the number of friends who had their lives changed by camp. My experience as a LID camper was back in 2004 and to this day, I can remember that as one of the most fun and powerful weeks of my life. And now almost 20 years later I’m looking ahead to summer camp 2023. Since 2004, I’ve been back as a volunteer or staff person virtually every summer and I can’t wait till my nieces and nephew are old enough to go as campers themselves. The staff continues to be so incredibly well trained, not only in how to lead a safe and fun week of camp but how to support and care for every child who comes on site. Nothing beats the view of the sunrise after a campout night at site 3 at Ryerson camp, looking over the cliff onto Lake Erie, or the smell of the grass running through the field playing evening game at Silver Lake Camp. I think the majority of my best memories as a teenager and a twenty-something took place here more than anywhere else and it’s where I came to grow in my faith and know the love of God in ways I never could have imagined. Here’s to another summer ahead with God at camp!

-Adam

From Knowing where you Needed to Be

Have you ever stepped into a place or traveled to a destination, and, upon arrival, realized you were exactly where you needed to be?

That's how Ryerson camp felt to me almost 20 years ago.

I had never even been to summer camp prior to a leadership development camp that I attended at the recommendation of a friend (and Ryerson staff member), but when I first showed up and walked over the hill and set eyes of centre field and took in the site, something just felt right.

The feelings of community, freedom of self-expression, support and guidance, and encouragement to grow were instant and the people I met were incredibly welcoming.

The relationships that I have built since being at Ryerson have turned into lifelong friendships that I would not trade for the world, and the people of Ryerson camp have become integral parts of my life and support structure.

I have had the pleasure of serving at Ryerson in many different capacities over the years, but the one thing that, to this day, still stands out to me are the amazing people that have had such a positive impact on my life, and truly made me into the person that I am now.

The trajectory of my life truly changed for the best because of my time at Ryerson and the relationships that I have developed while being there.”

-CM

From the Kitchen at Cave

This was my second summer working at Cave Springs Camp. It was a completely different year from the last (as typically happens at summer camps). We had overnight programming and canoeing alongside the day camp programming that we had last year. All staff were either new to the camp or in new positions. We knew going in that it was going to be a WILD summer.

In my position as head cook I spent a lot of time in the kitchen and sparingly outside with the rest of camp and the kiddos. In the kitchen (and out!) you could see the Spirit of God and all that is camp THRIVING. In the kitchen we had a variety of challenges throughout the summer regarding just the day to day running of the kitchen but also with various personal challenges. A huge thing for me this summer was that no staff went through their challenges alone. At the beginning of the summer there was some nervousness and guardedness about opening up to each other and being vulnerable about how we were struggling but as the summer went on we became a beautiful little community within a larger community that was full of understanding, compassion, and support. In particular, there was one individual in the kitchen who struggled with self-confidence and was uncomfortable with the leadership aspect of the kitchen. Through gentle guidance, there was one point where they said to an inexperienced staff “I can show you how to do that!”. I think that was the biggest moment in the summer that showed me how camp can change you and build you up so much.

Cave Springs is a different camp I believe from the other camps purely because of the amount of diversity in the staff and campers. Everyone came from such different backgrounds where maybe they had never been to church before or had been hurt by the church. Some were very experienced in their faith and never forced their views on other people but guided them to see the love, support, and joy that comes from a community like this, where the true vision of God was alive. I believe that God never called us to bring anyone down for where they were coming from and to meet them where they’re at. Even in people who had not experienced or known anything about a God that I love and know is so incredibly good to us, they showed this pure and excited vision of how they could contribute to a community that I believe showed up God in every moment. Through being with people in their lows, cheering people on in their challenges, and laughing in the hilarious moment that happen at camp, the love and peace of God was seen by staff and campers alike. I saw campers who didn’t know anyone’s background learning how to love themselves and their neighbour and doing it SO well. They would cheer each other on at high ropes where campers pushed themselves and learned how to face their fears in a safe environment. When a camper was homesick there was such empathy from other campers coming from a similar spot and who knew the best ways to push through and acknowledge these feelings, in ways even counsellors and staff didn’t know how to. When a camper was frustrated, they were surrounded by other campers sitting with them through this moment and encouraging them to try try again.

Overall, there is absolutely no other place like camp that you can feel the love of God more concentrated in one place. Through staff and campers alike, the amount of personal growth and joy that comes from any of the camps really changes lives.

Lots of love and wishing peace to each of you,

Ella Bolton

From the Summer at Silver Lake

This was the first year running a full summer of camp at Silver Lake since the pandemic, and my goodness is there so much to celebrate! Of course, it was a summer filled with meaningful connections where new friendships were made, self-confidence was built, and relationships with God were cultivated and deepened. It was especially wonderful getting to invest in the next generation of leaders through our Junior Leadership and Leadership Development Camp programs - we cannot wait to see where this cohort of leaders go in life!

Most simply though, it was a joy to finally be back on site with our camp community. Seeing the cabins filled with campers again; hearing the sounds of laughter, worship and play all across site; watching the campers return from their campouts under the stars; eating classic camp meals once more in the Dining Hall…the memories made this summer are endless. Most beautiful though is knowing that God’s love was in and through it all. 

As always, God was at work in so many ways this summer – those seen and unseen. What do these glimpses look like you ask? I’ll articulate/depict it with a story. This year we had one camper in particular who arrived resolutely not wanting to be there. They were closed off, with their walls up, their mind made up they would be met with hostility and unacceptance, and they were ready to reciprocate. However, through the gentleness, intentional care, and compassion that staff and fellow campers extended to them over the week, this camper slowly opened-up as they discovered/found a safe and welcoming community of friends where they could be their true self. By the end of the week, they were asking if they could return for the next week of camp.

That’s just one of the many stories of God at work this summer, but it captures the common theme that runs through them all: people finding a sense of true belonging, acceptance, joy, and freedom. Whether that be while throwing sponges during a game of Sponge Wars, getting messy during chocolate pudding eating competitions, or splashing into the water off the Diving Dock – countless campers, staff and volunteers alike encountered this at camp, perhaps unbeknownst to them that it was God.

It is hard to believe the summer came and went so quickly. For those who joined us for the first time this year - we are honoured to welcome you to the Silver Lake family, and for those who were returning to camp - it was awesome having you back! We hope you will continue to join us for summers to come. If you’re reading this, but are only hear of Silver Lake for the first time – I hope you will consider joining us in future summers! Stop by for a day, come for a week – if there’s one thing about Silver Lake, it’s that practically every door on site is a screen door, meaning they’re always open!

Warm regards,
Emily Cowley - SLC Director

From the Waters of Worship

This past summer I traveled to Silver Lake Camp one sunny Saturday in July. I went down to the waters to celebrate the baptism of my cousin, and dear friend, James. It was a lovely service that took place across the field, over the fence, and down on the beach. The minister spoke about the spectacle of the sacrament of baptism, and reminded all of us, the Church in witness and support, of the great mystery of communion. “As James goes down into the water,” he said, “he will die. And as he is raised up, he will be born again into the Kingdom of Heaven. In that moment we are going to lay hands on James and pray for him, to bless him as he takes his next step into the Kingdom, and we will be joined by all the saints who came before us in prayer.” And that’s what we did. As James came back up from where it was deeper, we went down to meet him in the water.

               “James will die to the Kingdom of Men,” said the minister, “and return to us from the world of mystery as a child in the Kingdom of God.” As I sat there, across the field, over the fence, and down on the beach, thinking about the mystery of communion, I was reminded by the presence of jet-skis on the lake how strange a thing a sacrament is to the enlightened mind. It is an ancient ritual which breaks past the boundaries of time and space to bring the Church together in Christ. To be effective, baptism requires faith; the one must say ‘I believe’ and the Church ought to echo back ‘we believe’ lest we abandon the one to live out their faith in private. Baptism is a communal mystery, something which is shared. In this way, baptism based on belief is a leap into faith.

               There are two moments which are shared in the version of the baptismal rite in popular use today: the testimonial moment of belief, and the sacramental moment of mystery. First, the one gives witness to their belief by telling the story of how they came to it and how it has begun to change their life. By way of testimony, the moment of the one’s justification is shared and celebrated. Then, the Church joins with the one as they go across the field, over the fence, and down to the waters of mystery. “We are here at the threshold,” said the minister, “the place where we can peak for just a moment into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Baptism has been called salvific; it is one of the ways in which sanctification occurs, a step in the long process through which one is remade, created anew for the Kingdom of God. This salvific moment of communion is the sacramental mystery.

               To the enlightened mind, the way toward baptism is folly. One must, while standing in the field of phenomena, acknowledge not only the fence, but the truth of things past it. To celebrate the sacrament, one must go over the fence to stand on the threshold of noumena. One has to convince oneself to go beyond the comfortable, empirically knowable field and approach the unknowable waters, which are by their very nature rocky. In baptism we are immersed in those waters – filled up and restored in the presence of, as the minister put it, “an intimate stranger.”

               There are several stories of Jesus handed down from the apostles which involve going out on the waters. In the most impressive, Jesus walks on the stormy sea, and Peter steps out to meet him. But on a much more normal day, Jesus stood in a boat, where it was easy to hear him, teaching a crowd. This was in the unenlightened days before we built the fence and called the waters ‘unknowable’, but the fact remains that to hear Jesus, we must approach the waters.

               When James came back from where it was deeper, not everyone stepped into the waters to meet him. Some, for practical reasons, stood on dry land, and others held out their hands from the beach. Still others though, who were new and unacquainted with the steps toward the waters, stayed back and sat on the fence. It is a blessed thing to sit on the fence; it is perhaps the biggest step of all. The fence is there to mark what the enlightened world calls the edge of knowledge, the end of fact, and start of speculation. Jesus is out on the rocky waters, bringing about the Kingdom of Heaven. The sacraments bring us to the edge of the waters, the Kingdom’s threshold, but outside of ritual, the life of the Church is on the fence, where the Kingdom of Heaven can be clearly heard, and the Kingdom of Men clearly seen. The one who has faith is the one willing to sit on the fence.

               The other day, I set my enlightened life aside and went across the field, over the fence, and down to the waters of mystery. I’ve made the trip many times before, alone and with a group; I am accustomed to life on the fence, but this time was special because my dear friend was making the trip spectacularly – publicly and declaratively – for the first time, and I got to be there with him. The Church is faithful, and she sings to herself from the edges of time and space: “O sinners, let’s go down – let’s go down, come on down – O sinners let’s go down, down to the waters to pray.”

From Fun to Foundations

When I think about camp, I think about foundations. I was a camp kid. I grew up going to a United Church camp, then volunteered and worked for a few years at Ryerson Camp as a teen and young adult.

Of course, I have many fond Ryerson Camp memories from the elaborate games to the spectacular views. But as I look back now as a parent and educator, I see even more to give credit to camp.

There are opportunities for differentiated growth. It is full of those perfect juuuusst when you’re ready for challenges. Tackling a ropes course, performing a silly skit, leading peers, or sharing your big questions all build skills and confidence. And in these challenges, there is room to be you and learn. Ryerson Camp is an environment that simultaneously nurtures individual growth and a rare sense of community.

As an adult, I see the foundational skills I formed through my time at Ryerson Camp. I have had the confidence to take my kids and international students camping with a few wilderness tricks up my sleeve. I have eyes to see and appreciate people. And my training in servant leadership frames my pedagogy as a secondary school teacher every day.

I hope you’ll think about the opportunity to do some foundation-building through camp. I hope you get dirty, learn through play, make lifelong friends and experience growth at this very special place. I would be surprised if you didn’t.”

-Jemica