Camps combine spirituality with summer fun

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Faith-based camps allow for spiritual development along with the emotional, physical, intellectual and social elements of camp. "Some faith-based camps will be stronger on faith, while others are designed to be an alternative to broken homes," says Derrick Mueller, the national director of Christian Camping International in Canada. "How that faith is actualized will be different for each camp."

Some, like Camp Hyanto, a coed residential camp in Gananoque, offer a more structured faith-based experience, with morning worship and chapel sessions each day. Others, like Fraser Lake Camp, take campers on a less traditional spiritual journey, bringing the Bible’s messages to life through ongoing skits rather than structured readings and teachings.

"We aim to teach the campers without them realizing it’s a lesson," says Eric Musselman, director of Fraser Lake Camp. "We don’t have a lot of specific teaching time. Instead, we like to have all aspects of the camp operate within a Christian context." The camp begins and ends with a chapel session, but throughout the week the children watch educational skits.

Fraser Lake Camp, a non-denominational Christian camp in Bancroft, reduces social barriers by eliminating the need for money at camp. “We don’t have a camp store—we don’t want to be in a situation where one child has $100 to spend for the week, while another has just $10,” says Musselman. "We take away factors that would label the kids."

For some children, going to the right camp allows them and others to see who they really are. "Troubled kids that find their way to a faith-based camp experience love as opposed to programs," says Mueller. "The atmosphere of love develops a love of who you are."

Operated by the Anglican Church of Canada, Camp Hyanto accepts campers of all faiths. "We allow kids who are struggling that a lot of other camps can’t accommodate. We offer guidance and love, and we show them that they are special," says Laura Morrison, the camp’s director. "We want to share the love that God gives us."