Every summer, across our five BCMB Camps, a new group of young leaders pulls on a Staff T-shirt. To most people, it’s just another piece of clothing. But as I’ve been travelling from camp to camp this summer, I’ve been reminded that those staff shirts represent something much bigger (a big thanks to Rikk at Gardom for highlighting this!)
They represent young adults who have chosen to invest their summer serving others. They represent early mornings, late nights, laughter, challenges, friendships, conversations around campfires, and countless opportunities to point children and youth toward Jesus.
A T-shirt eventually wears out – the impact of a summer at camp doesn’t. That reality has been on my mind as I’ve begun making my way across British Columbia this summer.
One of the great privileges of serving as Executive Director is that I get to visit each of our camps, spend time with staff and volunteers, meet campers, attend chapel, sit in board meetings, and simply listen for the stories that sometimes go unnoticed.
So far, I’ve had the opportunity to spend time at Gardom Lake Bible Camp in Enderby and Stillwood Camp near Chilliwack.
This week, Mug and I are travelling east to Pines Bible Camp in Grand Forks. Later this month I’ll return to Pines for another board meeting, then head to Camp Bob on Vancouver Island with our Board Chair, Stephanie Dick, before wrapping up the summer with a visit to Camp Likely in the Cariboo alongside Gary Schellenberg.
Every camp has its own personality. Each one serves different communities, offers different programs, and has its own traditions.
But everywhere I go, I keep seeing the same thing: God is quietly at work.
At Stillwood last week I observed our teen campers gathered in chapel. As I looked around the room, I found myself wondering how many future pastors, missionaries, teachers, parents, volunteers, camp staff, and faithful followers of Jesus were sitting there. Only God knows.
Those moments remind me why camp ministry matters.
They’re also reminding me to pay closer attention to the stories.
Some are stories of campers. Some are stories of volunteers who have served faithfully for decades. Some are stories of young staff members discovering gifts they didn’t know they had.
Over the coming months I hope to share many of those stories with you, because while every camp has beautiful scenery and fun activities, the greatest work happening at our camps is often the quiet work that God is doing in people’s lives
Thanks for being part of the BCMB Camps story.
Bob “Ranger” Kroeker
Executive Director, BCMB Bible Camp Society