CAMP KEE-MO-KEE
Spirituality at Camp
You may be wondering what it means when we say that Kee-Mo-Kee is a "Christian Camp" operating within the United Church of Canada. In what ways are we a Christian community? What does spirituality at camp look like?The mission statement for Camp Kee-Mo-Kee is:
"To provide staff and campers with an opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with God, and a greater sense of self (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), through the work of the Holy Spirit, and community living in a camping environment"Our goal is to create a community based on Christian values where staff and campers will have an opportunity for spiritual, emotional, and physical growth: trying new things, learning new things, making new friends, sharing the work and fun of living together in a camp community. Summer camp offers the unique opportunity to live and grow in an environment away from the usual structures of home, church, school, parents and teachers. For many kids this is their first chance to experience living with a group of people outside of their family. It is within this context that we encourage kids to explore new activities and ideas, to break the boundaries of what they think they are capable of doing, to learn how to get along with one another, to develop a better understanding of who they are. One of the ways that we encourage personal growth is by creating the opportunity for kids to think and talk about their faith and grow spiritually.
Camp Kee-Mo-Kee is owned and operated by the United Church of Canada. The Mission Statement for United Church Camping is:
"We believe that the ministry of camping is, with God's help, an experience of Christian community and learning for all people shared in an outdoor setting as part of the fabric of the education, outreach and evangelism of the United Church of Canada."Like the United Church, the ethos of our camp is based on inclusiveness - "to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8)", to show love and respect for all people, to be open to different opinions and beliefs, and value the diversity of different faith traditions. Although the camp is based on Christian values and teachings, we do not teach a particular doctrine or theology; rather, we encourage people to ask questions, explore their own thoughts and ideas, and consider other people's beliefs. All people, of all faith traditions (or lack of any faith tradition) are welcomed and valued at Kee-Mo-Kee.
So how do we make spirituality a part of camp life, to create a community where there are opportunities for personal growth? We don't want camp to be the same experience as Sunday School or Vacation Bible School, where specific times are set aside for lessons. Rather, here are some of the ways of bringing spirituality to camp:
Community
"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."The very nature of camp makes for a strong sense of community - living together in close quarters, working out how we will live and work together as a group, working out conflicts and responsibilities ... all within an atmosphere of respect, encouragement, forgiveness, acceptance and friendship. We try to draw attention to how these basic values are used to help us resolve disputes and learn to get along. When opportunities arise, we may use stories from the bible and other sources as a guide for handling conflicts.
- Romans 12: 4&5
Environment
"And God looked upon all of creation , and saw that it was very good."One way of looking at the natural environment is as God's "other bible". Camp is a place to spend time marveling at the wonders of creation. It provides a time free from the noise and distraction of modern life. Through the environment we can develop a sense of God with us. We may consider the complexities of a leaf, or a spiderweb; or think about the interconnectedness of all things; or notice the beautiful colours of a bird or flower. Campers learn more about God by being close to nature.
- Genesis 1:31
Chapel
"Therefore, as we are receiving the kingdom, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe"Once or twice in the week we will have "chapel time", which may include songs, a prayer, and inspirational or thought-provoking readings or stories. This is a chance for a bit of spiritual reflection in an informal outdoor setting, under a canopy of trees. We hope that campers will come to realize that spirituality isn't just something that you do in church or Sunday School; it can happen at any time and in various places.
- Hebrews 12: 28
Morning and Evening Watch
"For it is in God we live and move and have our being... We are all children of God."Each day begins and ends with a time around the flagpole for a short reading, prayer, "thought of the day", or song. The intent here is to take a moment for spiritual reflection, and to make it a natural part of the daily routine.
- Acts 17:28
Grace
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."Camp would not be complete without traditional camp graces sung before meals. Some favorites include "Jonny Appleseed", "For Health and Strength", and "God is Great".
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Campfire Songs
"Make a joyful noise all the earth!"Another favorite camp activity is singing around the campfire. Many of these songs have a theme of God's love: "Pass It On", "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace"; while others are more specifically Christian or biblically based: "Praise the Lord", "The Lord told Noah to build an Arky, Arky". Through these songs the campers develop another way of responding to God's love and making spirituality a regular part of the day.
- Psalm 100:1
By integrating spirituality into many aspects of camp life, by living together in a caring community, and by taking time to appreciate the wonder of nature, we create the opportunity to ask questions, to learn, and to grow. If we can do this, we have succeeded in our Mission.