Summer of Adventure
Summer camp is one of those unique times in a child’s life that can challenge comfort zones and encourage growth. It can even supply a powerful story that can be told for years to come.
The beginning of June starts our “Summer of Adventure” camp week and every youth living on campus has a chance to participate. Harper, a teen girl who had experienced a water related trauma in childhood, became terrified when she learned that a camping activity included a canoeing trip down the Nolichucky River.
Although Harper had participated in the other camping activities willingly, she decided to pass on the river trip, which we respected. Youth are not required to participate in every activity. We want camp to be life-giving and fun!
Initially Harper wanted nothing to do with the canoeing part of camp, but after a few days of team building adventures, she decided to attempt the river trip. She was nervous but proceeded to enter the canoe and tried to remain calm, breathe, and acclimate to the rocking of the boat and the out-of-control feelings that seemed to overwhelm her.
In the middle of the trip, a motorboat sped by creating waves that rocked the canoe. The movement caused Harper to panic, and she asked if she could get out of the canoe. Others who were nearby tried to provide reassurance, but the only way out was going through to the end.
Thankfully, Harper made it to the first stop which was a sandy beach where she and her peers got out and enjoyed lunch. Then to everyone’s surprise, Harper, who was munching on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, declared, “I can’t believe it, I am actually having fun!” After the break, Harper got back in the canoe with a fresh confidence for the remainder of the trip.
When Harper returned to Holston Home and processed her experience, she told the other kids, “I am so proud of myself for doing that. Someday I will tell my grandchildren all about how I went on a river in a canoe!”
The kids we serve at Holston Home are “just kids” like so many other kids that we know. They look and act like kids from our families, schools, and churches. And like all kids, they need to know they are loved and valued by their Creator and that they can cast their care on Him because He cares for them.
Yes, our kids come from hard situations, and some have made poor choices along the way but many of us can say the same about ourselves, but by the grace of God we made it through.
So, it benefits us to see each other as being more alike than different. To tie it together, Jesus Christ provides hope and healing for a brighter future for ALL of us!
*To protect the privacy of our youth, names have been changed.
