When Camp is Home

Arriving at Camp Valaqua is an exciting moment for campers. This summer, one was heard to say, “I’ve waited all year for this day!”  Opening the car door thinking “We’re here” is a literal breath of fresh air for others.

But what if you didn’t arrive? And, what if you didn’t leave when summer is over and camp is quiet again? What if you lived at camp, all year round, and still could be a camper and camp staff?

Staying is everyday life for the Olfert Wiens family. Dad, Jon Olfert, has been the manager at Camp Valaqua since 2006 arriving with mom, Nikki Wiens, and their young son Ben. Twins Sam and Jonah joined the family the next year. Although being camp director was supposed to be a two, maybe three year pause before going into teaching, Jon is now Camp Valaqua’s longest serving director.

Jon’s roots at Valaqua go back generations. Jon’s grandpa, Henry Brown, helped build the road. His grandma, Mary Brown, worked in the kitchen. Both were active at Bergthal Mennonite and farmed east of the church. Jon’s mom, Verna (Brown) Olfert, was a counsellor at Valaqua. Nikki’s family also has a camp legacy, albeit at Camp Shekinah near Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Jon and Nikki started dating at Shekinah and were married there, thus including it as part of their family history.

When Jon visits Mennonite Church Alberta churches for Camp Sundays, Ben, Sam and Jonah often accompany him in leading worship, playing guitar and singing. At camp, Sam often introduces the songs. He attributes his own leadership skills to watching his dad “be an incredible leader” all these years.

So, what is it like to grow up at Camp Valaqua, never arriving or leaving, but calling camp home?

Ben, Sam, and Jonah all agree that growing up at Camp Valaqua has made camp even more special that the advantages far outweigh the few disadvantages. All three say that experiencing all the seasons, not just summer, is unique to living there. They love snowshoeing and cross- country skiing in winter and watching the wildlife, deer, a moose, and even occasionally a bear, return when it’s safe and quiet again. Living there offers opportunities for quiet times like walking their dogs and appreciating the full beauty of camp, to become sacred moments. The term “thin space” continues to apply even when Camp Valaqua is your home. God is present when camp is silent.

Being a staff kid-at-camp has its perks as well. When they were small, camp staff was like having a lot of older siblings. Growing up and watching counsellors and CITs lead and teach was a way to absorb those skills and so, when it was time to also lead and teach, the Olfert Wiens boys had a head start developing leadership skills.

A statement heard often is, “Camp Valaqua builds community.” Sam has noticed how every year the staff become a community in spite of having different backgrounds, and that the Camp Valaqua community extends further than staff. He particularly mentioned his Camp Connection this year. A Camp Connection is someone who commits to praying for and supporting a specific camp staff for the summer. Sam’s Camp Connection for summer 2024 was someone he knew as a CIT when he was a kid. He also noticed that the families who came to Family Camp in 2024 were people he first met when he was 4 or 5.

Camp is also church for the Olfert Wiens family. Camp is where the three siblings have found faith. Ben’s favourite memories are of singing worship songs around the campfire, the best being when the song choices come from those gathered.

Growing up and becoming first a camper and then camp staff was exciting for each of them. No longer were they watching and waiting but they, too, could participate in the camp program, routines and special events which they already knew. Jonah qualified this advance knowing by saying that there were still things to learn as a CIT — like how to deal with kids’ problems and learning how to discipline when necessary.

The only downside of living at Valaqua is one that is typical of rural life: school options are limited. That said, Jonah credits his school experience as teaching him how to interact with people who think differently than he does —a valuable skill for when he leaves Water Valley/Cremona for further education.

Are we allowed to be a little envious of the Olfert Wiens family? Perhaps. We may be a little envious of them and are certainly very grateful for them.