June 24th

The table is set. The invitations have been sent. Now we wait...

It is an exciting time of year at Camp Valaqua. Summer camp is only days away, and even as we host our final school and rental groups of the season, we are busy preparing to welcome campers. There is a sense of anticipation in the air as we prepare for another summer of faith, fellowship, and fun.

During my first summer at Valaqua, several of our young people shared a piece of advice that has stayed with me ever since. They told me, “This is our place, don’t mess it up.”

It might be an ominous statement, but it carried an important truth. Camp belongs to the young people who gather here. Our role is not simply to run programs or maintain facilities. Our role is to help create a place and a structure that young people can make their own. Once that space exists, they bring it to life.

Over the years, some of the best ideas at Valaqua have come from our young leaders. They see possibilities that others miss. They imagine new activities, new traditions, and new ways of building community. Time and again, they have challenged us to think differently and dream bigger. I have come to understand a large part of my job as finding ways to say “yes.” Sometimes a particular idea may not work exactly as envisioned, but there is often a way to capture the same energy and enthusiasm. Together, we ask, “How can we get to yes?”

As we prepare for camp each summer, I often find myself reflecting on Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet. In the story, invitations are sent out and a great feast is prepared. The hosts have done everything they can to make room for guests. Then comes the question: Who will come?

In many ways, camp preparation feels similar. For the past several months, we have been setting the table and extending invitations. We know that some of the guests will arrive. Many of our campers come knowing what Sunday School is and have folded paper airplanes through a few sermons.

But we also know that many others will come through our gates carrying very different experiences. Some are new to church. Some have not been part of a faith community for years. Some may never have attended church at all. We have set a place for them too.

That is one of the gifts of camp ministry. Around the campfire, on the trails, at the climbing wall, and around the dining hall tables, young people encounter a community that welcomes them exactly as they are. They discover friendship, belonging, and opportunities to explore faith in meaningful ways.

As camp begins, we are grateful for your prayers, support, and encouragement. We also know that there may still be young people in our communities who need a place at the table this summer. If there are children or youth in your life who could benefit from a week at camp, there is still room for them at Valaqua.

The table is set. The invitations have been sent. Now we wait with excitement to see who God will bring through our gates this summer.