November 2023
Tending the Fire is a monthly series sharing a deeper look at the people who make up Camp and Retreat Ministries. Each month we will share a story from our campers, donors, staff and volunteers and what impact Camp and Retreat Ministries has had on them, and them on us. We hope these stories will educate you, uplift you and inspire you to get involved in whatever ways you can.
When I was asked to tell a story of lives changed at Wallowa Lake Camp, what comes to mind is the story of all the young children who may not be able to put into words what they are feeling but whose lives are changed dramatically by being here!
We all know the statistics of children not “getting outside enough”…spending too much time indoors and with technology. Much has been written about how damaging this is for us (Read Last Child in The Woods by Richard Louv, who writes about nature deficit disorder.)
Being at camp is truly a magical place to be; in fact, I heard “magical” over and over this year. It is a place where children can play freely, and parents can visit with each other because their children are engaged with nature! It is a safe place for children and families to learn about the love of God through His creation.
Pure JOY is what I hear and see when children are playing at camp! The little creek flowing through camp is one of their favorite spots…splash, splash, splash….look at this rock I found…splash, splash, splash… look how this stick floats… splash, splash, splash…let’s make a dam…splash, splash, splash… let’s try fishing, hey look at that butterfly….stomp, stomp, stomp over the little bridge….
Pure WONDER is what I hear and see when children spot Mr. Fox roaming the grounds, or hear squirrels chattering above them, or see mama deer with her babies, or hummingbirds as they drink from flowers.
Pure EXCITEMENT is what I see and hear as they find a nest on the ground with the shell of a baby robin who’s left home …or eat a sticky s’more for the first time and get to stay up late to see the stars.
Pure HAPPINESS is what I hear and see as they run across fields, learn a new game or eat in community.
And Pure LOVE is what I see as they make and decorate prayer flags and hang them on the prayer flag line.
Upon returning home, children discover that they enjoy God’s creation and parents and families are reminded that independent play is good for all our souls.
Wallowa Lake Camp is a place where God’s love is abundant and where lives are changed.
story by Peggy Lovegren, co-director, Wallowa Lake Camp. photo credit: unknown.
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A partnership between The Oregon-Idaho Conference of The United Methodist Church
and The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon