Camping ministry isn’t just a program of the church—it is holy ground. Growing up, I never attended summer camp, and I never worked on camp staff. But every year, our family gathered for reunions at Camp Au Sable in Grayling, Michigan. Those weekends left an impact on my heart that cannot be erased. Even now, I can smell the Fort bunkhouse. I remember the creak of the kitchen door followed by its familiar, slam! I hear Reveille echoing through the morning air as we stumbled out of bed. I remember the horses, the unmistakable scent of the nature center, swinging bridges, walks around the lake, and ping-pong balls bouncing in the cafeteria. But most of all, I remember meeting Jesus. Not just once—but many times. In quiet moments. In worship. In laughter with friends. In the stillness of nature. Camp became a place where heaven felt close, where God spoke softly, and where my heart learned to listen. These moments shaped who I am today. They planted in me a love for ministry and a desire to serve—seeds that would one day grow into a calling. Today, I have the privilege of serving as camp ministries director at Glacier View Ranch, a summer camp and conference retreat center in Ward, Colorado. Over the past two years, I have watched God move in powerful ways through our staff, volunteers, and campers. Camp is more than a beautiful mountain setting. In a world overwhelmed by chaos, anxiety, social media pressure, and constant noise, camp offers something sacred—quietness, community, and the love of Jesus. Summer camp also stretches kids to become leaders—teaching responsibility, courage, and faith through challenge and guided choices. Young adults discover space to slow down and hear God’s voice. Like I once did, they begin to understand who God is calling them to be. When I asked Grace Carlson, one of our staff kids, why camp is special to her, she said, “It brings a lot of peace to people, including me. It brings you closer to Jesus because you know He’s here. Summer camp means making new friends.” In 2025 alone, we served over 100 groups—55 Adventist groups and 38 non-Adventist nonprofit organizations from our surrounding community, along with countless individuals. Through these ministries, more than 23 baptisms took place at camp, and over 40 people committed their lives to Jesus with plans to be baptized in their home churches. These are not statistics. These are souls. As we move into 2026, we recognize just how deeply camp ministry has impacted the Rocky Mountain Conference and beyond. And we are leaning in—not pulling back. Now is the time to invest in the next generation, to help them feel loved and meet Jesus. And that makes camp essential to our ministry. —Jonathan Carlson is the Rocky Mountain Conference camp ministries director. Website: www.rmcyouth.org/camp

Mills Spring Ranch in Casper, Wyoming, started a partnership five years ago with an organization called Prison Fellowship.* They minister to the families of incarcerated individuals and will sponsor any child with an incarcerated parent to attend summer camp for free. Two of the campers attending MSR’s 2025 summer camp program were a 17-year-old boy and his 12-year-old sister, whom I will call “Sam.” The first day, Sam’s camp counselor was told by one of the cabin mates that Sam would smoke a vape occasionally. Her counselor had a conversation with Sam about the alleged vape, which Sam denied, saying the other girls just didn’t like her. Later that day, several of Sam’s cabin mates told the counselor they had seen her holding the device. The counselor took the camp’s village director with her and had another conversation with Sam. Again, Sam denied it and said she wanted to go home. After praying about the situation as a leadership team, we felt like it was important for Sam to remain at camp and for our staff to focus on connecting with her and loving her well. During the next conversation, Sam agreed to stay at camp one more day only because her brother was having a great time and she wanted to support him. As the week progressed Sam started connecting with Hailey, one of our horse barn wrangler staff. Hailey did an amazing job of creating space, and Sam shared about the many challenges she regularly faced with her peers and adult figures in her life. Through prayer, we decided as a summer camp leadership team that if Sam did in fact have a vape and willingly gave it to a staff member, there would be no consequences. Toward the end of the week, while having a private conversation with Hailey up at the horse corral, Sam removed the vape she had been hiding and gave it to Hailey. In this vulnerable moment, Sam said that her mom’s boyfriend gave her the vape and encouraged her to use it. Sam also stated that, through the worships shared all week at camp, she had come to realize that the vape no longer fit her identity and she wanted to stay at camp the rest of the week. As a leadership team, we told her how proud we were of her. From that moment forward, Sam looked as though a weight had lifted off her shoulders. She began to smile, sing, and participate in the song motions during worship. She began having conversations with other campers and staff and was experiencing joy—maybe for the first time in her life. By the end of the week, Sam said she had chosen to believed there is a God. We hope to see Sam again this summer at camp and I can’t wait to see the Holy Spirit continue transforming the lives of campers and staff. * Prison Fellowship is not affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Brent Learned is the RMC youth assistant director and Mills Spring Ranch manager. Website: www.rmcyouth.org/camp

Last January, during a campus chapel at Union Adventist University, a brief interview became a powerful reminder of what North Star Camp represents. Mallory, a former staff member, reflected on her summer experiences. While she remembered helping organize the Amazing Race during Extreme Camp week, what stayed with her most was walking cabin to cabin each night, praying with counselors and campers before lights out. The most lasting moments were not the public ones, but the spiritual ones.  Annika, once a camper and now a university student alongside former staff, described the continuity she now sees. The same young adults who once mentored her are now peers and classmates. “Working at a summer camp transforms the way you see Jesus,” she said. “It changes how you know God.” Her words capture something we witness consistently: camp shapes both campers and leaders.  At North Star Camp, leadership is entrusted intentionally. Young adults—many serving for the first time—are trained carefully, equipped spiritually, and empowered with real responsibility. After preparation, they are released to lead, supported but given room to grow. They guide small groups, resolve conflict, pray with confidence, and model integrity. Through mentorship and experience, leadership becomes stewardship—rooted in humility and strengthened by service. In that process, we see God shape character, confidence, and calling.  While staff are being formed, campers are discovering something just as significant. Removed from constant digital noise and cultural pressure, young people enter a rhythm shaped by worship, Scripture, outdoor challenge, and authentic community. Questions are asked openly. Faith becomes personal. By the end of the week, decisions are often made with clarity and conviction.  We continue to hear the same testimony from former campers and returning staff: camp is where they met Jesus in a real way for the first time. Not simply where they heard about Him—but where belief became personal.  This year is especially meaningful. Across North America, the Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrates 100 years of summer camp ministry. For a century, Adventist camps have helped shape faith, identity, and leadership in young people. North Star Camp rejoices to stand within that legacy, contributing each summer to the spiritual formation of children and the development of Christ-centered leaders in Minnesota.  Established in 1957 along the shores of Rice Lake near the Mississippi River, North Star Camp has become a sacred landmark in Minnesota’s spiritual landscape. During this time, thousands of children, families, and young adults have walked these grounds. Hundreds of retreats, spiritual gatherings, and summer programs have been conducted in service to our constituency in Minnesota and throughout North America. Its forests, waters, and natural beauty provide more than scenery—they create an environment uniquely suited for reflection, growth, and encounter with God.  In Minnesota, this mission aligns clearly with the conference’s guiding vision: Making Disciples. Camp offers an immersive setting for that process. Discipleship happens in mentoring conversations, shared responsibility, worship under open skies, and courageous decisions beside the water.  The 2026 summer program, titled UNSHAKEN, will center on faith under pressure and the stability found in God’s Word. In a generation navigating uncertainty, our goal is to anchor young lives deeply in Scripture. As Psalm 62:6 declares, “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.” Through biblical teaching, team challenges, and intentional spiritual mentorship, campers will be invited to build lives rooted in Christ—steady even when tested.  As we prepare for another summer season, we invite all families and young adults across North America to prayerfully consider camp as part of their spiritual journey.   We extend sincere gratitude to the parents who entrust their children to our care, to the administration of the Minnesota Conference for its clear vision and faithful support, and to the broader community whose partnership sustains this ministry—under the North Star, where faith is strengthened and lives are shaped.  —Pastor Daniel Borja, camp director  The dates for the 2026 sessions are:  DAY CAMP Date: 6/15 & 6/16 AGES: 7-17  CAMP ABILITIES Date: 6/17-6/21 AGES: 18+  CUB CAMP Date: 6/21-6/28 AGES: 7-9  JUNIOR CAMP Date: 6/28-7/5 AGES: 10-11  TWEEN CAMP Date: 7/5-7/12 AGES: 12-13  EXTREME CAMP Date: 7/12-7/19 AGES: 13-17  TEEN CAMP Date: 7/19-7/26 AGES: 14-17  FAMILY CAMP Date: 7/26-8/2 AGES: 1+   More info: https://www.northstarcamp.org 

There’s a reason people come back to Broken Arrow Ranch—and why first-time campers fall in love with this place and the people. Broken Arrow Ranch is a place where faith feels real, friendships form quickly, and families get a true break while their kids are safe, active, and deeply cared for. We offer camp experiences for every stage of life: Kids and Teen Camps (ages 7–17), Young Adult Camp (18–30ish), Family Camp (all ages), Parenting Solo, Blind Camp, and special gatherings like the Hispanic Youth Rally. Whether your camper is stepping into camp for the first time or returning for another summer, Broken Arrow Ranch is designed to be a “reset” in the best way—fresh air, meaningful worship, solid mentoring, and a community that helps young people grow. What makes Broken Arrow Ranch special is the combination of affordable fun and intentionally supported spiritual growth. Parents love that camp is a budget-friendly vacation option with strong staff support that makes the week feel safe and manageable. Campers love the energy, the activities, and the friendships. And everyone notices the setting: Kansas sunsets over the big, beautiful Tuttle Creek—a view that regularly causes people to stop, pull out their cameras, and remember that God still speaks through creation. This summer brings something new: two brand-new cabins that early registrants will get to enjoy first—along with continued upgrades across camp (including added bathrooms in the lodge and a new and expanded porch overlooking the waterfront!). And thanks to the generosity of our church family, scholarships and financial support help ensure that cost doesn’t keep a young person from this life-changing experience where many make their choice to enter the waters of baptism and move forward with Jesus. Why Camp Matters At Broken Arrow Ranch, we see it every summer: camp creates the kind of environment where faith becomes personal. Away from the pressures of school and work, the noise of social media, and the pace of everyday life, students begin to breathe again. They laugh. They try new things. They discover they are not alone. Camp is often where belonging is experienced before it can even be explained. But camp is more than a great week—it’s a place where Jesus meets students in ways that stick. A worship song begins to mean something. A counselor notices a quiet camper and makes room for them. A Bible message lands differently under the stars than it ever did in a classroom. Sometimes, a student realizes that God has been near all along. One teen came to camp her first year because her parents made her. She didn’t want to be there. She didn’t plan to engage. But she also didn’t want to stand out—so she joined in. What happened next surprised her—and it surprised us too. Here’s what she shared: “When I first sang Never Walk Alone on the first day of Teen Camp (our theme song), I felt like I was lying and sang quietly. That very day, I was angry at my life and I knew I was drifting away from God. I hoped camp would be a good time to get away from home and distract myself. I was wrong. On the first day, I realized how much God wanted me to confess how I had replaced my fear with anger. This camp reminded me how much God loves me. Now I sing that song with confidence that God has never left me—even in the valleys. Thank you for the camp, the music, the message, and the love.” That’s why camp matters—not because every student arrives ready, but because God is faithful to meet them where they are. That same teen returned the next summer not just as a camper, but as a leader, ready to encourage others and point them toward the God who had met her there. If you know a young person who needs a fresh start, a safe place, or a faith that feels real—send them our way. And if your family has loved Broken Arrow Ranch before, come back and bring someone with you. The simplest invitation can become the turning point in someone’s story. Spiritual Goal To help each camper take a meaningful step forward—daily—in healing, belonging, and purpose with Jesus. Location: Olsburg, Kansas (30 minutes from Manhattan / Kansas State University)   2026 Summer Camps Young Adult Camp — June 18–21 Ages 18–30ish Adventure Camp — June 21–28 Ages 8–10 Family Camp + Parenting Solo + Hispanic Youth Rally — June 30–July 5 All ages welcome This year, we’ll celebrate the 4th of July together, creating space for more families to attend with the help of some vacation time. Parenting Solo is designed for single parents and their kids—offering encouragement, support, and community. Hispanic Youth Rally returns with special culturally meaningful programming and opportunities for families to connect. Junior Camp — July 5–12 Ages 10–12 Earliteen Camp — July 12–19 Ages 12–14 Teen Camp — July 19–26 Ages 14–17 ⸻ Activities Basketball • volleyball • soccer • dodgeball • capture the flag • gymnastics • crafts • nature • mountain biking • horseback riding • swimming • archery + archery tag • go-karts • waterfront fun (tubing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, water skiing) and more. Website: brokenarrowranch.org  ⸻ Nick Snell is youth director/camp director for Broken Arrow Ranch.