Have you ever noticed how some of the best learning happens out in nature? At Flag Mountain Camp, sometimes it happens with a hammer in hand and a piece of hot steel on an anvil.
This year, we have something to be extra thankful for at Flag Mountain Camp. The camp was awarded a $3,500 STEM grant through the Versacare Foundation. Versacare made 35 grants available to camps across the North American Division, and we are so blessed that Flag Mountain Camp is one of those camps to receive this grant!
Now here’s the part I really like. Blacksmithing at camp isn’t something brand new to Flag Mountain. Blacksmithing has been around since 2016; sometimes the program was strong, sometimes not. Like a lot of good ideas, it needed the right support at the right time. About three years ago, a family from the Dakota Conference territory donated $500 to help us get things going again. That gift allowed us to purchase a small gas forge. And wouldn’t you know it, that one piece of equipment helped turn an “on again, off again” activity into a steady part of camp life.
Since the summer of 2023, campers have been stepping up, heating metal, shaping it, and learning by doing. There’s something powerful about that. They’re not just watching; they’re creating. They’re seeing how heat changes metal, how effort shapes results, and how patience pays off. Our blacksmithing instructors also teach spiritual lessons from the Bible as they teach campers this amazing skill. That’s STEM learning, camp style.
But here’s the honest truth: we’ve been making it work with what we have. And while that’s part of camp ministry, it’s also why this new grant matters so much. With the $3,500 from the Versacare Foundation, we’ll be able to improve the program in ways that really count. We can purchase better equipment, with tools that are safer, more durable, and even specifically designed with young people in mind. That means more campers can participate, and they can do so with greater confidence and safety. It also means we can keep this program going strong year after year.
I think about it this way: God often takes something small and grows it into something meaningful. A $500 gift helped restart a program. Now, a $3,500 grant helps strengthen it for the future. And along the way, campers are learning skills, building confidence, and maybe even discovering something new about themselves, or even a lifelong career.
We’re grateful for the family who gave, for the Versacare Foundation, and for the chance to keep offering experiences that matter—because sometimes, the lesson a young person needs isn’t just something they hear. Sometimes, it’s something they build.
Ted Struntz is youth and young adults director for the Dakota Conference.
