As a longtime Pathfinder, I always looked forward to camporees. I loved hanging out with my friends, completing fun honors, and yes—even camping in tents.
Last summer I was part of our camp staff that helped with the Living Water Dakota Pathfinder Camporee at Northern Lights Camp. Four of our Pathfinder clubs were able to join us as we spent time learning how God is our living water, vital to our daily lives. Pathfinders spent time completing honors, praising God in our worship programs, and playing games like gaga ball and kickball. One of my favorite parts of this camporee was realizing how many of our Pathfinders are also summer camp campers. It was incredible to see—it showed not only how many kids we are able to reach through youth ministry, but also how many adults are dedicated to making sure young people get these formative, faith-building experiences.
One especially memorable moment came on Thursday night. As the evening drew to a close, the weather began to shift. Dark clouds rolled in, lightning lit up the sky, and by 11:00 pm, Pathfinders experienced “living water” in a very real way as buckets of rain poured down. Thankfully, the clubs moved inside for safety, and by morning the skies had cleared. My dad, Pastor Ted Struntz, always says, “It isn’t a Pathfinder campout if you don’t get rained on at least once.” I’m afraid he’s right. But even though the weather was wet for part of camporee, it didn’t slow our Pathfinders down one bit.
As the sun dried their tents, Pathfinders were busy diving into honor after honor. Seventeen were offered—with power boating, waterskiing, beginning swimming, and water safety honors (my personal favorite to help with) all taking place right on beautiful Lake Metigoshe. The Waterfalls honor was a huge hit on Sabbath, with more than 24 Pathfinders taking the class at the same time.
When Pathfinders weren’t working on honors, they were busy praising God in our morning and evening worships. Singing together is one of my favorite things about camporee, and because so many of our Pathfinders are also summer campers, they naturally stepped up to help lead—some even playing piano and violin. The absolute highlight came Sabbath evening, when nearly every Pathfinder joined the praise team up front. We ended up singing for more than 30 minutes, with one camp favorite after another requested—we really took the part in the Pathfinder Law “keep a song in my heart” literally.
It was amazing to see kids from all over the Dakotas, from different ages and backgrounds, praising God together. Moments like these remind me why youth ministry is so important. Our youth are vital. Every single Pathfinder—whether at camporee or at home—shares two things: they love God, and they want to share His light with others. Some are as young as 10 years old, yet they’ve already made the commitment to “go on God’s errands” and be His messengers. That’s what makes the ministry of Pathfinders so meaningful—it functions as a training ground, helping our youth learn from each other and recognize just how important their role as a Pathfinder truly is.
So the next time you see a Pathfinder walking around in their Class A uniform at church, remember just how much that Pathfinder title actually means. Pathfinders don’t just earn honors and go camping. They minister for God and show the world just how life-giving His Living Water really is.
Liz Struntz is a sophomore business major with an emphasis in strategic communication and public relations at Southern Adventist University. She recently served as the 2025 summer camp assistant director for Dakota Camps, where she combined her passion for youth ministry with her skills in leadership and storytelling.
