More than 500 Pathfinders, staff and families from across the Iowa-Missouri Conference gathered at Camp Heritage in May for the 2026 Spring Camporee—a weekend built around three words that carry the weight of generations: Lest we forget.
The theme, drawn from the timeless call of Deut. 4:9 (“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen”) set the tone for every campfire, every drill, and every message delivered across the weekend.
Keynote speaker Dr. Anna Galeneice, an associate director of the Ellen G. White Estate at the General Conference and professor of chaplaincy at Andrews University, brought the theme to life for the hundreds of young people in attendance. Several photographers were on hand to help document the event, including Ben Dickerson, Cedar Rapids Pathfinder club staff.
For many Pathfinders, the camporee was more than an outdoor event—it was a reminder of who they are and where they come from. The Seventh-day Adventist Pathfinder Club, a ministry for children ages 10–15 focuses on spiritual growth, life skills, and community service, and has long served as a cornerstone of Adventist youth development. This spring’s gathering was a vivid reminder of that legacy, carried forward by a new generation unwilling to let it fade.
As the tents came down and families drove home, the message lingered: remember what God has done. Remember who you are.
Lest we forget.
