October 13thSummer 2026 Reflection
An Overview:
Camper registrations started very strong early in the year and tapered off in June. Despite that, we were slightly ahead of last year’s numbers. We had 89 staff coming from 22 MCM churches and beyond, 536 kids and ADV campers, and 55 volunteers that stepped out of regular life’s routine to join in the adventure of camp. While our camper and staff numbers were up, our volunteer numbers were down this year, with many weeks having no camp pastors and few kitchen volunteers.
Programs:
Our youngest program is our Teen Volunteer program, of which we had 13 teens in this year. These staff, led by Natan Hastings-Fuhr, participated in Staff Training week and then worked either one or two Day Camp weeks at Camp Assiniboia. Beyond Day Camp, Teen Volunteers had the choice to work additional weeks helping with childcare, kitchen work, or lending a hand on the maintenance crew.
Our SLT (Servant Leader in Training) Program, was led by co-directors Avery Sawatzky and Isaiah Koslowsky-Wiebe. This program is for any staff who have finished grade 10, or are first time staff under the age of 18. We had 18 eager SLT’s this year who participated in Staff Training week and then embarked on a new route through the Turtle Mountains, before ending their trip a little early due to extreme heat. After working two supervised weeks, they “graduated” into Junior Cabin Leaders.
We had around 50 additional staff, who worked at each site, lending their hands to the chaos and beauty of camp. These staff included cabin leaders, lifeguards, ropes instructors, canoe instructors, archery instructors, and many staff who went above and beyond to make the more special events like theme meals, night games, and choose-a-challenge activities, run smoothly.
The leadership team is the backbone of camp and was made up of 13 young folks who commit to a longer camp season, beginning with Leadership Training at the beginning of May and ending with a debrief at the end of August. Their positions include directing, training and mentoring in the TV and SLT programs, farm coordinating, nature instructing, bible instructing and inclusion coordinating. Our inclusion program ensures that both ADV campers and kid campers’ needs are met, and that we prioritize programming that includes everyone in a way that works for them.
Camp programming included Spring ADV (Adults with Disabilities Venture) Weeks, and kids programming from grades 1-12, with the options of day camp, half weeks for the youngest kids, farm camp, an out-trip at Koinonia, and a little extra excitement at end-of-summer youth week.
Activities at each camp continue to rotate between nature, farm (Assiniboia), swimming, kayaking (Assiniboia), canoeing (Koinonia), archery, camp skills, high ropes (Assiniboia), climbing wall (Koinonia) and zipline. Depending on the week, campers could also “choose their own adventure” and try some new activities that are not in our regular rotation.
The bible curriculum for this summer was written by Janna and Terrell Wiebe, with input from a group of pastors, teachers and MCM members. The theme was People of the Project; Everyday Faith and focused on Micah 6:8 to explore the ways we can have everyday faith by doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with God. Follow this link to hear the new song for this year.
Reflection
After three seasons of this work, I continue to feel the same sadness (though with much more distinction) at the end of the camping months. The intensity of community, common goal, and plethora of energy suddenly sputters out and I am left to the chaos of my office, the quiet sorting of paperwork and many moments where I find myself lost in reflection on the events of the summer, and the staff I mentored and supported throughout it all.
This sadness, however, is accompanied by a wider acknowledgement of the network that makes the work I do possible. This network, of course, includes so many people: MCM congregations; one-week volunteers, staff supported by families and churches, prayers spoken and donations given to ensure Camps with Meaning can continue to foster faith, community and connection with Creator.
Nadya Langelotz, Associate Program Director, Camps with Meaning