Rocky Mountain Youth Camp 2012

by Fr. Philip Halliwell

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt.18:20)

When the young people in our Church gather together, God sends a particular blessing on everyone present – Christ loved children and He was present in the midst of these kids in the Rockies. The joy and excitement on the faces of the kids when they arrived showed that they had really been looking forward to this camp and to the fun and fellowship with other Orthodox Christians in a safe environment.

The first evening set the tone: Fr. Anthony proclaims outright at the orientation session, “We have no rules here, only strong suggestions, but with . . .”  and everybody yells the response “severe consequences!!!”. The ice-breakers would have broken the ice in the North Pole! The boys get into a “ruck” on the floor and the girls have to pull them apart!

I soon realized that this camp had such a well-seasoned pattern of prayer, activities, discussion groups and meals that everyone, including new campers and staff quickly got into the rhythm. The setting up in the mountains is literally and spiritually ‘out of this world’ and perfect for kids to dig deep and glean new gems to encourage and inspire them to live an Orthodox life in today’s world.

The theme of the camp was “Stay True to the Trail” expertly written and led by Fr. Benjamin Huggins. It struck me that the theme was tied so closely in to the environment around us, that it was true Orthodox, multi-sensory, all-age learning: “Where is the trail taking us? What influences us to stay on or lead us off the trail”? What are our essential provisions? (The Bible as our guide, the Eucharist as nourishment, Baptism and Confession as ‘water’.) What is our trail marker? (The Cross.) And so, as the kids all go on their hike they are able to experience and reflect on the importance of all these things on the trail itself. Brilliant!

On a personal note, I climbed the mountain with each group of kids (five times altogether!). Fr. Anthony invited me to speak to the kids about my formation and each time something different happened, a gathering in His name, and an encounter with Him who came to dwell among us. There is something clearly special about mountains: Christ talked with Moses on Mount Sinai; Christ took His three closest disciples up Mount Tabor to reveal and reassure them by His Divine Glory; He Ascended and left the promise of the Holy Spirit from Mount Olivet. ‘He said unto them, you are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world’ (Jn. 8: 23). The experience of Rocky Mountain Orthodox Youth Camp was about going up to meet Christ, He who tells us that He also is the ‘Way’ or the trail. And so, on returning down, we pray that our children can stay on His trail, follow His trail marker, receive His nourishment and refreshment, and so reach our goal of Paradise and even there continue on the trail with Christ, going ever further in and further up.