Truly Family Camp

Other people: “So when have you met some of your extended family?”

Me: Well, I had a blast counseling my 3rd cousin at Koronis Bible Camp, and hanging out with other extended family members there. Oh, and I love going to camp with my grandparents, I love visiting their cabin at camp while we’re all there. Oh, and my 2nd cousin has done a great job at directing, and my cousin once-removed is an awesome registrar…the list goes on!

I grew up going to a small family camp nearly every year of my life. My family has been going for three generations to that camp, and I’ve loved every year. In fact, my grandparents have been going to Koronis Bible Camp since it started as a ministry and now they’re the oldest couple at camp. It’s so cool to hear about camp in the past from both them, my mom and her siblings. They’ve all gone every year, even just for one meal; they’ve made sure to get to camp. Beyond just them, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, tons of my cousins show up to camp and even some inlaws have part of the counseling staff, and my cousins were directors, or my campers for that matter when I’ve counseled. It’s so cool to be a part of a ministry that has sort of been handed down by my family but means so much to others as well.

It’s a one-of-a-kind set up. The camp that I go to is really a church group that rents out a retreat center on a lake for the week and runs 6 programs simultaneously. From infants to elders, everyone is welcome at camp. I literally went to camp from birth and I was a camper growing up, and I’ve counseled once before even. When I was a camper I would have many meals with my cabin, but I also remember eating some meals with my Mom, and Dad, and grandparents. Everyone was in the same dining hall so it was the best of both worlds for a homesick kid like myself.

I also learned to water ski at camp, even if I was scared to it when I was little. I spent so much time out on the water with friends. Now my entire family loves it and it’s honestly a treat of the Minnesota summer season for each of us! I love going on speedboat rides, and swimming with my campers at any of the three camps I’ve gotten to counsel with, or when I used to be a camper for that matter.

In addition, it’s a really special place because of the town down the road, Paynesville, and all the old school antique shops there. They used to be old-fashioned department stores, banks, etc. It’s where my love for antiquing started. It’s possible because of the uniqueness of the camp’s ministry that nearly every year I’d either just head into town with my Mom, and Grandma to go antiquing or ask for my counselor’s permission to do so which she gladly agreed to. It made for a unique afternoon during the camp week, even if we didn’t buy anything.

Go to camp with friends or family, or find one on your own, because camp is a great experience at any age. It’s a chance to learn with others, get away from the everyday life, see friends in a special setting or make new ones.

Praise the Lord for Koronis Bible Camp, and Camp Lebanon, but my story about that camp is for another day.