Whithaugh 2008

> Wt 1 - Senior Camp

> Wt 2 - Senior Camp

> Wt 3 - Xcite Junior Camp

Wt 1 - Senior Camp

If you were to ask me to describe Week 1 of camp 2008 in one word, (or Wt 1 as Blackers has named it), I would say “How can you describe a whole week in one word that’s just daft”. So I shall use many words to describe to you how brilliant, amazing, exciting, wonderful and great camp was this year.

On the morning of camp I was round at Blackers’ house at 9.30 (4 hours before any campers arrive) doing all the usual leader things that need doing before we go on our merry way to Scotland. I had a look round at the leaders and their smiling faces and I could just tell that it was going to be a good week of camp. So a few hours later I was in the lay-by awaiting the arrival of the campers ready to give them all their name badges, seeing the excitement on their faces when they discovered they were in Aslan (My team – we won by the way, not that I’m competitive), Prince Caspian, Mr Tumnus, The Dawn Treader or Reepicheep, and the looks of general bewilderment when they found they were in Puddleglum. As always there was a hive of activity, parents saying goodbye to their kids trying not to look too happy that they have a child free week, loading suitcases big enough to hold a months worth of clothes, talking to old friends, making new friends, leaders desperately trying to figure out who has turned up and who is late, young people trying to find out just who on earth is Puddleglum...

So once travelling was out the way, people had discovered who was in their lodges and unpacking had allegedly taken place, it was into the routine of camp. Water volleyball, dinner times, evening meetings, late night walk, staying up far too late talking to the people in your lodge, breakfasts, quiet times (mini bible study type things we have in our lodges), the one day time meeting of the week, another walk but this time in the light, getting lost on the walk (nice one Blackers), lunch times, swimming, craft lodge, prayer lodge, sports, pool, table tennis and tons of other things which we do at Whithaugh.

I think some of my favourite times were probably the activities I got to do. I went paint balling which was fantastic. It meant I could shoot the campers - always a bonus, especially as one of them left me with some cleaning of the mini-bus to do! I also had great fun in a kayak playing silly games, getting sunk by sneaky campers and generally getting very wet, which is always good fun. But if I were to only talk about the activities I did, I’d be missing out abseiling, advanced gorge walk, archery, climbing, fencing, go karting, high ropes course, intermediate gorge walk and lots of others which campers chose to do.

Other highlights included the camp concert; always great to see the many and varied talents of our campers and they were definitely varied this year. ‘Hunt the Leader’ was a lot of fun it meant I got to stand on a street corner and pretend to busk for an hour-ish, and in case you were interested it only takes 5-8 minutes to boil a squirrel. Ten pin bowling is always a nice time to chat with your friends and some of the leaders and it’s always something I enjoy doing, though I never seem to get any better at it. Communion which we have half way through the week is a good time to reflect on some of the things we have been thinking about in the week so far, and its a good time to get away from the hype and excitement of camp and focus on your time with God. The bonfire is always a great time, people talking about the ways in which God has challenged or encouraged them this week and things that they have learnt.

So all in all I can’t describe camp in one word and to do so would not do it justice. I think that God moved in the lives of many of the campers and leaders alike. I think most of us who attended camp learnt more about God and took a step towards God, whether it was a step of starting to look into what it means to be a Christian or a step of asking Jesus into your life, there was a real sense of moving in the right direction with God.

Sam McNaughton (leader)

> Whithaugh 2008 Week1 Photo Gallery

Wt 2 - Senior Camp

> Whithaugh 2008 Week2 Photo Gallery

Wt 3 - Xcite Junior Camp

What a fantastic experience for everyone! I am sure it is safe to say that we all had an absolutely awesome time on the first YCYH Xcite Junior Camp. It was the start of something new, exciting and challenging but also with a little fear of the unknown. It brought a whole new meaning to putting your trust in God!

The children who we had the privilege to serve during the week were mainly from the York area with extended friends as well – all of whom were so enthusiastic and excited and evidently enjoyed everything they did.

The walk was one of the most memorable moments when it rained so hard that all of us had to take shelter under the parachute. Much team spirit and competitiveness was evident in the "It's A Knockout" competition. The centre activities – climbing, canoeing and gorge walking were definitely a favourite for children and leaders. We all learned so much about how to work as a team and it’s importance. The "Hunt the Leader" in Carlisle was a bit cold and wet but everyone entered into the spirit of it – there were some excellent costumes. The water volleyball was very challenging as it required a lot of physical strength and involved getting wet AGAIN! The low ropes adventure course was not only physically but mentally challenging and once again, enjoyed by all.

The most memorable and challenging times for me were the morning meetings. Watching two of the leaders running round in lycra suits dressed as fruity superheroes was so funny and yet so challenging. Asking the children to focus on growing and developing the fruit of the spirit in their own lives and showing them how to do this was just awesome. The Let’s Get Fruity song was such a brilliant way to do this, fun and exciting but challenging even to the leaders as well. It was wonderful to see different leaders presenting the truths of the bible to the children in so many different but effective ways.

Group times were a chance to really get to know the children and help them get to know God and learn more about him. It was also a chance for them to ask any questions and to develop their relationships with the other children and leaders. There were some very precious moments and many lives touched, God certainly showed up.

The evening meetings were a chance for the children to relax and have loads of fun at the expense of the leaders. The leaders relished the opportunity to be extremely silly and make a fool of themselves, some of them were in their element – the Pantomime was a great hit even if it took a lot of rehearsing.

We enjoyed many super meals prepared by our fantastic caterers Barbara and Cara – they bring a whole new meaning to the term Masterchef! Cooked breakfasts; endless cups of tea, coffee and chocolate; puddings to die for and hearty home cooked meals after a day of getting wet and cold!

The holiday certainly would not have been possible without the absolutely superb efforts of some very special people called Taskforce who were brilliantly led and managed. Their unending willingness and enthusiasm to serve us in any way they could – sorting, cleaning, working, setting up, etc was very humbling and very much appreciated. What an awesome bunch of young people! Thank you doesn’t begin to cover it.

The success of the holiday lies in how far it has taken the children on their journey with God and whether they regard Jesus as their friend. It also is determined by how faithful we were in doing what God wanted us to do for him. I think he has started something fantastic and I want to see what’s going to happen next. I can't wait for next year – can you?

Sarah Fox

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