The 2022 Iowa-Missouri Pathfinder Spring Camporee, “Be the Sermon,” brought Pathfinders and staff from across the conference to Camp Heritage from April 28 to May 1. Participating were 341 attendees from 21 clubs. Over 30 Teen Leadership Training (TLT) individuals led out in all of the activities.
Friday afternoon Pathfinders rotated through a variety of events. Those activities included cooking skills, rescue work, obstacles, zip lines, escape rooms and tug of war.
The following day, Raptor Rehab, from the University of Missouri, provided a presentation on with live birds: a turkey vulture and a great-horned owl. The pathfinders were given the opportunity to ask questions about birds of prey and how someone could get involved either professionally or just in day-to-day life to protect birds.
Many pathfinder clubs provided special music about how to “Be the Sermon” during worships. During the Sabbath School many TLTs were invested with their years of service pins. Saturday evening, clubs received their campsite and uniform inspection certificates, ribbons from the events, and their club trophy. Placings were determined by points accumulated from activities in which they participated in throughout the year.
The camporee featured three special speakers. Youth Director Denison Sager reminded Pathfinders that we are sermons every minute of our lives. Using the Good Samaritan story, Mid-America Union Conference Youth Director Tyrone Douglas suggested that there are three kinds of people in this world. There are some that say, “What you have is mine, and I’ll take it.” Some say, “What I have is mine, and I will keep it.” And others say, “What I have is mine, and I will share it.” Pastor Bryan Gallant spoke three times about God’s protection for him and others as they were “the sermon” in various parts of the world.
The camporee in review video, put together by a TLT team, was viewed Saturday evening as part of the closing program. The camporee ended with Pathfinders singing the camporee theme song, “Go Light Your World” and waving glow sticks as a symbol of lighting their world.
— Written by Kathy Rowe
