Amid the smell of campfire smoke and the excitement of friendships renewed, 427 Pathfinders and leaders from 25 Iowa-Missouri clubs recently searched for the Source of “Living Water” together at their annual Spring Camporee at Camp Heritage.
Messages throughout the weekend encouraged Pathfinders to find the Living Water and, like the woman at the well, pass it on. Speakers were Denison Sager, youth director for the Iowa-Missouri Conference; and Byard Parks, tentmaker evangelism coordinator for Adventist Frontier Missions.
Activities also centered around this theme, such as Sailor Knots, Fire in the Rain, Catch the Snapper (making a fishing pole and catching a snapping turtle), Water Sponge Throw, and Crab Walk (walking on boards as a team). There was also drilling and marching and sporting events such as basketball, volleyball and soccer.
Forty-two TLTs (Teen Leaders in Training) were invested on Sabbath morning. Earlier in the week, they helped facilitate the activities. Sabbath activities included hiking the grounds of the beautiful camp or finding stations where Pathfinders were challenged to play Bible water charades.
Every camporee includes clubs using their talents in special ways during worship. It was evident that God was present in each activity, and we were blessed with good weather throughout the week.
Spring Camporee usually brings the Pathfinder year to a close, but clubs are busy this year preparing for the Oshkosh Camporee, which will be held August 12-17 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. When the new Pathfinder year begins this fall, our theme will be “Jesus! Yesterday. Today. Forever.”
