Read Stories 

June 05, 2008

Friday May 30, 2008 – 37 children aged 7-14 gathered at the back of UGM for a weekend adventure.  With 21 staff, the weekend adventurers headed for Horseshoe Bay to catch a ferry to Naniamo.  While on the ferry the children participated in a photo scavenger hunt – organized into groups they went throughout the ferry taking photos of themselves and random strangers!  Once in Naniamo the adventurers boarded a bus and headed to Chemainus, from there they jumped on a second ferry to Thetis Island.
Pioneer Pacific Camp is located at North Cove on Thetis Island.  The camp covers 79 acres of forest and waterfront.  Once off the bus the children joined in games of soccer and volleyball on Junior Meadow and were excited to get settled into their cabins.  After running around camp for close to an hour they were thrilled!  The excitement of a new place to play was overwhelming.  Most of the children were astounded by the darkness, as there was no glow outside from the city lights.  The stars were plentiful.  

Check out the photos below to see more from the trip! All shots below taken by UGM's Leah Gregg.

While with one homesick camper we talked about how the stars in the sky were too many to count and how her mother and God loved her more than all the stars she could count.

Saturday May 31 – much to the chagrin of the cabin leaders – the kids were up with the morning light!  By 7:30 almost all of the camp was arriving to find out what was for breakfast and when could they go swimming, kayaking, or canoeing!

By 10am everyone was engaged in activities – many children experienced canoeing, kayaking, archery, ropes course, and beachcombing (i.e. Checking out crabs, starfish etc.) for the first time.  The group doing crafts had begun to make duck-tape wallets and bead bracelets.  As the children got more comfortable in the canoes and kayaks the screams subsided and the laughter returned.  Leaders taught the children how to maneuver the boats around the bay checking out all of the marine life, as the tide was low.

One boy commented that we were teasing them bringing them to this amazing place and then only letting them stay for two nights!

Saturday afternoon the snack was a giant Toblerone bar donated to UGM – it weighed 4.5 kg!!!  Even with all the staff present we weren’t able to finish the chocolate bar!

On Saturday evening out at Chapel Glen the children shared in their cabin groups one struggle and one joy that they had experienced over the two days.  This was a wonderful time of sharing while sitting by the ocean.  

Sunday June 1 – coming home.  Much more subdued the children got up early to pack their bags and clean their cabins before breakfast.  Once camp was cleaned they gathered at the fire pit for silly songs and reminders that all of the creation – orchestrated by God and the wonders that they had experienced over the weekend.  A few more minutes of beachcombing and we were back on the adventure of getting home.  Excited and exhausted the children returned to Vancouver wondering when could they go back to camp!