This June will be the first time I will be back working at Spirit in the Pines as part of the program staff since I was in college (2016). Before I was on staff, I was a counselor, and I was a camper. I believe with all my heart that Spirit in the Pines has the chance to change lives and help kids connect with God, themselves, and their friends.
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Spirit in the Pines has helped me become who I am today and continues to help me with my faith every day. It would be nice to say that I loved camp from the first time I got off the bus. Honestly, I never wanted to go to Spirit in the Pines. I have a stubborn/loving Mom who thought that camp would be good for her son.
Being an elementary school kid, I thought she was sending me up as punishment the first time I went. I was so nervous the whole time I was up there; I really did not have much fun. You would think that would stop my mom, wrong again. My mom continued to send me up there every year. Every year, I noticed I was having a little more fun.
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Each campfire, game, devotion, and new friend filled my heart. It started to become the highlight of my summer, and as a counselor, it became the only thing I did during the summer. Somehow, they let me be a counselor for 11 weeks of the 12 weeks of camp one summer. When I was on the program staff, I got to help kids find their connection with God. I still hold some of these memories tightly.
I also found some old photos of my time at camp and some from when Spirit in the Pines first started (you have to check them out)! This summer, I am Splashing into Camp again. I am ready to help our kids make connections and build themselves up. Spirit in the Pines provides a unique opportunity for kids to learn from other kids.
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I understand that coming to camp for the first time or the fifth time can fill kids with anxiety. When I was young, I got pushed out of my comfort zone, and I can’t thank my mom enough for sending me to camp every year. Camp is why I am passionate about helping my church community here in Eden Prairie. My grandma always reminded me about how blessed we are as a family.
Working here at St. Andrew for the last four months, it’s now a little easier to see how blessed I was as a kid. God gives us each the chance to “Splash” into anything we want this summer. I am blessed I get to do it up at Pleasant Lake.
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Caleb Wragge
Youth Engagement Director