By the Rev. Kate McKey-Dunar, Trinity Episcopal Church, Nichols – Trumbull, CT
Episcopal Summer Camp almost feels like it is in my DNA. I didn’t grow up going to Camp Washington (Cass Lake Episcopal Camp in Minnesota is where I called home) but it sure feels like a piece of myself settles back in place as soon as I set foot there. This was my second summer getting the pleasure of being chaplain at camp. This year I got to spend 3 days at Mini Camp (5-10 year olds) leading WUSURU (Wake Up, Shake up, Raise Up) in the morning, Compline in the evening, and the closing Eucharist. I also got the pleasure of bringing my daughter with me and the first camper from my church in quite a while!
What do I want you to know about camp? Well, when I was young I felt that God lived at camp and just visited us in other places. Camp is where I feel God the most intensely. Being out in creation, sitting around the fire, swimming in the lake, being dirty and smelling of sunscreen and bug spray, making friends that feel like they just “get” me, where I can finally remove the mask I feel like I use to try to fit in and know that I am loved and safe. This is what camp provides for our kids. It almost feels like God is condensed down to an even more potent form as you experience the love and care and wonder of the world and those around you. You see councilors give everything they have to these kids, take a day off, and start it all over again just to make sure these children know that they are welcomed and loved by them and God.
One of my greatest joys of my time at camp this summer was answering the children’s questions. I always allowed time in the service for them to tell me what new way they had experienced God that day but, on the second night, the kids decided to ask me a few questions instead. “What does God look like?” “Does God sleep?” “Does God make us do things or do we get to control ourselves?” “Does God really love everyone?” To tell you I was in awe but also terrified is an understatement. These kids brought forth all those questions that they had stored up and just let them out. Now, I don’t think I got it totally right or wrong (I hope no major heresy was committed) but I left that compline feeling like God just lit up that space. God opened our hearts and minds to just let the big questions out and let me answer to the best of my ability. Camp is a place where we can truly be ourselves and bring all our questions and concerns out in the open.
So if you haven’t gone to Camp Washington yet, please do. Make a friendship bracelet. Take a walk in the woods or cruise down the zip line. Bring your families and see the ones you love light up when they learn the words to new songs or find a favorite councilor. Show up and see God all around you.
Cass Lake Camp has good memories for me also; I was chaplain for 7 years during the 80’s for the JH group camp. But I understand the camp is no longer and the dining hall named after Phil and Allla burned down.
Long story short about how the land we called CLEC was handled. The right thing was done, as in it was given back to the tribe, the people it was taken from years and years ago. But it was given back littered with the debris and buildings of years of being occupied by us. It has taken years for the tribe to clean it up. It was holy space for all who set foot there. It was holy before us, holy while we were there, and is still holy. Nothing we could do could change that. It is now being used as a staging area for the cleanup after severe storms. Sorry for the blunt view, can you tell I feel strongly about this
“God lives at camp and just visits other places.” FTW.