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| Paddles boats and canoeing were first-time favorites for many campers. |
“I came here because I was bored.”
“I came here because my momma said I need to do something other than play football.”
“I came here to learn the ways of God.”
These real statements by real middle-school youth from Metro Detroit demonstrate the need for the Urban Methodist Youth Camp at Judson Collins Campground in Onsted.
In its second year of summer programming it is providing crucial tools to strengthen faith, life skills, fitness and community for a group of energetic, moldable youth often left out in the church camping world.
If growth is an ample measuring stick for the success of a program then the urban camp isn’t just a phase, it’s a soon-to-be craze.
After having 118 high school and middle school youth pack the camp in 2009, camp leaders decided to break it into two weeks of fun and instruction in 2010.
The first week of August brought in 88 high school students and the following week was filled with the voices and laughter of 96 middle school students.
“They really, really look forward to it and they need it,” said Audrey Mangum, the camp’s program administrator. “Some don’t know what to expect — some have never been away from their parents and families.”
It does the body good
While campfires and marshmallows have their place, Urban Youth Camp is far from a traditional camping experience.
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| The Counselor vs. Campers basketball game was a hit. |
Prior to camp each participant chooses one offering to spend an “intensive” two hours developing skills and participating in each morning.
This year the camp also offered Latino dance and drums, and drama, for people who are more artistically driven.
Every afternoon also offers time for capture the flag competition, scavenger hunts, crafts, an array of tours and more.
This year some of the high school students even had the opportunity to do an overnight canoe trip that took them across several lakes to the nearby Lutheran campground.
“Canoeing is something a lot of urban kids have never experience before,” said Judson Collins Director Sarah Ratz. “Last week this girl was crying and didn’t want to go, but we put her in the lifeguard boat and at the end she said she was glad she got to do it. It’s really awesome to see people overcome fears here.”
Cliff Stallings, the Judson Collins’ dean for 43 years strong and the chairman of the Urban Methodist Youth Camp Council, said the purpose of all of the activities is to help the kids bond.
Digging deeper
Those connections only begin with the fun.
The theme this year is “Transformation,” and Rev. Carter Grimmett (People’s UMC) was the pastoral leader/speaker for the high school camp and Rev. Dr. Darryl Totty (Conant Avenue UMC) was in charge of the spiritual growth of the middle school students.
