A summer of fun, friends and FAITH
“THE BIBLE HAS A LOTTO OFFER THAT POP CULTURE DOESN’T, AND KIDS CAN BENEFIT FROM IT.”
Brian Murphy, Camp Livingstone
Brian Murphy, director of Camp Livingstone in Stanstead, says that about half of the children and teens who attend that camp (which operates under the Canadian Sunday School Mission and not a particular denomination or church) are not from church-going families, even though Livingstone does nothing to hide that it is a Bible camp. “These parents want to send their kids to us because of a personal referral or something they heard about us. Many of them have been less than satisfied with non-faith-based camps; they found a lack of structure or teaching about good values. They’re looking for what we provide and find the Bible aspect as being positive.”
As such, Bible stories or songs about God are used to highlight the camp’s program themes and those principles are reinforced during the day-to-day fun and activities. “The Bible has a lot to offer that pop culture doesn’t,” Murphy said, “and kids can benefit from it. That’s how parents see it even if they’re not churchgoers. The character traits they want in their kids is what we’re teaching.”
At Camp Kinneret-biluim, located in Mont Tremblant and affiliated with the Canadian Young Judea movement, director Guy Korngold says that, while the main emphasis of the camp is celebrating Jewish life, culture and history through music, dance, fine art, and sports, there are also opportunities to honour the religious aspect of being Jewish. “We celebrate the Sabbath in the most beautiful setting, with a service on the beach, watching the sunset,” he said. “The way we interpret Judaism is through our values; for example, the value of tikkun olam (healing the world), or of treating your neighbour the way you want to be treated. We think it’s important for kids to exercise those muscles.”
Korngold said that, with nearly 300 people living on 28 acres – 14 persons to a cabin – the kids have no choice but to learn about sharing communal space, supporting people when they’re down and celebrating with them. “These are the values we see in religion, such as building character and leadership development.” Similar to the situation at Livingstone, only about half of Kinneret-biluim’s campers have the experience of being part of a Jewish community outside of camp. “We have children from every level of observance,” Korngold explained, “from the kid who doesn’t identify strongly with Judaism to the one for whom it informs every aspect of his or her life. It’s that diversity within the confines of our community that makes it exciting and raises awareness that not everyone is the same.”
“WE CELEBRATE THE SABBATH IN THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SETTING, WITH A SERVICE ON THE BEACH, WATCHING THE SUNSET”
Guy Korngold, Camp Kinneret-biluim