HELPING KIDS SEE THE WORLD
International Pathfinders Camporee gathers in Oshkosh
OSHKOSH – Thousands of kids from around the world are taking part in a faith-based youth camp focused on community service and spiritual development. The International Pathfinders Camporee, sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, focuses on the religious, social and cultural education of youth and brings its members to a volunteer-led, five-day camp at the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture campgrounds in Oshkosh every five years.
This year’s theme, “Chosen,” aims to help visitors understand their place in the world and recognize their unique talents and gifts. Activities include trading lapel pins, earning honor patches and participating in marching and military drilling exhibitions, archery and sporting activities for kids 10 to 16. More than 55,000 youth from more than 100 countries are attending.
“It’s like a co-ed Boy Scout, Girl Scout(-type) organization,” said Ron Whitehead, executive director for this year’s camporee. “It teaches outdoor skills, Bible knowledge and how to be a great citizen.”
Pathfinders is rooted in religious community members wanting to give kids an opportunity to learn about the Bible and get involved in the community. The first Pathfinder Club started in Anaheim, California, in the 1920s.
For some visitors, coming to Oshkosh is also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Whitehead said.
“We have kids that are very economically challenged, and these amazing volunteers are giving them an experience,” he said. “Many have never traveled out of their counties. As they travel
“Many have never traveled out of their counties. As they travel here from great distances, they see all kinds of new experiences. That’s all part of the journey of getting here.”
Ron Whitehead
Camporee executive director
here from great distances, they see all kinds of new experiences. That’s all part of the journey of getting here.”
Kate Vehkanova, 17, who came to Oshkosh from the Ukraine with about 11 other Pathfinders, said it’s been a lifelong goal of hers to come to the United States.
“I dreamed all my life about America, and this is really cool,” Vehkanova said. “This is my first time in America and in Oshkosh. (There’s) so many people, so many nations, so many languages. I really enjoy it.”
Waifa Tokaduadun, of Australia, directs the Pathfinders Club in Sydney and said it’s important for young people to get to know a greater international community.
“I want all my Pathfinders to get to know each other, make friends, exchange information,” Tokaduadun said. “It’s always good to have friends from other countries especially in Australia where you have a lot of multiculturalism, diversity.”
Some of the most popular activities included taking part in pin trading — a ritual of Pathfinders that lets kids trade and collect pins from different states and countries.
Pathfinders can trade pins with other members of the international community to add to their personal collections.
That’s one thing Arielle Douglas, 20, of Texas, came back for as a volunteer in her second camporee in Oshkosh.
“I just want to get some awesome pins,” Douglas said. “That’s my main goal.”
College fairs, volunteer opportunities and a field trip to a local dairy farm are other activities kids can take part in at the camporee.
Whitehead said the camporee events aim to help kids feel less along in their life journey, give them an opportunity to know their worth and for them to enjoy themselves.
“We want to leave more than dollars in the community,” Whitehead said. “We want to leave a positive impression of who Pathfinders are and their core values.”