This Sunday, youth from across the Mission Centre will gather at Kallara Campgrounds in Victoria for CPlus Camp.

For many of us, youth camps hold special memories. They were places where we gathered with old friends and made new ones, shared laughter and experiences, and formed relationships that often stayed with us long after camp ended. For some, those friendships were also among the first things that tied us more deeply to the church community. They kept us coming back year after year and gave us an early glimpse of a community shaped by love, belonging and peace, something we wanted to continue being part of.

I feel that in a new way now as a parent. There is something especially joyful about helping my oldest daughter pack for camp and sending her to a place where I know she will be safe, cared for and loved. I hope she comes home with some of the same things so many of us carried home from camp: new friendships, happy memories, a growing sense of belonging, and the knowledge that she is part of a community that cares for her.

As this year’s campers and leaders prepare to gather, let us hold them in our prayers. May the week bring safety and good health, plenty of joy and fun, meaningful connections, and memories and friendships that will continue to shape their lives for years to come.