This Year's Camp

It’s a Sunday in August and some two hundred and fifty Orthodox Christians are standing beneath the trees in Pennsylvania, celebrating the Divine Liturgy. 170 of the parishioners are children. For many of the people here, this will be the first priest’s ordination that they have attended, or the first time they have met a metropolitan. A choir composed of young people is part of the scene as most of the parish receives communion.

What is this paradise in the woods? We are at St. Seraphim Camp, and it is the last day in a week of companionship, worship, and enjoyment of nature for the crowd gathered here. In 1994, with the blessing of Metropolitan Laurus, the first session of St. Seraphim Camp was held, and the camp has since become a tradition for two generations of American Orthodox Christians. Camp lasts for a week, from Sunday to Sunday. Though the current location at a Boy Scouts of America camp is beloved by participants, the camp has been hoping to acquire land of their own: then, camp could last two weeks or even all summer!

Each weekday is filled with a variety of activities: swimming in the pool and floating down the river in inner tubes, archery, BB guns, and arts and crafts, various sports, and other new things to try, like “man making” for the little boys, and drama classes. A different special event occurs each evening: either the Olympics, the capture the flag games, a dance, or the all-camp campfire, with skits performed by each group. Campers are usually aged eight to seventeen and divided into groups of two grades each. Most of the younger counselors have attended St. Seraphim Camp themselves, while the older counselors are parents or just familiar faces in the church. A nurse, security, the kitchen staff, and many others help keep the camp running.

This is a great place to make new friends and meet old ones, but it’s also a place with a distinctly spiritual atmosphere. Every day begins and ends with a group prayer, and everyone has a chance to meet with one of several priests, including during the morning classes in Law of God. Fasting food is served on Wednesday and Friday, and efforts are made to make sure that each child goes to confession and receives communion at the end-of-week services. Every sense is reminded of Christ, but not in a stifling way: this is, after all, a little vacation for everyone.

If you, your child, or your parish would like to be involved with St. Seraphim Camp next summer, there are several ways to learn more and find your way here. This year, the cost for a camper to attend was $225 (scholarships are available), and counselors and staff always may come for free. More information can be found at www.stseraphimcamp.com, or by calling 678-613-2270. Registration starts in spring, and spots fill up quickly, so don’t forget to sign up early. See you next year!