Today we finished re-organizing and packing away the bins of tents, mattresses, and other camp related items in our basement. We are church planting, so we rent for now, therefore we have a room in our basement that has become the Pathfinder Camping Supply Headquarters.
The International Pathfinder Camporee is over. We have spent years fundraising, hyping our church, staff, and kids up for this event. It is hard to believe it is in the past now. Although we are going on two weeks out from the Camporee, it is now only sinking in. I think it takes a few weeks to recoup from the adrenaline rush and process everything. If you don't know what the International Pathfinder Camporee (IPC) here are a few highlights and personal experiences.
The IPC was attended this year by roughly 57,000 people form more than 100 countries. Yeah! Amazing number of people.
Hardly any better than singing the Pathfinder song with that many people. They broke two Guiness world records. The largest human cross (13,309 people) and the largest scarf (300 feet across) held by two cranes no less. It is an event where kids can earn honors they can't get locally, participate in various fun activites, experience a world class stage play on the life of David, and worship our Creator. If you don't know what Pathfinders are, it is a co-ed organization similar to boyscouts/girlscouts where practical life skills can be learned and honors are given for achivements. There is a deeply spiritual aspect of the organization which I really like. There is Bible learning and memorization through each class level. The over arching goal is to see young people connected with Jesus. Our local namesake, Group 180ยบ, carries this them with "turning lives around for Christ".
Five years ago it was just my family who came. Noah was barely a pathfinder (9 years old).
This year we had 29 people in our group (8 of whom were international guests). So it was something to bring more people. My son Noah (14) got baptized this year at camporee, which was the major highlight for me. Pin trading was big thing for our whole club. There are pins from clubs, conferences, unions and other special projects that can be bought or traded as keepsakes. This is a great icebreaker as many kids are shy and aren't comfortable talking with new people. But I witnessed some of the most shy kids in our club and others walk right up to people and ask what pins they have and if they wanted to trade. It was amazing.
Being at camporee is very much like a big family reunion. The Pathfinder creed exudes kindness, respect for self, others and for things sacred, drawing primarily from Biblical principles. This was manifested in how kind everyone was and how trusting people were with their valuables. It was common to see very expensive items, including elctronics, to be sitting unattended. People had a sense of freedom and safety being around others who respected the law of God.
The theme song of Chosen and the call out from the worship group, Hymneo, continues to be sung, hummed, and shouted out around the home. As my memories solidify and my feelings of camporee transcend into nostalgia, I am hopeful and longing for the day when all of God's children far and wide can be reunited in heaven. I believe the IPC is a small glimpse of what that may look like. As much work and energy it takes to make this trip happen, I am already looking forward to the next IPC in 2024, or the streets of gold, whiever comes first.
I'll post a video re-cap of our trip here soon.
