Young Lives Changed and Changing Others

Every summer, about 500 kids ages 8-11 from Spokane’s low-income neighborhoods are invited to spend a week exploring nature and experiencing God’s love. They’re invited by their local church and sponsored by generous members of the community. The goal is to provide connections to a team of trustworthy adults who will invest in their lives and offer hope for a better tomorrow.

I sat down with one camper and asked her to tell me just how much camp means to her.

Shi has been coming to camp since she was in second grade. Now in sixth grade, this year, she’s also part of Work Crew, a team of students who help clean cabins, work in the kitchen, and take on other important responsibilities. This marks Shi’s fifth year at camp.

“You have to do, like, a lot of work in a certain amount of time,” she said. “But you have a lot of free time...It’s pretty fun, helping out.”

When asked what her favorite part of camp is, she laughed and replied,

“I have to pick one? When I was a camper, I would say the dance party or the worship team, but now I think my favorite is working.

My whole point is to come to camp and obviously have fun, but also to help campers have a really, really nice time. I like watching them all jump around and have a lot of fun and laugh with their friends.”

For Shi, camp is more than just a fun summer break. “Camp means a lot to me. Like, I always wish that it lasted more than just a week. I want it to last the whole summer. But then I’d miss my parents, and so would all the campers. But it’s really, really fun. And I think it’s amazing how they let campers have a lot of fun, but also teach about God. And it looks like all the campers are so interested in it. I remember when I was in second grade, watching Mrs. Pam talk, and I was so interested. I thought, ‘When I’m older, I want to do this and this and that—like all the other people.’"

Though camp has been a huge part of Shi’s journey, she feels that her faith grew even deeper after attending LifeRoads Church, which she discovered through camp.

"When I really changed was when I started going to LifeRoads. Like, I’ve learned more about God there because you’re at church for hours and hours, and you just learn so much more... I’ve always believed in God. I would wear a cross and pray every now and then. But this year has changed me a lot. Now, I’ve learned more about Him and what He does.”

Thanks to the generous community members who provide camp sponsorships every year, campers attend at no cost. When asked what she would say to camp donors, Shi didn’t hesitate:

“I would thank the donors so much, and I would tell them how happy it makes all the campers and staff and Work Crew watching these kids believe in Jesus. Especially if they don’t have a good home life, they can come here and learn more about Him.

And I think it just sends them home really happy… or really sad because they miss camp. I was one of those kids—when I’d come home, I’d cry because I wanted to go back.”

To other campers who might be aging out, she offered this advice:

“If you’re a camper and you’re sad that you can’t come to camp anymore, join Work Crew!

You get the same experience, but more freedom and a little more responsibility.”

Looking ahead, Shi hopes to be a cabin leader after next year, but she’s also open to staying on Work Crew.