My name is Erin and I’m an intern at Heartland Center. Two days ago, Shelby, Tyler, Lauren and I arrived in Israel for our study tour of the Holy Land! This is the first in a series of blog posts where we’ll be sharing our experiences on this amazing, and hopefully life-changing, journey. Here we go!

5 Ways Camp Changed My Life

I am sorry, I lied to you a bit when I said camp changes lives. It is God who changes lives, camp is just the place I first experienced that change. Summer camp gives a unique opportunity for God to work, one that the Lord is more than willing to take. I have now spent ten summers at Heartland Camp as a camper and then as a staff member. I can honestly say that without my time at camp I would not know the love of my Savior the way I do today. As I begin to work full-time for this ministry, I am encouraged to know that my experience is not unique. Many campers, volunteers, and staff have a similar list of ways God has changed their life through camp. Here are the top 5 ways God has changed my life at Heartland:

Heartland Camp Year in Review

To start every summer the Heartland Summer Staff is commissioned by the Heartland Presbytery. The whole staff gathers at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church to be sent off for a summer of ministry. The whole purpose is to send out the staff as one body with the support of the church. Part of the service is a question and answer led by the pastor. He asks the staff questions. “Will you serve children with the love of God?” “Will you put campers and fellow staff before yourself?” And many more like that. Each time the staff answers, “I will with God’s help”. That answer stuck with me through the summer. Through the long weeks and sometimes chaotic days. The only way camp can be run is with God’s help. That is the theme of the summer. This infographic shows some of the highlights of the summer, none of which could have happened without the help of God.

Winter Camp Reunion Recap

The 2015 camp season finished with a bang. Well… it was more like Bible studies, songs, games, and lots of fun but you get the idea. Our second annual Winter CamFam reunion was our biggest ever!

Heartland Christmas Traditions

Heartland staff’s Christmas traditions are all over the map; including Norwegian food and hymns sung in Spanish. The one thing all traditions have in common is that they are a big part of what makes the Christmas season special. They help us grow closer to our friends and family as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Our Heartland staff family would love to share our favorite Christmas traditions with you.

Heartland's Eskimo Games

Winter may be here to stay, but that doesn't mean that the games have to go. Heartland has come up with some twists on classic camp games to make them perfect for playing in the snow or for spending a long day indoors!

Can I have S'more?

Roasted marshmallow, crunchy graham cracker, and melty chocolate what could be better than a s'more? Well more s'mores of course. Enjoy some creative twists on your favorite camp treat! If you don't have access to a fire, never fear there is still plenty of goodness inside to keep you happy through the winter!

#campSERVES

The Holiday times are a great time to get the family together and reminisce over the blessings of the past year. It is also a great time to serve as a family. What better way to show your child that service, gratitude, and hard work are important than by serving together as a family. There are plenty of service opportunities for all ages, who knows it might just become the next family tradition.

#campPRAYS

There can be many worries when it comes to praying; am I saying the right words, am I focused enough, am I even allowed to ask for that? I know I have felt those worries and others that seem to make prayer into a duty and stressor in my life instead of it being a conversation with Jesus. I know I must try to grow in prayer, the opportunity to talk to the living God is too good to be missed! What better way to begin praying that beginning with your children? Together you can grow in knowing what a life with Jesus is about.

#campSTUDIES

This summer our theme was Love Never Fails. We learned about the amazing unceasing love of God through reading the Bible, prayer, worship and community. Our hope is that if anyone who came onto camp remembered nothing else, they would remember that “nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39. To help remember Gods unceasing love here is a devotional to share with your child.

#campSNACKS

As it starts to get colder it can get harder and harder to remember the good times of summer. To help we are updating a classic summer treat! We have taken the melty chocolate and gooey marshmallows from the campfire s’mores you love and put them in one easy to bake cookie!