Some things never change. Going through old Presy newsettlers there are recurring themes in all the Easter Camp reports of games, dynamic speakers, small group discussions, communion, fun, mad antics, romances blooming... singing round campfires, banner competitions ('who would have thought St Peter's Tauranga was going to win teh banner competition by just one point..? - the Young Presbyterian Newsletter 1958) ... ok, some things DO change!
We've put together some info about Easter Camps (EC) happening around the country (2003). Check out what's happening near you, and if you haven't done the EC thing before, DON'T BE SHY! You'll become a part of one of the longest, strongest traditions in Presy youth ministry - and you may just see lives changed!
Want to spend your Easter relaxing with friends, out on an island in the Hauraki Gulf, in the beautiful Hunua Ranges by the Falls, or out West at Muriwai Beach? Well we have these options just for you! At Easter Camp you will learn about God and why we celebrate Easter, spend time involved in activities including kayaking, king of the island, food games, worship and small groups.
All camps are run by EYC Auckland
WHEN: Thursday 17th - Monday 21st April
COST: $85 per person (group discounts apply for 10 or more contact the organiser)
MORE INFO: www.auckpres.org.nz
Hunua Falls Presbyterian Camp, Form 1-3 (Years 7 - 9), Liz Whitehead (09) 306 6446 gynni@xtra.co.nz
Sick of that younger sibling bugging you? Can't watch what you want on TV? Stuck at home all holidays…? How about coming to a place where you can hang with lots of others your age, have fun and worship God all while hanging with some amazing leaders and speakers.
Motutapu island, Form 3-7 (Year 9-13), Matt (09) 267 5154 motutapucamp@xtra.co.nz
Weekend includes:
Houghten’s Bush Presbyterian Camp (near Muriwai Beach), 20+, Liz Whitehead (09) 306 6446 gynni@xtra.co.nz
Are you in your 20's, grown up at Easter Camp and want to return? Expect a relaxed programme, no work hassles, great worship and electives. If you just want a break or a holiday this is the best place to be.
Thursday 17 April – Monday April 21 2003, Narrows Park, Hamilton
more info: www.narrowspark.co.nz contact: eastercamp@narrowspark.co.nz
Ohope Christian Camp and Te Maungarongo marae, Thursday 17 April @ 7pm – Monday 21 April, Kevin Finlay, 130 Spring St Tauranga, Ph 07 5789608 kevin-f@clear.net.nz
Easter camps have been a standard for many years in the Bay of Plenty. About 3 years ago an older couple drove into the camp. We thought they must have been lost so we prepared to give them directions. They asked what time our Sunday morning service would be. We thought they must want the local Ohope Presy service, but no, they wanted the camp service, so we told them. “Great”, they said, “we’ll be there”. We warned them it might be a little louder than what they were used to. “No problem,” they said. As we talked further we discovered that this couple had met at an Easter camp many years ago and it was now their 40th (if my memory is right) wedding anniversary and they wanted to return to the place where it all started. They had been together, serving their Saviour ever since.
Of course Easter camp is not just a pick up joint, personally, I recall my first Easter camp as a very significant stepping stone in my Christian walk. It came at a time when my Sunday school faith was being tested, and was a part of a progression where God was asking for a total commitment from me. Such camps have helped many people through the years and still have that same impact.
Some things which make the camp special are: The beach, the Marae (we spread over both the Ohope camp site and Marae facilities), meetings in the Marquee, evangelical messages, an openness to the Holy Spirit, students ministering with one another, a relaxed low key atmosphere of fun, contemporary worship, small group discussions, meeting and mixing with people from other churches.
If there isn’t a regional Easter Camp happening near you, or tent cities and big crowds don’t take your fancy, there’s another option – an Easter Camp Local Style. Annette and Simon Williams share why this year, they’re choosing to run a local Easter Camp.
Over the past four years we have been involved in combined Easter camps but this year are we are running an Easter Camp specifically and only for the Youth (and their friends) within our ministry. The primary reason for this is that our focus in youth ministry this year is developing community. As a youth ministry and to be different from the various clubs available to youth in the city we need to be a living community of Christ. Often in ministry we can become numbers orientated so to say that we are intentionally NOT going for numerical growth seems a little drastic.
However in John 13:35 Jesus says: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” It is from this that we may experience growth, but it is still not our aim. Jesus was speaking about the way He loved his disciples. An active love that challenged those 12 men to become disciples and not believers.
Easter Camp 03 therefore will tend to be different and we hope a lot more intimate. At this stage we are looking at doing the whole camp (worship, speaking, planning) from personnel within the ministry – youth included.
Annette & Simon Williams
Youth Pastors St Andrews Presbyterian Wanganui
It isn’t all fun and games. Oh no. We have a gruelling schedule of: arts, drama, multimedia presentations, music, sports, late night adventures, good friendships and of course the world famous (at Palm Grove anyway…) camp concert, plus the annual tradition of an early Sunday morning pilgrimage to Paraparaumu Beach for a dawn communion service.
Our camp community provides a safe place for young people to be challenged and changed. Campers are encouraged to grow in their faith, build friendships – with others and God, and enjoy living in a temporary community of other young Christians. Here in Wellington we’re big on involvement and participation and one of the most exciting things about a Palm Grove Easter Camp is the amazing and talented young people who provide the music for our worship, who lead small groups and who invent and run crazy games. There is so much to be part of, so much to experience. See you there!
Palm Grove, Paraparaumu, Thursday 17 – Sunday 20 April 2003, Youth 13-18 plus their youth leaders
contact: Christine Wakefield Ph: 04 973 8140 email: jymc@paradise.net.nz
Cost: $70 early registration, $75 later registration
Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, Banks Peninsula, Gates open at 2pm on Thursday 17 April Programme starts at 8:30pm, Programme finishes Monday 21st @2pmMore info: www.eastercamp.org.nz Contact: Caterbury Youth Services Trust (03) 354 2181
COST: Regos before 31 March: $99 Family discount $95 Children Yr 7&8: $50, Yr 1-6: $30 Regos 1 April-15 April: Teenagers $110 (no family discount) Children as above Register: through your local youth group by mail or on-line.
Easter Camp in Christchurch is run by Canterbury Youth Services Trust
-an umbrella organization committed to helping local churches build healthy youth ministries.
You’re invited to Eastercamp 03 to chill with God, your mates and over 2000 other people. We deal to everthing else so that your stay with us will be so sweet that even yomama’s hospitality will look 2nd rate. Our chefs will take care of your munchies, the 24 hour safety team will ensure you make it to the end, and the experience of the 1800m2 Big Top will be so sick you’re grandkids will hear about it. Easter Camp 03 is definitely not one to miss (we’ve even upgraded the water and got more dunnies than even the biggest hanky could fill.)
Tirohanga, Thursday 17th April (evening)- Mon 22nd April Contact: www.e-star.org.nz
Phone: Howard Carter at 03 4731512. COST: $65.00 or $55.00 a head for two or more from the same family.
Our theme “a life less ordinary” and we will have a group of young people from around Dunedin with developing gifts in speaking doing the speaking slots.
Why go to Easter Camp? O the food is great and we have a lot of fun and lets face it You could come to camp just for that however there’s also the awesome worship and creative ministries, inspirational messages, great discussions in small groups not to mention all that fun, friends. O did I mention the foods great as well. O yeah and cos we want young people in Dunedin to have ‘a life less ordinary’.
An added dimension to e-star3 this year is that we want to actively develop leadership amongst young people. From the top down we will be including young people in the running and leading of camp. Everyone will have an understudy. The administrators, the musicians, the small group leaders, the people running the games. You name it. Young people are the church of today and called to minister and we weant to model that. Even the speaking will be done by a group of young people with a mentor to advise and direct them.