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Monday marked the first full day of the 2003 session of Hye Camp. Campers were introduced to the daily schedule that they would be following for the rest of the week and many counselors began executing their unique tasks involving the different classes being offered throughout the day.
After a hearty breakfast, Fr. Yeprem Kelegian led the morning worship service. The highlight of the service was the reading of the gospel, Fr. Yeprem's favorite passage, John 15:16. The passage speaks to the ideas of love and compassion for one another, and Fr. Yeprem took the opportunity to challenge each camper to perform an act of caring and compassion towards one of their fellow campers during the day, and report back to him in the evening worship service.
After chapel, four groups of campers, separated by age, spent the morning rotating through four different classes. The morning classes consist of a religion class taught by a priest, a culture class, an arts and crafts class, and an open period.
After classes the campers gather for lunch, before spending the afternoon split up into two groups, again based on age. During the afternoon, campers rotate between outdoor organized athletic activity and time in the swimming pool. After dinner, the evenings are spent in a number of entertaining activities for the whole camp.
The Camp Olympics are a very popular and eagerly anticipated fixture and demand a lot of time and attention from both campers and counselors. Other evening activities include magicians, campfires, singing, and cabin skits. The last group activity is always the evening worship service.
It was during today's evening worship that Fr. Yeprem heard the fruits of his earlier challenge to the campers. With a chapel full of children eager to share their daily experience, Fr. Yeprem was treated to stories of sharing, of kind hearted assistance to fellow campers, and of campers looking out for one another and always being there for each other.
One camper, who was signed up for multiple Olympic events, gave up one of her events so that another girl who had not been able to find as many events that suited her interests was able to participate as happily as everyone else. Another camper spent her time in her culture class teaching a friend how to play tavloo. Instead of taking advantage of her friends novice talent and beating her soundly, she not only showed her friends the best moves and why they were the best moves, she even conceded a fair defeat that helped the beginner gain much needed confidence. A third camper was feeling like the fifth wheel of her Olympic volleyball team until three of her friends made the extra effort to encouraging her and making her feel a part of the team.
Finally, Fr. Yeprem heard the story of a young camper who wanted to write home but forgot all of her stationary. All of her cabin mates immediately offered up any and all supplies necessary to send a loving letter home to let this girl's parents know what a wonderful time she was having.
After the heartwarming evening service, the night began to wind down. At 10:30 campers headed back to their cabins. By midnight, every cabin had turned its lights out, giving campers a chance to rest and dream about another great day at Hye Camp.
Posted by Jake at July 28, 2003 02:47 PM
