Inviting Kabrina and Manny McGinnis, new directors at Camp Bethel, to our June meeting reminded me of my camping days there over 60 years ago. The camp looked very different then. Behind the John Friend Lodge, kitchen and dining room was old growth forest. Huge trees, reaching to the sky with a thick blanket of fir needles on the ground. There was very little undergrowth so you could see all the way down the trail to the back side of the lake. Cabins lined the trail, although "shacks" might better describe them. Only 2x4s, some rough pieces of wood and a roof made up the small buildings that may/may not have had windows, but the kids never complained.
We had a big group of kids going from this church. Camp cost $15 for a full week and $10 for a partial week. The church gave us some money, but we needed more so everyone who wanted to go could. One of our big fundraisers was to distribute Pittsburg Paint flyers for the local store. We earned $20 per 1000 of flyers. We would distribute 5000 flyers in a weekend Adults would pick us up after school on a Friday and we would distribute flyers till dark. Then we started early on Saturday morning to finish by the afternoon. It seems like I spent a lot of time in Tanglewilde passing out flyers.
If you wanted to work at a camp then you would sign up in the Region Office in Seattle. A person didn't necessarily get sent to the camp closest to where they lived. This was actually more fun because I met kids from all over the state, including: Tacoma, Seattle, Everett, Wenatchee, Spokane, Yakima and the Tri-Cities.
I signed up to work at Bethel for all 4 camps. I had a different job each week. Sometimes I was kitchen help, activities helper, music, counselor or camper. A lot of the staff stayed for more than one week so we got to be good friends. One of the local churches had a bus we could use so each week the kids either went to Lake Quinault to go swimming or spent the afternoon at the beach.
A member of the Camp Bethel board from Aberdeen would come out one afternoon each week and bring ice cream bars for all the campers and staff. Mr. Martin was a really nice person and spent time with the kids on his visits. He'd play games with them or just sit and talk. The younger campers liked to create a "home in the woods" for their Bible study time. Not having the kids meet as one group meant that there were a lot more adults involved with the kids.
My most lasting memory is Senior High Camp Of you were ever in the living room of John Friend Lodge you know it was not a huge room. There were wall-to- wall. overstuffed chairs and old sofas. Imagine 60+ senior highs crowded and filling up the seating and the floor for Bible study.
Our Bible study leader the first year was Rev. Henry Koslow. He was born in Russia and made his way to the United States in the 40s. He would start out with short references to WWII and then wrap it into the study for the day. I can't tell you one thing he said, but I can tell you that his faith and Christian commitment were evident. We invited him to come back for each year our group was in senior high camp.
It was at Bethel that I felt a call to a church related vocation. I thought it would be in Christian Education or Youth Ministry. Instead it was in a church office where I found myself for 31 years. I did my best in those years to love and care for the congregation as if they were my family.
Camp is important to our children and youth. It widens their vision of commitment by adults who claim Jesus and devote a week of their time to be with them. It also lets them meet and get to know kids from other areas and situations forming friendships and a bond.
Our women understand the treasure we have in Camp Bethel and that it is worthy of our support. Please pray for our camp and campers this year.
Thank you all for your faithful support of Women's Ministries.
I am so blessed to have such a faithful group of women!
- Jean Heidal
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