{"id":7454,"date":"2015-07-21T10:52:38","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T14:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/?p=7454"},"modified":"2024-11-01T10:15:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-01T14:15:06","slug":"connecting-at-camp-cherith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.canadahelps.org\/en\/giving-life\/connecting-with-charities\/connecting-at-camp-cherith\/","title":{"rendered":"Connecting at Camp Cherith"},"content":{"rendered":"

This post was provided by Keith Hadigate, Executive Director<\/em>\u00a0at Camp Cherith, as part of our ongoing charity spotlight series.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Archery<\/p>\n

For many people, summer camp is one of the sweetest childhood memories.<\/strong>\u00a0 Camp provides the opportunity to form new friendships, learn new skills, gain independence and open our eyes to the connection between ourselves and the rest of the world.\u00a0 Camp gives us confidence to grow, appreciate nature, explore, and make memories to be forever treasured.\u00a0 We learn self-sufficiency, resourcefulness, teambuilding, leadership and problem solving skills. But above all, camp is fun and Camp Cherith is certainly no exception.<\/p>\n

In the midst of summer, our campers can be found in and around our camp grounds frolicking in endless activities.\u00a0 Through sports, crafts, camp songs, teambuilding exercises and more, Cherith provides campers with a safe environment to learn, grow and explore the world around them all while facilitating personal development as individuals, a team, and as citizens of the world.\u00a0 But what makes our camp unique is our celebration of faith and connection with God.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile fun, games, friends, programming, and time well spent are all elements of the camp experience that I love, there is something far greater.\u00a0 It\u2019s something you can\u2019t really understand unless you\u2019ve been there, it\u2019s something you can\u2019t really explain to an outsider, and it\u2019s something you can\u2019t really miss once you\u2019re there.\u00a0 Simply put, God is there.\u00a0 God is at camp, and it\u2019s obvious to almost all who come.\u00a0 The spiritual nature of camp allows campers to grow, not just in their life skills department, but in their relationship with Jesus, the most important relationship they could ever have.\u00a0 God is at camp, and He is working\u2014in visible and invisible ways\u2014and working at Cherith gives me an opportunity to be a part of it.\u201d — Rebecca S., former camper and Camp Cherith staff<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At Camp Cherith, we experience God’s word in action and enable our children to enter a personal relationship with Christ and to know his word.\u00a0 We host several prayer meetings everyday while weaving in scripture into every activity at Cherith.\u00a0 We strongly believe in the ability to appreciate God and his creation when surrounded by the great outdoors, one of the many reasons why our camp motto exclaims, \u201cLeave no child indoors this summer!\u201d\u00a0 <\/em>— a core value that has been with us since our start back in 1954.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Kayak<\/p>\n

Our humble beginnings.<\/h2>\n

Ontario Camp Cherith was the first Pioneer Girls’ camp in Canada founded back in 1954. Over the years, growing interest sparked the need to locate our larger, current site.\u00a0 On opening day back on July 9, 1961, a modern dining hall, 13 camper cabins, a pump house and maintenance cabin, a cooks’ quarters and a director’s cabin all stood on the site, and in our first year, 366 girls attended our five week camp.<\/p>\n

Since then, thousands of trees have been planted, swimming was transferred from the river to a concrete in-ground pool, and horsemanship began in 1962 — a popular camp activity still enjoyed by many campers even today. Over the years countless hours of selfless, dedicated labour went into site preparation each and every spring as trails were cut and campsites developed.\u00a0 Two years after beginning in Walkerton, a grass tennis court was laid out, but this activity lasted only a short time; an archery range now stands in its place. A much needed tuck shop, office and administration building, and Chalet, was also erected in 1974 among countless other drastic changes we have seen over the years.<\/p>\n

From a very humble beginning in 1961, the site at Walkerton has developed into a fine camp where girls and boys can enjoy the outdoors, learn skills, and become introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ. Cherith has always followed the theme, “Christ in every aspect of a person’s life”<\/em> and it is only through the kindness of our donors which we are able to provide our campers with the opportunity to experience camp, while learning more about their faith and connecting with God.<\/p>\n

\"Thumbs<\/a>
\nTo learn more about the Camp Cherith, please visit their\u00a0charity profile page >>\u00a0<\/a>
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