At Sparrow Lake Camp, we are occasionally asked about what role the camp plays in the Christian education of our campers. We recognize that this can mean different things to different people. We respect the fact that not all of our campers come from a

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Forming Faith At Camp (Adaptation of Creed by
Janice Franklin)

• At Sparrow Lake Camp, we are occasionally asked
  about what role the camp plays in the Christian
  education of our campers. We recognize that this
  can mean different things to different people. We
  respect the fact that not all of our campers come
  from a Christian background. This means that our
  approach tends to be more ecumenical as it is
  very important to us that every camper feels
  valued and included for who they are and what
  they bring to the camp. The camp is part of the
  United Church of Canada, and as a result, uses
  the United Churchs statement of beliefs as the
  foundation for our programs and philosophy. The
  camp, like the United Church of Canada, strives
  to be inclusive of all people.

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada
We are not alone, we live in God's world. At
Camp, we focus on helping campers make lasting
connections with other campers, their counselors,
staff, and nature. Outside of camp, our society
is increasingly focused on virtual connection to
others through technology. Camp is a chance to
get unplugged and form real relationships with
those around us.
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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• We believe in God
• who has created and is creating,
• Nowhere is Gods creation more evident than at
  camp. Children are amazed to discover the
  ever-changing natural world.
• who has come in Jesus,
• the Word made flesh,
• to reconcile and make new,
• Every day at camp, we strive to live by the Word
  of Jesus. Camp is about working together for a
  common goal, including everyone, recognizing
  their worth and value, showing kindness and love.

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• who works in us and others
• by the Spirit.The Spirit of God is evident
  everywhere at camp through children having fun,
  laughter, singing, times of quiet reflection,
  support for those who may be struggling with
  something, including children who may not be
  included elsewhere. There is no focus on the
  acquisition of material goods at camp no cell
  phones or ipods, no comparison of who has the
  latest video game, most expensive game system,
  and so on. Instead we focus on the value and
  worth of each individual for who they are.

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• We trust in God.
• We trust that every child who comes to us is
  meant to be there. We do everything possible to
  ensure that each child feels a sense of love and
  belonging while at camp.

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• We are called to be the Church
• to celebrate God's presence,
• At Camp, Gods presence is celebrated through the
  singing of grace at every meal, through songs of
  praise every evening at Vespers, and on Sunday
  morning at Chapel, as well as woven throughout a
  program designed to help
• every child feel valued and loved.

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• to live with respect in Creation,
• Respect for our beautiful natural environment is
  part of every aspect of our program. Most of our
  program takes place outdoors. Our outdoor
  Chapel, overlooking the lake, is a wonderful
  place to worship. We weave the need to respect
  and care for Creation through everything we do.
  Every camper has the opportunity to spend at
  least one night on an out-trip at camp where they
  develop an even stronger connection with nature
  by cooking over a fire, carrying only the bare
  necessities with them, using their own power for
  transportation, and ensuring they leave no
  evidence of their presence behind when they leave
  their camp site. When children are exposed to
  nature, they are able to develop a relationship
  with it, which leads to their desire to care for
  it.

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• to love and serve others
• Love and service is an integral part of our
  program at Sparrow Lake. Counsellors and staff
  demonstrate how others should be treated in a
  respectful way that shows value for each
  individual and teach campers to do the same. One
  of the ways campers learn about service is
  through caring for their cabin mates. They take
  turns serving meals to their cabin mates and
  cleaning up after meals as a way to show care and
  respect for others as well as recognize their own
  value to the group. Our LIT and CIT programs
  provide specific training on how to be a
  respectful leader in a way that serves the
  needs of those in a group

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• to seek justice and resist evil,
• Whenever groups of people come together, there is
  going to be some difference of opinion and
  conflict. When this happens, the situation is
  dealt with by counsellors and staff so that
  everyones voice is heard and a resolution can
  be found that meets everyones needs

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
• our judge and our hope.
• This is done through song and prayer, but in a
  way that is inclusive and respectful of those at
  camp who are not Christian. Children who are
  interested in exploring their Christian beliefs
  further can enroll in the Discovery program as
  one of their options.

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• In life, in death, in life beyond death God is
  with us.
• We are not alone.
• It is our hope that our campers leave camp with a
  sense that they are loved and loveable beings.
  We want that feeling to last throughout their
  year and throughout their lives. We hope that
  the memories created and the connections formed
  at camp will be carried with the camper always
  as a part of who they are as human beings.

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A New Creed The United Church of Canada

• At Sparrow Lake we are forever grateful of the
  opportunity to work with children within a United
  Church of Canada, Christian framework to help
  form the people they are to become.Thanks
  beTo God.