The second annual Drayton SU Sports Camp took place July 16 to 20 at the local fairgrounds.
This year, 104 campers attended the camp run by local volunteers in partnership with Scripture Union Canada – up from 84 last year.
“With the boom in registrations, we were able to add an additional sport to the program, with baseball, soccer, ball hockey, and football on this year’s curriculum,” organizers note. “It took a group of 25 volunteers, plus five Scripture Union coaches (from Scripture Union in Scarborough) to help make this a successful camp.”
The support staff included 14 adult volunteer and 17 youth/young adult volunteers, serving as: squad leaders, assistant Sports coaches, extra helpers with the youngest campers, “inclusion” helpers, a photographer, “Camp Moms” and music leaders. Five pastors also joined to lead a small group devotion.
“They all were rewarded with smiling faces and lots of laughs during the week,” organizers state.
As part of the program, each child received a T-shirt, Bible, water bottle and light backpack. Each day the children experienced learning the fundamental skills and rules of each sport (and building on those skills daily), large group games, a daily Bible study, a lunchtime meal with their friends.
Also included in the week were daily lunches, prepared and served by approximately 30 people from five different churches.
Organizers offered “a big thank you” to Community Mennonite Fellowship, Drayton United Church, Selah Fire, Drayton Christian Reformed Church and the Drayton Reformed Church for providing lunches to all who attended camp. They also thanked the Drayton Mapleton Agricultural Society for the use of the facilities.
There were a number of people who supported the camp in other ways, either by donating their time or funding, or offering the hospitality of their homes to SU coaches and volunteers.
“We sincerely appreciate the support of our amazing community – none of it would be possible without your help,” organizers state.
