Ten-year-old Faith's birthday came early this past year, when she arrived at the Salvation Army Jackson's Point Blaze camp for kids and spent a week with her friends on the shores of Lake Simcoe in Ontario.

What more could a kid ask for?

“This is my third year at camp,” she says, while sitting at a picnic table shaded by a big old tree. “I love this camp. There's an awesome playground and awesome games. It's where I always want to celebrate my birthday.”

Faith is just as enthusiastic when it comes to having a friend such as Kayla.

“I've been coming to camp here forever,” says Kayla, who thinks the best thing about being at Jackson's Point is hanging out with friends she hasn't seen since last year.

“I also like swimming and the high ropes course,” she says. “It only takes me a minute to get up and another to get down.” Kayla must get her energy eating her favourite camp food, including baked potatoes and chili with sour cream and cheese. “The potatoes are so good!”

Kayla also has a favourite camp song and proceeds to sing and sign: “Father God, I want to know you like a friend, feel you beside me every day.”

Amy Randell, 20, has worked at the Salvation Army Camp Newport outside of Huntsville, Ont., where she also attended music camp growing up. This past summer, she was in charge of programs at Jackson's Point. “I'm very happy at camp,” Amy says, adding she grew up in The Salvation Army and in an environment that nourished her spiritual needs.

Her experiences at the Christian camp gave her a chance to grow as a person and take on new challenges. It's an experience all kids should have, she says.

For some, camp is the first time they've been out of their communities and in a whole new world, says camping director Randy Roebuck. “Today, everything is totally different.” And that's a good thing.

(Reprinted from the Toronto Star, July 8, 2013)

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On Thursday, July 3, 2014, karen said:

I worked at Roblin Lake Salvation Army Camp and it was so much fun.

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