As part of OUTLOOK’s recent photo/essay contest, Mid-America youth (ages 10-16) were asked to describe how a past camp experience impacted their lives. Participants were also asked to submit up to three photos to accompany their essays. The grand prize: a free week at any Mid-America Union-sponsored camp. The first, second and third place winners were also published in the May 2014 issue of OUTLOOK.
The winners, honorable mentions and other entries are featured below. Click the “next” or “previous” buttons to navigate between entries.
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Second Place Winner: Remington Hill
The summer of 2012 changed my life.
It all started when I opened the Kiowa cabin door at Glacier View Ranch Seventh-day Adventist Camp. There I found six teenage girls hyper on mountain air and the thought that they were finally at camp.
When I first got there, it was kind of awkward being the only one who didn’t know everyone, but my cabin mates welcomed me like they had known me forever. One of the girls who really made me feel welcomed and comfortable was Gabrielle, or Gabby for short. She was a pastor’s daughter and we were just like each other! Same religion, same hair, same personality and the list can go on and on! She was my best friend at camp. We did everything together—swimming, horseback-riding, kayaking, and our favorite, go-kart riding. Camp was a blast!
Unfortunately, I had to leave camp five days early; my precious Nana died. When my parents picked me up, I introduced them to Gabby. We started the conversation with where she went to school. She said she went to HMS Richards SDA School in Loveland, CO. Come to find out we were actually looking to move to that area. Long story short, we ended up living with Gabrielle and her family for over 2 months! Being in a pastor’s house I developed an everlasting love for God that led to my baptism and a deeper understanding of the Sabbath.
Gabby is still to this day my best friend and is one of the reasons I am where I am, and God had a huge part in that too! Who would have known that going to GVR summer camp would have changed my life?
