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Spirituality
Caring ... Honesty ... Respect ... Responsibility
Often we hear that the 'spirit' of camp is in the songs at campfires and in the dining hall, the cheers during our weekend olympic competitions, and simply in the fun we have all day at camp.
We tend to equate 'camp spirit' with what we know as 'school spirit'.
There's another aspect of 'spirit', and that is 'spirituality' ... which is not the same as 'religion'.
Spirituality is the intrinsic capacity of the human for self-transcendence, and recognizes that each of us is rooted in something larger than just ourselves.
The mission statements of the YMCA movement, the McGaw YMCA, and Camp Echo all include the word spirit:
- The mission of the YMCA is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.
- The McGaw YMCA is an open, charitable, membership association, that promotes growth in spirit, mind, and body through programs and services for all in our diverse community.
- Camp Echo's goal is to operate a fun, engaging program while fostering the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of our participants.
Camp Echo staff members are committed to living the mission, and the mission guides our daily programming and activities.
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Spirituality at Camp Echo
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As a YMCA camp, Camp Echo recognizes the importance of Christian values in our society.
At the same time, Camp Echo welcomes and serves a diverse population of campers with a variety of religious beliefs, ethnic backgrounds, and national origin.
Accordingly, we promote character development and personal growth in the areas of spirit, mind, and body - not any particular religion.
Some might call this an emphasis on "human values."
During the daily program, we set aside two specific times for spiritual reflection:
- We start the day with a non-denominational quiet time called Morning Reflections, held in our chapel, during which staff members, and sometimes campers, tell a story that teaches a lesson and helps the entire camp focus on a core value such as caring, honesty, responsibility, or respect.
- At bedtime, cabin counselors lead a Taps Talk with their cabin group that allows the group to share incidents or learning experiences from that day.
Prior to meals we ask campers to stand and remain silent during, or participate in, a grace.
Grace reminds us how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy the food, friends, and fellowship that camp provides.
- Before breakfast, the Camp Director reads a different blessing each day (see 'Spoken Graces' in the PDF below) from one of a variety of diverse cultures and religions.
- Before lunch and dinner, the entire camp sings or recites grace, or observes a moment of silence.
Some of our traditional graces have a basis in Christianity.
If your child wants to share or lead a grace of his or her own, he or she may offer to do so by talking to his or her counselor.
- Click here if you are curious about the graces we use at Camp Echo (PDF format).
Adventure Trip groups attend Morning Reflections only when the group is in base camp.
Rangers and Adventure Trip groups have Taps Talks while watching a sunset or around a campfire.
They may also make the choice to have grace before meals.
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The Rouse Memorial Chapel
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The outdoor Rouse Memorial Chapel, dedicated in 1983, is in a beautiful location on a hillside overlooking Ryerson Long Lake on the southeast corner of our property.
The site of several camp weddings and memorial services, the Chapel is where we have our all-camp Morning Reflections each day before breakfast.
Originally a space for Christian worship only, a simple rustic cross adorns the forested background in a captivating natural setting.
To thousands of camp alumni from the early years the cross reminds them of the Christian readings and songs that were an important part of their experience at Camp Echo.
Now, the cross represents the mission of the YMCA and the Christian principles that we impart to a diverse population of campers: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
We make it clear to all who pass through the gates of the Rouse Chapel that everyone is welcome, whatever their faith or personal beliefs;
a simple sign at the entrance reads as follows:
All are welcome here -
to reflect on the core values, admire the beauty of nature,
celebrate life, strengthen spirit, worship a supreme being,
or simply to enjoy the serenity of this place in peace and tranquility.
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More on Spirituality at Camp
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The following is an excerpt from an article entitled "Camps and Spirituality" by Nancy Ferguson, which was published in the American Camp Association's Camping magazine March/April 2007 issue.
Spirituality is part of the human creature.
Camps are places where the spiritual nature of campers is already recognized.
It is at camp that campers are invited and encouraged to use creativity and imagination, to dream dreams, to wonder, to ask hard questions, and to reach for the best in themselves.
Spirituality is firmly planted in relationships and within community experiences.
Camps are by their very nature a place where relationships are nurtured and nourished.
A sense of community is built which draws campers back year after year to reestablish relationships and to recapture that sense of belonging.
Spirituality is expressed in ethical behavior.
Camps are committed to creating an environment for ethical behavior that is based on a sense of responsibility to others within the camp community and beyond.
Spirituality leads to growth and change.
In addition to the activity skills they learn while at camp, we want campers to grow in positive self-image, in confidence, in their sense of independence, in their ability to make friendships, and in leadership abilities.
Here are some ways that camps develop spirituality:
1. Encourage wonder - Children are naturally filled with wonder and excited about exploring their worlds.
Instead of a hike to some place and back, stop along the way and encourage campers to listen and look and feel the natural world around them.
2. Slow down - One of the greatest gifts camp has to offer children and youth is the opportunity to step away from the hectic, often chaotic lives they live.
Sometimes camps feel compelled to recreate that busyness with schedules full of activities.
Instead, give campers the chance for some "time off" to talk to each other, to sit by the lake, to ask questions, or to write or draw his or her thoughts.
3. Promote creativity - Give campers a chance to express their creativity.
Arts and crafts at camps sometimes depend on prepackaged kits or the "old faithful" camp crafts.
Provide time and supplies for children and youth to create something new and original.
Take campers and watercolors or pastels down by the river and invite them to draw, encourage them to write songs or new verses to camp favorites, provide paper and pencils for story writing or poetry, and promote movement.
4. Invite questions - Campers of all ages are filled with questions from the everyday to the esoteric.
What are we going to do next? What is the meaning of life? Who am I?
Camps can become places where it is safe to ask any question.
There are few places and people in the lives of our children and youth where they can safely ask questions.
There is so little time in their lives to explore possibilities together in community.
5. Tell stories - Include time for storytelling in your camp schedule.
As campers tell each other their own stories they build relationships.
As campers hear stories of courageous and compassionate actions they are inspired to act in the same way.
Stories help all of us understand who we are and where we have come from and to make sense out of life experiences.
6. Repeat traditions - Campfires, flag-raising ceremonies, special songs, and camp traditions are all containers of that which is bigger than any one person and point toward transcendence.
Familiar and repeated activities provide a place of safety within the unknown.
Welcome new campers into the camp community by introducing the practices and equipping them to participate.
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