by Caroline Creasman.

“Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me,” we all prayed as our camp instructor tipped over the sail boat and swam away, leaving us three wimpy girls to flip it back over. The sail was deep in the water and we had to literally stand on the bottom of the boat to get it straight up again. After we achieved that challenge we had to next figure out how to steer it the right way without going to far or tipping over again. Once we got the hang of it (well sort of got the hang of it anyways) we had a blast. We also enjoyed the other water activities offered at Camp Grady Spruce such as canoeing, swimming, the slip and slide tarp with soapy water, barging and last but not least blobbing. “Blobber ready,” I recall shouting before I dove into the multi-colored pillow in the lake. “Yes,” the girl replied. Closing my eyes and hoping I would land safely on the blob, I jumped high off the platform. I landed on the blob and opened my eyes just in time to see the girl at the end of the blob soar into the clouds and landing in the water with a huge splash. What a blast!  

          Aside from the refreshing water actives, we also enjoyed acting like Legolas from the Lord of the Rings as we shot arrows far across the field and listened for the thump when it hit the target. After archery, we were able to experience the recoil of a 22 rifle as we shot several bullets into the paper target in front of us with the protective gear surrounding our heads and chaperones standing near-by.  

We also enjoyed the lecture from Fr. Antonio Perdomo on top of Johnson’s Peak and one from Fr. Ambrose Arrington looking over the lake from renamed “Little Mount Athos.” Matushka Lydia, aside from being a great camp counselor, hosted arts and crafts in the meeting room of our cabin, which gave us some fun and relaxing things to do in the air-conditioning. Also to relax and focus on God, church services, confession, and communion were offered by Fr. John Anderson, Fr. Ambrose Arrington, and Fr. Antonio Perdomo along with a beautiful choir lead by Ana Lucia Perdomo.

Many nights we hung around the campfire for some fellowship, fun, and s’mores. One night the older youth even sat around the campfire and discussed anonymous questions that had been written down earlier on paper. Each of the Fathers gave their take on each teen issue or Orthodox associated question. It gave us the courage to ask things we may not have wanted to ask face to face. We learned a lot from it and also were provided the answer from an Orthodox perspective. One night we even held skits from every team and a talent show for anyone who wanted to participate. That was a whole lot of fun. The skits were all hilarious and great entertainment, especially considering the fact that we only had a couple hours to come up with and “perfect” them. The talent show included many guitar/singing acts, the Macarena (which grew to be about everyone there), and a creative dancing character made out of a pillow case. 

My experience at St. Peter the Aleut camp was a blast and I hope to go every year. I was given the opportunity to make new orthodox friends and get better acquainted with the ones I already knew.