Reconnecting with God and Friends
Derek McEachern has been coming to Fortune Lake since before he can remember. His mom Stacy was attending Women and Kids week when she was pregnant with him. Eventually, Derek started coming to camp on his own, recalling Rocket Camp as his first youth camp experience.
Derek recalls feeling closer to God and growing in his faith every time he comes to camp. He values making meaningful connections with staff and fellow campers and appreciates that they come from all different towns and backgrounds. Often at the conclusion of the week, his friends make sincere efforts to stay in touch. Inevitably, their young lives get busy, and communication wanes. That’s where Fortune Lake’s youth retreats come in.
Each fall and spring, Fortune Lake offers one-night retreats for youth. These fast-paced, fun, faith-filled events provide a perfect way for Derek and his friends to reconnect with God and with one another. They also give Derek an opportunity to invite new friends to camp, as it is less intimidating to commit to a one-night retreat versus a full week of summer camp (which often comes later).
As young people grow up, camp activities sometimes conflict with other events. It could be easy for Derek to prioritize football, track, or academic pursuits, but he always makes room for camp. Recently, when the youth retreat landed on the same weekend as Derek’s high school prom, many assumed he’d skip the retreat, but not Derek! Rather than miss out on the retreat altogether, Derek did both. He participated in the games, Bible study, campfire worship, and outdoor activities before leaving early to get ready for his special night at the prom. Derek provided a great example of how to make room for important relationships and to nurture his faith in God while still partaking in the important milestones of high school. Join us – and Derek – for these fantastic retreats!
This spring Fortune Lake will be offering two fantastic youth retreats!
Friday-Saturday, April 4-5 for grades 3-6
Friday-Saturday, April 11-12 for grades 7-12
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