"Camp Heritage–11th Edition" wrapped up Sunday, Aug. 21, as 141 campers and 68 staff members said good-bye for another year to their "home away from home" near Farmington, Pennsylvania.

This year's weather was by all accounts the most exceptional of all the years we've had a camp program at the Heritage Reservation, a 2,000-acre property owned and operated by the Boy Scouts of America, Greater Pittsburgh Council. We had brief showers early Tuesday morning and late Saturday night, but nothing to compare with last year's ferocious thunder and lightning storm.

Campers were guided in "respecting the Zone" in several of the Christian Living classes and the Life Skills class; and challenged to prove the uniqueness of the knowledge God has given His Church in other Christian Living classes, which once again began each day at camp.

Heritage received its American Camp Association visit from two officials of the Keystone Section of the ACA on Tuesday, Aug. 15. The five-and-a-half-hour visit was thorough and professional, but friendly and warm. Our guests joined us for lunch, then concluded the scoring of the camp by mid-afternoon, recording that Heritage didn't miss any of the ACA standards applicable to this regional camp.

By far the most inspiring aspect of an outstanding camp year was the clear evidence of God's protection and guidance, especially for the Challenge campers and staff who took part in the whitewater rafting trip on Wednesday, Aug. 16. The trip takes place annually on the Lower Youghiogheny River, and always has its share of "thrills and spills" for participants. This year, as in all years, rafts occasionally capsized, with guides acting immediately to recover swimmers (all equipped with helmets and "PFDs"—personal flotation devices or life jackets) from the water. But in an extremely rare occurrence, two campers from an eight-person capsized raft became entangled in the lines thrown into the water to pull them to shore, and had to receive hospital attention, including care for abrasions from the ropes. God's protection was clearly in evidence, and both were back at camp by Thursday evening, fully participating in the remainder of camp activities.

We look forward to our 12th season at Camp Heritage, scheduled for Aug. 12-19, 2007. See you then!