Why the Camp McKenzie Extended Session?
By Matthew Fenchel

By now, I am sure many of you have talked with the staff and campers who participated in the first Camp McKenzie Extended Session.  I have, and from all reports, this first Extended Session was a great success. The comments I received were that everyone definitely wants to do  this again, that some liked it even better than the main camp, and that it was a real bonding experience for all. Plans are underway for an even better session next year.

The question arises: why even conduct an  extended session?  Isn't one action-packed week of camp enough? Certainly seven days at any United Youth Camp will make one tired. But there are some very real and very beneficial reasons for the Extended Session (to be called the Wilderness Session in 2002).  Without question these goals were  accomplished this year. I hope by reading about the Extended Session -- and by talking with those who participated -- you will think about attending in the future.

The first two extended sessions at a United Youth Camp were at Camp Oakhurst in 1999 and 2000. We had considered a multi-activity extended session for Camp McKenzie in 2000, but cancelled due to lack of interest.  This year, we planned a single-activity extended session -- climbing South Sister -- and the interest was very good. At both Oakhurst and McKenzie the goals were the same: to offer older campers a longer camp, to increase the  challenge & adventure of their camp experience, to further strengthen friendships, and to offer a true wilderness trip. 

Longer Camp. Every year, the camper surveys from all United Youth Camps show a good overall satisfaction with the camp program -- except for one question: "Length of Camp." Everyone wants a  longer camp!  Thus, the idea of an extended session was born. A longer camp  allows participants the chance to enjoy more time with friends, more activities, and continue to learn about God's way of life. In reality, it allows those participants a greater chance to "reap the fruit" of their efforts during the  main session. It provides a more thorough, more complete camp experience for that summer.

Challenge and Adventure.  Some of the  goals of United Youth Camps include facing positive challenges, increasing  personal confidence and experiencing success. The extended session offers us an  excellent opportunity for a major challenge -- and thereby the chance for major growth in confidence and success. Camping in the wilderness and climbing a  mountain is certainly a major challenge.  But all of the campers and climbing staff made it to the top -- 10,358 feet up!  There is nothing quite like facing  a real adventure, and being victorious. This is something the participants will not soon forget. The level of confidence and success experienced in such an  activity cannot be duplicated in more traditional sports.

Friendships. "People who work together,  stick together." Having fun with people is certainly a good way to build  friendships. But nothing can replace the depth of camaraderie and bonding that comes with working hard as a team to accomplish a goal.  On an activity like  this, when you decide that everyone is going to succeed, that everyone is going  to work together, that everyone is going to encourage and help others, that everyone is going to go beyond what they thought possible -- strong  relationships are built that are not possible any other way.

Wilderness.  Let's face it -- most of us spend most of our time indoors.  We spend much of our time interacting with man-made technologies: TV, radio, CD's, computer, video games, telephones, etc.  Although the main session of camp gets us away from most of that, we still live in buildings, have our food cooked for us on commercial stoves, and enjoy modern conveniences.  Can we though, survive without all of this?  And not only survive, but truly enjoy being immersed in God's creation? The answer is "yes!"  Seeing the spectacular beauty of the Sisters' area -- with glaciers and lava-flows -- is an inspiration that can only be experienced. Seeing the heavens full of stars at night certainly helps one appreciate the magnitude of God's handiwork. Where else are these nature experiences (and many others) possible  during our normal lives?  That is what this session is all about.

My many thanks to Wally Browning and his team for a  wonderful activity. Enjoy this website -- thanks to Dana Deininger. Talk to those who participated this year.  And then join us -- for the Camp Davidson Wilderness Session 2002!