Camp Magruder on the beautiful Oregon coast hosted the 2015 UYC Northwest teen camp July 25-Aug. 2. 93 enthusiastic campers and 70 dedicated and hard-working staff built the camp program around the overall theme of the year “Be Like Our Heavenly Father.” Campers and staff were encouraged to emulate God’s qualities in this pristine setting of beautiful creation.

This year the Oregon coastal weather was nearly perfect with sunshine and temperatures in the 70s every day. The daily Christian living themes (“God is Love,” “God Is Truthful,” “God Is Faithful,” “God Is Complete,” and “God Is Holy”) were taught in the daily Bible classes and demonstrated throughout the day in the activities, campfire stories, and dorm parent discussions. Many of the campers mentioned in their surveys at the end of camp how much practical information they learned at camp about living according to God’s way. This year Aaron and Michelle Dean were able to join our UYC staff on the water skiing crew, and enjoyed their first experience as dorm parents. The campers enjoyed Mr. Dean’s campfire story about the queen of Thailand.

Joining us from New Zealand were Daniel and Linda Porteous, who served as dining hall coordinators and assisted LeeAnn Luker in teaching the “excellence in living” classes.

Activities enjoyed by the campers included water skiing, speed-away, swimming, skim and boogie boarding on the beach, beach volleyball, archery, pickle ball, and an eight-mile kayak trip down the scenic Nehalem river.

In arts and crafts Roc and Nancy Corbett taught campers how to make designs with colored clay on white tiles. Some were very detailed and colorful designs. Each camper made his or her own tile and then the tiles were baked in an oven and then put together on a grid to form the “UYC” symbol.

God’s blessing has been evident to everyone. One of the highlights of camp was an evening ride on the Oregon Coastal Scenic Railway. The classic steam train engine is nearly 100 years old and operates on tracks that run along the ocean for miles north and south of the camp.

Plans are well underway for Northwest Camp 2016! Dates for the camp next year will be July 24-30. Plan now to attend this great week of learning God’s way of life and enjoying fabulous activities and fellowship during the final week of July.