Haley Beckermeyer – Loveland, Colorado … The Campion Academy seniors bonded as a class and grew closer to God over the five days of Senior Survival in the mountains at Glacier View Ranch August 31-September 4.
After their arrival, paired students were given supplies to build a shelter to stay dry. Many students brought duct tape and rope to help build their shelters. Several students brought hammocks and others slept on the ground. Thankfully, the weather was kind to the students. It was relatively warm and dry.
Each group that camped together collected sticks for kindling and chopped wood to build a fire, which they used to make their own breakfasts and suppers. They made stew, French toast, hotdogs, and breakfast burritos.
At night, the seniors gathered around the campfire as Chaplain Carlos Santana led them in discussions of faith centered around the theme “Level-up”. Senior Carlos Lopez commented, “My favorite worship was when everyone sat around the fire, and we opened up and were honest with each other by sharing our fears because now we know that we are not alone and have friends that have become like family to help us through.”
During the outing, the seniors all participated in team-building activities where they had to work together to cross through obstacles. “I really enjoyed the spider web, and the Ground is Lava activities because they got me closer with the other seniors, and taught us teamwork,” commented Noah Greenemeier, senior.
On the final day of the survival outing, early on Sunday morning, many of the seniors climbed to the top of a hill to watch the sunrise before packing up their camp to return to campus.
Santana said, “This was my first time going to Senior Survival, and it not only met my expectations but surpassed them. I saw God working in this senior class of 2023. God not only worked in them, but in me as well. It gives me hope for the spiritual future of the young people here at Campion.”
–Haley Beckermeyer for Student News Team. Photos by Blet Htoo.
