This year, with many of the restrictions lifted, we were able to head back outdoors and connect once again with our campers and volunteers!

With a enthusiasm to finally get active again, and with the campsites all opened up, it was time to start planning camps and meeting in person. Even though we were allowed to meet face to face, Camp Canaan has set safety standards and we have been doing our best to abide by them. With an enforced rule to wear masks at all times, and meet in smaller numbers, it has been so fulfilling to come together as a community again, and get excited about camp this year!

Program

Volunteer training Camp

This February, the camp volunteers managed to head out of the city to a hillside town, called Kotagiri, for our very first training of the year. It was a 3 day program that focused on the volunteers getting to know themselves, each other and the organisation better. With 11 of us committed to the rest of the year, we encouraged each other to be free to serve at camps. We had 5 new campers who joined the team as volunteers, and the remaining  6 were volunteers who are continuing to serve with Camp Canaan over the past few years. It was such a refreshing time of being outdoors, and developing on outdoor skills and leadership skills.

Girls Camp

Due to the current pandemic, we ran a small sized girls camp at Mahabalipuram in March, for 2 days. With just 12 girls at camp, we were able to grow relationships and have more intentional conversations with them. We ran activities and discussions that tied into the theme of discovering the order of plans that God wants for them. A majority of the girls come from struggling backgrounds and it was important for them to know that God does have something in mind for them, be it family, studies or a job. They opened up, and shared about their struggles with waiting, and working on what is important. We hope that the camp encouraged them to focus on their goals, and find support in the process. The girls were able to put together an action plan for themselves, with the help of the volunteers.

Get Back Up

We were able to meet with campers, in person, over the past three months. There was a drop in the number of campers attending, but with the current pandemic, we felt it may be safer this way as well. We were able to follow up with them and encourage them, as many have been struggling through the pandemic.

Volunteer Team Meeting

The team has continued to meet this year, following their training in February. We continued to meet every Friday evening, to grow in their relationship with God, plan for camps and stay connected with each other. With the pandemic still present, we had alternated with meeting in person, and meeting online. But we have ensured that meetings do continue on a regular basis.