I have been going to a Unitarian Universalist camp for families every summer for my entire life, but it wasn’t until I went to a Unitarian Universalist camp just for high schoolers that I truly realized the significant impact and benefit it can have on youth.
A lot of our churches don’t have the support for youth that we want them to. They may try, but a lot don’t succeed. Even when they do well, it’s not always enough to support youth who want to be further involved, like me. A UU summer camp for high schoolers helped fill some of this need for me.
At this camp, youth get to work together to plan worships, learn more about the faith, and grow spiritually, both individually and as a group. I had never planned a worship before, and I loved it. In fact, I loved it so much that this past year, my friend and I filled the position of the worship team, and planned one worship a day, and helped other campers plan their worships. I loved every second of it(even if at times it was stressful). I found resources to plan worships, and learned what works for a worship, and what doesn’t. I found a passion.
This year, every day had a theme that was a hymn in one of the hymnals. One day, the theme was Blue Boat Home. This hymn is dearly loved by the youth of this camp, and by me. I wrote the following for that day’s worship, and would like to share it with you.
I’ve been away from home for so long, that I’ve started to forget how it feels to sleep in my bed. I miss my cat. I miss the books that line my walls. I miss my thick comforter that keeps me warm. I miss my dad, and my brother, and my sister. I miss a lot of things.
I want to show you a verse from Blue Boat Home by Peter Mayer:
Sun, my sail and moon, my rudder
As I ply the starry sea
Leaning over the edge in wonder
Casting questions into the deep
Drifting here with my ship’s companions
All we kindred pilgrim souls
Making our way by the lights of the heavens
In our beautiful blue boat home
I chose this verse in particular, because I have known a harbor, and I have known a port, I’m just away from it for the moment. I like to think that this camp can be my boat. This camp gives me the right to wonder and ask questions. This camp gives me the opportunity to do that, with my friends. We are all on a journey, whether this camp is your boat, or your school, church, team, or club is. I could not have ended up with a better group of people to journey with, on the long and twisted sea of life. You are my sail and you are my rudder, and I wouldn’t have this boat with out each and every one of you.
I’m not saying this camp is perfect, because it’s not. There’s drama and exclusivity and rules that don’t seem to apply to everybody, but everyone there is trying. Everyone there wants the camp to grow stronger against these things. This camp has made multiple impacts on me. It’s taught me that self care really is that important, that someone’s best interest isn’t always the group’s best interest.
At this camp, I have created bonds that will last a life time. I have stayed up till one am, just talking. I have cried and I have laughed. I have expressed myself fully, in a way I can’t anywhere else. I have grown into who I am today. We are kindred pilgrim souls, and this camp is my blue boat home.
Best of wishes,
Artie Evans