A Guide To Survive – Summer Camps 2023

Naomi Janmaat

Published 1st March 2023

The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered - Genesis 39:2

Survivor – The popular TV show where one must Outwit, Outplay, and Outlast 23 other people. Relying on alliances, deception, and betrayal, contestants will do anything to win, even if it means tearing people down in the process.

So why was this show the inspiration for this year’s Summer Camp theme?

Well, if you strip Survivor back and look past its selfish surface, you find that it’s built upon individuals facing unrelenting challenges that test their strength, courage, and endurance; the contestants are pushed to their limits and then even further.

At its core, Survivor teaches the importance of perseverance and resilience – values that are important to have, especially at Summer Camp.

Attempting activities such as water sports, high ropes, and a survivor-inspired obstacle course, it was impressive to see both campers and cabin leaders alike pick themselves up, dust themselves off and try again.

However, there is more to surviving than simply overcoming physical challenges. Life is full of highs and lows – one day you’ve achieved something great, the next you feel like a failure –and it’s difficult to navigate these changes.

Thankfully, the Bible gives us the story of Joseph: a teenage boy whose life could only be described as a rollercoaster. The story told us how he survived trials and temptations by knowing his identity and showing integrity.

Over the course of three camps, our speakers –Beez Deojee, Miranda Leijser, Grace Burling, and Aubree Harrington – shared how Joseph’s life resonated with them and how they had overcome their own personal struggles.

A Guide To Survival | Junior Camp

We were blessed with a unique speaking situation for Juniors. Pr. Miranda Leijser accepted the invitation to talk to our youngest campers, however she didn’t arrive alone. Travelling with her from WA was her 15-year-old mentee, Grace Burling.

Together, they inspired our Juniors, speaking wise words like 'Rejection is God’s protection' and 'Scars are stories meant to be shared'; by the end of camp, we had five simple tips on how to be a survivor like Joseph.

• Survive changes by sticking together
• Survive pressure by remembering your value
• Survive waves by fixing your focus on Jesus
• Survive tests with lifestyle forgiveness
• Survive the future by remembering God is faithful

Here’s what Grace had to say about her time at Howqua:

“Victoria’s Junior Summer Camp was such an incredible experience for me. I met some truly awesome people and tried out things that I had never done before! At first, I was nervous to come out of my shell and talk to others, but I instantly clicked with the campers and staff around me, and it felt like home.

Miranda and I used what we like to call ‘The Sandwich Method’: One of us would start, the other would share a story from their experiences, and then it would go back to the first person who would dive into scripture. We thought this way would keep the juniors more interested and interactive.

Speaking to these Juniors was such a blessing, and seeing them take in what Miranda and I spoke about was just amazing! Each night, they were challenged to decorate their cabins related to the message, and when we went inside, we were amazed at how they completely understood the message and how they showed that through their creativity. It was clear that the stories that we shared had influenced them.

Thank you so much VicYouth for this awesome opportunity, and more importantly, for welcoming me into your Victorian family”

Joseph and Jesus | Teen Camp

Teen speaker Aubree brought the story of Joseph from a different perspective.

She told us that while it's okay to relate to Joseph, it isn’t wrong to resonate with and reflect upon the behaviours of others in the story as a part of our growth process.

When we look at Joseph’s Brothers, do we see ourselves acting out because we are about to be exposed? When we look at Potiphar’s wife, do we see ourselves acting out because we don’t get what we want? When we look at the Cupbearer, do we see ourselves forgetting who helped us in our lowest points?

Each night, she pointed out these character traits, as if building to a big climax, and on the last night, she didn’t disappoint. For her final message, Aubree revealed that Joseph’s life was practically parallel to the life and story of Jesus.

Joseph:

• Was sold for 20 silver pieces (Genesis 37:28)
• Was falsely accused and jailed (Genesis 39:16-18)
• Forgave and saved his brothers (Genesis 45:4-5)

Jesus:

• Was sold for 30 silver pieces (Matthew 26:15)
• Was Falsely Accused And Crucified (Matthew 26:59-61; Luke 23:33)
• Forgave and saved all sinners (Luke 23:34; Matthew 1:21; Acts 5:31)

With this comparison, the Teens were shown the unfailing love of Jesus and left with the encouraging reminder that all we need to do is have faith in Him.

#unapologeticallyroyal | GAP Camp

Beez challenged our GAP campers to do some self-reflection. Using the story of Joseph as a guide, he explained that everything we do stems from where we place our identity. Moreover, every day, Beez reminded us of our royal status. God says in 2 Corinthians 6:18:

“I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters”

God is a King, so if He proclaims He is our Father, then that makes us princes and princesses. With empowering chants, interactive handshakes, and an upbeat song, Beez wanted us to be unashamed of such a beautiful title, telling campers and leaders alike that we are “Unapologetically Royal” – a message that is now forever written upon our hearts.

The Four I's of Joseph

• Identity: Your identity starts with being a child of God
• Independence: When your identity is in God, you can be independent without influence
• Integrity: Because we serve a God of his word, we can be people of our word
• Impact: Not about what you do, but who you are when you do it

Joseph’s story shows how God can work with and through young people, and the memories made at Howqua only solidify that statement. Over the course of three weeks, we witnessed a change in attitudes and expressions among campers as they came to understand that they are cared for, important, and loved.

So, to finally answer the question that was posed at the start of this piece:

Survivor was the theme for Summer Camp 2023, because there is power in sharing stories of survival. Not because of our own merits, but because they serve as a reminder that God is with us through everything.