Confirmation Camp heads to Canyon Camp on Feb. 22-23

What does it mean to be a United Methodist? Allen Carson, pastor of El Reno-Wesley, hopes to help youth answer that and other faith-related questions during a special 24-hour camp.

This year, Confirmation Camp will be held on Feb. 22-23 at Canyon Camp in Hinton. The overnight camp is geared toward youth who may be ready for or already attending confirmation class.

Founded by Carson in 2007, the camp gives students stations to rotate through such as Worship and the Church Year, Doctrine and Polity, Church History and What’s It Mean to Be a United Methodist. Through these stations, students learn about sacraments, salvation, the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, holy living, stewardship and elements of United Methodist membership vows.

For churches that have a confirmation class, the camp acts as a supplement; for churches that don’t, the camp acts as a way to provide some confirmation education. The camp also serves as a way to prepare students for summer camp.

“My hope is for kids to fall in love with camp,” Carson said.

Lynn Youngs, the children’s ministries superintendent for Claremore-First, said the church has sent its students to Confirmation Camp for several years. She said the camp’s curriculum reinforces what is taught through the church’s confirmation class, and that the experience helps students to bond with each other and grow in Christ.

“I love taking students to the camp because I get to see their enthusiasm and share in an experience in their faith journey that they will hopefully remember always,” Youngs said. “It also provides an opportunity for those that have never been to church camp to get a taste of what church camp is like and encourages them to attend additional camps when they become youth.”

Carson believes the camp is an opportunity for students to connect with other United Methodists in the area and move together through the confirmation journey. He also thinks it’s a good way to initiate students to the United Methodist camp experience.

“Many folks who have received their call to ministry received it at camp,” Carson said. “My hope is if we can get kids to camp, then we can raise the next generation of leaders.”

The cost is $65 per camper. Sign-in starts at 6:15 on Friday, Feb. 22 with camp activities starting at 7 p.m. Camp ends at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23. Canyon Camp is located at 31600 Camp Rd. in Hinton.

Registration is available online at okcamps.campbrainregistration.com. Once signed in, follow instructions to register for Confirmation Camp. For questions or more details, contact Carson at acarson@wesleyelreno.org or call 405-262-3734.