T.E.E.N.S. Camp at Northern Pines Camp Expands

In 2017, Northern Pines had a vision for a new kind of camp geared towards thirteen to sixteen-year-old campers. The dream of Northern Pines director, Leslie Hobson, was to provide campers with opportunities to both lead and serve while at camp.  T.E.E.N.S. (Teaching, Equipping, Empowering, Nurturing, Servants) Camp was a huge success!  The inaugural year goal was to attract 15 campers.  They exceeded expectations with 20 campers attending.  T.E.E.N.S. campers helped with a variety of projects which included: painting Northern Pine’s boathouse plus two cabin exteriors, clearing brush behind the Lakeside cabin, and helping to serve lunch and supper to campers all week.  The T.E.E.N.S. campers learned about leading specific group activities.  Then, they assisted camp staff and led those group activities for younger Discovery campers.  They also planned and led an evening worship for Discovery and Christian Friendship campers.  Each Thursday, T.E.E.N.S. campers picked an offsite activity to do together.  They had a wonderful time boating into town to go to the soda fountain and going to the nearby entertainment park to play mini-golf, ride the go-carts and bumper boats.  These campers also enjoyed beach campfires after evening activities, spent time in the teens-only lounge, and rose early one morning to kayak out onto the lake to watch a sunrise.

This year, Northern Pines Camp and Retreat Center will offer four sessions of T.E.E.N.S. Camp.  These coincide with Discovery camps and attendees will once again have the opportunity to learn leadership skills then provide leadership at worship and campfires times.  They will also have opportunities to complete service projects around the camp and plan special activities just for the teens.  T.E.E.N.S. Camp will be held July 8-13, July 15-20, July 22-27 and July 29-Aug. 3.  Campers can register at www.campminnesota.org .  If you register by April 30 you receive the Early Bird discount. And Invite a friend or two and receive a $25 discount per friend on camp fees!  Contact Northern Pines Camp at 218-732-4713 if you have questions about this camp.