As we reflect on the past summer, we share several reflections from members of our summer staff team. These reflections were written mid-summer and shared as part of our Builders Weekend. In this reflection, four-year returning summer staff Lara Claassen reflects on the ways that Camp Friedenswald has formed her life and faith.

I’ve been coming to Camp Friedenswald for as long as I can remember. At first, it was only attending my church retreat (Hively Mennonite Church, Elkhart, IN) at Camp. I don’t recall any specific memories from when I was that young, but I do remember that I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to go to summer camp – so I must’ve at least somewhat enjoyed being here. I also grew up hearing about how my grandfather (Opa to me – or as you may know him, Virgil Claassen) helped with the construction of many of the buildings – most notably the north cabins. So…did I think I was just the smallest bit cooler than everyone else because my opa built my cabin… And did I tell my cabin-mates every summer… absolutely! I was so proud to be a part of camp’s legacy (albeit through my opa), so obviously I wanted everyone to know. Anyway, I was thrilled when in 2009, I was finally able to come to primary camp.

This love for Friedenswald continued to grow as I grew and I had many formative moments here. High school was a rough time for me. By my senior year, I was in really rough shape. It just so happened that around that time, my pastor led a catechism class during Sunday school, and I decided to get baptized. I knew – even before I made a final decision – that I would get baptized in Lake Shavehead. That detail was crucial – since camp has been so essential to my faith formation, and just my life in general. While I didn’t have an incredibly eye-opening experience during my baptism, and my life didn’t do a 180 after, it showed me that I have a community that supports me and gave me something tangible to cling to when I felt like my world was falling apart. 

Throughout COVID and my two years abroad at university, I continued to have crises of faith – some more scary than others, but camp has continued to be a place where I can know that God is around me. It gives me a place to disconnect from a lot of the distractions that “regular” life is filled with and provides intentional space to wrestle with the questions and doubts I have surrounded by a supportive community. I’ve also had the opportunity of having so many eye opening experiences while counselling. I may have taught kids how to build a fire and how to identify poison ivy and the difference between a fen and a swamp, but they have taught me more than I could ever put into words. When I decided to leave university after my second year, I spent a lot of time reflecting on when in my life I’ve felt the must fulfilled. Now I will be going back to school to study child psychology with hopes to be a play therapist. 

I honestly don’t know where I would be without Camp Friedenswald. It gave me a place where I could explore the outdoors and foster a connection with the natural world. It provided me with a space to hear about different faith perspectives and develop my own beliefs. It has allowed me to grow as a person and discover more of who I am. It has been there for me when I’ve felt lonely, depressed, anxious, or lost. It has inspired my career choice. It has introduced me to some of my closest friends. 

So thank you, Camp Friedenswald, for 8 weeks of youth camp, 14 cabins of campers, and 21 years of experiences and memories I will treasure for the rest of my life.