Amidst the scenic wonders of Parker State Park, 95 staff and campers gathered June 7 to commence a successful LYC Pre-Teen camp. Activities this year included: field sports, canoeing, overnight-canoe and campout, archery, BB-gun marksmanship, life skills for boys and girls, teambuilding, Christian living classes and consistently delicious and wholesome meals.
We also want to thank God for His obvious intervention in protecting and providing for His campers. In almost an exact repeat of last year, the entire staff again saw God powerfully intervene to disperse severe weather in our area. Wednesday evening, during our boys' overnight canoe trip and campout, approximately 30 miles to our north and west, very powerful thunderstorms abruptly erupted. Seventy-mile-per-hour winds, baseball-size hail and rapid lightning strikes covered the entire north Texas area. Mr. Hall and camp staff quickly convened to monitor the weather situation using NOAA radio and National Weather Service Internet radar.
Following our crisis management plan, camp staff quickly evacuated the overnight campers, returning them to the safety of their dorms. We then watched in amazement as the weather radar showed the eastward moving storms split and move north and south of the Parker State Park area. While towns west, north and south of us lost power and suffered from this very severe weather, our campers simply cleaned up and spent a comfortable night back in their dorms. We wish each of you could have seen the radar images and how God created a complete calm in our area in order to protect His campers. It was amazing.
Park attendant and retired school principal, John Bush commented, "The LYC Texas camp stands out among all other groups. You are the most organized group I have seen. While other groups let their children go, you actually teach your children something." He concluded, "You are a super group!"
This year, as in years past, it was inspiring to see young people growing in confidence, trying new things and experiencing that God's way works! Camp concluded with a talent show, highlighting the talent among God's youth.