Young Adult Retreat Provides Connection
A July camping retreat brought together 30 young adults for a time of fun activities, relaxation, and spiritual formation.
This was the third annual event of its kind hosted by the South Coast (SOCO) Beach Project on the third weekend of July for young adults 18 to 29 years old.
The SOCO Beach Project is a four-month discipleship and community living experience designed for young adults ages 18-29. And its annual summer camping retreat is a way to extend the impact beyond the six or seven core summer participants to a larger group, explained SOCO executive director Willemina Zwart. The summer-long SOCO Beach Project participants help to host the camping retreat as a way to bless their peers, she added.
Campers came from across southern Ontario, setting up their tents on a rural property near SOCO’s hometown of Port Dover, Ont., and settling in on Friday evening for an opening campfire. A “Survivor”-themed game for the weekend began at the campfire. “The campers were divided into ‘families’ – each with a corresponding colored bandana,” said Zwart. “The first challenge was about who could make the best s'mores.”
After a hearty breakfast on Saturday morning, guest speaker Julie Bouman led the campers in a time of devotions focused on the need to listen to God. The campers were then invited to spend time in silence to reflect and listen.
Keira Hewson said she appreciated Bouman’s message and the time to listen actively. “The weekend was very special to me in that it may have been one of the first times I experienced a definition of divine intervention . . . of hearing God’s ‘voice,’ of realizing what he wants me to be certain of,” she said.
On Saturday afternoon the campers had an opportunity to be active and get to know each other by participating in more “Survivor”-style challenges. Three past participants in SOCO’s summer-long mentorship ministry – Jessie Zantingh, Maddy Zomer, and Nathan Visser – helped to plan and organize the “Survivor” challenges, which included a competition to build a fire first, a photo scavenger hunt around Port Dover, and a game of “greasy watermelon.” (The teams jumped into Lake Erie with the goal of getting a greasy watermelon into the other team’s goal, an anchored hula hoop.)
“I enjoyed the main survivor-games theme,” said Daytn Racicot, who said he had heard about the event at a young adult winter retreat in Woodstock. “I thought that the events were very engaging and allowed me to meet all of my new friends from SOCO. Everyone involved with the weekend was kind, and we had tons of fun. It feels really good to be in an environment that loves God and wants to glorify God.”
Participants also had time to explore the area, swim in Lake Erie, or just relax at camp. Nearby Lynn Valley waterfalls drew some of the campers as well. “I really enjoyed showing people the Port Dover waterfalls and how to get behind them,” said Toon Garritsen, who had attended the retreat in its previous two years as well.
Carina Wolfert said she enjoyed the downtime and togetherness: “The highlights of my weekend were those in-between pockets where we found rest, joy, and connection. It was in those times where I found myself able to sit and delight in God's presence.”
After a barbecue supper, guest speaker Jeff Bouman led a discussion with campers about vocational discernment. One element of Jeff and Julie Bouman’s ministry as missionary partners with Resonate Global Mission is their involvement with Cohort Europe, described on Resonate’s website as offering “a year-long missional experience in which participants serve in local European ministry organizations and connect with other Cohort Europe team members to learn together, support each other, and grow spiritually.”
The ministry of Cohort Europe caught the attention of at least one SOCO camper as a possibility for the future. Garritsen said he was interested to learn about it and added, “Something that I will carry forward is Cohort Europe, as that is another cool young adult experience.”
On Sunday morning the campers gathered with the congregation of Immanuel CRC Simcoe, where the seven summer-long participants in the SOCO Beach Project led the worship service, with some participating in the music and Leah Beldman delivering the sermon. Everyone there was invited to share a soup luncheon afterward to wrap up the weekend.
“I've come out of the weekend with new connections, warm memories of playing and delighting with others, and a reminder of the goodness of God,” shared Wolfert.
Hewson agreed, saying, “I will take with me forever the power of God’s confirmations and the calming effect his Spirit has on me. SOCO was the facilitator of these moments, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one that felt his presence that weekend.”
