I
t’s no surprise—or secret—that Bible camp builds life- long memories and relationships. In August a group of single moms and their children will do just that at Out-
law Ranch, Custer, S.D. Rachel Jensen, who went last year, already knows this
to be true. She is 11 and just finished fiſth grade. She vol- unteers at the Humane Society, dances, plays the drums, bakes, and tends to her cats and tarantula. But what Rachel is really looking forward to is being baptized at camp in August, and into the community of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Spearfish, S.D. Oh yeah, and the bonfires, singing, horseback riding,
canoeing, hiking and … well, she says the list is just too long: “My highlight at camp was looking up at a clipboard of all the things you could try and cram into one day.” Her mom, Cynthia “C.J.” Jensen, found family camp
to be a respite from the clipboard of her usual responsi- bilities: “Once there, I don’t have to worry about money or bills or homework or anything. It’s a chance to relax, recharge and reconnect with the other moms and kids.” Te moms and kids have come to know each other
through the “Adopt-A-Mom” program sponsored by Lutheran Campus Ministry at Black Hills State Univer- sity, Spearfish. Tese moms “are determined to earn [a college] education for the betterment of their children,” explained Kris Garlick, who works for both Lutheran Campus Ministry and Lutherans Outdoors in South Dakota (LOSD;
www.losd.org). “At camp, they can spend truly quality time with their
Single moms at Black Hills State University, Spearfish, S.D., support one another and enjoy one another’s company while attending August family camp at Outlaw Ranch, Custer, S.D.
children and get the break they need. Tey’re single, going to school, working and they don’t get a whole lot of either [quality time or downtime],” Garlick said. “Tey are dedicated, with a passion only a mom could have to succeed for their children’s sake.” Te Adopt-A-Mom program is 3 years old, and it was
just more than a year ago that the moms began discuss- ing camp. Tey hosted bake sales and yard sales to raise money for camp, and they donated an additional $2,000 to LOSD for camperships. Tis year their extra fundrais- ing money will allow single moms from other South Dakota universities to go to camp. How they raised money and got to camp is inspiring,
but what happens there is even more so, Garlick said, adding that most of the 10 to 30 young women who come through the student program have no faith back- ground. Tey are paired with a community sponsor, who helps them with specific, simple needs year-round, such as child care during midterms. With Christian churches involved, faith formation has made the Adopt-A-Mom program even more powerful, Garlick said. Last year Rachel Ridinger and her son Jesse, 4, were
baptized at camp. “I was enriched both spiritually and emotionally, and came back feeling renewed. I can’t wait for [this] year,” she said. Moms return from camp with the sort of memories
kids also make. C.J. Jensen, for instance, used to ride a horse every day and got the chance to do so again at camp. Elysia Peterson, a recent theater graduate, enjoyed worship, sing-a-longs, the food, and even added success- ful potty training for her son Oliver during their time there. Oliver has been talking since last year about fishing at camp again. Sara Frasier, 28, has maintained a 3.5 GPA as an ele-
mentary education major while raising Eathen, 9, and Jace, 7. Her favorite memory from last year was when the rest of the camp went to Rapid City, leaving the moms and kids with the common room to themselves for game night. Tis year, “I just hope that nobody gets hurt, and we all have a blast,” she added. Young Rachel summed up what camp counselors
and parents hope will be one of the lasting effects: “Camp changed my life by changing my perspective of friends. When I was at camp, everyone was nice and that helped me realize that’s how people should really treat each other.”
Author bio: Sevig is a section editor of The Lutheran.
August 2014 29
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