“If we use all of our resources,
we’re not going to have the resources to replace them,” Gillespie said. Peering beneath the surfaces
of Lake Samish and Mud Creek, students discover macroinvertebrates that feed salmon, which in turn feed humans in ever-repeating cycles—if protected. Gillespie hopes to soon get salmon eggs from the state for the students to grow. Taking part in one of many
“Ranger” experiential-learning expe- ditions, students get their hands dirty examining soil. Tey discover how the soil filters and purifies water that sustains humans—if it isn’t carelessly contaminated. Trudging along cool, shady trails
they identify diverse plants and creatures that form an ecological symphony. Tey also master Luth- erwood’s ropes-challenge course, learning about interdependence among campers, and among humans and nature. Best of all, they roll up their pant
legs and slog knee-deep through a forest mud pit to find out that it’s really a nursery for a host of little plants and animals. Learning at Luth- erwood is, well, totally slimey. “Fiſth-graders like getting muddy,”
said John Vickery, 22, environmen- tal education teacher and challenge course coordinator. Some students live in city apart-
ments cut off from nature. Here they are enveloped by nature, the experi- ence heightened because they aren’t able to use their electronic gadgets. Toward the end of the three days,
the students walk the Lutherwood labyrinth, contemplating what they can do to reduce their footprint on the environment. It’s sometimes hard for students
to leave, said Lauren Cummings, former Lutherwood environmental education coordinator. She remem-
bered some boys whose last task was to yank out invasive blackberry bushes. Tey quickly discovered they were making a difference, and that native ferns would be dug up from the forest and put there instead. Tey tugged at the prickly vines until they had an enormous pile. “You can get kind of competitive
with yourself,” Cummings said. “It’s like a sport almost.” What the environmental learners
don’t directly receive at Lutherwood is the lesson of faith that the tradi- tional Bible campers do. Tere are no prayers, no acting out Bible lessons, no faith songs around the campfire. A line is drawn, and that’s a historic departure for the pan-Lutheran facil- ity and its staff, many of whom grew their faith here as Bible campers. With the environmental educa-
tion learners, it becomes a matter of setting a Christian example, Gillespie
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said. Tat example is to love and care for one another, and to do the same for the environment. “We let our actions speak,” he added. Vickery has learned to float easily
between teaching Bible campers about God and teaching students about environmental stewardship. Because in the end, kids are kids. Here at Lutherwood, they’re just in two different settings now. “I love the kids,” he said. “Tere’s a
reason I work here at camp because I get as much from the kids as they get from me.”
Author bio: Pritchett is a retired newspaper journalist in Bainbridge Island, Wash.
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Call for Details! 888-817-9538
August 2014 31
with other Lutherans!
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