ECO CAMP 2017– “IT IS THIS GENERATION THAT CAN CHANGE THE WORLD”
The Diocese of Cape Town YPM held an Eco-Camp in partnership with Green Anglicans. The venue was the beautiful beach at Soetwater Environmental Camp.
Young people from 10 churches came together for a fun-packed weekend. After a devotion and praise and worship, the first night was quite challenging with a night hike through steep sandy mountainside. The next day started on a the beach with a quiet meditational devotion. Then we had a snake show which was fascinating to some and terrifying to others! A packed programme followed, a visit to the Lighthouse at Kommetjie, a hike up Slangkop, an Obstacle course and then a potjike competition.
After our evening devotion we all relaxed with a fun concert and we saw some real acting and singing talent coming through, judged by Father Shaun Cozett and his team.
The next morning we started with a devotion led by Rev Rachel Mash to reflect on the damage we have done to creation, we are called to be healers of the planet. Then we divided into our church groups to work out what actions we should take to care for creation. There were wonderful suggestions such as a beach clean up, putting in water harvesting, a recycling competition etc.
Here are some quotes by the young people who attended:
Eco camp meant a lot to me as I learnt so many things that I never knew. This was my first eco camp that I attended and it was amazing as I got to meet new people and surround myself with nature and adventuring specially the night hike we had. This camp also opened my eyes to saw what God created for us and how we ourselves destroyed what he has given us. (Lana Louw – St Marks)
As it was my first time on the green-Anglicans Eco-camp i did not know what to expect but it all went well. Personally camp has not only draw me closer to God it also drew me closer to new people and also developed stronger relationships with the youth from my parish. Being on this camp had me thinking on what heaven really is and for the first time in almost forever I realized that the earth that God created was like heaven and us as humans had polluted the earth and used its materials. All of us Christians can restore God’s creation. It is this generation than can change the world and before we know it we’ll be in heaven once again. Camp taught me how to overcome my phobia of snakes by having one on my shoulders, and for this I thank Green-Anglicans for inviting me to this camp. (Lolo Ngele ( Olwethu)- St Thomas Rondebosch)