So, disclosure at the outset, I don’t camp and before my first year as head cook on boys’ camp in 2024, I had never attended a church camp in any capacity in my life. I honestly had no idea what to expect.
The hardest part of any camp from the viewpoint of head cook is the preparation, menu selection, training coordination, shopping, duty rota, kitchen layout planning etc. In the first year there’s lots you don’t know and probably even more that you don’t know you don’t know! In God’s providence there were a number of experienced cooks who helped me out and advice from previous head cooks was always available in the run up. The first year was a bit of a blur, everything was new, even though I was constantly reminded that tradition was the most important thing about boys’ camp! There are many traditions that I still don’t understand…. ‘Tent inspection points calculation/random allocation’, the rules of Crocker, ‘music to wash up by’ selection, all remain a mystery to me.
In preparation for the second year, I was able to reflect on the cooks’ team spiritual experience on camp, acknowledging that whilst we were handsomely fed God’s word in the daily services, we had no share in the small group bible studies, nor where there other opportunities to learn/study together. This was partly because of the sheer workload involved in supplying 4 meals a day for 80+ campers out of a field kitchen with no electricity, but partly, I realize, because I had not considered it. In the second year we deliberately snatched short but precious periods of time to study a book together on how to approach reading our Bibles*. I felt this was a real blessing and it brought us together as a team of cooks.
So as a cook what is boys camp all about?
It’s feeding hungry bodies to support those who take on the task of feeding starving souls. It’s about the astounding generosity of people who bake and donate an almost endless supply of cakes and treats for the campers.
It’s about the astounding generosity of people who bake and donate an almost endless supply of cakes and treats for the campers.
It’s working with a team of officers and seniors who take their competitive sporting instincts seriously but know that it’s sharing the Word of God that is the real goal.
It’s about those times, in services or mealtimes when almost 90 people, from different backgrounds and churches are gathered in a tent enjoying fellowship and supporting each other.
It’s about scattering the seed and knowing that many are praying for the harvest, trusting God who can do above all we ask or think.
It’s the joy that lifts the hard work of the kitchen when we hear of professions of faith or powerful conversations.
It’s about friendships forged.
It’s about a team of cooks from different churches enjoying fellowship, praying, sharing and growing in our service.
It’s also about change (despite being told nothing changes on boys’ camp), there were positive changes between the two years I have served on camp.
Of course, the spiritual needs of boys never change, the old, old story needs to be faithfully told, and I pray that we will always remain responsive to the needs of the boys we are charged with caring for, body and soul.
Ruth Alcolado
*Before you open your Bible: Nine heart postures for approaching God’s Word, by Matt Smethurst
