I’m so antsy I can’t sleep. Excitement courses through my mind as I lay in bed with anticipation for the clock to strike 3:00 a.m. I’m up! And am on my way to my first summer camp! I’ve heard so much about it and all the friendships you make and people you meet. Just a teenager, I am so very happy to be going somewhere without my family—an experience all my own!

These mixed emotions were what I took with me to the Worldwide Church of God’s Summer Educational Program (S.E.P.) in Orr, Minnesota in the summer of 1994.

Fast forward 15 years. I am now a staff member at Ambassador Youth Camp, a continuation of the summer program instituted by Mr. Armstrong in the 1980s.

Many changes have taken place over the years. Divisions, splits, wars, technology, presidents, and so on, but one thing remains constant: The youth in God’s Church need a physical example of the wonderful world tomorrow to understand why their parents continue to hold fast and follow a way of life that is opposite to the world.

In 1994, at the age of 14, the above statement is not what I was thinking about! All I wanted to do was be far, far away from parents and family and have a whole lot of FUN! And I DID! However, little did I know that the physical experiences I participated in at S.E.P. would turn out to be the most memorable times in my life.

Yes, the memories I made at S.E.P. were the best, most enjoyable activities that I can remember. They far outweigh other significant moments from childhood, teenage years and even adulthood!

How many teens get to go deep into the woods and live for three weeks in absolute beauty, in an environment jam-packed with volleyball, basketball, cheerleading, water polo, swimming, archery, a trip to a turkey farm, mountain biking, broadcasting, daily lectures, a formal escorted dinner to practice date etiquette, swing-dance lessons, sailing, wind surfing, skeet shooting, hiking and a four-day, three-night canoe trip—not to mention learning thought-provoking, basic life lessons along the way?

I look back and think, WOW! I was so very blessed to participate in so many activities that most children in the world do not, and if they do, definitely not all in a three-week timespan!

While I have fond memories of the activities, the most heartwarming and poignant occurred on the canoe trip—Moose to Crane lake: four days and three nights with two portages. This was the trip to which I was assigned, based on my skill and aptitude, and it was one of the most challenging.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, could have prepared this country-hearted, city-dwelling girl for paddling a canoe eight hours a day for three and a half days! I can still hear my two canoe trip leaders yelling, “STROKE!” (what they yelled when they wanted you to dig your oar deep into the water while pulling with all your might to propel the canoe forward) and “FEATHER!” (what happens when you remove your oar from the water and place it flat in parallel position immediately after stroking, to glide across the water with no air resistance).

One of the most memorable experiences on the canoe trip was cliff jumping. Imagine, climbing a trail on the side of a cliff and walking out to a ledge about 50 feet above a placid, picturesque lake. This was the moment of truth—to jump or not to jump?

Being the youngest in my family and the only girl, I was no chicken. I was, however, very afraid of heights! But as the youngest and only girl, I had a bold and adventurous streak, so I volunteered to jump first! It took two practice run-ups to the edge of the cliff before leaping on the third one. (Well, actually one of the leaders agreed to jump with me while we held hands, but at the last minute let go and flung me off.) Technically, I don’t know if I officially jumped, but I did feel a heart-pumping, eye-popping, inside-screaming feeling all the way down as if I had! My pointed toes sliced through the surface into the deep. I let out an underwater scream. I obviously have lived to tell the story and obtained a sense of accomplishment and confidence for having lived through such an experience.

Another experience during the canoe trip that sticks out in my mind was star-gazing. Since I grew up in the heart of San Francisco, California, a light-flooded city, it was difficult to look up at night and see stars. At S.E.P., I had the opportunity to paddle in a canoe with my two team leaders to go star-gazing.

While lying on my back and looking up at the night sky, I extended just my pointer finger upward and literally blocked hundreds of stars from view! I had never seen anything so beautiful!

Even more impressive was that, moments later, the Northern Lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, decided to give us a show! The blues, pinks, and lavenders danced and weaved, jigged and jagged, ducked and bobbed in the distance. Fifteen Fourth of Julys have passed since this experience and all of the shows I have witnessed combined do not match the awe, wonder and sheer pleasure of observing such a marvelous display!

I could write about so many more experiences from S.E.P., but here is the lesson for those who have, or will, attend AYC in the future—Make each moment count! Remember, special times at camp are yours and yours alone. AYC is a place where memories are created and will last decades, just as they have with me and my camp experience 15 years ago.

What memories will you make?