When over 30 kids from across the Northern Inland Presbytery rolled up to a local church in Inverell, NSW, no one quite knew what to expect. It was the first-ever regional PY camp in the area, and the start of something very special.
The weather? Perfect. The kids? Pumped. The leaders? Nervous, but excited. And by the end of the 13-15 September weekend in 2024, one thing was clear: God had been at work in big ways.
Grace Smith, one of the leaders on the planning team, reflects. “I’ve always loved sharing God’s Word… So, being part of a local camp gave me the chance to do that in a really meaningful way. Plus, I love a good conversation about God.”
One of her highlights? “Seeing all the campers completely engaged with Jarrod’s talks, joining in the activities, and singing their hearts out. A joyful noise really is better than silence!”
Camp director and PY Representative Jarrod McNaughton agrees. “We had five talks over the weekend, looking at the foundations of what we believe. The kids brought their Bibles and notebooks, and they asked thoughtful questions. It was honestly incredible.”
Another surprise? The older kids jumped right in. “On day one, during rego, a few of the older campers took it upon themselves to start up some activities for everyone else,” Grace said. “No one asked them to. They just did it. And it made such a difference. It set the tone for the whole weekend.”
One of those campers was Matilda “Tilly” Bailey, who was in Year 9 at the time. “I didn’t really know what to expect,” she said, “but I ended up loving it and I’d 100% go again.”
Her top moments? “Definitely going into the caves! Everyone helped each other and it was so much fun.” But it wasn’t just the adventure that stood out. “The sessions made me think about things in a new way. I learnt a lot. And I loved the mornings. Before breakfast, a bunch of us would get up and play board and card games. It was the best way to wake up!”
There was also the fun of sharing a big sleepover-style room with all the girls. “We stayed up talking and got to know each other really quickly,” Tilly said. “I made new friends, had heaps of fun, and learnt more about God too.”
Behind the scenes, churches from all corners of the presbytery had rallied together to make camp happen. “We had leaders and campers from so many different places,” Jarrod said. “Some travelled hours to get there. For churches with little or no youth ministry, this was something really special.”
The camp wasn’t just a one-off, either. Its impact rippled out. “Lots of the kids had never been to a Christian camp before,” Jarrod said. “Then some of them signed up for KYCK, others came to Summer Camp, and many have kept in contact since.”
For Jarrod and the team, it has only fuelled the fire to keep going. “We’re already planning for this year’s camp,” he said. “We’ll be moving to a new location to make it more accessible to other parts of the region, and we’re looking for a bigger space. We hit our venue’s limit last year, and with so many kids wanting to bring their friends, we want to be ready for more!”
When young people gather around God’s Word in a place that feels like home, friendships are formed, faith grows, and the Church is strengthened.
And for Grace, Jarrod, Tilly, and everyone else involved, that’s more than enough reason to do it all again.