Pathfinders Challenged to Finish Faithful
More than 3,700 Pathfinders and staff from the six conferences in the Atlantic Union headed to Burlingame State Park in Charlestown, Rhode Island, to experience the Atlantic Union Pathfinder Camporee. Pathfinders from Maine to Western New York, and from New York City to Bermuda attended the Finish Faithful Pathfinder Camporee.
Each day the speakers challenged the Pathfinders to finish faithful. The speakers were Armando Miranda, North American Division associate youth director; and Ryan Simpson, Atlantic Union Conference youth director. Other guests included José Cortés, Jr., former Atlantic Union Conference youth director, who now serves as North American Division Ministerial Association associate director; Ron Whitehead, International Pathfinder Camporee and Lake Union youth director; Ken Rogers, Southern Union youth director; and Donald G. King, Atlantic Union Conference president. In attendance also were special invited guests from the East Jamaica
Conference who shared their drilling prowess and a bit of Pathfinder ministry from Jamaica, West Indies.
The Pathfinders enjoyed an Honor midway tent where more than 25 honors were taught, including Blacksmithing. Activities such as archery, canoeing, volleyball, basketball, mountain biking, a 5K Run/Walk, and the Henry Livergood Obstacle Course were available for the attendees. Each night THE RISEN ministry from Greater New York Conference thrilled many hearts with drama presentations that showed a glimpse of how Jesus finished faithful! The climax on Saturday night was seeing the depiction of Jesus’ resurrection from the borrowed tomb.
Community service activities at camporee included cleaning areas around the park, facilities on North Kingstown beach, a nursing home on Elmwood Avenue in Providence, Rhode Island, and the yard of several elderly and disabled people.
On Sabbath the grand parade with color guards and drum corps gave the attendees an opportunity to see the many Pathfinders in the Atlantic Union. Each youth director led their conference unit into the general session area with much pomp and circumstance.
Camporees are a time which Pathfinders look forward to—a time to get away from the concrete jungle and commune with nature. It also gives them an opportunity to see old friends and to make new ones.
Four Pathfinders made commitments to follow Jesus through baptism at the camporee—New York (1), Northeastern (1), and Southern New England (2).
Roger Wade, then Northeastern Conference Youth Ministries director.
View photos from the 2016 Atlantic Union Conference Pathfinder Camporee on the Atlantic Union Youth Ministries Facebook page: