By: Sophia Stanton, Sugar Creek Bible Camp Summer Staff
Whenever anyone asks me “Why Sugar Creek?” I have a hard time making my answers short and sweet because…“Why not Sugar Creek?!”
I have been coming to Sugar Creek for as long as I can remember. My family started attending Family Camp in the summer of 2009, and I was a camper at SCBC for the following 12 years. After COVID, I started as support staff in the summer of 2022 and have returned every summer. This summer, I am working as the Pool Coordinator, and I am beyond excited to be back! (If anyone is doing the math, that’s a total of 16 years at Sugar Creek!)
To answer the question “Why Sugar Creek?” again I respond, “Why not Sugar Creek?” From a camper perspective, I loved and cherished the time without my phone, making new friends, growing in my faith surrounded by God’s creation and all the fun activities.
Going to camp was a place to experience and recognize that God really is in more than just the 4 walls of the sanctuary at church, and in more people than just your friends, family, and people at church.
A memory I still think about to this day is the summer of 2019 when I was doing Riverboaters. It was the first time I went to camp without going with a friend or someone I knew. Even as an extrovert I was scared about getting along with the other campers and how the program would go because I had never done it before. By the end of the week, I had lots of new friends that I am still in contact with to this day.
My life pivoting moment was sharing faith stories. We were all sharing our faith journeys and other things and much to my 14 year old surprise, there were things that others were also questioning. Realizing that made me feel not so alone.
Every year I was so sad to go home because the week went by so fast. My parents can attest that the whole hour long car ride home I would tell stories non-stop and talk everyone’s ears off. That’s how you know you had an amazing week at camp.
As a counselor, I am able to witness so many campers’ lives change at Sugar Creek – from gaining the confidence to mount a horse for the first time, to deep diving into Bible studies. It is a magical experience to see campers leave a different person after just 5 days at camp. I have worked as a support staff member doing odds and ends around camp. I have also worked closely with campers of all ages as a cabin counselor. I have seen our youngest overnight campers dive into Bible studies, talking about Daniel and the lion’s den and how we don’t have to be scared of everything because God is always with us. I have worked with some of our oldest campers who learned more in-depth the meaning of being disciples, God’s hands and feet in the world in tough situations. Aside from Bible studies, I have seen shy campers come out of their shell and nervous campers overcome some of their fears. I have seen campers go from missing their phones and other devices to not even thinking about it while they’re getting lost in God’s creation.
Another thing I have gained from being connected to Sugar Creek is growing in my leadership and overall confidence. As Pool Coordinator this year, I took the initiative to create an Amazon Wish List (inspired by the Sugar Creek Amazon Wishlist) of items that would improve both camper and counselor experience at the pool. Some of the items included new pool noodles, toys, whistles for lifeguards, and shelves and baskets for overall organization, and so much more! I was grateful when people all over the country were generous enough to purchase these things so pool time can continue to be a camper favorite!
Sugar Creek is a place for all ages and stages to come and enjoy God’s creation. From first hand experiences and watching campers lives change, I can confidently respond to anyone asking me “Why Sugar Creek?” I can simply respond “Why not Sugar Creek?”
Your camper can splash and play in the pool with Sophia and the rest of the Summer Staff. Enroll Today!
