Pathfinder Camporee

Pathfinders and Bicycles Abound at Farragut State Park

Over 700 Pathfinders and staff, and just as many bicycles, swarmed into Farragut State Park in North Idaho September 15, 2006 for the Upper Columbia Conference Pathfinder Camporee. As always, the weekend event was full of fun, learning, spiritual growth opportunities.

One of the main attractions to this year's camporee was a bicycle theme. Pathfinder clubs were encouraged to bring bikes for special cycling activates that were planned throughout the weekend.

"This was the most fun camporee I've been to," said Wheatland Coyote Pathfinder Club member Jonathan Bradshaw, 12, who has been in Pathfinders since he was 9 years old. "I liked it because with bikes you can go a lot of places and see nature and have a lot more fun."

On Sunday, each pathfinder club formed teams of cyclists who were to participate in Olympic-style events using pedal power. The events were designed to challenge the team member's skills and dexterity. Events included a relay race, a newspaper-delivery-boy paper toss, a slow bike race, and a flat tire pit stop.

"I learned how quick we could change the tire on the bike," said Bradshaw, "and I learned that if you do it in parts then it is a lot easier than if everyone does it all the same time."

On Sabbath afternoon the pathfinders had the option of exploring the miles of bike trails that wander through the 4,000 acre grounds, or ride their bikes to the Naval Training Center Museum, which is one of the many attractions at the park. Farragut was the world's second largest naval training station used during World War II. Located on the shores of Pend Oreille Lake, it was the perfect place to train sailors. Its inland location provided protection from enemy attack, and the depth and size of the lake allowed for full size Navy submarine and ship maneuvers.

The keynote speaker for the weekend was Leo Ranzolin, a vice president of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and former General Conference Pathfinder Director. For his series of sermons during the weekend, pathfinders gathered in a huge natural amphitheater that was once used by the Naval training cadets. In his talks, Ranzolin emphasized Jesus' love for all of us and how much he gave up to save us from sin. "Just as Jesus gave up heaven for us, so we too must sometimes give up things for Him," said Ranzolin as he used scissors to cut through a paper airplane he used as a visual aid. "Maybe it is money," he said as he dropped a piece of the plane. "Or maybe it's popularity," he said as another piece fell. "But whatever it is, we must give it up until all we have is this," he said as he held up what was left of his airplane which now formed the shape of a cross.

Many pathfinders have learned to give up things for Christ, and was evident in their sacrifice for other Pathfinders in Peru. During the meetings, Wayne Hicks, Upper Columbia Conference Pathfinder Director, shared the need of a pathfinder club in Peru that was trying to raise money for Pathfinder uniforms. He told about the clubs goal to earn the money to buy material that they could use to make uniforms. So an offering was taken up and over $500 was raised.

On Saturday night the pathfinders participated in a hide-and-seek sort of game in the dark. The object was to cross a field and some woods at night to get from the amphitheater to the friendship pole (a large sculpture built for the world Boy Scout Jamboree held at Farrugut in 1968) without being caught by the "Gestapo." Kids used camouflage and stealth, crawling through high grass and thick trees to get to their destination.