This past summer a young camper arrived at check out without his backpack.  His mother questioned where it was, and the boy shrugged, and he said, “I don’t know”.  Embarrassed, I asked the camp counselor to go and find it and apologized to the mother.   The young boy quickly spoke up and he said, “It’s all my fault”.  “Why is it your fault?” I said.  “Because I hid it.”  "Why did you hide it?" The boy said, “cause I want to stay.”
 
I feel like this in the stillness of the outdoors, I want to stay.  I enjoy seeing campers make new friends, try new activities, enjoy time around Bible study with inspiring words from the Camp Pastor and staff mentors.   Camp helps create an atmosphere of worship through the study of God’s Word together.  I feel thankful.  This sweet melody of camp helps to create harmony in life.

2022 Camp Registration is open!
2022 ENGAGE
"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.“  1 Peter 3:15

2022 theme video
Each of us plays an important role as followers of God - as Christians our role is to engage with God and our neighbors.  We do this by being prepared to share the reason for the hope we have in God. In 2022, we will equip ourselves to speak the truth in love with gentleness and respect. Reserve your space today with a $100 deposit. 

More about Camp:

Support for camp 
Please consider helping us finish the year strong.  As we continue ministry this season and beyond, we are raising support for two areas.   First, Sentinel is MISSION FIRST as we never turn a family away for the inability to pay for camp.  Donations are needed to help with scholarship support.  Secondly, we are raising funds for new projects: a playground next to the Hobby house and a new bathroom next to the Wigwam. 

Sentinel Lodge Retreats - experience the stillness in our year round retreats

Pines Camp - seasonal camping, reserve your 2022 camping experience. 

See you soon on the mountaintop,

Kevin Van Brunt “Pk”
Executive Director, Camp Sentinel

Mission Statement
Our mission is to create a welcoming environment for Christian relationship building and spiritual renewal. Within the stillness of God's creation and through the guidance of the staff, people are moved from discovery into authentic relationships with others and with Jesus Christ.
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campsentinel.org (603) 539-4839
29 Sentinel Lodge Road, Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816

It has taken me over a week to digest and reflect on our first physical annual gathering since the arrival of COVID. (I do extend my apologies that the recorded portions of the gathering have not been uploaded to our web page. There are some unanticipated tech issues, but this should be resolved soon.) 

There are three salient pieces of the annual gathering that stood out. The first was the number of people who physically participated. I was warned that no more than 50 people would attend, but in my  eternal optimism, I said it would be 150, not really convinced that it would happen. Yet, in the end there were 135+ participants. The group was overall younger than other years, I think because of the prudent decisions made by others to not attend. There were more children than I have seen at an annual gathering in maybe 15 or 20 years. It is simply encouraging to attendees be comfortable in bringing children and teenagers to join. We welcomed in a new church, Sunshine Community Church in Allentown NH, and several new pastors and their spouses. There was spirit of hospitality and welcome among the those that were there. I was struck by the diversity of the group, and the mutuality and  generosity people extended to each other. A constant theme was, “It is good to be together.” 

Despite COVID’s lingering, God blessed us. 

The second point was the powerful worship, and for many of us, feeling that renewing joyous presence  of the Holy Spirit. After Dr. Stokes’ sermon and prayer on Friday night, from where I stood, I could see the tears, the prayers, and welcoming Christ’s presence. The Holy Spirit does comfort, confront, and change us during moments of community worship. Sometimes we take for granted how close Christ is when we worship with an openness to the Holy Spirit. Another theme I heard was “We need to worship together  more.” 

The third point I would describe as “ferment”. After quality workshops and two excellent keynoters, conversations were grappling with the present and the future. There was a catalyst about, as people pressed each other for their thoughts, strategies, and questions. For some, they didn’t realize that human trafficking is present in small rural communities, often connected with drug trafficking. Or it is okay to seek to understand people of other races and cultures while suspending our own preconceptions, because this too is the way of the cross. Defensiveness never serves Christ and His Kingdom. There was  constant buzz around the question of “So what is the church?” Are there differences, even nuanced  differences, between evangelism, Christian community, and the church? If we evangelize and bring together communities of new believers on the journey of discipleship and servanthood, when are they Christian communities, and when are they a church? Where does teaching happen, baptisms, and the Lord’s table? Does the Holy Spirit preside over a wide range of church venues and experiences? How are we trying to find our way in the world in the name of Jesus? 
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Overall, I thank God for the risk we took, and God blessed us in our trying, Jesus was there helping us see and  know be close.