Music camp nurtures faith and supportive community

February 23, 2016 | Web First
Ontario Mennonite Music Camp
Waterloo, Ont.

Back in 2009, when I was 12 years old, I remember being crammed into the back row of a standing-room-only crowd at the final concert of the annual Ontario Mennonite Music Camp. To be honest, I don’t remember much of it, except a couple moments from the musical The Troubbable of Zerubbabel, when they knocked down something that looked like a temple, and a guy (who looked so old, like, 16) hit a super-low note.

That’s how I decided to go to music camp at Conrad Grebel University College.

Music camp means every day has hours of music-making. Each day starts with chapel, and by the end of the four-part singing session in Grebel’s beautiful chapel, everyone is ready to go for the day. Then there is choir, in which campers learn songs in four parts that stick with them for years. The other part of camp is composed of master classes, at which students explore the instrument of their choice as they prepare for that year’s musical.

The staff are undoubtedly one of the reasons I kept returning to camp. They are my ultimate role models as adults who have the confidence to make mistakes, question and have fun. I value the trust and respect they showed me and how they helped me to be myself. Being told that you are great is something most teens don’t get to hear.

Every day we met in small groups to discuss our faith. Spontaneous prayer circles were formed when people needed prayer, and tough topics were discussed with guidance from the counsellors. One of the things I value most about my years at music camp is how it allowed my faith to grow and be my own.

Music camp taught me the value of a nurturing and supportive community, and I have so many positive memories—a silly prank, a funny meal or a meaningful camp-wide talk.

Because of music camp, I value community more than I ever did before. My faith was nurtured in the community at camp, and I think this is how Jesus wanted us to live.

Based on the experiences of Anna Kuepfer and Joanna Loepp Thiessen, first-year university students living at Conrad Grebel University College, who both spent numerous summers attending Ontario Mennonite Music Camp. For more information, visit https://uwaterloo.ca/grebel/campers. 

See more about past camps:
Ontario Mennonite Music Camp explores ‘pride and prejudice’
Music camp changed my life

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OMMC is a place where I, as a staff member felt blessed by my fellow staff and all the campers too! It is one of *the* most important places to foster my faith as a young adult!

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