Share the Adventure: 2026 Scripture Memory Camp

We had been in a rhythm of going to Scripture Memory Camp every other summer, but this time, we went two years in a row. This was Carter and Calvin's 5th time memorizing and 4th time at camp (in 2020, they got an award in the mail instead of a trip to camp because of Covid). It was Cooper and Colson's third time at camp. Chance was officially a camper this year, but he was still a little too young to be able to handle all 25 verses, so he only got a partial scholarship. The memory program this year was Songs of the Soul Volume 1. Carter and Calvin memorized one verse from each of the first 75 psalms; Cooper and Colson memorized one verse from each of the first 25 psalms.

Lucas went with us one year, but this time, I took them myself. We left on Sunday after church and drove partway to Jacksonville, Arkansas, then the rest of the way to Ringgold, Louisiana, even arriving a bit early. The boys were a little disappointed because they had thought there would be a new and improved gameroom. But either they heard wrong or that project got pushed back. Still, it was good to be back at camp with familiar faces and some new friends from Cincinnati! We were pleased to find that we were in one of the super-nice new cabins with carpet(!) and two toilets/sinks/showers.

In the mornings, we all had a devotion time together down by the lake. Then the boys had classes after breakfast (the food is always so good!) and morning rally with a rapid recall competition. Chance didn't always want to participate in his class, so I did a lot of hanging with him instead of attending the adult classes. Then free time in the afternoon (zipline, rock wall, gaga, game room, canoeing, waterslide) and evening service after dinner. Finally, there's usually a special night-time event, whether a comedy skit (Who's on Pickin'?) or night-time zipline, or the carnival on the last night.

When I was outside the main service with Chance, I heard the phrase "train their appetite," referring to giving our children the taste for truth and life. I think of how kids who grew up eating international cuisine and salads and healthy foods have an appetite for that. In some ways, I feel like it's too-late to course-correct my boys' preferences. Alas. But it also got me thinking of how to train their appetites spiritually. Even though I didn't get to hear any of the evening sermons in entirety, that phrase has stuck with me.