More than 950 Pathfinders and staff camped together at Lake Mendocino for the annual Northern California Conference Pathfinder Camporee in October. The almost 50 clubs included guest clubs from South Lake Tahoe and Susanville of the Nevada-Utah Conference.

The camporee was the first conference-wide event of the 2003-2004 Pathfinder year, which will conclude with the North American Division Faith on Fire International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wis., in August.

Keynote speaker Ron Whitehead, director of the Faith on Fire Camporee and the Center for Youth Evangelism in Berrien Springs, Mich., helped Pathfinders catch the vision of what it means to be on fire with Jesus and inspired them to join 25,000 other Pathfinders in Oshkosh.

Friday night’s guest speaker was Mike Copithorne, an elementary teacher from Napa Christian Campus of Education. As a teenager, Copithorne won awards as a world class wakeboarder and snowboarder. Then a snowboard accident took away the use of his legs, but not his winning spirit and trust in God. His powerful testimony of God’s leading and care in his life illustrated a “Faith on Fire.”

Throughout the weekend, the West family, who travels worldwide and shares a “Gospel Archery” program, challenged Pathfinders with their skill in archery. Mark, Aaron and Mark, Jr., demonstrated advanced skills of marksmanship while Charlene shared with the audience biblical principles learned and practiced in archery.

The weekend concluded with clubs being recognized for active involvement in all areas of conference and local church ministry. Twenty-nine of 48 clubs qualified as first place clubs and took home trophies to prove it. All Pathfinders and staff took home a gold pin for their honor sash with a flame and the words “Being on Fire with Jesus.”

By Ron Stretter, Youth Ministries Director for Northern California Conference