Campers from Germany and Switzerland enjoy  their shopping trip to Buxton.

Campers liked the archery activity, with one  of them even scoring a bull's eye!

7 youth and 1 adult staff from Germany and Switzerland attended the UCG British Isles summer camp in Buxton from July 27 to August 1. For five of the campers and their accompanying staff member, Sabrina Kneip, the first part of their adventure was a flight from Cologne to Manchester. For three of the campers it was their first plane flight, adding to the excitement. From the airport in Manchester they traveled by bus to Buxton, where UCG British Isles camp director David Fenney met them and brought them to the camp venue at the Buxton Field Centre on the outskirts of the famous spa town of Buxton.

Campers and staff hailed from Colombia, Ireland, Germany, Poland and Switzerland as well as those from the UK. It was a multilingual as well as multicultural Camp. Activities included archery, visits to local cave and museums, swimming and half a day learning rock climbing. Initiative training and problem solving stretched the thinking skills of the campers. Sports and games took place on the spacious yard at the venue, and of course there was the required and much anticipated shopping expedition. Pictionary was also a popular pursuit.

On the second night of camp the four girls from Germany gave icebreaker speeches to introduce themselves to each other. Then they discussed several topics of mutual interest. Among the topics covered were the good and bad of video games, the purpose of life and the question of where dinosaurs fit in the history and man and the planet. Thursday's obligatory shopping trip to nearby Buxton was a highlight as well.

Each day at camp concluded with a hymn and prayer. There were two final dinners, with an extra farewell dinner held on Thursday evening because the group from Germany had to leave the next day. On Friday afternoon the five campers from Germany, accompanied by Sabrina, made their return trip to Cologne in reverse order. First they took the bus from Buxton to the Manchester airport, and from there they flew back to Cologne. The five day experience at the UK summer camp provided an opportunity for the young people to grow closer, since they normally only see each other during the annual Feast of Tabernacles. As a follow-up to camp, each camper will receive a letter in three months, asking them which three goals they have set for themselves and what skills they learned at camp. When asked, all of them were enthusiastic in their desire to attend next year's summer camp in England.