Travel Camp leaders (l. to r.) John Coulombe, Ga/ry Oliver, Charles Bradshaw.
b y P e g g y S a n d e r s
U NSATISFIED w ith th e traditional camp situa tion, and searching for a summer experience that would change the lives of their young people, Charles Bradshaw, John Coulombe, and Gary Oliver, three youth pastors from the Los Angeles area, met in the fall of 1968 to discuss ideas for a more meaningful program. Six months later, after hard work and much prayer, Summer Travel Camp ’69 became a reality and the answer to their need for a new kind of camping experience. Designed for young people who wanted to concentrate on Bible study and growth, each prospective camper was asked to submit an application with his testimony and a self-evaluation of his witness at home and on his campus. Each accepted camper (in this case, each one who applied) was given a 45-page syllabus describing the aims and rules of conduct of the camp (plus Bible study outlines and various evalu
ation sheets to be used during the camp). There the young people knew exactly what to expect and what behaviour was expected of them. Campers from three churches met on July 23 and piled on to the bus that would carry the 40 high schoolers and five counselors on a 3,000-mile journey. Over eleven days, the group would view Yellowstone and Zion National Parks, the Grand Canyon, Oak Creek Canyon, and Salt Lake City (guided by CBA missionary to the Mormons, Mar vin Cowen). Each evening the boys’ work teams set up tents as the girls, also divided into teams, shared KP duty. Recreation was provided by na ture-hiking, swimming in the lakes and springs and fishing, but most of the campers’ time was spent in the bus or campsite of the day. Unlike the traditional camp where each moment is structured for a particular activity, as the camp ers traveled a t different hours and put up camp at
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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