From the 5th to the 11th of August 2012 the Orthodox children summer camp was organized by the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada and took place, as in previous years, in the picturesque place on the shores of Pigeon Lake in the Province of Alberta. This year the summer camp was planned and prepared by the clergyman of the Patriarchal Parishes Reverend archpriest father Igor Kisil under benediction of His Grace Iov, bishop of Kashira, the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada. As usually, we rented the grounds and the buildings of camp “Barvinok,” belonging to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.
Every day of the camp started and ended with the prayers in the classic Saint Archangel Michael temple. All young believers, divided in several groups, had chance, in their turn, to read the prayers. They also were allowed and in charge of enlightening of all the candles and icon-lamps during the Services.
The catechistic-educational theme of this year camp was “The Twelve Main Feasts of the Orthodox Church in the life of an Orthodox Christian.” This topic was discussed and clarified for the kids of the two age groups in the Bible classes by His Grace Iov, Bishop of Kashira, by the Right Reverend archpriest father Sergey Kipriyanovich, by the Right Reverend archimandrite Philipp (Speranza), and by the Reverend priest father Antony Philchak. The kids were also learning every day and getting used to the traditional church practices of celebrating those Feasts that were examined in the classroom. Thus, for example, they were decorating with flowers and greens the Icons of the Feast Days on the lectern and the Cross for the Feast of Resurrection of the Cross, had the Divine Service of Worshipping the Cross and organized the Pascal Procession with banners, icons, candles and singing of excepts from Easter Vigil and Liturgy texts.  The chambers, where the kids and the counselors lived, as well as their icons and candles, were blessed with Holy water… Apples, as the first fruits of the harvest, were brought to the temple and also blessed, according to the Christian Orthodox tradition. On the 9th of August, in the Day of commemorating the Great Saint Martyr and the Healer Panteleimon, the children were helping to read Akafist to the Saint Healer and sing all chorus parts that start from the words: “Rejoice…” After the Service they all were anointed with the Holy Myrrh for strengthening their spiritual and physical health.
During the camp a considerable amount of time was dedicated to the art and craft classes, on which the young Christians were making special souvenirs devoted to the Twelve Great Orthodox Church Feasts, like crosses, icons or painted figurines, and to the choir practice where kids had chance to practice different troparia of the Feasts and the liturgical singing… The sport program and competitions for the kids was a must, as well as the daily cleaning of all buildings and chopping woods for the evening campfire ( for the older kids)… The campers even had a trip to the forest , where they were attempting to build real wooden tents for themselves… According to the tradition, every evening ended by singing songs and playing games around the campfire on the shore of the lake.
In the big farewell party the four groups of children, guided by their counselors, staged and performed short, but spiritually edifying plays, devoted to the lives of the Reverend Father Seraphim of Sarov, of the prophet Elijah, of the Passion-Bearers and God-Believers Boris and Gleb, and of Saint Martyr Irene of Cappadocia-the Saints that were chosen to be the Heavenly Patrons of four children’s units…
On the last day, the 11th of August, the Divine Liturgy was served by His Grace The Right Reverend Iov, bishop of Kashira, the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, and the Reverend father archpriest Sergey Kipriyanovich, the rector of Saint Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton. The children during the Service were singing, reading The Apostle Book and helping in the Altar…After confession, all campers, staff and many parents had Holy Communion.
Special cordial words and expressions of gratitude from His Grace the Right Reverend bishop of Kashira and all parents were pronounced for Kimberly Cochrane, the active coordinator of the camp. The success of the camp in general and of many its aspects in particular depended on her pedagogical talents, experience and industrial efforts…
In finale the picture of all campers was taken in front of the Church and then everybody was invited to participate in the farewell brunch… His Grace Iov, bishop of Kashira, gave His blessing to all the kids and also presented them with the children’s prayer books. There were 27 kids in the camp this year – all from the families recently immigrated to Canada, – and there were 12 volunteers working at the camp – all from the congregations of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada and from the nearby Parish of All Saints of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad in Calgary.