Summer 2026
(Sigh) Our Summer 2026 programs have ended... Our team members reflect on the summer that was...
I am Bethany and this summer I worked as a Camp Counselor for Amberlea.
The summer was amazing! I loved being with the children and helping them learn about different stories of the Bible and how to apply them to real life situations. I had so much fun making crafts with the kids that would relate to the story of the day and seeing them be proud of what they created was always the joy at the end of the day.
When we first started I was really nervous about doing story time with them, I was not one for talking or reading in front of people, even kids. But now that the summer's over I realize that it's a lot easier in front of kids than anyone else and they are just having fun with you if you mess up they don't notice and I had to trust God that I can say the right things so the kids could understand.
This summer I saw God truly give the whole staff the will and confidence to work together, we instantly got the hang of things we needed from each other and made a great team. I also saw God open the hearts of the kids, some came to camp for the first time scared or not interested but I watched them start to warm up to other campers and to the leaders and were able to have a good and fun time with us. This summer at Amberlea was absolutely amazing and I thank God and Amberlea for this opportunity.
My name is Jack and I am a member of the Amberlea Summer Team. I'm going into Grade 12. After this summer, I definitely want to stay involved in youth ministry in the future. I really enjoyed working with kids and helping them grow in their faith, so I'd like to keep doing that.
I loved sharing stories and teachings of the bible to the campers. I loved seeing the kids actually get excited about the Bible stories and ask questions. I got to teach through skits, puppet shows, and discussions, which made it more fun and interactive instead of just telling them a story.
When I started I was hesitant about public speaking and leadership. At first, I was nervous about taking the lead because I wasn't used to speaking in front of groups. Doing skits, puppet shows, and activities helped me get over that. Now I feel a lot more confident stepping up and taking initiative.
I have come a long way and have gained more confidence in public speaking. I was pretty shy when I first started, especially when it came to speaking in front of everyone. As the summer went on, I got a lot more comfortable and independent. A lot of that came just from being put in different situations and learning from them.
I saw God at work in so many ways. I saw God at work mostly through the relationships we built with the campers. It was really cool seeing them become more comfortable talking about God, asking questions, and getting involved in the Bible stories. I think the skits and puppet shows helped make faith more fun and relatable for them.
My name is Shan. I am a third year Business Commerce student at Ontario Tech University and was the Summer Team Leader this past summer.
What I loved most about camp was getting to build relationships with the campers and seeing them grow throughout the summer. One of my biggest highlights was seeing how the children grew in curiosity through our small group discussion. It was a blessing to help foster that curiosity and answer their questions to the best of my ability.
When I first started at Amberlea, I was a little hesitant about my role as the leader of the Summer Team and the increased responsibilities that came along with it. I was also unsure about what it would look like to help manage not one, but two camps. I was not sure if I would be able to effectively balance the responsibilities that I had while still supporting my team.
After the summer, I feel much more confident in my ability to take on those kinds of responsibilities. Working with both camps definitely had its challenges, but it helped me grow as a leader, taught me how to better communicate, and adapt to different situations.
I saw God at work through the relationships that were built with campers, volunteers, and staff. I saw Him use our story times, crafts, and small group discussions to help campers grow in their faith and ask meaningful questions. I also saw Him working in me by giving me the patience, wisdom, and strength I needed to lead and serve throughout the summer.
I’m Sloane, and this summer I had the opportunity to work at Amberlea Mini Camp. I helped with crafts, science, games, storytelling, and water days, while getting to build relationships with the kids and help them learn about God in a fun and meaningful way.
I loved seeing the kids get excited about learning, especially during Bible stories and activities. One of my favourite parts was watching the kids become more comfortable throughout the summer and seeing the relationships we built.
I was nervous about connecting with such a wide range of ages and personalities, and about leading activities while keeping everyone engaged. I feel much more confident now. I learned to be flexible, go with the flow, and trust myself more when leading the kids.
I saw God through the relationships we built with the kids and staff. Even in small moments, I saw how God could use us to make a child feel loved, included, and excited to learn about Him.