Participants in the 2019 New Beginnings 112 weekend are all smiles near the cross at Camp Wingmann.
The saying that “big things come in small packages” perfectly exemplified the latest New Beginnings weekend.
New Beginnings 112 turned out “big things” in nearly every way on March 22-24 at Camp Wingmann in Avon Park. And that was despite the turnout being smaller than in years past.
“New Beginnings 112 was one of the finest youth events we have held in the past six years!” said the Rev. Phyllis Bartle, event organizer. “While the headcount was a bit smaller than in years past, the weekend was filled with love and laughter.”
The three-day spiritual camp, which is open to youth ages 12 to 15 (primarily middle-schoolers), has been a big hit in the Diocese of Central Florida for more than 30 years. And this year was no exception.
Campers listened to spiritual director, the Rev. Tracy Dugger, as well as a married couple, and a pair of older teens in learning about relationships with family, friends, church and the Lord. It was all part of team building.
“Mother Tracy Dugger masterfully opened the discussions so that the students in each small group could begin to explore their relationships with friends, siblings, parents and the Lord,” Bartle said. “The high school students who led each small group were able to engage each of the participants through the open-ended questions to get conversation going.”
Carl and Juli Pollard from St. Anne’s, Crystal River, served as the married couple and emcees for the weekend. “This couple were key participants and team members when they, themselves, were in middle and high school,” Bartle said. “They, too, shared about their experiences in the relationships with family and the church and helped the students relate to folks just a bit older than themselves.”
Leadership also came from Tyler Butler and Lilli Bramley, a pair of older teens who helped to coordinate all the activities for the weekend: games, team building, and talent show. “They also shared their own lives, so that the younger participants could see that what they themselves are dealing with is something that many have to handle,” Bartle said.
Another key to New Beginnings’ success has been the return of campers year after year. Bartle, who is the rector of St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Orange City, said the appeal for the weekend has been and continues to be that “kids come where they are emotionally and spiritually, and are accepted. They grow a bit, make new friends and can come back again and again. As they mature, they are encouraged to come back and work on the team and help others in their walk with Christ.”
New Beginnings will hold its next weekend camp on Oct. 4-6. For more information, email Bartle at phlealess@aol.com
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE REV. PHYLLIS BARTLE