By Frank Ramirez
“What do we do if there’s a mouse in the cabin?” asked one of the 31 youth who traveled to Camp Brethren Heights, around an hour north of the Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, for a service project, lunch, and swimming in the lake.
This particular group of youth were given the task of cleaning several cabins around the camp, which would be used for the upcoming Song and Story Fest. The smell of disinfectant was in the air. The sound of vacuums and the thunder of a power wash cleaner were heard as the inside and outside of the cabins were scrubbed clean.
The youth were assured by one of the nine adults who provided support and encouragement and were the drivers for the expedition: “Don’t worry. That mouse wants to get away from you as much as you want it to leave.” Soon the mouse was gone, although the rustling of other wildlife was heard on a regular basis.
Some of the youth cleared the lakefront area of stones while a couple of youth with experience with a wood splitter split the logs and heavier branches left over from the winter, creating firewood for the camp’s use.
After a lunch of sandwiches made by the youth, with chips and snacks, many took advantage of Four Square, walking, and swimming at the lake.
Austin Bancroft, camp director for facilities, led the day’s cleaning. Jamie McBride, director of programing at the camp, represented the camp at the Annual Conference in Grand Rapids.
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