LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Thanks to a resident's connect to a Christian educational organization in the south, volunteers brought a Bible camp to Fort Simpson this summer.

The first day of Bible camp was a small, intimate gathering at Bompas Elementary School. Katana Williams-Snider, front left, joined Cole and Grace day and instructor Christina Trummer for a day of activities, crafts and learning. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

Organized through the On Eagle's Wings organization, the camp began Aug. 17 and runs until Aug. 21.

The organization is an ecumenical Christian ministry that sponsors outreach in the form of summer Bible camps to remote and isolated areas of Northern Canada.

This year, Calgarians Christina Trummer and Linda DesRoches flew to Fort Simpson to run what they refer to as a C.A.L.L. (Children Always Loved by the Lord) camp.

The camp started out small, with three youth attending on Aug. 17. The children participated in arts and crafts activities and learned Bible stories. Snacks were also provided.

Children made their own name tags and played a series of games, including blindfold tag and a variation on follow-the-leader. A hopscotch line was also set up.

"We applied to On Eagle's Wings, but we're kind of independent," said DesRoches, who has worked with On Eagle's Wings for four years.

Fort Simpson is the fifth community she has taught in.

"We cover a lot of our own costs," she said.

Northern Bible camps rely on volunteers to help cut down on costs associated with flights, materials and manpower. Even pilots who fly camp instructors to communities are volunteers.

Trummer, who said this latest trip to Fort Simpson marks her third time teaching a CALL camp, said the curriculum she and DesRoches use was drawn up by a volunteer with On Eagle's Wings and is standardized across all the camps.

"These camps have been happening all summer in different communities," she added.

Currently, the duo is staying at the pentecostal church, where they will remain until the end of the week.

Trummer said On Eagle's Wings only reaches out to places that already have a connection in the community. In Fort Simpson, that connection is Martina Norwegian.

Norwegian said she has been involved with the organization for years and has traveled far and wide to attend their meetings, even to the United States.

Although the majority of camps are held during summer months, Trummer said On Eagle's Wings is trying to expand to other times of yea, as well.

The camp is being held at Bompas Elementary School from 1 to 4 p.m. each day.

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