More than 1,400 Pathfinders, Adventurers and volunteers from across the Northwest gathered near Twin Falls, Idaho, for the North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) Pathfinder Camporee September 14–16, 2017. This was the first time the camporee, hosted by the union every five years, was the held in Idaho. In total, 75 Pathfinder clubs made the trek from all corners of the union, including one club from Juneau, Alaska.
Dan Gilbert, Idaho Conference Pathfinder director, and his team of volunteers spent countless hours planning and organizing the event. The theme, “Pray Like Daniel!,” encouraged Pathfinder to spend time in prayer and develop a daily walk with Jesus, looking to Daniel as an example.
During the day, Pathfinders kept busy with numerous activities and honor-earning opportunities throughout the event. The most popular honor, due to the fact it is unique to the camporee, was the blacksmithing honor. Two hundred and fifty Pathfinders and staff earned the blacksmithing honor, taking scrap metal pieces and carefully molding, hammering and polishing them into the shape of a cross.
Other honors offered at the camporee included orienteering, the life of Jesus, Dutch oven cooking, gold panning and fossils, during which clubs spent time exploring fossil beds nearby. As a special activity, Pathfinders also enjoyed zip-lining across a canyon alongside the Snake River.
Pathfinders were also encouraged to give back to their community by bringing nonperishable food items to donate to the Idaho Food Bank. In total, 700 pounds of food was donated.
God was working miracles during the camporee, and His presence was felt. The camporee concluded with a special Sabbath evening invitation for Pathfinders to commit their hearts to Jesus. Nearly all Pathfinders answered the call, coming forward to give their life to Jesus during one-on-one time in prayer with their leaders.
This is the essence of the Pathfinder ministry — not only teaching our youth valuable life-building skills, but also encouraging them to live a Christ-centered life. This is why investing in our youth and Pathfinders is so important.
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The patch for the 2017 NPUC Pathfinder Camporee.
Pathfinders use metal scraps to create crosses, earning their blacksmithing honor.
Two Pathfinders enjoy zip lining by the Snake River as part of their daily activities.
The group gathers together to sing songs during the evening program.
A Pathfinder polishes the cross she created for the blacksmithing honor.
Pathfinders participated in multiple daily activities, such as arts and crafts.
Creativity requires important choices for adding letters to a project.
Pathfinders learn how to cook over hot coals to earn the Dutch oven cooking honor.
Pathfinders look on as the instructor teaches them about blacksmithing.
Blacksmithing provided a special opportunity for Pathfinders to gain an experience and honor they might not otherwise get.
Panning for gold was among the many honors offered during the camporee.
Ziplining is exciting in the canyon of the Snake River.
A group of Pathfinders stop to smile before going on the longest zip line — a third of a mile long.
Pathfinders pose outside of their tent during Sabbath morning inspection.
Pathfinders from the Centralia, Washington, await inspection.
Upper Columbia Pathfinders stand at attention during morning inspection.
On the way to the morning meeting, Pathfinders march in formation.
The Juneau Black Bears, the only Alaska Pathfinder club able to attend the camporee, practices their marching drills.
A group of Pathfinders participate in the Sabbath morning program.
More than 1,400 Pathfinders and staff gather to worship together during the Sabbath program.
Dan Gilbert, Idaho Conference Pathfinder Director, organized and coordinated the entire NPUC Pathfinder Camporee.
Bill Kilgore, from Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas, was the main speaker for the NPUC Pathfinder Camporee.
A master guide enjoys the Sabbath program.
More than 1,400 Pathfinders, staff and volunteers pose for a group photo on Sabbath morning.
Sabbath evening, Pathfinders committed themselves to following Jesus and prayed with their Pathfinder leaders.
Ron Whitehead, International Pathfinder Camporee director and Andrews University Theological Seminary's Center for Youth Evangelism executive director, asks Pathfinders who attended the 2014 International Pathfinder Camporee to share their favorite memories.
Tracey Wood, North American Division director, and Armando Miranda Jr., associate director present at the NPUC Camporee.
Pathfinders gathered each evening and Sabbath morning at the Twin Falls County Fairgrounds Arena.
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