Step Right Up: Serving at Kid Camp Out

There’s a particular kind of tiredness that comes from volunteering at a children’s camp — the kind that settles into your bones but somehow leaves you feeling refreshed from time spent worshipping, serving and spending time in community. That was the feeling I carried home after the most recent Kid Camp Out with the Pulse team.

Held at Wedderburn Christian Camp site, this year’s camp welcomed over 200 people, primary school aged children and their families and leaders, from across the Synod. From the moment buses arrived and excited voices filled the grounds, it was clear the weekend would be full on.

The theme, Step Right Up, invited children to reflect on how each of us is called to use the gifts God has given us in following Christ. Throughout the weekend, that message appeared everywhere — not just in worship sessions and Bible talks, but in laughter, teamwork, creativity and hospitality.

As a volunteer, I quickly learned that ministry at Kid Camp Out looks less like standing at the front and more like tying shoelaces, cheering during games, and listening carefully when a child shares something important during craft. You remember how formative Christian camps are and how important being together is.

The program was packed from morning to night. Water games brought welcome relief from the heat (until a mid-afternoon storm), with children running, splashing and laughing together in joyful chaos. The swimming pool was a constant hub of energy and wide games stretched across the campgrounds, turning open spaces into adventures filled with teamwork, fun and laughter.

One of the unexpected highlights was the Lego Bible challenges. Groups of children worked together to build scenes from Scripture using colourful bricks, retelling familiar stories through creativity and collaboration. Watching them interpret biblical moments through play was a reminder that faith formation often happens through curiosity.

For many children, Kid Camp Out is more than just a weekend away. It was a place where they felt safe, included and valued. Kids discovered confidence by stepping forward to perform in a skit, dance around during worship or simply try something new. The theme Step Right Up became real as children recognised that following Christ recognising and respecting each other.

As a volunteer, I witnessed small but meaningful moments: older children helping younger ones during activities, food offered as an act of hospitality from Tongan Uniting Church. These were glimpses of the church at its best — community shaped by grace, joy, belonging and shared meals.

By the final worship gathering shoes were muddy, and energy levels were low, yet the sense of community was unmistakable. Standing together in song (and dance), surrounded by children and leaders, it was impossible not to feel God at work.

Volunteering at Kid Camp Out was a privilege. It reminded me again that ministry is not always grand or dramatic; often it is found in shared meals, playful moments, trips to Bunnings for supplies and faithful presence. God was at work in every game, every conversation and every act of service.

I came to serve, but like so often happens in Christian community, I left having received far more than I gave.

Would you like to volunteer at a Pulse Camp, simply email contact_Pulse@nswact.uca.org.au.