30 Second Dance Party

Move your heart and feet with joy

At the heart of Camp Hope is the gift of one-on-one care. This seven-week summer camp weaves kindness into everything it does, giving children ages 4–12 a place to be their unique selves. With a 1:2 ratio of adults to children, the camp offers deep connection and the simple joy of having fun together.

In the final week of camp, I noticed fewer walkie-talkie calls for concerns and more requests for the “thirty-second dance party” reward. Many campers experienced so many great moments throughout their day that they often earned a three-minute fun break in the chapel. It was a delight to be “a fly in the room” as this camper and counselor enjoyed a joyful break together.

Over the summer, our church hosted Camp Hope’s seven-week day camp and incorporated their twelve camp mantras into a Summer Camp Sermon Series on Sunday mornings. Together we explored stories in Scripture where children were the key characters, such as Josiah, Miriam, David, and Jesus. What follows is a list of each mantra, paired with a summary from a faithful young leader’s story in God’s holy word, so you can capture a glimpse of the joy and hope that shaped our summer.

Camp Mantra: Safe Bodies
Josiah was only eight years old when he became king and could have followed the ways of his family members before him, but instead he listened when the lost book of the law was found. He helped his people return to God not only with their beliefs, but also with their bodies, their choices, and their whole lives. His story reminds us that no one is too young, too lost, or too far gone to begin again.

Camp Mantra: Be Gentle
When King Saul was distressed, the royal court officials sent for a young musician and shepherd named David. He came to live at the king’s court and serve him directly. We can imagine David beside the king’s bedside, playing soft melodies, perhaps even singing words of comfort. Maybe he sang Psalm 23, about God’s rod and staff bringing comfort in the darkest valleys. Or maybe he offered Psalm 121, lifting Saul’s eyes toward the One who made heaven and earth.

Camp Mantra: Be Kind
Thousands were fed from just five loaves and two fish, all from one boy’s lunch. Scholars believe he may have been only nine or ten years old. Perhaps his mother packed the lunch that morning with a note tucked inside: “Be kind—with your words and your actions.” Or perhaps he packed it himself. Either way, when the need arose, the young boy stepped forward and spoke up. He did not wait for someone older or more important to respond. He simply offered what he had.

Camp Mantra: Stay Together
Daniel and his three teenage friends stayed close together, especially when they were away from home. They encouraged each other during the ten-day food challenge, and Daniel was praying for them through the fiery furnace. I can almost picture Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego raising their canes and cheering Daniel on outside the lions’ den.

Camp Mantra: Have Fun
While the crowds were packing up and families were returning home from the Passover festival, Jesus at age twelve stayed behind. He had discovered something that lit a spark within him. He was enjoying his time in his Father’s house and did not want to leave. Jesus reminds us that sacred things can happen when we slow down and remain a little longer in God’s presence before rushing off to the next thing.

Camp Mantra: Care - The Magic Power of Bandaids
Bandaids come in all shapes and sizes, with varied colors and designs. At Camp Hope, they offer healing for both inside and outside hurts. Healing often begins when we recognize that someone, whether a spouse, child, friend, or even a stranger like Naaman, is in need. Like the young servant girl in Scripture, we can do our small part to help bring healing to a hurting world.

Camp Mantra: Choices and Compromises
Joseph’s life shows how transformation takes place. As a teenager, he was quick to speak and eager to share his dreams. Years later, when he stands before his brothers, he is a different man. He does not seek revenge but chooses grace and peace. Such transformation does not happen overnight; it happens one choice at a time. His story invites us to reflect on our own choices and the compromises they bring, both for ourselves and for those around us.

Camp Mantra: Connection before Correction
When the younger son returned home after wasting his father’s inheritance, the first thing he experienced was love, not a lecture. He saw his father’s arms stretched wide and heard the joyful sounds of a party prepared for him, all before a single word of correction was spoken. When children feel that kind of connection, they also feel a deep sense of belonging and significance.

Camp Mantra: Validation
The prophet Samuel validated the young shepherd David’s call by anointing him with oil and proclaiming him king. In the same way, throughout the week of camp, counselors validate campers by letting them know through their words and actions that they are seen, welcomed, and deeply loved.

Camp Mantra: Use Your Words
Some scholars believe Samuel was between three and five years old when his mother, Hannah, left him at the temple with Eli. For nearly seven years, Samuel grew up in the temple, preparing to hear a word from the Lord. Yet behind the scenes, all was not well in the house of the Lord. In that place of corruption, it was young Samuel who spoke the truth. His courage to speak hard truths, even in difficult circumstances, stands at the heart of his call as prophet, priest, and judge.

Camp Mantra: Let’s try that again. Redo
In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus gives the disciples a second chance to see children differently. Instead of treating them as interruptions, he welcomes them as grateful receivers of the kingdom. In Jewish tradition, parents often asked rabbis to bless their children, but the disciples may have thought Jesus was too busy or too important. Jesus stops them and teaches that the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. He lifts up the qualities of children, their dependence on others and their openness to receive, and invites us to come to him in the same way.

Camp Mantra: Listen to their words
In Exodus, we meet three young voices: Moses, an infant; his sister Miriam, just seven years old; and the Egyptian princess, a youth herself. Miriam listens with her heart, following the sound of her baby brother’s cries along the riverbank. The princess, whose father ordered the death of every Hebrew boy, hears Moses’ cries and listens to Miriam’s plea. Their willingness to listen changes the course of a nation.

It is difficult to fully express the impact Reclaimed Hope Initiative’s Camp Hope has on campers, families, counselors, and everyone involved. The best way to understand what this camp offers is to experience it for yourself, to share in their good work and see how they help every child feel valued and loved.

Reed and I are looking forward to dressing up for the Evening of Hope Gala on Thursday, September 18, 2025. We would love for you to join us! Come hear more about Reclaimed Hope Initiative and Camp Hope and support the incredible work they are doing for children and their families in our community. Click here to learn more about the evening event.

Serve and Love Well,
Rev. April H. Cranford