	The Church Pastoral Aid Society
	If you have ever helped at a summer camp or houseparty or perhaps at our own holiday club, you will know what a lot of preparation goes on before the event and what a great deal of energy and enthusiasm the helpers need when the event gets under way. Each year the Church Pastoral Aid Society runs Falcon Camps for children and young people who are emotionally, behaviourally or socially disadvantaged and who, it is felt, would benefit from a holiday in a Christian environment. The children are usually recommended by members of the clergy, social workers and others who have the children’s welfare at heart. In many cases the fees are subsidised by the society from income donated by churches and individual supporters. At the end of last season, one of the camp leaders was asked to note ten things she found encouraging about her week at camp. This is her list: Team growth. We arrived as a group of individuals, some of us first-timers, some old hands, mostly not knowing one another. But we soon became a team, a real community of people who cared for each other and complemented one another other with the gifts that we brought. Behaviour boost. Some children arrived with challenging behaviour. It was amazing to see the way in which they softened as the week went on, responding to the consistency of love they were shown. Bible and worship. Some made it very clear to us that they were there for the holiday, not for the 'God stuff'. By midweek some tough thirteen and fourteen-year-olds were standing on benches singing their hearts out. Brilliant! Others asked for Bibles - all the Bibles we'd brought with us were taken. One lad carried his around with him to breakfast, on the minibus, and to the football field!	Wow! Those first-time experiences - taking young people to the sea for the first time. One thirteen-year-old emerged from the water exclaiming: It's salty! Enjoying three home-cooked meals per day was a first for some - as was being surrounded by adults who consistently responded in a loving way. Two-edged sword. Spending the week with these young people was, for the most part, very enjoyable. But hearing the stories of some of their lives was heart-breaking. But I think we caught a glimpse of the pain that God feels for his damaged children. Challenges. OK, maybe I didn't love these. But it was great to work through them and to see the young people respond and grow in respect. Lasting value. We were doing something valuable in kingdom terms and also simply by putting great memories in the young people's memory banks for the years to come. Learning curve. Not always the most enjoyable moments! But knowing God's faithfulness as we sought to handle the difficult situations was a great thing to experience. Fun and laughter. Lots of these! Being part of such a community even for just a week was a huge privilege. Location, location, location! Being surrounded by such amazing beauty and so much space was a great gift for the team and for the young people. More than 20 camps for some 500 children are planned for this coming summer. Please pray for Falcon Camps 2007. Betty Gaskell
	Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325

The Church Pastoral Aid Society

If you have ever helped at a summer camp or houseparty or perhaps at our own holiday club, you will know what a lot of preparation goes on before the event and what a great deal of energy and enthusiasm the helpers need when the event gets under way.

Each year the Church Pastoral Aid Society runs Falcon Camps for children and young people who are emotionally, behaviourally or socially disadvantaged and who, it is felt, would benefit from a holiday in a Christian environment.

The children are usually recommended by members of the clergy, social workers and others who have the children’s welfare at heart. In many cases the fees are subsidised by the society from income donated by churches and individual supporters.

At the end of last season, one of the camp leaders was asked to note ten things she found encouraging about her week at camp. This is her list:

Team growth. We arrived as a group of individuals, some of us first-timers, some old hands, mostly not knowing one another. But we soon became a team, a real community of people who cared for each other and complemented one another other with the gifts that we brought.
Behaviour boost. Some children arrived with challenging behaviour. It was amazing to see the way in which they softened as the week went on, responding to the consistency of love they were shown.
Bible and worship. Some made it very clear to us that they were there for the holiday, not for the 'God stuff'. By midweek some tough thirteen and fourteen-year-olds were standing on benches singing their hearts out. Brilliant! Others asked for Bibles - all the Bibles we'd brought with us were taken. One lad carried his around with him to breakfast, on the minibus, and to the football field!

Wow! Those first-time experiences - taking young people to the sea for the first time. One thirteen-year-old emerged from the water exclaiming: It's salty! Enjoying three home-cooked meals per day was a first for some - as was being surrounded by adults who consistently responded in a loving way.

Two-edged sword. Spending the week with these young people was, for the most part, very enjoyable. But hearing the stories of some of their lives was heart-breaking. But I think we caught a glimpse of the pain that God feels for his damaged children.

Challenges. OK, maybe I didn't love these. But it was great to work through them and to see the young people respond and grow in respect.

Lasting value. We were doing something valuable in kingdom terms and also simply by putting great memories in the young people's memory banks for the years to come.

Learning curve. Not always the most enjoyable moments! But knowing God's faithfulness as we sought to handle the difficult situations was a great thing to experience.

Fun and laughter. Lots of these! Being part of such a community even for just a week was a huge privilege.

Location, location, location! Being surrounded by such amazing beauty and so much space was a great gift for the team and for the young people.

More than 20 camps for some 500 children are planned for this coming summer. Please pray for Falcon Camps 2007.

Betty Gaskell

The Church Pastoral Aid Society

Norbury Parish Church, Hazel Grove, Stockport, Cheshire. Telephone: 0161-483 6325