By Rakan Salah (YES 2021–2022, Jordan, placed by ACES in Oroville, CA)

I didn’t have any expectations before going to Heavenly Hills Camp in Twain Harte, California. I think being open minded is the best way to try something new. I heard about this Christian camp and retreat center when the camp counselors visited the church in my host community. My local coordinator suggested that I participate in a weekend event at Heavenly Hills, so I went from February 19–21!

The car ride to Heavenly Hills was amazing and I got to see wonderful views as I looked out the window and listened to music. The road that led to the camp was fun because it was a winding, dirt path—like the kind that you see in a movie. The camp was located in a forest which made the atmosphere feel exciting and eerie at the same time. I went with my two best friends and my church’s worship pastor, who I also consider my close friend. 

There were so many activities during the weekend! We played in the snow, made snow men, and we had a huge snowball fight. I enjoyed participating in iconic camp traditions like having a bonfire and eating s’mores. During the scavenger hunt, which was a lot of fun, I got to meet new friends as the activity fully depended on our teamwork.

Throughout these fun times, I learned more about responsibility. Since we didn’t have our phones the whole time while we were at the camp, the camp counselors instructed us when we were supposed to meet. This taught me to be responsible and to be punctual. Even though I am not Christian, I still attended this Christian camp and I ended up loving it. This experience taught me to be open minded and to try new things.