Now in its fifth year, ASCENT—USMB NextGen’s summer camp for high school students—carried the unofficial theme “new” in 2024. A new location, new band, new speaker and new activities all added to ASCENT’s tradition of equipping high school students and providing each with the opportunity to encounter an intimate and transformative connection with Jesus.
Camp Walk on Water (Camp WOW), located southeast of Oklahoma City, hosted this year’s event where 278 students, youth leaders and staff from four states—Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas—gathered June 8-12 for learning, worship, community building and fun.
Russ Claassen, Southern District youth minister and member of the planning team, says that space was a significant reason for changing venues.
“Camp WOW offered several wonderfully inviting gathering areas for students and leaders to interact with and meet others,” Claassen says. “The chapel area for main sessions provides plenty of space with room to grow.”
In the previous four years, ASCENT was held at Glorieta Conference Center in New Mexico. At this location, ASCENT shared camp facilities with other groups. This year, ASCENT had sole access to the camp facilities.
Justin McRoberts, author and speaker from California’s San Francisco Bay area, shared about this year’s theme, “Rhythm”. McRoberts focused on four parts of a healthy rhythm that are found in life: community, forgiveness, prayer and mission.
Wonderstate, a band from Minnesota, led worship music.
“We were so pleased with the new speaker and new worship band,” says Kyle Goings, ASCENT planning team chair and USMB NextGen director. “They really connected with our theme of Rhythm. We were excited to see several students respond and step up, sharing their desires in going into the mission field or even feeling called into ministry.”
Throughout the week, campers could attend workshops on topics including faith and sports, prayer for the nations, Sabbath and servanthood.
Campers also learned more about ministry partners Faith Front, Fresno Pacific University, Multiply, Mennonite Central Committee and Tabor College.
Each morning before breakfast, students and leaders could attend a Bible study, “J-Time” or” Jesus Time”, led by Joanna Chapa from Multiply.
Twice during the week, students engaged in The Exchange, providing opportunities to learn and exchange ideas. This year’s topics were “Engage Leadership” by Faith Front director Wendell Loewen, and “Engage Culture” by Multiply’s Nasser al’Qahtani.
Camp WOW’s facilities offered a wealth of free time opportunities, including an active waterfront with lake tubing and swimming, rock wall climbing and zip lines, game room, snack shack, sand volleyball and basketball courts.
The planning team added a new opportunity for campers in the form of theme nights.
Campers were invited to dress up for the evening meal corresponding to each night’s theme and late-night activity. Themes included wearing favorite team jerseys, western attire and activities, “Swinter” Olympics (combination of summer and winter) and the cinematic universe.
“The response from students showed their creativity and even caused some campers to let their guard down and have a little added fun at camp,” Goings says.
Late night activities included team competitions allowing participants to meet new people on “jersey” night; a mechanical bull, line dancing and hayrack ride to correspond with the western theme; and the first ever Swinter Olympics including a .5k fun run with milk and cookies, gingerbread house making contest and inflatables. The annual talent show and fireworks capped the final evening.
“It was one of the best years we’ve had at ASCENT from a planning and execution standpoint,” Claassen says. “I’ve seen the Lord at work each year, and this year seemed a little extra special. We’ve also had a lot of positive feedback from participants to back this up.”
Michael Klaassen is the digital content manager at Tabor College as well as the college photographer. He attends Parkview MB Church, Hillsboro, Kansas, where he volunteers with the high school youth group.
