All across Trigg County this past week came the sounds of building and progress — both physical and spiritual.
But a year after the coronavirus put summer activities to a halt, Camp Cadiz naturally lost a little momentum.
Suddenly back to gainful employment, there were fewer adults available this time around for community service and leadership. And there were fewer kids, too, with a plethora of options in front of families who simply didn’t have that choice in 2020.
But the energy, enthusiasm and efficiency remained the same. Projects and missions were completed at a rapid pace, and Camp Cadiz co-organizer Marc Frye said several of his campers and adults were first-timers to the program — breathing new life into the community.
Two of those first-year workers — Steve Thomas and Greg Goodwin — were paired up with second-year camper Liam Grubaugh of Florida and third-year camper Nathan Shanks of Indiana, and spent the better part of Wednesday and Thursday building handicap-accessible ramps for homes out in the county.
Thomas said it was a different, positive pace after spending his last few free moments doing mission work through “World Changers,” and Goodwin noted he was glad he and his two sons could become involved.
Shelley Crawford, leading one of the cooking crews this week, said her kitchen was able to pump out 60-to-75 meals daily by lunchtime — spaghetti, chicken pot pie, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, pulled pork and baked beans.
She was glad to be back on board, and she noticed an invigorated group of campers around her.
Amy Carneyhan, who was in charge of Vacation Bible School this week at The Way, had some of the older campers with her this week to assist with VBS — and on Thursday, they visited Barkley Plantation Assisted Living to run BINGO and sing songs.
Carneyhan noted the strength and poise of her campers was energizing and impressive, to the point where some were suggesting Camp Cadiz should happen more than once a year.
Could Camp Cadiz ever move to a second date — perhaps near Christmas? Singing Christmas Carols? Shoveling snow? Salting sidewalks?
One step at a time. The amount of materials needed — and manpower alongside it — take months to organize.
For now, Camp Cadiz and those associated are just happy to be back in a rhythm.
