Introducing Ranger Nate, Junior Wilderness Camp, And More!

This past summer we introduced a new chapter to our Junior Wilderness Camp Program. His name is Ranger Nate. Ranger Nate visits each day along with his forest friends. Juniors get to Forage with Forrest the squirrel and read a special God and I Time book written just for them by Ranger Nate.

Camp Joy’s Program Director, Range Nate himself, writes,

“How did Ranger Nate begin?

That is quite the story. One of the more challenging tasks as Program Director is engaging with multiple generations. Teens and adults tend to get the most effort put into them, and the junior age kids get the second trimmings. We have recently sought to change that with the Wilderness Camp Program for Junior Camp. Two summers ago we introduced the juniors to Forrest and Friends. They are several woodland creatures that are found in the God and I material and different camp settings. Forrest and his friends were a big success.

Here is where our story gets interesting. Our full-time staff ladies enjoy antique shopping…a lot. They are frequent visitors to several of the local antique markets. One of the items purchased at one of the markets was a wicker picnic backpack. I was initially not a fan. It is a bulky thing, and makes you feel like there is a bowling ball strapped to your back. I was asked if I could wear it and a costume that made me look like a forest ranger. I was not impressed! Wear a big backpack and dress up? No thank you! Now, maybe I am guilty of being easily influenced by my peers, or maybe I subconsciously liked forest ranger hats, but after a few days, I warmed up to the idea. I agreed to the backpack and the costume and thought that was it.

Towards the beginning of the 2023 summer, I decided that if I was to dress-up I might as well enjoy it and embrace it. After all, I was asked to wear it every time I spoke to all the juniors during the week. I gave myself the name Ranger Nate, and launched myself into the program that my assistant, Lori Sado, had envisioned. I realized that this was fun! I wore the costume more and more. The more I wore it, the more the kids and counselors loved it. At that point, I ceased to be Mr. Nathan and became Ranger Nate to all the kids…staff included! And thus Ranger Nate was born! I am looking forward to seeing how this can be used in venues other than camps and seeing how God will use it to further the ministry of Camp Joy!”

Did you know that Ranger Nate is available to come visit your Church?

Introducing our brand new Camp Joy Sunday Program! With this program, area churches can now book Ranger Nate to come on a given Sunday and give your juniors a glimpse into our Junior Wilderness Camp summer program. In addition to junior church services, Ranger Nate is also willing to bring Special Music and/or Pulpit Supply for area churches!

Ranger Nate loves to speak to junior age kids. From his time on the mission field of South Africa, to his current years as the Program Director at Camp Joy, Ranger Nate has enjoyed the years of life lessons that God has taught him. He looks forward to passing along some of those lessons and sharing with the juniors what God has laid on his heart!

Encourage your juniors to bring their friends with them to Winter Junior Wilderness Camp on February 16th-17th, 2024 or to Summer Camp to meet Ranger Nate and his friends!