Incident at North Star Camp
Maple Grove, MN (July 11, 2017) – On Saturday, July 8, a camper was returning to his cabin for the night when a group of other male campers attacked him. Counselors quickly intervened. The camper who was attacked was triaged by the camp nurse and, as a precaution, taken to the emergency room. While he suffered bruises, there were no serious injuries. Tensions were high between two cabins as a result of incidents of stealing from one another earlier in the week. Earlier in the day, this camper was involved in a prearranged altercation with a member from the other cabin. Again, counselors quickly intervened. José Torres, Minnesota Conference Youth Director, initiated a thorough investigation during which he interviewed every male camper. The investigation brought forth several names of campers who had been involved in the altercations. The camp administrative committee met early Sunday morning to discuss an appropriate course of action. Because North Star Camp exists to help young people meet Jesus, the campers involved in the conflict were told they could come back to camp in 2018 only if they provided references from their pastor, an elder, and the church youth leader. In addition to implementing this safety precaution, the entire camp staff met for several hours on Sunday to discuss the incidents, and to determine a way forward that will ensure the safety of campers for the remainder of the 2017 season and for future camp seasons as well. For 50 years, North Star Camp has been a place where young people can experience the great outdoors, have fun, and come to know God in a deeper, more meaningful way. With this mission in mind, we make every effort to keep campers safe, ensure they have fun and experience the love of Christ, and, if necessary, implement Matthew 18 principles in conflict situations. We ask for your prayers for the well-being of all campers, their families, and the staff at North Star Camp. Should you have any questions, please contact Savannah Carlson at scarlson@mnsda.com.
