Montana Conference Pathfinders began the new Pathfinder year with a camporee near Fairfield, Montana on the campus of the new Teton Junior Academy. “Fear Not!” - the theme for the camporee (and for the entire Pathfinder year ahead) - was based on Isaiah 41:10.

The camporee began Thursday evening with a worship taught by Paston Nathan Cranson from the Kalispell/North Valley district. Through the course of the weekend he provided evening and morning worships on six tools to defeat fear, reminding the Pathfinders that “perfect love casts out fear” and that the Bible tells us to "fear not" 365 times – one time for every day of the year.

Friday, after worship, the Pathfinders tackled some community service projects on the campus of the school, including sanding and painting a wooden entry ramp to the school, fixing a sagging backdrop on the ballfield, and weeding the playground. After lunch the Pathfinders built wooden wren houses and worked on the Birds honor. Finally, as part of the evening vespers, the new Choteau club was inducted into Pathfinders.

During Sabbath School, the Pathfinders worked on the Sabbath Appreciation honor followed by a church service led out again by Pastor Nathan. After a potluck lunch of haystacks, the entire crew headed for the Freezout Lake Wildlife Management Area to do some bird watching and identify more birds to add to their bird lists which were started the previous day. 

While they really enjoyed seeing and identifying various birds they cut the birdwatching event short to go to a local assisted living home to sing. It really felt like the angels were singing along and the music was thoroughly enjoyed by the residents. Since many of the Pathfinders still hadn’t finished their bird list they went right back out birdwatching after singing and before returning to campus for supper, worship, and an evening of games.

Sunday morning the camporee wrapped up with a final worship and a couple of “fear factor” style challenges. The Pathfinders and staff first faced their fears by blindly sampling wasabi and extra-hot horse radish before going outside to tackle the “trust fall.” The trust fall involves climbing up on a six-foot ladder and then falling backwards into the arms of their fellow Pathfinders. 

While it was easy for some and harder for others, all were reminded that we must put to put our trust in God and Fear Not!