Southern Area
Camp Commander’s After-action Report

Held in the hills of southwest Pennsylvania, this late April three-day camp was an awesome fellowship of seven dads, thirteen sons, and six cadre leaders, including newly-promoted Sgt. Benji Zook. The nights got progressively colder, finishing at 32 degrees, creating memories that add meaning to our ALERT Cadet motto: Strong to Overcome!

Morning devotions and evening fellowship were at the Great Hall (a pavilion with a chimneyed fireplace), where we focused first on our 2024 National theme of “pressing on!” in deepening our relationships with our God (Philippians 3:14), using the character quality of perseverance to describe overcoming distractions, especially our own perceived failures, by leaning into Jesus.  Then we moved into discussing the progress that Martha, sister of Mary, made in being relational with Jesus (John 11:1-33).  

We next spent considerable time pondering the design of men and women, as delineated in Genesis 1-4 and 1 Peter 3:7, in order to better understand how we are to respect and meet the needs of the women in our lives.  Within this discussion we realized that without the ability to find resolution in God for all of our conflicts, we turn to every imaginable irrational thought and behavior to find peace with ourselves and with others.   

Lastly, we closely examined the Hebrew words of Genesis 4:7 to appreciate the grace of the Gospel offered to Cain.  The conclusion is that there never was, nor will there ever be, any way to please God other than by following Jesus.  

Our Friday service project for Jim and Barbara Butler, owners of the property which we were using, included thinning a stand of young trees, reclaiming an overgrown meadow, splitting firewood, repairing a roof, demolishing storage rooms, deep cleaning shower stalls, laying stones for a path to and across a creek, building a dam on the creek, and clearing brush from a dirt and stone bank. 

Saturday was divided into half-days of blacksmithing and repelling.  Each day we rose before  daybreak for prayer and physical training. There were also blocks of time for marching drill and father and son time.  Our Sunday morning together included a Parade and Review, allowing the Platoon to demonstrate what they had achieved during daily marching drill, and allowing the Cadre to bring words of encouragement to each of the Platoon members.  

Erin Panchision, our new cook, did a masterful job of planning, shopping for, and preparing scrumptious, timely, and nutritious meals, even accommodating those with food restrictions.  When Erin, the wife/mom of a participating dad and son, learned that the cook we have used in past years was no longer available, she jumped on the opportunity to meet our need.  Erin and her family have been anticipating their involvement in ALERT Cadet ever since we met at a home education conference when her oldest was four years old.