Winterlight Deepens Personal and Spiritual Lives
01.21.2022 - Camp Kanuga, Camps & Outdoor Education, Conference & Retreat, Giving to Kanuga, Groups, Kanuga Stories, Key Conferences, Our Programs

by Susan Vickery-Mercer, Youth Minister, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Greenville, North Carolina
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church high school students savor the annual opportunity for Kanuga’s Winterlight Youth Conference, held this year December 28-January 1, to connect and reconnect with students from Episcopal churches across the Southeast, while exploring avenues for personal and spiritual growth. The impacts on their lives are immeasurable. All of our high school participants who recently attended reported a meaningful, fun, and inspiring week. Below are some of the highlights and reflections in their own words:
We appreciate Kangua’s exceptional job on planning and executing the Winterlight experience for all youth attending. We’re also grateful for Kanuga’s navigation of extra safety measures, while creating such an amazing and meaningful experience for the young people. None of our youth reported getting sick during or after the event!
All eight of our high school students who attended said they LOVED Winterlight and that it was very meaningful to their spiritual and personal lives. One of our youth had limited overnight camp experience and was nervous before arriving. He said he quickly felt welcomed and integrated, leaving with an added sense of confidence in his ability to have relationships with peers.
We are grateful to our church for its generosity, financially and otherwise, that made this opportunity possible.
Having our youth attend Youth Week and Winterlight, and knowing the huge influence these conferences have on their lives, has been a top highlight of my youth ministry work over the last decade.
Pictured: St. Paul’s youth at Kanuga in 2019