Camp app offers faith connection

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WHEN the pandemic struck last year, Winnipeg-based One Hope Canada quickly created a virtual camping app (MyCamp) for its 45 camps across Canada.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/02/2021 (2062 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WHEN the pandemic struck last year, Winnipeg-based One Hope Canada quickly created a virtual camping app (MyCamp) for its 45 camps across Canada.

This year, the national Christian camping ministry has launched a second app (Faith Spark) to help camps, churches and other organizations host live online events and offer a safe environment for chats between leaders and youth — even if they can meet in-person.

“After we launched My Camp, the next thing we wondered was how we could expand it,” One Hope Canada app ministry director Erica Mair said. “We wanted to make something that was for more than just our organization.”

The new app, she said, is not just for camps, but for any church or organization that works with children ages seven to 12 years of age.

It’s not just to help groups deal with the pandemic either, she said.

“It’s not a COVID app. It’s for any church that wants to find new ways to stay connected with children through the week,” she said of how she expects groups will need to offer hybrid — in-person and online — programs in the future.

Through the app, children can participate in activities, see pre-recorded events, and interact with teachers and others.

“The options are endless,” she said of how the app can be used to help “learn and grow in faith.”

Churches and other groups that want to use Faith Spark (www.faithsparkapp.com) can choose from four pricing levels, and customize the app’s look with a logo, theme colour, or unique headings.

One Hope Canada was founded in Winnipeg in 1927, as the Canadian Sunday School Mission.

It operates five camps in Manitoba — Dauphin, Gimli, Roseau River, Turtle Mountain and McGregor — and has a day camp that visits communities in the province.

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John Longhurst

John Longhurst
Faith columnist & reporter

John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg's faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News.

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