Let’s Go to Camp

Currents 🌊 is a UUCC communication space as of May 2025—featuring reflections, deeper dives into worship themes, narrative updates from staff and others, as well as insights into our shared life at UUCC.

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I am a child of the ’80s. This means that my summers were filled with long bicycle rides through slippery wet pavement, not wearing a helmet, crossing busy streets to get to friends’ houses. I spent hours in the sun without sunscreen, ate bologna sandwiches garnished with generic brand Fritos, and never missed a daytime drama on CBS. I rarely saw my mom in these months and definitely didn’t have structured days of enrichment. 

Except that one time in 5th grade when Mrs. Blaznitz, my math teacher, nominated me for a Kiwana’s summer camp. On the first day, we hiked a mile up a stream in the rain. We were poor, which meant I had one pair of Kmart canvas tennis shoes, so I wore that wet pair of shoes all week long. Being in the mucky woods in the rain all week was the best week of my life to that point. 

As a freshman in high school, I entered an essay contest. The top three winners of the contest would get to attend Civitan Youth Seminar in Holland, Michigan. A 14-year-old at Fort Dodge Senior High in rural Iowa, this seemed like the greatest possible thing to ever happen to me. I got first place and headed to Holland, Michigan. It did turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. That week changed me in ways that prepared me for the path I’m on now and I ended up returning for 17 years on staff. I made friends who are more like family and watched generations change and grow and give. 

I always longed to go back to camp, so I was thrilled when I took on the role of executive director of Long Island Area Council of Unitarian Universalist Congregations and found out that I was going to run a UU summer camp that had been a place of community, safety, and spiritual growth to young people for four decades. Post pandemic, and being met with decreasing religious education numbers in all our congregations, we had to make the choice to either shutter or pivot. We chose to pivot and are now a growing multi-generational family camp. Last year, in an effort to offer connection to more people, we widened our circle to include UUs from outside of Long Island. We even had a few folks from Maryland who had previously attended UUMAC!

Sophia Fahs UU Camp
Lake George, NY
August 10 – 16, 2025

Use code UUCCatFahs to save 10% on all registrations before June 30, 2025.

In August we will head north to the beautiful Adirondacks at Silver Bay on Lake George. Every morning we walk to service with the breathtaking view of the lake and the mountains. Every night we saw stars and hear crickets. Last year were even blessed with a meteor shower and, one evening, the Aurora Borealis. Our only rain shower offered a quadruple rainbow that presented the perfect backdrop for family photos and memories with friends. There are hikes and kayak trips and water games and marshmallows over the fire. There is improv and card tricks and cup stacking contests and talent shows, all within a multi-generational community where we saw 12-year-olds playing games with 70-year-olds they’d never met before. Despite all of the stress of the behind the scenes for this week for our community, I am blessed that my work gives me the joy and belonging that I found in Michigan all those years ago. Because we are now a regional program, I want to invite all of you to join us at Lake George. Maybe you’re still looking for a place to find respite this summer, either on your own or with your family. Maybe you want to think about next year. You are all welcome to join us on Silver Bay for memories and spiritual community this August. I hope to see a few of you there. If for no other reason, it is the cheapest vacation you’ll ever take!

In faith and service,

Laurice Grae
Executive Director
gender pronouns: she/they
pronounced: LOR-ris GRAY