A Week of Faith, Friendship, and Fun: St. Sarkis Summer Camp 2026

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A week of faith, friendship, and fun has come to a close.

One of the things I admire most about the Armenian Apostolic Church is its faithfulness — not only to its beliefs, but to its traditions, traditions carried forward with clear intention and clear purpose. It is this same devotion to tradition that made this year's Summer Camp possible, marking its 20th anniversary.

For me, it was a new experience to be part of St. Sarkis Church's life and ministry in this way, especially through Summer Camp — a week that brings together generations. Children arrive with their parents, meeting new friends, while parents pause to chat or check in on the day's schedule. Meanwhile, our counselors, many still in their teenage years, arrive early each morning having already prepared the day ahead, greeting each child with a warm hug or a high-five.

Each day began with prayer, asking God's guidance over the hours ahead. Throughout the week, our campers learned about their faith and culture, sang, danced, and expressed their creativity through art.

Monday and Tuesday brought hands-on science experiments, led by Mrs. Brianna Mazzie, who guided the kids through fun, discovery-driven activities.

Wednesday welcomed Deacon Michael Gostanian, who introduced the children to Armenian musical instruments, bringing several with him and allowing the kids to hold and experience them firsthand. That afternoon, the fun continued with a visit from entertaining clowns, balloon art, cotton candy, and a magic show.

Thursday brought Thomas Bijoyan, who introduced the campers to chess, teaching the basics and leading practice activities.

Friday closed the week with a water blast on the church's grass field — watching the kids race down the waterslides had all of us wishing we could join in.

As a first-time camp director, this was both a challenging and deeply rewarding experience — one filled with laughter, stories, and the joy of getting to know each child.

We are especially grateful to the parents who placed their trust in our mission and entrusted their children to our care. Our heartfelt thanks go to our staff and counselors, who worked tirelessly to make this camp possible, and to our generous sponsors, whose support made it possible for our community to gather, grow, and celebrate together.

May God bless your homes and multiply your blessings, that you may continue to do His work.