In this UP video blog installment, Adam Shimoni, second year UP vet, talks about his role coordinating all meals at Ultimate Peace Camp 2014. There ain’t nothing like the sound of Adam’s dining hall!
The possibilities of Ultimate Peace are immense and the goals lofty (peace in the Middle East? A massive and complicated endeavor). It is sometimes hard to imagine the longterm impact we will have by what we do today. But sometimes, when in the midst of Camp UP, we get a glimpse of a moment that really shows us the impact of what we are doing. And sometimes that can be as simple a game of catch.
Camp is in full swing and the energy is way up. After a full day and a half of camp, teams have begun to coalesce, both on the field and off. First-time, head coach Mike Grant shares about his experiences with his team as they form a unique, collective identity.
Campers are about to arrive and I’m trying to stop and take a breath, to mentally prepare for the 5 days ahead. It’s going to be a whirlwind and a roller coaster, full of ups and downs and excitement and emotions and tears and smiles and high-fives and hugs and so many more things that I can’t even begin to think about. Camp will be exhausting and it will be challenging, but it will also, without doubt, be the most fulfilling experience I could ever have. I love it. It’s been 5 years and I keep coming back, will always come back, can’t imagine ever having a life without Ultimate Peace in it.
Though Camp UP is a major highlight for campers and staff alike, the work of Ultimate Peace happens in the Middle East all year round. The Coaches in Training program works to develop the leadership and presentation skills of the amazing young people that are selected to represent UP throughout the world. They truly are the product of all we work for—our face to the world, our ambassadors—as they speak of their experiences, their lives, and the power of the relationships they have developed here.