The Thin Place

This is the place between heaven and earth; the paper-thin line between reality and dreams. Malibu, Canada, is more of a home to me than any other place on this planet, though it lies a whole country away. In order to get to this remote destination, one must travel by ferry through British Columbia until he or she reaches the waters in Egmont, where another boat will finish the journey (be sure to try some clam chowder while on the ferry; it’s the best out there!). Malibu is not the name of a city or country, it is the name of a camp. Malibu is a Young Life camp, to be exact. Every week of the summer hundreds of high school kids stream in to experience the best week of their lives and leave as changed people. Leaders, camp staff, volunteers, and visitors take time out of their busy schedules and learn what it is like to be technology free in a remote destination for weeks on end.

QUARTER FINALIST 2013 FTF TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP

As the boat pulls up to Malibu for the first time, a look of awe will be on every newcomer’s face. Deep blue and ice-cold water surrounds a palace on a rock where the scent of evergreen trees scents the calm air and drizzly rain will probably be hydrating the earth. Sharp, jagged rocks jut up all around the camp and snow white peaks frame the sound of raging waterfalls in the distance. Campers take cannonballs off the diving board into a heated pool next to an intense game of beach volleyball on the side lawn of the ice-cream shop, quaintly titled the “Totem Inn”. Girls sit in circles outside of the Bead Cabana and create oodles of jewelry to take home while others take turns “blobbing” each other (jumping off a tower to launch a friend off of a giant pillow situated in the inlet). Wake boarders and skiers laugh and nudge each other into the water where seals and starfish make their salty homes. The whole place has an aura of fun and adventure.

When it comes time for dinner, everybody makes their way into the beautiful dining room overlooking the inlet. Wooden walls and large windows frame the incredible view and the aroma of freshly cooked food fills the area. The smiles of young servers escort the dinner out to every circular table where happy campers dig in. After dinner people make their way to some other fun activity like “club” where everyone crams into a room with funny program skits and a talk. There is unending entertainment! Dance parties might last well into the night on the boardwalk with blaring music like “YMCA” and the backstreet boys. How could anybody not want a week as fun-filled as this?! The entertainment just goes on and on…

More important than anything else, Malibu is a place for cleansing of the soul. People leave refreshed and vibrant: ready to take on the world. Friendships are made and pretty much only good things happen. It’s a miracle, really. Deep spiritual battles happen here, and the stories of rejuvenation and celebration are almost endless. Something this insane sounding has a need to be experienced instead of just told about in order to be understood completely. So go! What are you waiting for? An adventure awaits!