Pathfinder vs. Wild was the theme for Montana's second-annual Pathfinder fair, held April 13–15 at the Skyler Ranch just outside of Great Falls, Mont. Pathfinders from five of the conference's eight clubs traversed the state to attend the event.
Throughout the weekend meetings, Ron Halvorsen Jr., senior pastor of the College View Church in Lincoln, Neb., and former Montana pastor, tied biblical ideas and stories to modern scenarios and events in his life to which Pathfinders and staff could relate. Clubs took part in morning and evening meetings by presenting and retrieving the colors (flags), praying, helping with song service and performing skits.
Sabbath activities ranged from singing to stapling messages on plastic bags and knocking on doors. Five students from Mount Ellis Academy (Bozeman, Mont.) led Pathfinders in singing Friday night and Sabbath morning. During Sabbath School, Bret Logan, a Great Falls area game warden, talked about his work with animals and how he got into the Forest Service. Halvorsen captivated listeners at church with Beware of the Squirrel!, which brought the crucifixion of Jesus into a whole new light.
On Sabbath afternoon, Pathfinders prepared and distributed plastic bags to the Great Falls community for the Five Falls Christian School food drive, which was held the following week.
After an evening worship of campfire stories (told around the campfire of course), Pathfinders practiced drilling and marching. Then it was a short jaunt to the ranch's indoor riding arena for Saturday night's main event. Pathfinders and staff performed maneuvers in twos and fours, with an attempt at eight, in a grand march.
Snow greeted the campers in their private valley Sunday morning. The day's activities were scratched, and clubs were rerouted to the arena for morning worship. At the end of the program, flags were retrieved and packed away, and Pathfinders headed home through the falling snow, excitedly planning their next Pathfinder gathering at the union camporee in Oregon in September.
Students from Mount Ellis Academy lead the singing during the Pathfinder fair. (Archie Harris)
Pathfinders wake up to a snowy surprise on Sunday morning. (Archie Harris)
