“Camporee is the zenith of experiences for every Pathfinder,” says Vernon Norman of Huntsville, Alabama. That’s why it was his dream for almost 40 years to attend an International Pathfinder Camporee. This past August in Gillette, Wyoming, his dream came true.

Vernon joined Pathfinders at age 9, more than 60 years ago. He memorized the Pathfinder aim, pledge, motto, and song — and enthusiastically earned honor patches. In 1980 he graduated from Oakwood University with a degree in secondary education, biology and religion, and married Margaret Bernard. He began his career as a teacher and then elementary and academy principal, serving in Alabama, North Carolina, and California. A lifelong learner, Vernon earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and a Ph.D. in public health.

He also became a Master Guide and Pathfinder director, as Pathfinders remained an important part of his life. He and his wife Margaret encouraged their three children to join Pathfinders, and later Vernon started his first club at the church in San Bernardino, California, with his oldest son assisting him. He restarted another club in Riverside, California, gifting them with their first marching snare drum and quint set with carriers so they could have a drum corp. Margaret shares, “I was never a Pathfinder. I just went camping with them and cooked for everyone!” 

Vernon and Margaret raised the money to send their three children to the International Pathfinder Camporee in 2004, but there were no extra funds for him to go. Yet even as their children grew up, Vernon’s dream of attending a camporee stayed strong, and he looked hopefully toward 2019.

Then in 2016 tragedy struck. “I suffered the massive stroke that has rendered me partially paralyzed on my right side with total paralysis of my right arm and expressive aphasia,” he shares. As the 2019 camporee came and went, he thought that was the end of his dream. Margaret suffers from lupus, so with their physical and financial challenges, it looked impossible. 

Renewed Focus

In September 2022 they felt well enough to visit a friend in California. That friend encouraged them, saying, “I don’t see any reason why Vernon shouldn’t go to the camporee in 2024. Start saving now, and by 2024 you should have it.” 

Margaret replied, “You can’t save what you don’t have.” But this inspired them to focus on physical therapy and exercises to increase their strength and mobility. Vernon had always lived an active lifestyle, running marathons, his latest 18 months before his stroke.

As announcements appeared for the 2024 Believe the Promise Camporee, Margaret prayed, “Father, if You want us to go to this Camporee, You’re going to have to work a miracle.” One day in May 2023 she received an online newsletter from AARP. Scanning the headlines, she saw an article about “Wish of a Lifetime,” a charitable affiliate of AARP. After reading the criteria, she told Vernon, “I’m going to apply for you.” She downloaded the application and submitted it.

An Answer to Prayer

A month later a phone interview took place. Shannon Hollis, the Wish manager, explained that she had never heard of Pathfinders. Margaret had sent links on the application and talked enthusiastically about it. A few days later Hollis called and said, “I’d like to give you an update on Vernon’s wish.”

Margaret went into the bedroom so Vernon could hear the news: “Your wish was presented to two different committees, and it was unanimously approved.”[1]

“Both of us had tears,” recalls Margaret. 

She found her voice to ask Hollis, “What does that mean?”

“We will pay all of the expenses to go to camporee. We’ll do it for both of you,” Hollis explained. That included airfare to and from Denver, Colorado, camporee tickets, accommodations, a rental car, gas, and food.

“We were boohooing,” says Margaret. “It was unbelievable, and it still is.”

Tom Wagenlander, executive director and vice president of Wish of a Lifetime from AARP, explains that the goal of the program is “to change the lives of our wish recipients by eliminating impediments to aging with hope and joy. We empower wish recipients to fulfill their hopes and dreams while reconnecting with the people and passions that matter most to them.” 

For Vernon, Pathfinders is one of those passions. “Vernon’s life has been threaded together by involvement with the Pathfinders — usually to the benefit of others,” Wagenlander continues. “Wish of a Lifetime was struck by Vernon’s irrefutable connection to this momentous event along with his grit, generosity, and commitment to community.”

In his application to Wish of a Lifetime, Vernon wrote, “At my age (I shall be 70 years old next October) and in my present health condition (providing the good Lord spares our lives to see next August), this may be my last opportunity to realize this wish I’ve had since national camporees started in 1985. … The spiritual boost, social interactions with lifelong friends, former students, mentors and mentees, and fellow Pathfinders from over 100 countries around the world is the closest simulation of what heaven would be like.”

Because Margaret also has health challenges, Wish of a Lifetime offered to include a family member to accompany them. So their daughter, Vernée, met them at the Denver International Airport, flying in from Mexico City. Vernon and Margaret were also met by Shannon, who brought a team to hold up signs of welcome. She made arrangements for the Normans to stay in the guest suite at the Primrose Retirement Community in Gillette, another answer to prayer, as it was easily accessible.

Present Arms!

On Wednesday afternoon Vernon arrived at CAM-PLEX, the camporee grounds, to enjoy the evening program. But first he hoped to find the Kansas Avenue Pathfinder Club from Riverside, California. After some driving around, Vernée pulled their rental van up to the club’s campsite near the outer perimeter of the CAM-PLEX property. When Robert Harris, the director who followed Vernon, saw who was sitting in the front passenger seat, he invited the club to line up beside the van. 

“This is the man who started our club,” he told the Pathfinders. “Present arms!” In a touching gesture of respect and appreciation, they all saluted Vernon. 

“He was surprised and in tears. It was a precious moment,” says Margaret. 

Vernon and Margaret reveled in the program that night, sitting among the 60,000 attendees from all over the world. The next day Vernon arrived at CAM-PLEX in full dress uniform, a process that takes more than an hour to accomplish. He was to be photographed for the camporee newspaper, Pathfinder Today, which featured his story on the cover of the Friday, August 9, edition. He was also interviewed on camera by Jean Boonstra (Ms. Jean to Discovery Mountain fans) from the Voice of Prophecy, who served as an anchor for the camporee nighttime program livestream. In addition, the local newspaper, the Gillette News Record, interviewed the Normans for a feature published August 13 entitled “Lifelong Pathfinder overcomes adversity to attend first Camporee.”[2]

A Little Bit of Heaven

For the next several days the Normans experienced events and activities around the CAM-PLEX. Vernon especially enjoyed watching the drill presentations, sitting on the back of a golf cart with a huge smile on his face as the drums pounded and the Pathfinders in uniform marched in choreographed formations and cheered as they received trophies.

Near the end of the camporee, as groups packed up tents and vehicles to head home, Vernon wanted to say goodbye to the Pathfinder club from Riverside. As the golf cart bounced over the rough dirt streets, Vernon sat on the back gripping the side railing with his good arm and taking in all the sights with large, bright eyes. 

Harris, busy folding a tent, spotted Vernon and presented him with two parting gifts: a bright-blue club T-shirt and a prayer. Vernon beamed as Harris held up the shirt, then grasped his arm and asked, “May I pray with you?”

Gathering several Pathfinders around them, Harris closed his eyes and prayed: “Thank You for the opportunity to fellowship, Father. Thank You for this young gentleman and his lovely wife for coming so far and helping us out to continue our program. Bless them on their journey right now, Father God. Continue to bless their family. Continue to bless everything we do. We want to really believe the promise that we’ve done this with You.” 

At that moment the dirt path of the sprawling campground felt holy. And the twinkle in Vernon’s eyes expressed more than words could. He had just tasted a little bit of heaven.

Lori Peckham is communication program director and a professor of writing and speaking at Union Adventist University in Lincoln, Nebraska.