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On Wednesday, August 7, 255 Pathfinders, leaders, and representatives from around the world came together to achieve one goal: becoming the largest group to ever simultaneously fill backpacks with school supplies in under five minutes. It was as fun as it sounds, though a greater purpose undergirds this unconventional activity.

To highlight stories from the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in an efficient way, the Southern Tidings hosted two live-stream shows on YouTube from Tuesday through Friday (Aug. 6-9) called the “Gillette Breakfast Club.”

The 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, was a vibrant event, drawing approximately 33,000 Pathfinders, young and old, with a passion for learning, to the North American Division Office of Education’s Creation Station, located in Energy Hall at CAM-PLEX. The station was a hub of activity, offering patches, prizes, and scholarships that added to the fun.

At the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee, seemingly countless organizations and ministries were represented in the exhibit halls, where attendees trekked from booth to booth to rediscover the broad reach of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its mission. One of these organizations — rather, a tandem of organizations — was AdventHealth (a primary camporee sponsor) and NASCAR. On August 9, the pairing demonstrated its commitment to goodwill by shining a well-deserved spotlight on first responders. Representatives from the law enforcement, firefighting, and medical sectors visited the camporee to receive this recognition, though their humble inclinations would have initially precluded them from doing so.

Although the challenge of a serious storm impacted the International Pathfinder Camporee, many of the activities continued or adjusted to continue successfully. One of those activities was the drill and drum competition that started on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at noon and ran until Friday, August 9, 2024, in the afternoon.

Helping others was a non-negotiable dimension of the 2024 International Pathfinder Camporee, and Adventist Community Services (ACS) buttressed many of the philanthropic projects already in motion in Gillette, Wyoming. Two particular ACS projects were somewhat attached at the hip, though they might not have seemed related: hygiene kits and grow boxes.

On Friday, August 9, 2024, following the evening presentation at the International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming, the unexpected happened. Sarah Kelley, who had taken a chance traveling to the camporee when she was nearly full term, felt her water break. Remarkably, Sarah still decided to stay overnight in their tent, not leaving for the hospital until Sabbath morning.

Every international Pathfinder camporee offers attendees unique educational activities and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. At “Believe the Promise,” halls full of exhibits, vendors, and on-site activities allowed Pathfinders to learn more about regions across North America and beyond —ideas, history, Adventist organizations and culture, careers, hobbies, skills, volunteer services, different types of honors (230!), or new ways to have fun. This is just a taste of what the camporee offered.

Pathfinders from around the world joined forces for the international camporee, focusing on community service projects such as outreach to the elderly, veterans, and active military; community clean-ups; and food distribution. Grounded in the Pathfinder Law, "servant of God, friend to man," the 45 planned community service projects this week highlight their commitment to selfless service.

On Thursday evening, Aug. 8, 2024, the decision was made to conclude the International Pathfinder Camporee (IPC) earlier than expected. Camporee leadership published an announcement in the early morning hours on Aug. 9, after announcing the decision to attendees the previously night after the nighttime program.