The long-anticipated British Union Conference (BUC) Pathfinder Camporee opened on Tuesday, July 28, as more than 2,500 Pathfinders and volunteers arrived at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex. The six-day gathering, themed "Image Bearers", brings together clubs from across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland for worship, fellowship, practical activities, and spiritual growth.
The opening ceremony combined celebration and reflection. A colorful drum corps pageant helped welcome the delegations, while representatives from the Scottish, Irish and Welsh Missions and the North and South England Conferences highlighted the landmarks and cultures of their territories. Pathfinders greeted each group with enthusiastic cheers, creating a strong sense of belonging to one BUC family.
Created in God’s image
In his opening address, BUC Youth director Njay Ndlovu invited campers to see the week as more than a program of activities.
"At the heart of the Camporee is the conviction that every young person is created in God’s image, carries divine worth and has a God-given purpose," he said.
That identity, he explained, offers a different measure of value from a culture that often prizes appearance, popularity, and achievement. Campers were encouraged to pursue humility, service and love; to deepen friendships and sharpen their skills; and to allow their faith to grow as they discover more fully who God created them to be.
The theme also carries a practical challenge for community life. Participants were urged to treat every person throughout the week as someone of God-given value.
New BUC officers welcomed
The ceremony also introduced members of the BUC leadership team elected for the new quinquennium: president Kirk Thomas, secretary Emanuel Bran, and treasurer Wederly Aguiar. Recognition was given to the organizing team and the many volunteers whose service made the Camporee possible.
Thomas reinforced the week’s call to mission. Pathfinders, he said, are not only image bearers by identity; they are representatives of Christ, called to share their faith and the story of Jesus in ways that inspire others towards God’s kingdom. The opening program also included safety guidance before the drum corps returned for a further ceremonial display.
A mind fixed on God
Following an uplifting praise session, guest speaker Damian Chandler closed the evening with a sermon entitled "Daniel’s Mind Fixed on God’". Born in Toronto and raised in Barbados, Chandler used the biblical story of Daniel in Babylon to speak directly to young people facing a world that can feel unstable and beyond their control.
He illustrated the message with the image of a spinning teacup ride. The wheel at the center of the cup, he suggested, represents a mind anchored in God: while everything around it may spin, holding firmly to the center provides stability and direction.
According to Chandler, while Daniel’s circumstances changed dramatically when he was taken from Jerusalem to Babylon, his identity and purpose remained secure—he knew who he was, where he belonged, and whom he served. Chandler applied those lessons to pressures familiar to today’s young people, including family disruption, migration, and wider global uncertainty. The message concluded with the assurance that God remains constant when circumstances change.
The BUC Pathfinder Camporee ran from July 28 to August 2.
