Romanian Metropolia Restarts Beloved Summer Camp for Children and Teens

CANADENSIS, PA — The New York, New England, and Eastern United States Deanery of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas has revived its summer camp program after a hiatus of several years, bringing together children and young people for four days of fellowship, spiritual formation, and outdoor activities at Spruce Lake Retreat Center in Pennsylvania.

The camp was organized with the blessing of Metropolitan Nicolae and the encouragement of the Very Rev. Fr. Daniel Ene, the deanery's administrative vicar and dean. During a deanery meeting in October 2025, Fr. Daniel asked Fr. Vasile Aileni to lead the effort to restore the camp, which welcomed 24 participants representing parishes throughout the deanery.

Alongside recreational activities such as swimming, fishing, zip-lining, high ropes, and campfires, campers participated in spiritual discussions and Romanian folk dancing, fostering friendships rooted in their shared Orthodox faith. Fr. Aileni said the combination of faith, fellowship, and recreation created an atmosphere in which participants formed lasting bonds and experienced meaningful spiritual growth.

Fr. Aileni also expressed gratitude to the volunteers whose efforts made the camp possible, including cook Mihai Mușcin, Adriana, Natalia, Marinela, Ecaterina, Fr. Timotei Avram, and Presbytera Simona. Reflecting on the gathering, he described the camp as a place where children experience joy, education, and spiritual renewal, adding that each participant leaves transformed. Organizers now hope to welcome an even larger group of campers when the deanery holds the event again next summer.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Abp. Nathaniel celebrated the Divine Liturgy to conclude Camp Vatra Junior 2026.