EDMOND—Herbert W. Armstrong College students, faculty and pcg members shared the college’s 13th campout at Robbers Cave (March 5 to 9) and its first campout from the Edstone campus to Galloway, Scotland (March 4 to 8).

The campout, an annual event since 2002, provided the 62 students in Edmond with a freer schedule than their usual breaks, which usually consist of 40-hour workweeks. Students, faculty and a handful of members spent their time reading, studying, meditating, conversing by the campfire, playing indoor games, and hiking nearby trails.

The campout also included a movie night, Bible study, Sabbath services, a dance and a skit/impromptu night.

Weathermen forecasted heavy snow and ice, which delayed the trip to Robbers Cave by one day but caused no other incidents besides making the campfire more popular and chilling the already cold water for about a dozen students who took short swims in the frigid river.

Robbers Cave State Park has historical significance to the pcg. It is where pcg founder and college chancellor Gerald Flurry’s book Malachi’s Message was first read (by his son, now dean of students Stephen Flurry). At the first college campout at Robbers Cave in 2002, Chancellor Flurry showed new revelation from the book of Habakkuk that the pcg would win its copyright battle with the Worldwide Church of God and obtain the rights to publish Herbert W. Armstrong’s book, Mystery of the Ages. The following year at Robbers Cave, Mr. Flurry announced that the wcg had just hours before agreed to settle the case, giving the pcg full copyrights to Mystery of the Ages and 18 other works. Mr. Flurry also announced the summer 2012 Jerusalem dig from Robbers Cave.

Assistant dean of students Eric Burns said that Robbers Cave connects students to Church history, provides them with an experience to deepen their friendships, and gives them just what they need following midterm exams.

“Robbers Cave adds a much needed, very relaxing few days,” he said, “and if done right, can rejuvenate the students for the final push toward the spring holy days, term papers and final exams.”

“I think what made Robbers Cave special was that everyone was so united,” student body president Abraham Blondeau said. “We were a family of 121 strong.”

A group from the Edstone office held a sister campout in Galloway, Scotland, from March 4 to March 8 and participated in similar activities. The group took a day trip to Edinburgh on March 6, where they saw the stone of destiny at Edinburgh Castle.

Sophomore Kaitlin Eames said seeing the stone of destiny was a highlight and that the campout was “an opportunity to be swallowed up by nature and explore the vastness of God’s creation.”

“Robbers Cave break is all about coming to grips with what God is doing,” senior Jessie Hester said, “so whether you’re in Oklahoma or Scotland, that feeling stays the same.”

“True education teaches God’s Family how to live,” Mr. Stephen Flurry said. “Opportunities like the college campout are excellent ways to bring the Family together and to reinforce the God Family vision.”