Education

Even gray skies couldn’t dim the energy on Monday, September 29, as more than 190 students from 11 Northern California Conference schools converged on the campus of Rio Lindo Adventist Academy for its annual Sports Camp.

The event, which has averaged 142 participants over the past decade, celebrated its largest turnout in years—a sign of growing enthusiasm for this much-anticipated day of athletics and fellowship. The schools that sent their enthusiastic students included: Clearlake, Echo Ridge, Feather River, Hilltop, Middletown, Napa, Redding, Redwood, Tracy, Ukiah, and Westlake.

The morning began in Rio’s gymnasium, where students joined together for a spirited worship and orientation. Afterward, they were divided by grade and gender into groups led by Rio Ambassadors, student leaders who guided their squads throughout the day and offered encouragement at every station.

Participants rotated through a series of athletic challenges including basketball, volleyball, flag football, and soccer. Each session—facilitated by volunteer coaches and Rio staff—focused on skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship before wrapping up with scrimmages.

For many students, especially those from smaller schools, Sports Camp offered a unique opportunity to connect and grow alongside a wider community of peers. “It was so much fun to play with new people,” said Simon Sigler from Redwood Adventist Academy. “I got to learn a lot!”

By mid-afternoon, the clouds that had hovered all day finally opened up, drenching the fields in a sudden downpour. But rather than dampen spirits, the rain only added to the memories. Laughter echoed through the campus as students dashed for shelter, soaked but smiling.

The day concluded with an awards assembly recognizing outstanding sportsmanship, leadership, and teamwork in each athletic session. As everyone departed and the rain continued to fall, students left Rio tired but happy—already talking about next year’s Sports Camp.

The sun was already warming the air in Yuba City when students began arriving for the Northern California Conference’s “Come Have Fun Day.” Vans and buses pulled in from seven different schools—Red Bluff, Middletown, Feather River, Clearlake, Echo Ridge, Westlake, and Galt—bringing with them 167 kids and sponsors, all ready for a day unlike any other.

The celebration began with worship, led by students from Rio Lindo Academy. Their music and testimonies reminded everyone why they had gathered: to lift up the name of Jesus and to remember that, while each school may be small, together they are part of something much bigger—the Northern California Conference family.

Then came the fun. Laughter filled the air as kids raced on go-karts, splashed down the giant water slide, climbed walls, blew bubbles, and met some animals up close. The water slide and climbing wall were made possible thanks to Eddie Heinrich and the NCC Youth Department, while Leoni Meadows contributed the animals and helped with part of the lunch. Their efforts helped make the day memorable for everyone.

Lunch was simple but satisfying—pizza and salad enjoyed under the shade as friends, old and new, shared stories and smiles. Even with the warm weather, the splash from the slide and the breeze from the go-karts kept spirits high. One sponsor summed it up: “The kids were having the time of their lives—and they left knowing they’re part of something really special.”

“Come Have Fun Day” wasn’t just about activities—it was about connection. It reminded these students that their faith, friendships, and future are tied into something bigger than any one school. Together, they’re part of a vibrant, ongoing ministry across Northern California.

Featured in Northern Lights, September 25, 2025
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When Deputy Adam Gibson gave his life in January 2021, his daughter Sophie was still too young to understand the meaning of sacrifice. She only knew the love of her daddy—a Marine, a K9 handler, and a man of courage and faith.

In August, Sophie stepped into a milestone her father never had the chance to see: her first day of kindergarten at Lodi Adventist Elementary. But she didn’t walk in alone. Deputies from the Sheriff’s K9 unit, her father’s brothers in service, came alongside her. They cheered, smiled, and showed her that she will always belong to a larger family. Even K9 Niko wagged his way into the moment, a living reminder of the bond Adam shared with his dogs.

Her kindergarten teacher, Lyly Nguyen, reflected on the day: “It was so touching and emotional to see how many police officers showed up in support of Sophie on her first day of kindergarten. Especially the K-9 dog who came to greet her, it truly honored her late father, Adam.”

Above the schoolyard, a helicopter flyover briefly filled the sky—a fleeting sight, difficult to capture in photos, but profoundly moving. For Sophie, it was more than the start of school; it was the visible embrace of her community, a promise that her father’s bravery would never be forgotten and that she would always be surrounded by love.