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Learning about refuge
Imagine you are a camper aged 9-13 attending Kids Missions Camp. The theme is Refugee Life. Check-in feels more like registering as a refugee. The first night you are instructed to sleep in your clothes. Early the next morning you are “evacuated” and become a “refugee” for the next 30 hours of camp… [World Venture, December 2011 newsletter]

This summer, participants at Kids Mission Camp (Littleton, Colo.), a ministry of World Venture, will examine the lives of biblical characters who were refugees, memorize Psalm 18:2, construct shelters, negotiate with fellow “refugees” and NGOs (non-government organizations) and learn from people who have been refugees as well as missionaries who have worked with refugees.

They will explore how God and His Word are our refuge, play games, sing songs, visit a wildlife refuge and discover additional ways God is working to accomplish His purposes for our world.

What are some ways your camp can help students learn that God is their refuge—their safe haven?

If you have a Big Idea that’s worked well for your camp or conference, please pass it along to editor@ccca.org.

Michigan camp faces lawsuit after boy drowns
A family in Buffalo Grove, Ill., is suing Greenwoods Camp for Boys (Decatur, Mich.) and its corporate owner, Campgroup, LLC after their 15-year-old son Jacob Waxberg drowned last summer during a late-night swimming session. According to the lawsuit, the teenager struggled and then slipped underwater and wasn’t found until nearly 30 minutes later. One of the family’s lawyers contends that swimming after dark was a violation of regulations and that the tragedy could have been prevented.

Editor’s note: Greenwoods Camp for Boys is not a CCCA member camp.

[Source: CBSChicago.com]

IRS e-filing system off-line for January and February
The Internal Revenue Service announced on December 16, 2011, that the IRS Modernized e-file (MeF) system will not be available from January 1 through February 29, 2012, for electronic filing of exempt organization Forms 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF and 1120-POL information returns. This service is being temporarily suspended so changes to IRS systems for the 2011 tax year can be implemented.

The IRS is granting an extension to file to March 30, 2012, to organizations whose due date or first extended due date is January 17 or February 15, 2012. Note that the 990-N e-postcard filing system will not be affected by this change.

[Source: CapinCrouse.com]

Space heaters can be dangerous
While space heaters can help camps and conference centers supplement heating devices when extra warmth is needed, they have significant fire and safety hazards associated with their use.

Church Mutual recommends that space heaters and power cords are inspected for damage before they are used each season. “Check the owner’s manual for general maintenance and cleaning instructions. Remember that it is more economical to replace older units than to have them repaired. The preferred style of space heater is the fully enclosed design that has no external surfaces that reach temperatures capable of igniting. Choose a unit that has thermostatic controls and automatic shutoff features.”

Church Mutual also warns that the leading cause of space heater fires is combustibles placed too close to the heater. “Keep the space heater accessible, but do not store anything within three feet of the unit. Do not use a light-duty extension cord or a multi-outlet strip, as these can overheat and start a fire with a high-wattage appliance. If the space heater is provided with a three-pronged plug, make sure it is properly grounded. Finally, turn off the heater when you leave the room and unplug the heater when you leave for the day.”

For more information, see Church Mutual’s article on seasonal heating or the Office of Compliance’s resource: www.compliance.gov/forms-pubs/eresources/fastfacts_spaceheaters.pdf .

Pine Ridge Bible Camp mourns loss of staff member
Lori Wier, who served as office manager at Pine Ridge Bible Camp (Cedar Springs, Mich.), died on November 16, 2011, at the age of 50 after a tragic automobile accident. Following her death, comments on the camp’s Facebook page include such tributes as: “She was such a godly woman and a huge encouragement and will be missed so much!” and “So sorry for this loss. She truly was an amazing, wonderful, warm, and funny woman.”

An amazing offering
Even as donations continue to trickle in from the ENGAGE 2011 National Conference, December 5 to 8 (Ridgecrest, N.C.), the total amount pledged and given has already exceeded that of all past conference offerings. Over $67,000 has been pledged or received for the benefit of two CCCA strategic initiatives: Corners of the Field and the National Marketing Campaign. Corners of the Field is the association’s effort to raise money nationally to help send underprivileged kids to camp, and the National Marketing Campaign seeks to raise awareness and esteem for Christian camping with the outcome of increasing demand and filling camp beds. Two lead gifts were pledged even before the offering was taken, one gift of $14,000 from an anonymous couple who is involved in Christian camping and a gift of $5,000 from a camp, also anonymous, wanting to challenge others to lend their support as well. In addition, 100 percent of CCCA staff and board contributed financially to this offering.

Said CCCA President/CEO Gregg Hunter, “I am deeply moved by the generosity of those who gave of their resources to support these strategic efforts. Clearly, they saw the potential benefits of both initiatives and joined the board of directors and staff in lending their support. I’d like to thank everyone who participated in the offering—for both the financial resources to help us maximize ministry for members, and for the encouragement their support brings.”

Several CCCA members contributed to the offering even though they couldn’t attend the conference at Ridgecrest. If you did not attend the conference but would like to participate in funding Corners of the Field and/or the National Marketing Campaign, click this link to give online or access a pledge/gift form you can send via standard mail.

Survey results from ENGAGE 2011 CCCA National Conference
Here are some highlights from the survey taken after the ENGAGE 2011 CCCA National Conference.

• 96.4% said they got their money’s worth at the ENGAGE event.
• 90.5% said it was an excellent or good experience.
• 87% said they did NOT follow a single educational track of seminars (13% said they did).

• 60% said: “Equally for spiritual encouragement and professional development/challenge.”
• 30% said: “More for professional development and challenge.”
• 10% said: “More for spiritual encouragement.”

Position in organization:

• 41% were executive directors (or primary on-site decision makers)
• 38% were department managers
• 21% were “other”

Demographics:

• 29 or younger = 20% of respondents
• 30-39 = 24%
• 40-49 = 23%
• 50-59 = 23%
• 60 or older = 10%
• 77% were male
• 23% were female

Exhibits:

• 90% of respondents said yes, vendors provided products and/or services that were appropriate to your needs as a camp/conference ministry.

Comments (We received dozens of comments in the survey; here are just a few.):

• Thanks again for a great conference. I have already started working on my top 3 take-aways.
• The spiritual encouragement was just what I needed.
• The national conferences have been such an encouragement and motivation for me in my ministry of Christian camping.
• The conference was amazing. It was great to connect with many different people and to receive so much encouragement. It paid for itself the first day and the rest of the conference was a bonus.
• As always... a wonderful event... fulfilling... engaging... and AWESOME!

Thanks again to our conference sponsors:

Brotherhood Mutual
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association/Dare to Be a Daniel
Clean Fun Promotional Marketing
Colorado Yurt Company
Compassion International
entegra Procurement Services
Stickersandmore.com
Megasys Hospitality Systems
Register Graphics
Touro University Nevada

Items left behind at ENGAGE National Conference
Did you lose something at the 2011 CCCA National Conference in December? We found an umbrella, a pair of glasses and a child’s identification badge. If any of these items belong to you, please email editor@ccca.org or call (719) 260-9400 to identify the items and we will return them to you.

Early bird rates for 2012 CCCA National Conference
It’s not too early to start thinking about the 2012 CCCA National Conference—and take advantage of early bird rates. This year’s theme, Strong and Courageous, is based on the words in Joshua 1:6, the bold proclamation the Lord gave to newly-appointed leader Joshua to be strong and courageous. The conference will be held December 3 to 6, 2012, at San Diego’s Town and Country Resort—a member favorite.

We’re planning an incredible experience for you! Be recharged with inspiring general sessions and relevant seminars with internationally-recognized speakers and teachers. Visit valuable exhibits. Enjoy a Fiesta Night and an evening of comedy entertainment in Seaport Village—right on the waterfront in San Diego Harbor—and other events. San Diego boasts many area attractions, such as the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, beaches, golfing, deep sea fishing and more.

Take advantage of the early bird rate by signing up now! For more information, visit the 2012 National Conference Web site and watch for more details in the March/April issue of InSite.

Become a mentor; make a difference
Mentoring is an excellent way to share your professional knowledge and ministry experience, and leave a legacy. If you’re thinking about becoming a mentor, consider CCCA’s NextGen Leaders program. The program connects young camp leaders with camp veterans so emerging leaders gain valuable training and experience in Christian camp and conference center ministry. The NextGen program is open to male and female leaders. It requires a once-a-month contact (generally by phone) with your mentee and a one-year commitment. For more information on CCCA’s NextGen Leaders program, visit www.ccca.org/public/nextgen or call (719) 260-9400.

January is National Mentoring Month
If you are a mentee in the NextGen Leaders program, why not take a moment to say “thank you” to your mentor? Write a card or e-mail, or create a short video and post it on YouTube on January 26 as part of America’s Thank Your Mentor Day™.

Tell us a story
When you think about the impact your ministry has had over the years, is there a camper story (or stories) that stands out in your mind? Would you please share it with us? As we prepare for the National Marketing Campaign, which will benefit all CCCA members, we are looking for stories of ministry impact and changed lives from across the country, and we need your help. Contact Julie Hill, marketing manager, at jhill@ccca.org or 719-260-9400, ext. 126 to share a story from your camp or conference center. Stories must be submitted by January 17. (We can help write or edit the story, so it doesn’t have to be perfect!)

Bible story told with LEGO® blocks
Noah’s Ark: The Brick Bible for Kids, by Brendan Powell Smith shows children the characters and scenery from the story of Noah and the ark built entirely with LEGO® building blocks. The book will be available May 1, 2012 from Sky Pony Press.

2012 CCCA Sectional meeting dates

January 24–26	Mid-Atlantic Sectional
February 5–9	Minn-E-Dakotas Sectional
February 7–9	Rocky Mountain Sectional
February 7–9	Ozark Sectional
February 20–22	Texas Sectional
February 26–29	Ohio Sectional
February 27–29	Northwest Sectional
February 27–29	Allegheny Sectional
March 5–7	Northern Rockies Sectional
March 5–7	Carolinas/Virginia Sectional
March 5–7	Michigan Sectional
March 5–8	Sierra Pacific Sectional
March 12–14	Indiana Sectional
March 12–14	Wisconsin and Iowa/Nebraska Super Sectional
March 19–20	Illinois Sectional
March 19–21	Pacific Southwest Sectional
March 19–21	Deep South Sectional
March 26–28	Tennessee/Kentucky Sectional
March 26–28	New England and New York Super Sectional
April 9-12	Alaska Sectional

For additional information about sectionals in your area, visit section Web sites at: http://www.ccca.org/public/chapters/chapters.asp.

January/February: Child Protection Plan seminars
Kanakuk Kamps and CircuiTree Solutions present the Child Protection Plan (CPP), a comprehensive safety system for the prevention, detection, and response to child physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse in youth serving organizations. The goal of the CPP is to equip youth-serving organizations with a systems-based field manual outlining measureable tactics for safeguarding youth, workers and the organizational mission. The CPP system consists of 122 protection elements addressing six key initiatives in child protection planning: Operational Support, Grounds/Facilities, Staffing, Training/Orientation, Monitor/Reporting, and Crisis Response.

The Child Protection Plan Seminar is an eight-hour event for training organizational leaders on the methodology, content and strategies necessary to implement the CPP. Participants will learn about abuse awareness and CPP goals, discuss implementation strategies and self-audit process, receive sample forms, training content, a full color workbook and writeable CD. The seminar is presented by Rick Braschler, Director of Risk Manager for Kanakuk Kamps, and Senior Risk Consultant for CircuiTree Solutions.

The event takes place at these locations:

For more information, or to register for an event, please contact Thecia Dixon at (417) 266-3267, e-mail tldixon@kanakuk.com or visit www.camphow.com.

Visit the CCCA Online Calendar for more details and other events.

Kind Words
By Dan Schmidt
Vice President of USA Ministries, BCM International, Lancaster, Pa.

Recently, a barista’s blog I follow suggested that the quality of one’s drink is directly affected by the appreciation shown to the drink maker. I liked a lot about her counsel, not least of which was how it produces a win-win: the barista gets respect, and the customer gets a great-tasting cuppa.

Her comment got me thinking about how far kind words go. You’ve seen this, right? A staff member is trying hard at a challenging project; you notice, offer a quick compliment and then watch that person brighten. Or, you take a break from laboring with a budget or a difficult decision, open your email and find an encouraging note from a supporter or parent. You return to your task with renewed vigor.

Proverbs often addresses our speaking; perhaps you have a favorite one. New Testament writers deal with our words as well, insisting that what we say—and how we say it—is important. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up, Paul tells us. Be kind and compassionate toward one another (Ephesians 4:29, 32).

As we go through our days, let’s be attentive to opportunities for expressing kindness. Like the barista says, it’s good for everybody.

If you would like to submit a Words to Grow On devotional thought for Thursday Mail, write 100–200 words, include at least one Bible verse and send it to editor@ccca.org.

Advertising information

POSITIONS AVAILABLE 

GENERAL MANAGER - FAIR HAVEN CAMPS (Mid-Coast Maine) is accepting applications for General Manager. The General Manager, in conjunction with the Board of Directors, is responsible for: implementation and management of all areas of camp including the business office, summer and off-season programs, facilities, promotion and marketing; giving direction to summer staff, and a large number of volunteers who work in all areas of the camp; ensuring compliance with Fair Haven policies and state of Maine regulations; operating within the annual budget for the operations of the camp; and participating and consulting with all the committees of the camp. The applicant should have a college degree or equivalent experience, a high level of integrity and spiritual leadership, strong personnel and administrative skills and the ability to manage the financial aspects of the camp. Complete listing here: www.fairhavencamps.org - job openings. Mail résumé and references to Fair Haven Camps, 81 W. Fairhaven Lane, Brooks, ME 04921.

LEAD COOK - CARAWAY CONFERENCE CENTER & CAMP (Asheboro, N.C.) is seeking an addition to our food service team. The available LEAD COOK position requires a passion for ministering through food services, the ability to coach staff, and a conviction for providing positive guest experiences. The successful candidate will be an employee of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (ncbaptist.org) with opportunities to positively impact thousands of people through Caraway’s conferences, retreats, programs, and summer camp. This position provides a generous benefits package including paid vacation, health insurance, and retirement. Housing is not provided. For more information, or to apply, please contact Jeremy Jackson at (336) 629-2374 (ext. 111), or jjackson@caraway.org.

DIRECTOR OF FOOD SERVICES (year-round) – Mission Springs Christian Camps and Conference Center (Scotts Valley, Calif.) seeks a motivated team leader with proven food service management and experience with large-volume conference center or similar. Responsibilities include oversight of all food operations at multi-site facility, management of personnel, menu selection and dining experience. Excellent benefits and great location near Santa Cruz. E-mail résumé and cover letter to bhayes@missionsprings.com. Phone: (831) 335-9133; Mission Springs, 1050 Lockhart Gulch Rd., Scotts Valley, CA 95066.

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR – PILGRIM PINES CONFERENCE CENTER (Swanzey, N.H.) is seeking candidates for the position of development director. This newly created position will create and implement Pilgrim Pines' strategic fundraising plan to increase gift income in support of current operations and expansion plans. General areas of responsibility include development, oversight and participation in all fundraising activities, including annual fund drive, major gift development and future capital campaigns. Qualified candidates should submit a résumé to Executive Director Dave Cairns (dave@pilgrimpines.org - please indicate on subject line Development Director Search).

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

If you’ve not yet selected and ordered your camper and guest apparel for the coming year, here’s why you need to contact us at X-treme Apparel. We offer top quality and versatility in all apparel and wearable accessories for your camp. We will create and give you innovative and captivating detailed designs that inspire. We offer a $3.75 white T-shirt opening order program. We offer a $5.25 colored T-shirt opening program. Plus, we pay the freight on some select programs.

TRINITY MEMBERS ARE NOW COLLECTIVELY SAVING MORE THAN $8,000,000 DOLLARS EACH YEAR!  We are currently serving more than 1,300 members in all 50 states, with average savings of several thousand dollars, and many members saving tens of thousands, often without changing anything they do. Trinity Ministries, in affiliation with HPSI, can help substantially through agreements with Sysco, U.S. Foodservice, Gordon Food Service, Food Services of America, Martin Brothers, Feesers, HFM and IFH, as well as with American Hotel Register, Lowes, New England Camp Discounter, Office Depot, Staples, The Original Mattress Factory, HD Supply, Suburban Propane, Ferrellgas, Triple S, Glidden Professional, Sherwin-Williams, DS Waters, Laundrylux, Ecolab, and many more.

Please visit www.trinity-usa.net for further information and our supplier listing. Join now to save during the fall maintenance/conference season!

There is NO COST for membership in TRINITY/HPSI and no obligation for anything. You decide which agreements are beneficial for your camp and use them at your discretion. For more information or a complimentary analysis of your foodservice savings opportunity, call us at (615) 672-0229 or e-mail travis.claypool@trinity-usa.net. See how the $9 billion annual volume of HPSI members can benefit your ministry budget.


To advertise in future TM Classifieds:
Ad size is a maximum of 1,000 characters and spaces per ad placed; deadline is the Friday before the first or third Thursday in any given month. Member rates are $109 per ad placement per issue (or just $149 for two successive issues); members may add their logo for an additional $15. Members who purchase online job listings will receive a discount on TM Classifieds. Submit your ad and make payment online.

CCCA is a not-for-profit organization committed to furthering Christian camping. CCCA provides limited space in the “TM Classifieds” for advertising opportunities, services, and products to advance the cause of Christian camping. CCCA is not responsible for the claims made by its advertisers and reserves the right to select or reject any advertising, in the sole discretion of CCCA, for any or no reason.
 
PRIVACY: Protecting your privacy is very important to us at CCCA. We will not rent, sell, or exchange your e-mail address with a third party for any purpose. All Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, unless otherwise noted. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Thursday Mail is sent to you as a member service of CCCA. The content does not necessarily represent the views of or imply endorsement by CCCA. To submit items for publication, e-mail Jackie Johnson at editor@ccca.org. If your organization or company is interested in sponsoring a future issue of Thursday Mail, contact Bob Baylor at (719) 260-9400, extension 121, or e-mail advertising@ccca.org. See www.ccca.org/public/publications/thursmail.asp for rates and deadline information.