Come to camp to prepare for missions
The Warm Beach Challenge Course proved to be a useful tool to prepare 15 adults from First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue, Wash., for their upcoming short-term mission to Guatemala. “The series of interactive trust-based challenges allowed us to think, work, play and celebrate together,” says Rosalind Renshaw, associate pastor. “We got to know each other and really learn that, on a missions trip, everyone’s voice and everyone’s gifts are important and needed.” Participant Craig Schoning says, “At Warm Beach, our facilitators were skilled. There was lots of humor. The exercises were fun and physically not difficult. Because of the challenge course, everyone felt valued and involved; no one felt left out.” To further discuss ways to use challenge and ropes courses at your camp, check out the CCCA Member Connection group called FAITH (Facilitators and Instructors Together in Him). You can find the group by clicking “View All” in the left-hand column of the Member Connection home page. If you are not a member of this online community, e-mail Dan Everest at deverest@ccca.org for an invitation to join.

Two workers at upstate New York camp killed
A man has been charged with drunken driving and vehicular homicide after two employees of an upstate New York summer camp were run down and killed. According to the Associated Press, Peter Goldblatt, 39, was arraigned June 25, on charges of driving while intoxicated and aggravated vehicular homicide. New York State Police say the two camp employees were with other workers standing by a road near Camp Echo Lake in Warrensburg, N.Y., when a car veered into them June 24. Those killed were 21-year-old Dominic Hartley of England and 21-year-old Emily Lewis of Scotland. A camp spokeswoman said Dominic was a counselor and Emily worked in the camp office. Another counselor was treated for minor injuries.

Expensive summer camps for kids still going strong
The recession may have forced families to tighten their budgets, but many are still willing to send their children to expensive summer camps. A typical seven-week stay can cost more than $10,000. So what do these camps offer that others don’t? The short answer is beautiful locations and top-notch facilities, according to www.forbes.com June 15. Camp purists point to the Maine camps as the most traditional, sought-after experiences, mostly because of Maine’s abundant wilderness and pristine lakes and beaches. But there are equally expensive camps in the Adirondacks, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. The steep price tags reflect the constant updating and refurbishing these elite camps do. Last year, Laurel South near Portland, Maine, spent $1 million to renovate its kitchen and dining hall. Its related Camp Laurel in Readfield, Maine, maintains fleets of sailboats and ski boats and has a brand new outdoor roller hockey arena, outfitted with NHL-quality dasher boards brought in from Minnesota. Most of these camps are family-owned and -run and have been for decades. The families don’t see what they offer as outrageous luxuries, explaining that the steep fees are a product of not only the constant capital expenditures but also the fact that the facilities sit unused most of the year. “We don’t have our head in the sand,” says Jeff Konigsberg, owner of Tripp Lake Camp for girls and Camp Takajo for boys, both in Maine, which cost $10,400 for the summer.

New show about summer camp debuts on ABC Family
“Huge” is a new 10-part drama based on a weight-loss summer camp, and it is being shown Mondays on ABC Family, according to www.plus-size-tall.com June 26. Originally written as a film by Savannah Dooley based on a book by Sasha Paley but not made, the show follows the lives of seven teens and staff at a weight-loss summer camp. "Huge" hopes to be funny and thought provoking as teens and staff discover their true selves and each other. Most of the stars are overweight, and they all have leading roles. “I’ve never seen a show where it’s more than one overweight person in the cast,” Savannah says. “They’re [usually] the sidekick, or maybe they end up with their own little chubby counterpart at the end.” To find out more about this show, visit the official Web site at ABC.

Women climbing the corporate ladder
As of earlier this year, women now outnumber men in the U.S. workforce for the first time ever. But three-quarters of the jobs lost in this recession were lost by men. Women now hold more than 50 percent of managerial and professional jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to Rosin, women now earn 60 percent of master’s degrees, about 60 percent of all bachelor's degrees, about half of all law and medical degrees, and 42 percent of all MBAs. [Source: Atlantic Magazine, July/August 2010]

Parenthood does not make for active churchgoers
A new study debunks the common assumption that once a couple hits parenthood, they'll put Sunday church services back on their calendar. While children do act as a catalyst for millions of parents to return to the pews or become more active in the church, it is not the normative experience. According to the Barna Group, half of parents in the U.S. said having children did not influence their connection to a church or change their involvement. And among parents who are Christian, 47 percent said the presence of children was unrelated to their church life. [Source: The Christian Post, May 24]

‘Weekend Magazine’ to tell stories of Christian camping
Focus on the Family’s radio broadcast Weekend Magazine will feature snippets about Christian camping during the first four weekends in July. You’ll hear host, John Fuller, interview 3CA President Gregg Hunter and Tim McKinney, director of family and adult ministries at 3CA member Camp Redcloud in Colorado. Topics include the spiritual benefits of a camp experience and stories about transformed lives. To listen online starting this weekend (July 3 and 4), go to www.focusonthefamily.com/weekend. 

The compensation and benefits of camp professionals
Waypoint is 3CA’s new research effort, replacing the previous Industry Surveys first introduced nearly 20 years ago. The fourth and final module of Waypoint Research, “My Ministry: Compensation & Benefits,” asked executive members about what they and their full-time, part-time and summer employees received in calendar year 2009 or in their last complete fiscal year. The survey covered everything from annual salary to vacation days to housing to meals served at camp. Out of the 884 member organizations who received the online survey, 137 responded. Due to the low response rate (15%), the survey’s results are not representative of 3CA’s membership. This means the results should not be viewed as the Industry Survey, but rather as an Industry Survey, only representing those who took the time to respond to the survey. The data should be useful for those camps that find data which relates to their size and scope of operation. The survey results are available online free of charge to members. Non-members must purchase the report in the online store for $39. To view the results, log in to the Member Portal and select the icon for “My Ministry: Compensation & Benefits.” As a reminder, this and all other research data should be used as one of, and not the only tool or source of information in guiding your decisions about your camp.

Don't miss the new issue of ‘InSite’ magazine
The July/August issue of 3CA’s InSite magazine hits mailboxes this week. You’ll learn how to keep finances from limiting your ministry, three ways to exceed your guests’ expectations as well as advice for understanding and serving today’s Baby Boomers. E-mail editor@ccca.org to give your review of this issue or to suggest a topic for a future issue.  

Design your own NIV Bible covers
Celebrating more than 200 years in ministry, Biblica provides God’s Word to people through translation, publishing and Bible engagement. Biblica is the translation sponsor and ministry publisher of the New International Version © (NIV) and publisher of Pathlight: A Camper's Bible, which was updated in 2009. Now you can create a custom cover for the Bibles at your camp or conference center. The minimum order is 250 units. Once your cover has been approved and is in final form, Biblica asks that you allow at least six weeks to get the Bibles or New Testaments produced and then additional time for shipping. Go to www.customizedbibles.com for a free quote or to begin designing your custom cover.

3CA Focus Series resource redesigned and updated
3CA’s Focus Series includes over 20 titles which provide vital information and insights on key issues affecting camp/conference leaders, summer staff, parents of campers, donors and church staff. We recently redesigned and updated No. 7, Using the Outdoor Setting to Communicate Spiritual Truths. Click here to view a one-page preview. To order, go to the Member Store. A quantity discount is available for orders of more than 50 copies. A downloadable PDF is also available at a reduced rate. E-mail Dan Everest at deverest@ccca.org for more information.

Sept. 15–18: Christian Paintball Symposium in California
The Christian Paintball Academy will host its fifth paintball symposium at Old Oak Ranch (Sonora, Calif.) for camps looking to start a paintball program or take their existing program to the next level. Pleasant Vineyard Ministries (Camden, Ohio) was the first camp in the U.S. to offer paintball programs and is now sharing their expertise with fellow camps through Christian Paintball Academy. These workshops have already instructed over 50 camp personnel in more than 30 camps throughout the U.S. Participants will learn how to incorporate a safe and effective program that can be utilized as an evangelistic tool to reach more youth and adults. Program includes a paintball marker tech class, safety standards for ACA requirements, how to build and maintain a field, program and marketing ideas, hands-on refereeing class, a 230-page paintball manual that includes devotionals that parallel spiritual truths with paintball, and below wholesale prices for paintball supplies. To register, contact David Maynard or Tim Gray at (937) 452-0072 or e-mail david@pvmcamp.com. Registration forms can be downloaded at www.pvmcamp.com.  

Sept. 21: Allegheny Section Burger Flip
WLD Ranch (Girard, Pa.) is hosting the third annual Burger Flip for the Allegheny Section from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21. Come for a day full of conversations, connections and chow. Lodging options are available for Monday night. The event is open to full-time and part-time staff, board members, and staff and board families, as well as CCCA member camps and non-member camps. (You don't even have to be part of the Allegheny Section to come. Those of you across the borders in New York and Ohio are welcome as well.) To register, contact Joseph Preston at joseph@wldranch.com or (814) 474-3414.

Sept. 22–25: Christian Paintball Workshop in California
This four-day Christian Paintball Workshop will be held at Alpine Camp & Conference Center (Blue Jay, Calif.) for camps looking to start a paintball program or improve their existing program. Participants will learn how to use paintball as an evangelism outreach tool, refereeing rules and regulations, safety precautions, paintball marker repair, paintball devotionals, Speedball setup and tournaments, Woodsball field setup and development, hands-on training on how to run a large, all-day scenario tournament, and how to answer the question, “How can you be a Christian and play paintball?” Participants will receive a paintball manual and resources that will equip them on how to run a safe and successful paintball program that can draw thousands of kids and adults to their facilities and will allow them to recoup their paintball workshop fees with the first big game or program they host. To register, e-mail Keith Harriott at keith@alpine-cc.org or call (909) 337-6287.

Sept. 23: CCCA Online Training Conference
For the first time in its history, 3CA will offer an entire conference exclusively online. This unique training event will feature recognized experts (Eddie Gibbs, Charles Lee, Reggie McNeal, Guy Richards, Duffy Robbins, Horst Schulze and Peg Smith) giving a short, hard-hitting presentation all delivered online to your computer. Each presentation will be followed by a live “debrief” led by 3CA staff and camp leaders who will discuss the presentations and take online questions from the virtual classroom. Then we’ll take a short break for you to discuss the topic with others in the room right where you are. Multiple sponsorship opportunities (for businesses) will be available for this event. Learn more about the conference and register online at www.ccca.org.

Oct. 11–13: Fall Fellowship in Iowa
Gather with other camp and conference professionals in the CCCA Iowa Section during this fall event, which concludes after brunch Oct. 13. Fall Fellowship will be held at Riverside Lutheran Camp (Story City, Iowa). To register, contact Dave McDermott at rlbc@riversidelbc.org or (515) 733-5271.

Oct. 12–13: Personal Retreat Initiative in Indiana
Come explore the possibility of launching a Personal Retreat Ministry with other camp and conference centers. This conference will provide an opportunity to explore and rediscover the biblical foundations of rest, to envision a plan to strategically launch a successful personal retreat ministry at your camp or conference center, to receive all the resources you’ll need from start to finish, and to enjoy a quiet afternoon off the beaten path for yourself. The conference will be held at Camp Lutherhaven in Albion, Ind. Cost is $50 for commuters, $65 to stay in a dorm and $80 to stay in a hotel-like room. For more information, download this PDF or contact Brenda Jank at (260) 636-7095.

Oct. 14–16: Wilderness Risk Management Conference
Attend the WRMC and gain practical risk management skills, network with others in the industry, share field and administrative techniques, and help develop risk management standards for the adventure and education industries. This year’s conference will be held at The Crown Plaza in Colorado Springs, Colo. Learn more about the seminars, presenters, schedule, cost and how to register at www.nols.edu. The Wilderness Risk Management Conference is brought to you by National Outdoor Leadership School, Outward Bound and Student Conservation Association.

Oct. 21–24: CHA International Conference in Florida
The Certified Horsemanship Association 2010 International Conference will be held at The Oaks Equestrian Center - O’Connor Signature Facility in Lake City, Fla., just outside of Gainesville. Plan on joining CHA for an educational and fun experience. Visit www.cha-ahse.org/conferences to find out more about presentations, etc. as they are scheduled.

Dec. 6–9: CCCA National Conference
Round up your entire crew and come to the 2010 CCCA National Conference Dec. 6–9 at Ridgecrest Conference Center in Asheville, N.C. From the general sessions and worship to the exhibit hall and seminars, you and your team will be equipped, educated and encouraged—increasing your capacity to produce greater organizational and ministry results. Two of the general session speakers planned include Jeff Foxworthy and Will Graham. Bryan Loritts will lead the Morning Worship Hour each day of the conference. And Audrey Assad and Brian Wurzell will lead us in worship. To learn more about the conference and register online, visit www.ccca.org. Save $50 per person by registering before July 31, 2010.

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

A load too heavy
Every day at Pine Valley is an opportunity for our staff to be heroic. One of the first practical moments is when a counselor offers to carry a suitcase that may be too heavy for the child. It makes us wonder, What emotional baggage could a camper carry into camp? Last year in a staff training session we had everyone bring a small rock and write on that rock some possible hurts with which the children might arrive. We laid an empty suitcase in the middle of the room, and one at a time, the staff dropped their rock into the suitcase and spoke the hurts out loud: Abuse, mistrust, diseases, violence, murder, divorce, parent in prison, fear, promiscuity, painful secrets, etc. How do we enter into the campers’ painful and sometimes almost unfathomable reality without despairing ourselves? We have to surrender our own hurts to the Lord, bear each other’s burdens and then carry the burdens for the children, even if only for a week. Surprisingly, it becomes our joy to do this because Christ does the same for us. “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19). We pray these kids will leave camp with hope and the help of God who loves them even more than we do and desires to carry their every burden.

—Contributed by Susan Reichart, spiritual formation director at Pine Valley Bible Camp (Ellwood City, Pa.)

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

Advertising information

PRODUCTS & SERVICES    

TRINITY MEMBERS ARE NOW COLLECTIVELY SAVING MORE THAN $7,000,000 DOLLARS EACH YEAR!  We are currently serving more than 1,000 members in 49 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 U.S. Foodservice, SYSCO, Gordon Food Service, Martin Brothers, Feesers, HFM and IFH, as well as with Office Depot, Staples, The Original Mattress Factory, HD Supply, Suburban Propane, Ferrellgas, Summit Payroll, Sherwin-Williams, ECOLAB, Briggs Corporation for first aid supplies, Direct Supply for commercial kitchen equipment, and many more. Please visit www.trinity-usa.net for further information and our supplier listing. Join now to save during the winter/spring conference and facility maintenance season and have a head start on savings for next summer!

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 trinity-usa@comcast.net . See how the $9 billion annual volume of HPSI members can benefit your ministry budget. A CCCA Business Member.

SPRING TIME BEDDING offers a unique metal camp bunk bed that converts from one bunk bed to two single beds. We are now offering a SPECIAL SUMMER RATE! Regularly priced at $370, bunk beds are now $270 which include a metal bunk bed, guard rails, 27” top foam mattress and 30” bottom innerspring mattress. No tools or screws are required for assembly and all bunk beds meet local and national safety regulations. Our innerspring mattresses are water resistant, fire retardant and feature helically double-twisted, link springs providing proper mattress comfort and support. Now is the time to save on bedding for your camp and secure quality bunk beds, guard rails, and mattresses for your campers. Visit www.CampFurnishings.com or call 866-578-2337 for special summer rates!

REAL ESTATE

CAMPS AND CONFERENCE CENTER FOR SALE: Located at picturesque Triangle Lake Oregon ( 36 miles west of Eugene). Wooded 220 acres in the Oregon Coast mountain range; lake frontage ( 200 ft.) with access with dock suitable for swimming and boating; meeting facilities for conferences or retreats; fully equipped commercial kitchen and dining hall; camping accommodations for 144; activity barn ( 7,360 sq ft) with half court basketball court; all electric utilities underground; water from a good well and above ground storage tank; all waters systems up to code. All 3 septic tank/drains fields up to code; annual camper and volunteer capacity of 832 for 8 week camping season; conferences available on a year round basis. Appraised value $2,650,000.00; sales price $2,000,000.00. For an appointment to view the property contact: John Everhardt, Caretaker; cell (541) 554-3896; e-mail jeverh7373@aol.com. Questions: please call Mike Stone, Treasurer; Episcopal Diocese of Western Oregon; phone (503) 232-1859; e-mail stone.michael@comcast.net.

OPERATING CHRISTIAN YOUTH CAMP FOR SALE: Located on 88 acres in the beautiful Kiamichi mountains of southeastern Oklahoma. Just three hours from Oklahoma City and Tulsa and four hours from Dallas/Fort Worth. Camp Jon David has everything you need to start your ministry right away. Capacity for 300 with basketball and volleyball courts, two swimming pools, 18 RV hook-ups, horseback riding trails, 40 acres of wilderness, creek, stocked fishing lake and more. Motivated sellers who founded the camp are retiring after 28 years. Asking $1million—owner financing is a possibility. Call Christian Camping Foundation (719) 260-9400, ext. 111 or e-mail bkobielush@ccca.org for photos and more information.

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 $89 per ad placement per issue (or just $129 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.
 
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