What Have You Been Up To?

Our winter retreat season is just around the corner.  Even though it has been quiet at camp for a few weeks we have been busy.  As 2014 comes to a close we have been blessed to be able to tackle a bunch of great projects to renovate and enhance the camp.  Here's a quick list of what we have been up to:

1. New carpet and walk off rugs in the entryway.
2. A new boiler and water heater for the main building.
3. A new furnace for the gymnasium.
4. We painted the entryway, stairwells and steps to the bays.
5. A new counter top and setup for the drink counter in the dining room.
6. We painted the bathrooms.
7. Renovations to the guys bathroom counter top and sink area.
8. New shower faucets in the guys and gals bathrooms.
9. We painted and reorganized the kitchen.
10. Purchase of 9 Square in the Air - a new large group game in the gym.
11. Installation of over 150 feet of new baseboard heat.
12. Seven new directional camp signs at key locations on the way to camp.

And all of the normal winter stuff like... winterizing buildings, shoveling snow, building an ice rink, visiting churches, speaking engagements, sending out our 2015 registration forms and painting some more.

We have also been busy preparing for two very special events for 2015.  We are fundraising for brand new mattresses in the bays with our first ever Sleepy 5k.  By this summer, all of our campers, staff, volunteers and guests will be sleeping on brand new mattresses!  We are also introducing a new week of Shepherds Camp - Shepherds Camp Family Week.  SCFW will provide families with care support, times of respite and the opportunity of getting away together as a family!

Check out SCFW and the Sleepy 5k on our website.

Video: Christmas Gathering 2014

Thanks to all of our campers and staff who joined us for our 2014 Christmas Gathering.  We had a blast watching a movie, making crafts and munching on some homemade goodies.

Merry Christmas: Blopper Reel

Happy Holidays and such

New for 2015

It's heeeeerrre...

Any guesses?

Dear Blog... "I'm Sorry"

Day ?

I have no idea what day it is.  It seems like it was just yesterday when I posted the photo of our 2014 summer staff on the first day of camp.  I guarantee our poor neglected blog had much to say this summer.  Here's a recap to get you up to speed and me back on track.

Pedal Carts were a huge hit.

 

 

Each camper received their own Arrowhead Pedal Cart License at the end of the week!

 

Day Camp was a blast.  Check out this throwback photo (inspired by a 1966 Arrowhead Awana photo)

Our new Swing Set was the place to be this summer.

New dock sections made Paddle Boating more accessible.

Over a hundred students and leaders came to serve through the James Project!

Here's some of our staff with "D" our favorite 94 year old camper!

Camper Counselor Kickball has got to be the all time favorite evening group game.

One of our James Project groups made over 100 giant paper hats.  What a great gift and a huge expression of love & care.

50's Night - Our 2015 Weekly Picnic Theme

Some friends stopped by with their Bel Air's!  Talk about a photo op!

Day 1

Staff training is complete and today is the first day of camp.  We kick things off with our June 1 to 1 session of Shepherds Camp.

Here we go!

Full Disclosure

Close Up - 1
We've retired our tether-ball pole by re-purposing it with a game called Toss Up.

 

Close Up - 2

It may just be a stack of chairs.  What you don't see is the brand new arsenal of chairs that will provide continued safety and fun (and extra comfort) for musical chairs this summer.

 

Close Up - 3

We are on the move this summer!  Our brand new Pedal Carts are a dynamic addition to activities on the blacktop.  We've got plans for an obstacle course... and maybe even a driver's ed class (with an Arrowhead Driver's License, of course).

 

Close Up - 4

Nothing says, "We love our staff" like a set of brand new couches.

 

Close Up - 5

It's like a ninja on steroids!  Our friends at the Vitamix Corporation have graciously donated three Vitamix Blenders.  We'll be taking our puree meals to the next level with this trio.  Our kitchen staff is still speechless from this great addition.

Close Up - 6

It's like Disney World... without the lines.  A big thank you to our 2013 investors who brought our Pontoon Paddle Boat Project to completion.  New dock sections have created a dedicated loading and unloading area for the Pontoon Paddle Boats!  We were also able to purchase a brand new jump tower that matches our 18' sliding board.  

 

Close Up - 7

It's the new favorite hangout here at camp.  Nestled in next to the mini golf course our new hexagon of porch swings looks handsome!  We haven't settled on an official name for it yet.  Here are some suggestions from our camp friends:

1. The Swing-ebo - from the outdoorsie types

2. The Hex-Swing - from the nerdier math types

3. The Lord of the Swings - from the sci-fi types

 

Close Up - 7

With a footprint of over 500 square feet, it stands over 10 feet tall and moves in multiple directions at the same time.  It has many names... We call it AWESOME!!

Close Up - 6

Sometimes you can have your cake and eat it too.  It's like we're living in the Hamptons.

Close Up - 5

This one is pretty high tech.  It is so cool... you can taste it!

Close Up - 4

There is one thing they don't teach you in Bible College... Interior Design.  Color swatches, paint chips and complimentary palette schemes are not always a few of my favorite things.

This one turned out really nice though.  

Close Up - 3

Dynamite!  Incredible!  Shock & Awe!

Close Up - 2

Here's another close up.  This is an exciting multipurpose purchase for this summer.