Merry Christmas!

Having trouble finding that special something for that special someone?  Need a Birthday present that will make them say, "Wow!"?  Was your New Year's resolution this year to get your Christmas shopping done early?

We can help.  Get your 2015 Shepherds Camp Yearbook(s) today! (red bow sold separately).  If you missed it this summer, you can also order the 2014 Yearbook.

www.shepherdscamp.picaboo.com

Yearbook 2015

The Shepherds Camp: Summer 2015 Yearbook is ready!  Check out www.shepherdscamp.picaboo.com to get yours.

Here's a sneak peak...

Talent Show

Last night, we hosted our annual Talent Show, in honor of the many talents our campers bring with them. After an epic opening ceremony with the flag and National Anthem, everyone enjoyed a solid hour of singing, dancing, instruments, skits, and comedy - all performed by awesome Shepherds campers. This is one of our absolute favorite traditions, and it's easy to see why!

Theme Night

Summer 2015's theme is pretty cool, and the fact that we celebrate it each week is even cooler. We've mentioned Theme Night a few times before, but now it's time for the full scoop of what it is and how it runs  (You might want to buckle up....pun intended).

 First, the theme: "Winning the Race." Is this a real race with sneakers, shorts, months of training? (I hope not - I'd be really bad at it). Luckily, the answer is no. We based this summer's theme on Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus," and 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." This is our legacy as God's followers; we go through life with a strong faith in God.

Logistically, Theme Night takes place on Thursdays. But despite the name, it doesn't start at night. Our day begins with pedal cart rides during morning rotations. Since last year, we've given out pedal cart licenses and allowed campers to ride around the black top with a staff member. Loads of fun!

Then, the decorations. The whole dining room becomes a racing hub of pennants, ribbon, and road-themed tablecloths, which campers can feast their eyes on while they dine on chili cheese dogs and tater tots.

All in all, it's a fun day. But even in the games and activities, we keep the focus where it should be -  God's instructions on faith and living life for Him.

34,746 Days Old

At the age of 95, "D" wouldn't think of missing her week of Shepherds Camp.

Bowling... with people?

Out of all the crazy games we play at camp, Camper-Counselor Bowling is one of the most popular. It involves campers rolling a rubber bowling ball across the grass to knock down the pins... or rather... the counselors! Everybody can play, and everybody gets a spare or a strike. How will the counselors topple? One at a time? With a twirl? It's different every time. It's not hard to see why the campers get such a big kick out of this one - seriously, what's more fun than seeing your counselors get in pin formation and then tumble?

Meet Katie B.

Here's an illusive photo of Katie B. our Media Design Coordinator (As you can see she is usually on the other side of the camera).  What does a Media Design Coordinator do you ask?  This new seasonal staff role is huge!  Katie takes daily photos around camp, decorates for our theme night, takes and processes camper group photos for printing, compiles the session ending slideshow, writes blog posts, updates facebook, adds to the website, runs our sales table and is designing our 2015 yearbook. 

Wow! is right.  Her artistic design skills, writing forte and photography abilities have been a tremendous addition to our 2015 summer camp season.

Sleepy 5k: Before & After

We did it!  Well... 45 individuals, churches, businesses, family and friends across 7 states did it.  165 (and a few extra) mattresses are on their way to Arrowhead.

THANK YOU!

People BINGO

Check out one of our new camp activities: PEOPLE BINGO

More beard please.

We are very close to reaching our goal of 165 mattresses!

O, Summer

It's been an exhilarating week so far during 1 to 1 week. Campers have been enjoying paddle boat rides on the lake, miniature golf, life-sized bingo, crafts, outdoor games, and delectable food (including our famous quesadillas)!

Thursday is theme night, an event which includes special games and decorations centered on our summer theme, "The Brackney 500: Winning the Race." Read more about it by clicking here.

Summer 2015 is shaping up to be legendary!

Locked and Loaded

The Salvo Challenge, the HQ, staff handbooks, polish ping pong, campfires, the Dirty Speed Race, policies & procedures, Pedal Cart Drag Races, the Initiative Course, Animal Shirts, the PPOV and more.  Staff Training  is complete.  Check out our 2015 summer staff.

TBT - Ready

These guys look ready for something big inside the Lake Arrowhead Tabernacle.

It has been a great week of staff training (just a few more days to go) and we are READY for campers to arrive on Monday.

Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Summer

2 days and a week

Staff Training starts in 2 days and Summer Camp begins on June 1st... just a week away!

Halfway Baby!

Where did the time go?  We are at the halfway point between the end of Summer 2014 and the beginning of Summer 2015.

It's just around the corner.

Shepherds Camp Family Week

The Sleepy 5k

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.