An Amazing New Cabin!

Wow. We recently opened our new "Quadplex" cabin. It's pretty amazing - and it's getting rave reviews from everyone who sees it!

The Quadplex replaces the aging and poorly-located "Aymara" cabin, and houses three times as many campers. The removal of Aymara was a key first step in the development of a "greenway" connecting the north and south parts of camp.

Many thanks to everyone who helped make this Quadplex a reality - including hundreds of donors to the camp's Soaring to New Heights campaign! A special thanks to Tony Troyer and his crew from His Construction, Darren Schulz of Impact Excavating, Bob & Justin Hampton (donated plumbing!), Jim Fisher Roofing, Dave Lee (of Fletemeyer & Lee, Architects), Poky & Tiz Walker (volunteers), Northgate Wesleyan Church youth group (volunteers), Jim DeLapp (volunteer), Gloria McCarter (Interior Design) and Richard Chesebro, Jeff Sargent, and Joel Thomas of the Twin Rocks staff. And I'm sure I'm forgetting many others to thank - but "thank you" to all of you! You really know how to do a job right!

There are two rooms downstairs that sleep up to 9 people each. Their unique configuration allows for a quick conversion from dorm-style (during kids' camps) to family-style (during family conferences).

Upstairs are two motel-style rooms for individuals or couples. We'll use these for teachers/speakers at our kids' camps, and for couples during adult conferences.

Now we need to name this "Quadplex" cabin - and we're getting close to settling on a great name. This cabin is the prototype for several more slated to be built in camp over the next decade or two.

A Great Year in 2007!

Here are some Twin Rocks highlights of 2007:

• Attendance at Twin Rocks’ summer camps reached another all-time high in 2007, up 9 percent from 2006 – and 25 percent above five years ago!
• Overall camper attendance for the entire year increased by 1.6%, and topped 42,000 camper days for the second consecutive year.
• More than $600,000 has now been raised toward Phase 1 of the camp’s Soaring to New Heights Master Plan, including more than $150,000 in gifts and pledges received in 2007. These gifts enabled several construction projects: a brand new “Quadplex” cabin (which will house up to 22 people), a Courtyard and firepit next to the Shelter Recreation Center, and full remodels to Dogwood and Juniper Cabins. The biggest Phase 1 project – an asphalt roadway around the perimeter of camp (making the center of camp pedestrian-friendly) – awaits further funding, likely another $600,000.
• Parents remain immensely pleased with our camps, rating 2007’s summer camps at 9.3 (on a 10-point scale), commenting:

· “Early morning worship is one of her highlights. Surfside is an experience that is looked forward to all year long.” (Surfside Camp parent)

· “Our daughter commented mostly on her relationship with her counselors, and how they took time to develop relationship with her.” (Girls Camp parent)

· “The fun, combined with teaching God’s word in the outdoors, was great.” (Boys Camp parent)

God's Love

I sure love Family Camp! This year we have about 360 here at Twin Rocks for our annual Labor Day weekend camp.

"Whatever you've done, wherever you've been, whatever you will do... God loves you and God always has, and you can't change that." - Rob Bell (Lump - NOOMA Video #10 - www.nooma.com)

"Sometimes the way is lonely, and steep and filled with pain, so if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then cry to Jesus...cry to Jesus and live! " - Chris Rice (Untitled Hymn)

These two thoughts were shared this morning at Family Camp in a service led by Gregg Lamm (main speaker). It's profound stuff. It's amazing that God loves us so dearly, and allows us to bring all of our sorrows to Him. It's what makes life livable and enjoyable.

One of Life's Best Experiences

With just three weeks to go in their 11-week commitment, our Summer Staff is beginning to reflect on life at Twin Rocks Friends Camp. At the dinner table this evening, one of our out-of-state college students shared:

I've never been to a place like Twin Rocks before! It's been one of the best experiences of my life!

She's mentioned her gratefulness for two things in particular:

• The community of staff she's enjoyed at the camp; and
  
• The opportunity to share about Christ with her cabin of 5th graders at Girls Camp.

Boys Camp Adventures

"If you haven't changed your underwear yet this week, today is the day."
- Don Staples, director of Boys Camp, addressing 111 4th-6th grade boys

I love Boys Camp! It's so much fun: Treasure hunts and "Night Owls," "Capture the Flag" and water fights, fishing and miniature golf and wave jumping. And it's the only camp where we feel the need to remind campers to shower and change clothes!

We just wrapped up Boys Camp last evening. It was a wonderful week. Here are some highlights for me:

• Verne and Ellen Martin spent the week with us. Verne was a camper at the first ever Twin Rocks Boys Camp - in 1941! Later, Verne served as Recreation Director at Boys Camp for 20-some years. This week he returned to Boys Camp for the first time in decades, serving as a "Camp Uncle" - providing backup to our cabin counselors. He hid treasures throughout camp and posted clues on how to find them in the camp dining hall. The kids loved it.
• At the end of the week, one camper from a troubled background told his cabin counselor: "I wish you were my Dad." It's difficult to hear of the tough home lives of some of these boys. And it's wonderful that our cabin counselors are able to clearly shine the love of Christ to them.
  
• Several kids in camp gave their lives to Christ this week! Gary Fawver, our Bible teacher, worked in conjunction with our cabin counselors to present kids with the opportunity to choose to follow Jesus. There's nothing more meaningful in life than submitting oneself to God, accepting God's love, basking in his care, and promising to follow him. And what a joy it is to see kids make this decision for themselves.
  

Lasting Impact

Yesterday afternoon a mom pulled aside a Twin Rocks staff member, and with tears in her eyes, expressed her gratitude for the "changed life" she's seen in her daughter since her return from Tween Camp last week. It's fun to hear stories like these. It's the reason we love camp.

Glory and Honor to God

This morning I closed my eyes and listened to the music:

Glory and honor to God,
Glory and honor to Jesus,
Glory and honor to God,
Glory and honor belong to Him.

It's Girls Camp at Twin Rocks this week -- 200 female voices singing beautifully in unison, praising the Lord together. It's pretty awesome.

Deann Thompson, one of the Girls Camp leaders, said that she can envision God sitting in an easy chair in heaven, basking in the beauty of these voices, rejoicing in the praise emanating from these dear children.

Thank you, Lord. This is what summer camp is all about!