My Wonderings

2008-02-13T11:49:00.001-08:00

The camp road

A small trail beside my appartment

2008-02-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

a shot of Wringly's Field

2008-02-13T11:39:00.000-08:00

a shot of the Sears Tower from the van

2008-02-13T11:35:00.001-08:00

Me at Moody Bible College on our college trip

2008-02-13T11:29:00.001-08:00

We take snow removal seriously! This was just outside my apartment after it had snowed about 9 inches

2008-02-13T10:27:00.000-08:00

Winter in Wisconsin

2008-02-13T10:15:00.000-08:00

Well we are definitely in full swing of our winter activities and programs at CFS. My days are filled with teaching ski classes, sending kids down the tube runs and I have even been in a tow booth a few times. It has been cold here as well with a lot of snow. A few days it has gotten down to -35 F and we had to cancel a few school fun days. I have also been able to get out snow shoeing around camp as well as cooking up some Yukon Breakfasts over an open fire at our camp sights. I was able to take a quick break from camp to visit Chicago to recruit for summer staff at Moody Bible College and a few others. Here are a few pictures of what I have been doing this winter!

2007-11-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

Fellow LTDers taking some time play and catch up on
some tetertottering

2007-11-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

This is me just after I cut down my
first tree!

2007-11-03T11:49:00.000-07:00

So here I am learning new skills such as using a chain saw for the very first time.
I didn't realize later that day I would be cutting down a whole tree as well!

QuickNovember Update

2007-11-01T10:56:00.000-07:00

Well I know i just posted my fall update but its a few months old. I am still doing well and looking forward to a break coming up in a few weeks. 17 days from now I will be home in Nova Scotia for a about a week! This fall has been busy with trips, weekend retreats and class work. Some scripture that I have been looking at frequently is Col. 1:9-12. If your wondering how you can be praying for me, turn here. Stay posted, I hope to have some more pictures added shortly. Love you all.

Summer/Fall Update

2007-11-01T09:49:00.002-07:00

Hey Everyone!

It is so hard to believe that summer is over and that we are heading into fall! I find it difficult myself to take in that I have been here for just over 3 months now. Seeing how family camps were designed and run was a great experience. There is not much of that back home and I think its something that more camps should think about for the future. Teaching 3 and 4 year olds was also an experience. Every week was so different depending on the kids. It definitely taught me lots of patience and working out of my comfort zone yet I was surprised of all that came back to me from my classes at University and teaching in my preschool practicum.!

Well family camps have ended here and now its on to retreat season and outdoor education groups that will be coming in. My pace has changed too. I now am taking classes from 8am to about 4 or 5. Such classes have been on Outdoor education planning, principles of leadership, Philosophy of Adventure based camp ministry, Accomidation classes where you learn how to host camp groups as well has how to clean well and have an eye for the detail of it all as well as the assigned papers and projects that are given with each class. (see I’m not just hanging out at camp for the year, I really am doing work!). As the semester continues my days will usually average out from 12 to 16 hour days with one day off a week. On top of class time, and assignments we are also responsible to for closing up all the buildings at camp and maintaining the grounds like mowing, raking, and shoveling when the snow comes!

I’ve also decided on what to write about for my “Big” 100 page plus paper. Having to choose from creating my own camp or developing a program for an existing camp, I’ve decided on the latter. Most camp people don’t just decide to build their own camp but tend to walk into an existing position. So I am going to develop something within camp ministry that I am passionate about, camp leadership and developing a leadership training program within a camp, looking at a year round program for 18 to 25plus as well as expanding summer staff training from a weekend to a 2 week model.

Next week I am going to be going on a canoe trip with my class which will be really great to be “away” from other responsibilities. This last week I have been feeling the tension of what my year is going to look like; balancing classes and assignments, camp chores, working camp program areas, keep a devotional life, and find sometime to cook and eat and find time for fun! The year is designed purposely to be intense and overwhelming pushing you to the limit (sort of like discover/explore program at Prairie) so please pray that I mentally and spiritually do not check out but that I use this as a time to build character and further deepen my relationship with Christ so that I am knowing him more and listening to that next step of where to go after this.

I love each of you so much and am so grateful for the influence you have had in my life and that I get to share in some ways my experiences here with you even if its only electronically

Love and Blessings,

Shelley

2007-11-01T09:20:00.001-07:00

Across the lake is Sunset Hill. In the winter
the lake freezes and the hill becomes part
of the skill hill for winter program areas

2007-10-30T14:38:00.000-07:00

This is the maintenance area of camp. There are 2 buildings
one on the right and one you can't see on the left. We have at least
4 maintenance staff one for grounds, one for vehicles, one for program
and one for buildings. They are probably some of the best men you
will ever meet and they love serving in this way. One has been on
staff for almost 40 years!

2007-10-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

This building is the Handcraft building! Its divided into
2 rooms with 2 ajoining doors. Campers during free time
can come here and buy a craft to do. There is everything
from painting ceramics,plaster of paris,card making, wood pieces
picture frame collages, jewlery, sand art and so much more!
The neat thing about this program is kids make what they want and
pay for it themselves so if a camper does not want to have anything
to do with art or crafts they don't have to. They can purchase "camper cards"
at the beginning of the week and keep them in the craft building
so they don't have to carry money around with them. (well the younger
ones don't).

2007-10-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

There are 2 buildings here. The one on the right has
the dining hall and an auditorium downstairs. The
building on the right contains a game room downstairs
with pingpong tables, fooseball, carpet ball, and some couches.
Upstairs is a small coffee shop, Main Street Store (tuck or junkfood)
and other sweet things like pizza, milk shakes, icecream, slushie etc.
as well as a general store where campers can buy camp
souvineres like tshirts, sweatshirts, stuff animals, books, more candy etc.

2007-10-30T14:21:00.000-07:00

This is the waterfront area with a small beach.
Campers can swim, take out canoes and fun yacks
row boats, sail boats and paddle boats during free
time.

2007-10-30T14:17:00.001-07:00

This is Pine Point. It overlooks the lake and to
the right is the ski hill. Its used occationally for
small groups but is one of my favorite spots,
probably because of the resemblance in some
ways to vespers at Bayside

2007-10-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

This is just past the appartment where I live on the main camp road.
Main camp is about 1/4 mile away

Me using the backhoe!

2007-10-30T13:41:00.005-07:00

Me on the Dozer

2007-10-30T13:40:00.002-07:00

Life at this point

2007-10-30T13:15:00.000-07:00

Not having access to Facebook from camp I've decided this is one of the best ways to keep everyone up to date on what I've been doing at camp and how my internship is going. Well, to say the least I've been busy. Summer has flown by and I got to counsel again and learn all about family camps and how they can be run. Fall classes are definiatley underway with a number of assignments and papers already handed in. My big paper for the year has also been started! Chapter one (Camp Philosophy) has been submitted and I'm working on chapter 2 (Programming).

In case your wondering what kinds of classes camp could be offering, I'll let you in on a few! Adventure Ministry Philosophy, Camp Administration, Board Agendas and Structures, Accomadations and Guest services (how to greet guests and clean well), Camp Marketing and Image, Fundraising for Personal Support, Heavy Equipment and Chainsaw Opperations (i've gotten to use a backhoe and cut down my first tree!!), and Camp Programing to name a few! I've also hosted some retreat groups and am helping out in the Registration department a few hours a week for all the adult camps that happen during the year.

I've also had time to go on a few "field trips" like a canoe trip with a wilderness camp group this summer, a canoe trip with my LTD class, a rock climbing trip, a food show to taste and sample food all day long from Sysco spenders and I have even had a work day where we traveled to another ministry site to help with some roofing and window frame staining. Yes, I was on top of a roof learning how to lay shingles and use a nail gun!

Generally I have one day off a week and am either in class or on the work/program schedual at other times. All LTD live in the same appartment building at the beginning of the camp drive with a few other contract staff.