the green spot blog

Name: Carey Viejou Hometown: Rocky Mountain House, Alberta Where we'll find her this spring & summer: In the kitchen, inevitably covered in cocoa powder. How many years she's been coming to Evergreen: Ten. Eight as a camper; two as staff. Three favourites: 1. Nineteenth century literature. 2. Thunderstorms at night. 3. John Mayer. Three not-so-favourites: 1. Lint traps. 2. Spelling mistakes (the other Kerry takes advantage of this not-so-favourite when she has newsletters needing a proof-reader). 3. Large animals. Best camp memory: I loved leading devotions and praying with campers during my first summer as a cabin leader. Those times showed me that God can take our incompetence and timidity and somehow use them to reach kids. What she's most looking forward to this spring and/or summer: Ridiculous days in the kitchen that, in turn, show us how much we need to rely on God for our strength. She can't make it through the day without: The 3PM mocha. In her opinion,...

Name: Michael Willems (aka, the former Michael Douglas Willems III) Hometown: Calgary, Alberta Where we'll find him this spring & summer: Camp Evergreen, assistant program directing! How many years he's been coming to Evergreen: Fourth year as staff, 12th year attending. Three favourites: 1. Spanish 2. Snow Patrol. 3. Dead Poets Society . Three not-so-favourites: 1. French. 2. Ke$ha. 3. All About Steve . Best camp memory: During my second year of cabin leading, I had a camper named Tyler* who barely spoke at all. I was having trouble connecting with him and didn't know what to do. On Wednesday night, I shared my testimony about how my parents were divorced. After I finished sharing, he ran to the middle of the cabin, giving me a big hug and saying, 'me too!' Not only did we really connect the rest of the week, the experience really affirmed my purpose for being at camp. What he's most looking forward to this spring and/or summer: I'm most looking f...

Name: Becca Mabbett Hometown: Kelowna, BC Where we'll find her this spring & summer: In the chapel, leading worship. How many years she's been coming to Evergreen: This is #1! Three favourites: 1. Listening to a CD all the way through, doing nothing else. 2. Dressing up silly (especially with capes). 3. Scavenger hunts. Three not-so-favourites: 1. Wet socks. 2. People going in the out door and vice versa. 3. The feeling of hot drinks rolling down your throat. Best camp memory: Extreme running with my cabin leaders (I was a camper) in the woods at night at Gardom Lake Bible Camp. Maybe not the safest decision BUT super fun. What she's most looking forward to this spring and/or summer: What the Lord is going to do this summer. Whether that is through him stretching me, or the relationships I make with campers and staff. She can't make it through the day without: Music. In her opinion, the coolest thing about God is ... His faithfulness and patience toward me; I a...

Name: Jasper Berg Hometown: Gem, Alberta Where we'll find him this spring & summer: the Challenge Course, 24/7. How many years he's been coming to Evergreen: 9 Three favourites: 1. Snowboarding 2. Shooting gophers. 3. Climbing. 4. Branding. Three not-so-favourites: 1. Filling out these questionnaires. 2. Telemark skiing. 3. Dark. Best camp memory: The CIT Nalgene toss. [Yes. That's an inside joke. I (Kerry) would enlighten you, but I don't know what it means either.] What he's most looking forward to this spring and/or summer: Challenging people on the Challenge Course! (We follow a Challenge by Choice philosophy here at Camp Evergreen.) He can't make it through the day without: Meat. In his opinion, the coolest thing about God is ... relationship. Jasper would also like to say, "What do you call two guys that hang above a window?" "Curt and Rod."

Name: Sam Janzen Hometown: Okotoks, Alberta Where we'll find her this spring & summer: At Camp Evergreen, tending the grounds! How many years she's been coming to Evergreen: 4 Best camp memory: I was in youth at Sunwest Christian Fellowship and we came to Evergreen for a retreat. My brothers and brother-in-law were the worship team and they sang a song called " Friend of Sinners ". That's when I gave my life to God, in the third row from the front on the right. What she's most looking forward to this spring and/or summer: Hearing, "Good job, Sam!"

Name: Kimberly Green Hometown: Calgary Where we'll find her this spring & summer: At the barn. How many years she's been coming to Evergreen: Seven! Three favourites: 1. Blue pens. 2. Campfires. 3. Rugby. Three not-so-favourites: 1. Cream cheese. 2. House coats 3. Grasshoppers. Best camp memory: Last summer (2009), when we went swimming with the horses! What she's most looking forward to this spring and/or summer: The people that come on site (guests and campers!), and the time spent with them, whether it's time at an activity or just a really good conversation! She can't make it through the day without: Orange juice. In her opinion, the coolest thing about God is ... how He loves and takes the time and interest to know everyone individually.

We miss our campers when they aren't here! We've been talking for a while now about how we want to plan gym riot again ... once upon a time, during Garth Epp's reign as program director, camp staff would hit the road during the school year to play crazy games with campers in their hometowns. Well friends, gym riots are back! We hung out a Dalhousie Community Church , with a bunch of former and future campers, and Dalhousie and SunWest youth (including a couple guys we'll be seeing at ARISE this summer, a Trails Away lady and a few Ignite and Impact campers) and we had LOTS of fun. We're going to do this more next year ... stay tuned!

Name: Trenton Gartke (in the yellow pinny) Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta Where we'll find him this spring & summer: In the A/V office and hopefully rockin' the wall. (Trenton is the genius behind the photoshopping in this profile .) How many years he's been coming to Evergreen: Third year on staff, plus a year or two of family camp (please note that Kerry met Trenton here at Evergreen, at family camp, in 1999). Three favourite cloud formations: 1. Cumulo-nimbus. 2. Cumulus. 3. Cirrus. Three not-so-favourite hockey teams: 1. Manchester United. 2. Pittsburgh Steelers. 3. Chicago Cubs. Best camp memory: Making french toast over the open fire, then playing football, during Roughin' It Boys in 2008. What he's most looking forward to this spring and/or summer: Sharing God's love with campers by cabin leading and making sweet videos with Benjamin Esau. He can't make it through the day without: Climbing a mountain, running a marathon, reciting the entire book ...

Name: Jenny Chell Hometown: To be determined. Where we'll find her this spring & summer: Outside, by the creek. How many years she's been coming to Evergreen: This is #2! Three favourites: 1. Nature. 2. Coffee before breakfast. 3. Lectio Divina (contemplation prayer). Three not-so-favourites: 1. Pee on the seat. 2. Paper cuts. 3. Smelling like fire. Best camp memory: Pretty much everyday is awesome! What she's most looking forward to this spring and/or summer: Meal times with the kiddos ... eating with our hands, dessert first and Ken's great food! She can't make it through the day without: Trying to make Dave choke on his coffee by saying something absurd. In her opinion, the coolest thing about God is ... the way He speaks with His children through nature!

You may recall that we had a big storm a couple of weeks ago . It's been quite nice ever since -- we are praying for rain again, because there's still lots of brown grass around. But despite the several days of 20C weather, some of the snow that fell during that storm is still sitting around! In shady areas, of course, but still ... Now that the ground has properly dried out, we're also cleaning up the fallen trees. I know, neither of these photos have people in them, which makes them less exciting. But I'm going to posting profiles about each of our spring staff in the coming weeks, which will be fun and exciting. Also coming up? A prank tale and news of Cabin Fever!

Name: Cody Merrell Hoffman Hometown: Nowhereville, Alberta Where we'll find him this spring & summer: In cabins, leading or at the Challenge Course, challenging (and being a safety guru!) How many years he's been coming to Evergreen: 14 Three favourites: 1. The Flames 2. Raymond Jordan Rodriguez 3. Driving Three not-so-favourites: 1. The Oilers 2. Telemarketters (except for Allison) 3. The bedsheets coming off Best camp memory: Playing hero with Kyle Dyck. What he's most looking forward to this spring and/or summer: Partyin' it up! He can't make it through the day without: Jesus. In his opinion, the coolest thing about God is ... how much He loves us even when we don't deserve it at all. Cody would also like to share that: if you spell Chuck Norris in scrabble, you win! ... Forever!

Spring has truly come to Camp Evergreen ... we've finished Spring Staff training and we've seen our first group off. We're off to a good start. During staff training, we did fun blindfolded initiative tasks, as seen above, and we worked hard causing us to look the motley crew you see below. Say hello to Alexis, Allison, Becca, Ben*, Carey, Cody, Colter, Elishia, Emily, Jasper, Jenny, Jill, Julia, Kim, Michael, Russell*, Sam, Sarah* and Trenton*. * Not pictured ... but I'll get them yet!