the green spot blog

Sometimes when people ask me if things have settled down at camp I want to chuckle. Not because it's a silly question - more because it can feel crazy how far in advance we are planning. Not only that, but a few short days after Impact ended we were training our Fall staff, jumped right into Summer's End Family Camp, and then started receiving Guest Groups on site. There really isn't a "settling" that happens here. Just transitions into the next season. Summer has been packed up in my office, it's true. I've rolled up the signs that read Lost and Found, Registration A-K, The Nurse and stored them for the winter. Summer planning takes a cat nap in September. By October, registration forms for 2018, speakers, and volunteers all start getting worked on. It's exciting to watch plans build and develop. Summer camp isn't the only thing we plan for right now. In fact, it's only one piece of what we do. Retreats and Fundraisers are being planned...

The Golden Boot - Gumboot Throwing Trophy It is our largest retreat of the year. One hundred ladies from across central Alberta come to spend a weekend worshiping, learning, and experiencing camp together. Flowers, crafts, coffee (SO MUCH COFFEE...69 pots over the weekend...that we know of) - the weekend is seriously one to remember. I always love seeing the ladies "come out of their shell" through the weekend. I'm a firm believer that there is a Camp Kid inside of all of us. Your Camp Kid is something like that Inner Child that people refer to but more so. Your Camp Kid is a game-playing, chubby-bunny stuffing, rubber-boot-throwing kid that wakes up and wonders what they've been missing all this time. I LOVE seeing adults come to camp expecting a "retreat" and coming alive with the very thing that makes camp so special. What is that thing that makes camp so special? Of course it's Jesus but it's also the gift that God has given us in the fo...

I can barely believe that 2017 is less than three weeks away. Can you? December and Christmas always seem like busy times and then to lump 2017 into that...Wowzers. I always get so excited about what is coming at this time of year - so much so that I forget to be thankful for today. So don't forget to slow down a bit today and take a moment to be thankful for what's around you. There is 19 days ( January 3rd at 9am !!) until we kick off Registration for Children and Youth Camps for Summer 2017. There's also our Family Camps which filled up in only three days last year - Registration opens for Family Camps on February 2nd!  Our Theme for 2017 is SHINE based out of Matthew 5:14: "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."   We're so pumped about all of the good things coming at us in 2017. It's not even just Summer Camp! We've got our Pond Hockey Tournament Fundraiser coming up, our Rise 'n' Shine (Jr. H...

Ladies Retreat for 2016 is in the books and WOW was it amazing! I mean, if we just start with the fact that it is our LARGEST Ladies Retreat that we can remember (and Colleen is a good reference...she's been at 17 consecutive Ladies Retreats). We've never sold out - never had 100+ Ladies PLUS a waiting list. Just...Wow. The community and the spirit of the women that attended this weekend was just beautiful. I must say also - I've never - never heard such a reactive crowd. The "oooo's" and "ahhhhha", the gasps, applause, cheering, laughter, and even sympathetic 'mmmhmmmm's" throughout the weekend. It was almost as if someone was standing at the front with cue cards getting the audience to respond. I loved it. Saturday's activities included zipline, archery, wagon rides (now an integrated part in our activities), Cooking with Ken, crafty fun with letters, stretching with Lisa, and wonderful fellowship on a beautiful day. Check ...

Take a minute with me... I know, a minute can seem like a whole lot of real estate this time of year. Kids to school, frigid weather, busy schedules that never seem to slow down.  So, if you can...take a minute with me. Close your eyes (but not for too long...I want you to read the rest of this)... Yes - close your eyes and imagine the sounds of the wind in the trees, the crunch of snow beneath your feet (because seriously...we're not getting rid of this white stuff in the next month) and breathe the fresh, clean air. Quiet. Peace. Rest. ...and Robin Jones Gunn. That's what we can promise you at our Ladies Retreat coming up on April 4-6th. We are preparing a wonderful weekend of quiet walks in nature, cool and nifty crafts, some up-close and personal time with Robin as she shares what God has put on her heart and a whole lot of rest. Sounds just about right, doesn't it? So I encourage you...nay, I challenge you to find the time on April 4-6th to slo...