What I found was very interesting. We are living in what is called the Age of Entitlement. In a recent article from The Huffington Post the question was asked, “Why have parents shifted from teaching self-reliance to becoming hovering helicopter parents who want to protect their children at all cost?” Connected Families gives a great description of how parents can combat this cultural epidemic and raise children who are contributing members of their communities.

As I read both articles I couldn’t help but think of all the ways that sending your kids to an overnight camp can combat this issue as well. Below are some of the reasons as to why I believe that every child should attend an overnight summer camp.

1.  Campers learn responsibility. They set the table before meals, keep the cabin clean, and help with various tasks in skill classes. Other members of the camp family are counting on them. If they don’t clean their cabin no one else will, and they will suffer the consequences of living in a dirty cabin. Campers embrace the responsibility that they are given and enjoy being able to contribute to the community. I’ve received countless phone calls from moms asking “What have you done to my child?  He has made up his bed every morning since returning from camp and willingly offers to do chores around the house.”

2.  Campers learn how to set realistic goals. Campers set goals in skill classes and work hard to meet the goals that they set. Campers set short-term goals that are adjusted throughout the session. Many kids want to hit a bulls-eye in archery the very first time that they shoot. Instructors teach kids to first try and hit the target. Once that goal is met, then campers can adjust their goal to hitting closer and closer to the bulls-eye. This allows all campers to experience success and the benefits of working hard.

3.  Campers learn how to work with a variety of different personalities. Each cabin is made up of 10-12 campers. Each camper has a unique personality, gifts, and outlook on life.  In a camp setting campers learn how to work with one another.  They learn positive methods of conflict resolution and how to work with others in a group setting.

4. Campers are given an opportunity to explore the world around them. Many kids spend the majority of their day inside, watching television, playing video games, or texting friends. Days at camp are filled in God’s creation. It’s amazing to hear kids inquiring about wildlife and tree types, or learning that there is more to horses than riding them. During camp-outs kids learn to respect the environment and disrupt nature as little as possible.

5. Campers are given the freedom to discover the person that God created them to be. There are lots of expectations that the world puts on us all, and kids are no different. Sometimes we are told who we ought to be and we simply fall into that role. If you are told you are quiet, you may feel like it’s never ok to be a little rowdy. If the world expects you to always play “cool” then you may never feel comfortable just letting loose and having fun. Camp provides an environment where it is ok to just be you. I’ve heard countless campers talk about how they have never felt more loved and accepted than they do at camp. Knowing that they are loved unconditionally allows campers to step out of the box that society has put them in and truly be themselves.

6.  Campers are surrounded by positive role models. We strive to hire staff who love Jesus and want to make an impact on the lives of kids. Our staff don’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk. They model what the Christian life looks like and show kids how to have a blast doing it! While our counselors are in authority over campers, they are often seen more as a respected friend. This allows them to have an unusual influence over campers that it is sometimes hard for parents to achieve.

7.  Campers are encouraged to take risks. While at camp, kids are surrounded with opportunities that they may not have anywhere else. They are encouraged to take risks and try new things. I once heard a camper say, “I never thought that I was good at sports, but after being encouraged to play Multimate Frisbee I realized that I’m pretty good.” It is also amazing to hear how our campers encourage one another. I love visiting the Blob during camper choice hour and seeing a camper who is afraid to jump. They are surrounded by friends cheering them on and encouraging them to face their fears and give it a try.

8. Campers learn independence. I am guilty of doing things myself because it’s easier than trying to teach someone else or having to fix their mistakes. I believe that some parents are the same way. It is easier for mom to pick the toys off the floor than to hear the complaints when asking their child to do it. Sometimes this can lead to kids never making an effort, because they know mom will come behind them. I know, I did this as a child. At camp kids learn to do things for themselves. They learn to manage their time and stick to a schedule. They learn to keep up with their belongings. They learn how to meet a challenge head on and not rely on someone else to fight the battle for them.

To sum it all up, I want to leave you with this video from the American Camping Association where some familiar faces give their thoughts on how camp impacted their lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AzqybYCVKQ

It is difficult to describe in a sentence what makes camp so fantastic.  Any long-time camper or staffer understands it, but may also have a difficult time describing it.  It has been my experience that camp has a kind of magic you just don’t find in the “real world.”

For me, being in a camp environment brought out the real me.  I grew up going to school and even to church with mostly the same people since kindergarten, and felt I had been pigeon-holed into a certain social class. I wasn’t one of the popular kids, and I was terrified of being in front of a crowd, usually because I thought looking dumb in front of my peers was a fate worse than death.  At camp I was free to be myself and others didn’t put me into my usual niche.  I learned that there was nothing better than belting out a silly song in front of the entire camp, usually even accompanied by a crazy dance.  I gained incredible amounts of confidence, developed leadership abilities, made friends for life, and most importantly got to spend a great deal of time with Christian role models without the distractions of every day life.  What a way to grow in faith, and to develop a walk with Jesus!  Everything I learned carried over into non-camp life, and it changed me forever.

Surveys have been conducted by professional camping organizations, and one that I remember specifically followed campers into young adulthood.  Most of them said they found “the real me” at camp, and eventually who they were at camp simply became who they were.  That is what happened to me.

No monetary value can be placed on what camp gave me.  I see it happening to campers right before my eyes each summer.  God sent me to camp at just the right time in my life.  Back then I thought my parents sent me, but now know without a doubt it was God’s plan.  I’ve pondered how different my life might have been without camp, and besides the obvious possibility that my career would probably be different (i.e., no Strong Rock Camp!), I truly believe the path to discovering the “real” me would have been a much longer and more circuitous one.

It is a humble privilege to get to be a part of life-altering experiences for others here at Strong Rock. I am excitedly anticipating this summer…Spring is nearly over, Camp is almost here!

As we head into summer number 8, I am reminiscent of that first summer. Here’s some trivia and pictures for you from “way back when…”

Does anyone know who the very first camper was? Here’s a hint… He still attends camp, so he may have been in a session with you. Here’s a bigger hint (Someone was smart enough to take his photo as he entered the registration line):

A big Strong Rock welcome to the very first camper to enter the gates!!

On the first night of camp that summer, we started the Tribal Selection tradition that is so deeply ingrained into our camp culture today. The very first tribe members were chosen and we suited up for battle – Multimate Frisbee!  One vivid Multimate memory that is forever burned into my brain came on the second opening day of that summer.  We had a mid-afternoon rain shower that left us wondering about our opening night tribal competition. With all that went into getting camp open, we didn’t really have a great plan B for that night, so Rambo and I decided to test out the drainage on that brand new field and go ahead and give Multimate a shot. Little did we know how much of a hit this game would be. Round 2 of this game was EPIC… an instant success, with the puddles on the field and wet soggy conditions making it so exciting and intense. Traditions don’t always last forever, but this is one we have definitely continued to cling to and still love to this day. I don’t usually post pictures of myself, but this is my memory from Multimate that first summer. I remember diving to catch this frisbee and sliding through a puddle that I didn’t know was there with water spraying my face like I was on a big waterslide. Apparently, us old people can feel like a kid again too sometimes. It was awesome!! The shot is a little blurry, but you may be able to make out the HUGE grin on my face as I laughed with someone on the sidelines who happened to witness the waterslide effect.

There were so many other great memories from that first year.  I remember Flash painting up and leading the Waya tribe in one of my favorite cheers of all time. They called it the Lion King rip-off as all of the Waya gather in a circle and cheer to the tune of the opening song of the Lion King. The Waya came up with the legendary “Sock War Cemetery” cheer that summer as well. The “Awahili Ooh-HA-HA!” was also born that summer and echoed throughout the surrounding hills every night as we lined up for tribal competitions.

I remember many of the games we ran that first summer.  Back then we were too small to hire program directors, so Rambo, Corie and I had to come up with everything. Some activities we are very proud of, while others have thankfully been forgotten. We played Battleball, Space Zapper, Super Soccer, Newspaper Party, Battleship, Counselor Hunt, Underground Railroad, and of course Sock War! We also held a pretty cool Variety Show that I personally will never forget. Check out this photo from that night: Do you recognize any of these people?

We had 9 great staff that summer. These guys had no idea what they were getting into, and frankly, we weren’t quite sure about all of the in’s and out’s either. But they were phenomenal. They helped lay the foundation of our camp program, ignited many great traditions and formed a very special bond with each other. Several of those charter staff members are still in touch today and come back to see us or help us every chance they get. There was Smash, Gert, Radar, Rowdy and Pepper working together to make the girls side of camp great, while Flash, Stretch, Peeps and Tiger hit the ground running with the guys. That first summer was a short one, but these guys and girls developed an incredibly tight bond with us as we all worked so hard to put Strong Rock on the map and give the campers that came here the time of their life.

I’m getting a little weepy remembering all of this, so let me close with a few more questions for you.  If you want to take a stab at these, just leave a comment for us.

• Where did we hold closing Council Ring that first summer?
• How many weeks of camp did we run in year 1?
• Any guesses as to how many kids showed up that first year?
• What did Flash hide in for counselor hunt?
• Did you know that one of the campers from that summer is going to be on staff this year?  Any guesses who?
• Do you know who taught Outdoor Living that first year? (Hint: this was one of the reasons for his camp name)

The summer of 2005 is one I will certainly never forget. Camp has continually improved and grown every year since then, but the beginning will always hold a special place in my heart. What a blessed opportunity we have been given, a huge responsibility of stewardship we have been entrusted with, and a wonderful ministry that we have been allowed to take part in. I pray for many more successful years and countless more life- changing experiences here at camp!!

One of my favorite songs is In Christ Alone. I always thought that it was an old hymn written in the 18th century, that in recent years has gain popularity. While searching for the history of the song, I discovered that it was written a mere 12 years ago. My favorite verse states “here in the death of Christ I live”. That is why His death is good.  It gives life, eternal, true, un-ending life to those who trust in His name. I would encourage you to take some time today, or this weekend, to read about the sacrifice that Jesus made on your behalf in Luke 22-23.

SNAG stands for Starting New at Golf and is the name of the program we will be working through as we introduce campers to the fantastic recreational past time of golf. Developed by professional golf instructors, this program is designed to teach beginners of any age the fundamentals of golf and get you started out on the right foot. From grip, to stance, to chipping techniques and putting, it will all be covered through this wonderful new program.

The clubs, balls, holes and targets look a little different than you might find on the golf course, but the program has been developed using teaching tools that are safe, easy to use indoors or outdoors (great for rainy days at camp) and proven to be effective in laying a proper foundation for picking up this hobby. Several golf facilities across the country are using this program to help develop interest in golf while providing a solid foundation for enthusiasts to build upon.

So, if you are looking to start a new hobby, or just want to learn something new, you need to check this class out. For those of you who already play golf, you might want to give this a try to sharpen your skills and improve your techniques. If you have any questions, comment below and we will do our best to answer them.

“I’ve attended Strong Rock for two consecutive years and those summers were the experience of a lifetime! It was impossible for me to remember that there are such things as video games and to be honest, I liked that.

Strong Rock gives you a wide range of activities to choose from such as horseback riding, drama, riflery, and my favorite, “the blob”. You’ll make great friends, eat great food (and you’ll be hungry because you’ll play a lot), and meet great counselors too.

Rambo, who leads the camp’s church and evening devotions, really knows hows to make religious chat and education fun and meaningful. His devotions have made such a huge impact on my life. I am so blessed to be part of this family, the Strong Rock Family that is!”

M.S., 14yrs old, Alpharetta, GA

We are blessed to do camp and to have the opportunity to share Jesus and this awesome life he has created with so many young people. We are humbled that so many families have trusted us with their kids. We look forward to many more years of awesome summers with the best campers in the land. It will be here soon and we can’t wait to see you. Our prayer is that you will have a testimony similar to this one.

If you have a story or testimony about your summers at Strong Rock, please leave a comment or send me, Rambo, an email at james@strongrockcamp.com. I would LOVE to hear from you.

Since then I have been blessed to have many horses come and go in my life. We’ve had no less than forty horses pass through the Strong Rock barn in the past eight years. I even still have Taffy, who my family bought as a companion for Flicka in 1987. Not many people get to keep a horse for 25 years. In all my years of teaching horseback riding I have had the pleasure to work with many horses who we horse folks label as “bomb-proof,” “babysitters,” or “packers” (meaning they will “pack” anyone who is aboard and take good care of them). Horseback riding teachers love these guys.

Strong Rock has had a couple of these wonderful horses to grace its arena. One of them is Maverick, who came to us through a neighbor. He taught countless campers to canter, which is a tricky skill for a beginner to master. He patiently cantered a slow, straight line, over and over, so they could get the feel of it. Maverick passed away a few days before Christmas from a blocked intestine. By the time I found him in the pasture it was too late for a vet to do anything for him. He is leaving a big gap in the horse line up for beginners for the summer, and a big gap in our hearts. He was a real trooper, and he is missed.

I’ve been considering the qualities of Maverick as they apply to my own life as a Christian. He was good-natured, agreeable, patient, and unflappable. He readily followed an instructor anywhere, especially when he was unsure about what to do, like when a camper who didn’t understand how to use the reins was aboard. He also read his Bible and prayed. (Just making sure you were paying attention!) He may not have been able to do all the things we as humans can, but he was a shining example of a faithful servant. He did have his cranky moments when the sun was too hot, the day was too long, or beginner riders had tugged at his mouth and bounced too hard. He never failed to head toward an instructor on days like these and just stand there, casting a longing eye toward the gate and the barn. He was looking for help and for rest.

Examination of my own life doesn’t always show me to be this kind of servant for my Lord. I pray that I will develop more and more of the qualities exemplified by Maverick and other “packers” I’ve had the privilege to know and work with. Patience, gentleness, always looking to my Master for rest and guidance, these are qualities God desires for me and for us all.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:21

Taffy and Maverick, April 2011

Here’s the scoop: The zip line will be begin way up on the hillside almost directly behind the Blob Tower. The launching pad will be about 45-50 feet above the level of the water and the cable will stretch from that point all the way across the lake and end over near the floating dock. Here’s an overhead view via Google Earth that will help you picture where the Zip line is going. It’s not exactly to scale but should give you an idea. The yellow line is the proposed path of the Zip line. As the first picture in the article suggests, you’ll be safely fastened into a harness with a 3 foot tether attached to a “truck” that rides down the cable. The zip line truck is securely fastened to the cable for a safe, smooth, but very fast ride. Eventually, your feet will start dragging the water to slow you down and then about half of your body will end up in the water to stop you. Finally, you’ll have to implement a little backstroke action to paddle towards the shore where one of our trusty staff members will unhook you from the cable and send you back up the hill for more action.

Remember this picture from the facebook page? This is the picture that many of you guessed would make a good totem pole site. The lake you can sort of see in the background is Laurel Lake, the lower fishing lake. Though the totem pole idea was original and very creative, we decided we should use these posts as the foundation for our decking and launching area for the zip line. Fun factoid: Originally a previous landowner installed these as the foundation for a little hillside cabin.

Here’s another shot of the area, this time looking out across the proposed path of the zip line with Adams Lake, the upper lake in view. We have to trim some trees and cut down a small one or two, but this will give you an idea of the view from the top.  Another fun factoid: We accidentally captured a hidden creature in this shot… if you spot it, leave a comment on what you found.

We’ll post updates of construction as it happens. Look for that on our Facebook page, so be sure you “Like Us” on Facebook. It may be late April before we do a whole lot, but you should see some progress reports before too long. If you have questions, just leave a comment below and we’ll respond to them just as quick as we can.

A parting shot of the poles loaded up on the trailer at the local power company’s pole yard. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks and get excited because this ride will be a blast!!

No matter where you fall on this continuum, one thing is certain, we all experience stress at times. Some of you are probably unphased by it and actually thrive in stressful situations. Others may want to pull your hair out. Some get grumpy and short with those you love. And some of you may simply shut down.

This week has been particularly stressful for me.  It seems like the work is never ending and the list keeps getting longer and longer. The commitments to my family are stronger than ever and my son needs extra attention this week. My wife needs me to stay home with the boy and miss work a few days while she has several appointments to attend to. Summer is just around the corner and there are staff to hire, clothes to order, supplies to purchase, projects to complete, insurance to renew, training to design, taxes to file, and oh yeah, those weekend retreats that want to keep me distracted from the summer prep. It’s all come to a head this week, so much so that I found myself awake at 2:00am the other night tossing and turning, unable to get work off my mind. When 4:00 rolled around and I was still awake, I gave in, got up showered and headed off to work.

As the day trucked along, I must admit that it was a very productive one. I’m one of those that sort of thrives on stress, so it was a good motivator, but this load, this burden if you will, was heavier than normal. It was the kind that made me want to pull my hair out. Luckily, I have no hair, so I didn’t have to physically endure that, but emotionally I had reached that point.

I put in a good effort, marked tons off of my list for the day, but had to shut down the computer and head home with over half of my list still incomplete. Still shaking from the adrenaline that fueled me that day, my mind was racing thinking about all that was yet to be done and how it was going to be a long night again. I kept asking myself how I could get through this week, this month and even how I would get it all done before the summer.

Then it happened. That humbling moment when you realize no matter how much effort you put into something, you’re nothing. That moment when God smacks you in the head with a big ole 2 by 4 and seems to yell “WAKE UP.”

You see, He decided to finish 2 things on my list for me without me having to lift a finger. I had 2 different contacts that I needed to reach out to with different questions as I was lining things up for the summer. Time was running out on these things, but I just couldn’t squeeze it in. Don’t you know that while I was driving home I felt the vibration in my pocket signifying I had received an email. As I reached a stop sign, I check my phone to see that one of those contacts had actually emailed me the answer to my question. The question I had not yet ask. The contact I hadn’t spoken to in 6 months. No big deal, right?

Well, how about this… Not 5 minutes later, phone tucked away in my pocket again, the vibration tingles my leg. Another email. And yet another unsolicited answer to my question that I had yet to ask, from a person I hadn’t spoken to in 7 months.

Coincidence? Maybe. But in that moment, it was like I could hear my Heavenly Father saying “I’m here. You need me, and I’m here.” Ouch! Did I just try to endure an epic-ly stressful day without consulting my Dad?

I’m reminded of a verse:

“Casting all your care on him, for he cares for you.” – I Peter 5:7

Another version actually reads “Casting all your worries…”

Busted. Caught. Guilty. All words to describe my day, my feelings about how I handled my stress. I tried to go it alone. I tried to fix it. I tried to handle it on my own. Not once did I think to lay those burdens down at the feet of my Savior. Thankfully, He chose a very gentle way to remind me of my daily need for Him, even though the day seemed to busy to squeeze Him in.

How about you? Do you try to go it alone sometimes? If so, just remember He’s there for you and “cast your worries on him.” He won’t let you down.

I recently stumbled upon an article at Allrecipes.com that states:

“a cook must be creative, understand math fundamentals, science, nature, have excellent hand-eye coordination and be constantly attentive to reading and writing. Getting children involved in preparing their own meals is also a wonderful opportunity to instill the import of eating nutritious meals. Later on, older kids may need to help out with family food shopping, meal preparation and cleanup. Becoming skilled in the kitchen is more than fun–it is necessary for survival.”

These are the skills that our campers learn in our Cooking Class. Over the course of a session campers learn how to make a complete meal for their entire family. They learn kitchen safety, proper measuring, and a variety of techniques. They improve their ability to work with fractions, follow directions and use their senses and creativity in the process. The best part, they learn how to make made from scratch meals that are good for them! I love the Cooking class because I get to sample the amazing flavors that come out of the kitchen. Here is a recipe from last summer that you can try at home, but make sure you get your parents permission first!

Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 (12 oz) container of 1% low fat cottage cheese
• 1 (8 oz) light sour cream
• 4 cups cooked elbow macaroni
• 2 cups (8 oz) shredded 2% reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup fat free milk
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 large egg
• cooking spray
• 1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 tsp paprika

Directions:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees
2. Whisk together sour cream, cottage cheese, and egg.
3. Combine the sour cream and cottage cheese mixture with the macaroni.
4. Add the shredded cheese, milk, salt and pepper.
5. Spray a deep baking dish with cooking spray and place the mixture in the dish.
6. Sprinkle the bread crumbs and paprika on top and coat with cooking spray.
7. Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
8. Uncover and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven, serve, and enjoy!