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The craftsmanship shows!

Details: Category: General; Created on Tuesday, 19 March 2013 05:38; Hits: 173

W-Bar-B_Cabinets_240 The dictionary defines a craftsman as an artisan, a person who practices or is highly skilled in a craft. Last month, two volunteer craftsmen teamed up to practice their art at Warm Beach Camp. Harley Graber and Ray Samuelson are very familiar around the grounds, having served as extended-stay volunteers working on all kinds of renovation and repair projects, and both of them are amazing craftsmen!

As you can imagine, this time of year we are getting ready for our summer season. That usually means preparing the youth camp, W-Bar-B, and Chinook Village—new home to the Special Friends program—for the busy summer ahead. One thing that has been long-needed in both facilities is some storage cabinets for supplies. This project was turned over to our craftsmen, Harley and Ray to work on.

In just one month they constructed seven beautiful cabinet units that have solved the storage problems for both camps. In the Barn at W-Bar-B, they built storage cabinets in a staff office area, one for program supplies, and one for nurse’s supplies. In the Longhouse at Chinook Village, they built cabinets for medical supplies in the new medical office for the Special Friends camps. These cabinets are not only functional, but they are also beautiful, fitting in so well in the rustic setting of these two facilities.

Our thanks go out to Harley and Ray for their beautiful contribution in sharing their craftsmen talents in a labor of love.

Choosing a camp for your child

Details: Category: General; Created on Tuesday, 15 May 2012 02:49; Hits: 1018

Parents have much to consider in choosing a camp for their child. What's there to do? What skills will they learn? What will make them "want to go?"

Many questions are asked of Warm Beach Camp by parents considering us for their child's summer camp. Here's a sample of what we are asked:

Q: How are staff selected, trained, and certified?

A: Staff are selected after review of a lengthy application, four independent references, one or more interviews, and a national background check. Staff are trained for a week in the concepts, activities, procedures, and safety protocols of camp. Lifeguards are Red Cross Certified. Wranglers are certified by Certified Horsemanship Association. Challenge Course staff are trained according to the standards of the Association of Challenge Course Technologies. All staff have basic First Aid and CPR.

Q: How involved are the counselors in the camper's day?

A: One of the unique features of Warm Beach Camp is the level of involvement by our staff in the daily experience of campers. W-Bar-B Camp counselors not only make sure kids get to activities like swimming, horseback riding, the climbing tower, and high ropes course, but they participate in the experience with the kids. Additionally, counselors lead the games and crafts, perform the skits, and share in the chapel times worshipping God. Horse Camps are intentionally small with three counselors in Bayview Ranch House and five wranglers at the stables. Staff are role models for campers demonstrating godly character and healthy life skills. There is no better way to teach than to live the message in relationship.

Q: What kind of medical staff are available?

A: Each week, two nurses are on duty. They follow protocols outlined in a Doctor's Standing Orders. Additionally, all of the staff are trained in First Aid and CPR. Local EMS is literally three minutes from the Camp. The Fire Department is less than a mile from the Camp entrance.

Q: What will the kids do?

A: Here's a typical W-Bar-B Ranch Camp schedule.

8:00am -	Breakfast and cabin clean-up
9:00am -	Cabin Bible Study
10:00am -	Activities, theme related games, crafts and events, swimming, snack shop, cabin take-off time, and seminars (jr high only)
12:00pm -	Lunch
1:30pm -	Activities including theme related games and events, swimming, snack shop, cabin take off time, and seminars (jr high only)
5:30pm -	Dinner 6:15pm -Evening Activities designed to be an "all camp event" rather than a small group gathering
9:15pm -	Lights out for Jr Camps (4 - 6 grades)
10:00pm -	Lights out for Jr High Camps (7 - 9 grades)

Horse Campers do riding lessons, trail rides, and other horse-related activities most of the day. They also have opportunity to go swimming and may be able to try the challenge course.

We are grateful to each parent who entrusts their children to us. Summer Camp is a sacred trust between the parent and the Camp. We are dedicated to helping children and young people grow physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

Click here to learn more about Summer Camps

Staff Make All the Difference

Details: Category: General; Created on Thursday, 08 March 2012 14:57; Hits: 951

The greatest “difference-maker” in a child’s camp experience is the care and competency of the staff. Warm Beach Camp hires the best college-aged summer staff following a rigorous application and interview process. Hiring decisions are prayerfully made after review of an extensive application, four independent references, and a national background check. We are looking for young adults with a passion for the Lord and for sharing God’s love with kids.

Camp counselors arrive over a week before camp for intensive training. They are trained in basic child development, conflict management, communication skills, group facilitation, safety management, First Aid, and more. Specific care is given to equipping staff members to successfully handle the wide range of behaviors campers exhibit during a week of camp. Staff also learn to effectively share their faith story and how to share God’s Word with campers in both a small group format and as teachable moments throughout the day.

Horsemanship staff invest an additional week in a certification clinic through the Certified Horsemanship Association, a national leader in horsemanship staff training. Recreation staff undergo extensive training in the standards of the Association for Challenge Course Technologies, a leader in course safety and design. The Camp Nurse position is filled with someone trained as a nurse. Medical doctor’s standing orders create the foundation for the nurse’s practice while at Camp.

Camper safety is of paramount concern. Our goal is that each camper experience care and growth spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Behind all of the “fun & games” of summer camp, a sacred trust is given from parents to the Camp. Trust is a gift we steward with the utmost care.

Register this month for summer W-Bar-B Ranch, Horsemanship, or Vaulting Camps and receive $75 off when you mention this email. Offer expires March 31, 2012.

Register online at www.warmbeach.com and enter promo code 0475. The discount will be applied when we manually process your credit card purchase. Call with any questions at 1-800-228-6724.

Unconditional Love

Details: Category: General; Created on Thursday, 08 March 2012 14:51; Hits: 916

“How can we challenge each other this week?”

It was the first hour of camp and a group of girls sat in a circle listening to their counselor, “Oreo.” After some silence, one girl spoke up. “We can love each other.” Another chimed in, “Yeah, like Jesus loves us!” Seeing a teachable moment, Oreo asked, “What do you mean by that? How is Jesus’ love different?” The girls sat in thought. One of the girls said, “It’s unconditional.”

Later that week, Oreo found one of her girls sitting alone. As she sat down with her, the girl said, “I couldn’t have come to camp this week if God hadn’t made it possible for me. I know now that I’m supposed to be here. I’ve learned so much about Jesus and the way we’re supposed to share His love. Being here has deepened my relationship with Christ.”

Say It Out Loud

Details: Category: General; Created on Thursday, 08 March 2012 14:49; Hits: 783

Tony sat with his cabin, listening intently. His counselor paced back and forth on the amphitheater stage, preaching salvation. “Becoming a Christian isn’t about saying magic words or getting your act together for Jesus,” he announced. “It’s about asking Him to save you from your sins.”

Something dawned on Tony. Was that really all there was to it? He had tried being good before, but according to his counselor, saintly living wouldn’t save anyone. His counselor spoke again. “Jesus accepts you as you are. If you want to start following him tonight, now is the time.”

Tony’s heart started pounding as it all came together. In the middle of his peers, he shouted out, “Lord save me!”

For a second, the words hung still in the night air. Then he heard the whole amphitheater begin to clap. His counselor smiled from the stage. “Tony, welcome to the family of God!”

Holy Pranks

Details: Category: General; Created on Thursday, 08 March 2012 14:38; Hits: 825

Secret plans were being laid in Cabin 1. Counselor “Chip” briefed his boys on the scheme. “Okay boys, remember to be perfectly quiet. And don’t spill anything!” The boys turned out their lights and snuck into the night with bowls full of water.

They stopped at next door at Cabin 2. Chip mouthed “One, two… three!” and everyone rushed inside to surprised shouts and giggles. Chip gathered his boys in the center of the room. “Cabin 2, we’re here to do a foot washing. Jesus showed his friends that love serves others, even if that means washing smelly, sweaty feet!” The boys in Cabin 2 sat in stunned silence. Instead of a prank, they were getting… a footbath?

Cabin 1 got down on hands and knees while Cabin 2 slipped off socks and shoes. As the boys stepped into soapy water, the odor of stinking feet faded into something sacred.

I Can't Do This!

Details: Category: General; Created on Thursday, 08 March 2012 14:32; Hits: 792

Susan Chin was screaming twenty-five feet off the ground. Below, the ropes course supervisor reminded her, “Sue, don’t worry! You’re safety line will hold you.”

Susan looked at the cable and ropes stretched out into the air in front of her. She stepped out, her weight dancing on the tight cable. Susan wobbled precariously, put out her other foot and slipped off the line! “Oh!” she gasped. She hadn’t moved! Her feet dangled in the air, but her harness held her in place.

Later that afternoon, Susan’s cabin sat in Bible Study. Her counselor asked, “What does it mean to have faith in Christ?” The cabin was quiet until Susan piped up.

“I guess it’s like the ropes course I was afraid of this morning. Jesus holds me safely through my falls, I just have to trust that He can take all of me and not let go.”

Transformation on Display

Details: Category: General; Created on Thursday, 08 March 2012 14:15; Hits: 826

Front and center stands a boy with a sign reading, “Bored and Restless.” He pans it slowly across the chapel before flipping it around to reveal a message: “Eagerly pursuing God.” The room erupts into a chorus of applause.

Throughout the chapel, other campers write down their stories. A few stare at blank sheets, silently asking heart questions. Others jump forward quickly, excited to show God’s change in their lives. A hefty teenager steps up. His sign reads, “Insecure about appearance.” On the other side he declares, “Filled with joy for who God made me.” A young girl walks to the front to present her transformation: “No purpose… He has a plan just for me!”

It’s the last summer night of Junior High camp. The room is filled with the presence of Grace that speaks for itself, no words needed. In this place, young people are being made new.

Here are Two Important Ways You Can be Involved

Details: Category: General; Created on Friday, 04 November 2011 11:43; Hits: 1403

The Lights of Christmas is really a year-round event! Oh, most of it goes on unseen, but it is all important to the success of the part that everyone does see during December. Planning happens early in the year, and all year long, strings of lights are being tested and repaired. The light hanging crews start putting up the lights the first week of September, and won’t finish working until the lights are all down, around the end of January.

But, there are two events that are absolutely critical to making The Lights happen — Thanksgiving Working Weekend just before the event opens, and Take Down the three days after it closes.

These events are orchestrated by Velda Millard and Kayla Cost, The Lights of Christmas Program Coordinators. They make sure the volunteers are assigned where their help is needed, and that the supplies, equipment, and instructions are all ready before everyone arrives.

Thanksgiving Working Weekend, November 24-27, is when all the finishing touches are put on the event. With plenty of help, everything gets done and other than some cleaning up, the event is ready to open. Without enough help, the last few days before we open can be a mad scramble!

Take Down is December 29-31. By the end of Take Down, the goal is to have all the major decorations and equipment down and stored away. If we don’t have enough volunteers it can take several months to get everything put away. A good Take Down crew is essential to starting off the next year’s event successfully.

The Thanksgiving Working Weekend and Take-Down volunteers are some of the unseen heroes of The Lights of Christmas! Would you like to join us? While it may not sound like a glamorous job, you get to meet new people and we do have a lot of fun. You can sign up on our website, or call the Registration Department at 1-800-228-6724.

The Lights of Christmas offers a Business Partner Program

Details: Category: General; Created on Friday, 04 November 2011 11:58; Hits: 1396

LOC_Gen_Adm_250 Warm Beach Camp would like to offer your business or organization the opportunity to give out General Admission gift certificates to The Lights of Christmas to your employees, clients, customers, or vendors. An evening at The Lights is a unique and thoughtful gift, and would give you a chance to say "thank you" to those with whom you work and serve.

With this program, you may request as many gift certificates as you need and pay nothing in advance. You only pay for the gift certificates that are actually redeemed at the event.

• Say "Thank You and Merry Christmas" to customers, employees and vendors
• Use as a promotional incentive
• Create goodwill and build community
• Pay nothing in advance, and pay later only for the certificates redeemed
• Your company will be billed $15 for each redeemed gift certificate after the event closes for the season.

General Admission dates for 2011: Dec. 1-4, 8-11, 15-23, 26-28. For more information or to request gift certificates through the Business Partner Program, call the Camp at 1-800-228-6724, or go to the Business Partner Program page on our website.