Long road ahead

I think just about everyone in the Drift Creek circle has heard about the upcoming road closure. If not, and you're wondering what my gray hair is about, here's the skinny: a culvert 3 miles from camp needs to be replaced and work will require that the road be closed in order to remove the broken culvert along with 50 feet of land that lies heavily above it! The work will be close to the creek and could potentially pose a threat to salmon if rain water would wash unwanted debris into the creekbed. So work is scheduled for July 15-September 15 in hopes of avoiding work-delaying rain.

Sounds simple, but the reality is that having the road closed will completely shut down DCC operations. Groups that normally rent the facility following our summer camp, will not have access. The financial impact is enormous! In a normal year, DCC depends on summer revenue to supplement the slow winter months. In 2012 we will miss out on $60,000 in revenue, which translates to $1000 per day. OUCH!

The losses would be even greater if people were not so flexible! We're squeezing our program into about 2 and a half weeks to make room for one rental group prior to the closure, which will reduce some of the losses. 

The schedule will be adjusted to accommodate school calendars.  Camps will run back to back with no weekends between groups. In order to maximize time at camp, we grouped 5th graders with the younger 3rd and 4th graders while 6th graders will be with the older 7th & 8th graders. This seemed like a better solution than running 3 day camps. 

In 2012, camps won't begin and end on the usual Sundays and Fridays so transportation will take place on random days of the week as follows:

Parent and Me: June 15-17
High School: June 19-23
Grades 6,7, 8:  June 23-27
Grades 3, 4, 5:  June 27-July 1
Surf Camp:  July 8-13

More than ever, we hope you will join us in the summer of 2012. We are excited about what God has in store for another season and pray that in spite of challenges, the time together will be a blessing for each camper. Summer camp is why Drift Creek was created, so we're thrilled that "camp will go on!"
We look forward to seeing you, or your camper!

In the coming winter months plans will come together to create a great camp experience for children and youth. We are eager to work with counselors, volunteers, pastors and parents to create a memorable experience for each camper we're entrusted with. This is the purpose of our work. We are looking forward to serving the youth and walking with them on their spiritual journeys.

The 2012 theme, Take me to the Water:  God's love flows, will lend itself perfectly for DCC. We will dive into stories from the Bible that use water to show God's gift of life and blessing! Campers will explore the use of water in Bible times and examine water issues around the world today. Through learning experiences as well as creative response activities with cabin friends, campers will have opportunities to see God as the source of life. Through chapels and firesides, kids will gain a deeper understanding that just as God provided life-giving water in these stories, God continues to be the source of life and sustenance for us today!

If you are thirsty to learn more, look for updates at www.driftcreek.org.
Until then, please remember our staff in prayer as winter winds are always cause for concern...

Fruits of the Spirit

The theme for the 2011 camp season is "Taste & See:  God is good!" Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy food. My best friend and I have been cooking together since we were kids. Back then we came up with concoctions that weren't so tasty, but we, like cheese, have grown better with age. Decades later, our conversations continue to frequently turn to food, favorite recipes, and desserts. I have spent much of my life as a hard-core chocolate lover, but during my years at the Brew, my tastes expanded and I developed a love for all things almond as well. A wonderful baker from Germany worked with us and she introduced me to marzipan. I was hooked instantly!  

So when it came time to come up with fun activities for summer camp, the on-site host, Sara Gibson, and I, immediately thought of marzipan--she too, is a fan, and really, once you taste it, who isn't? Sara is a "jump in with both feet" kind of girl (a quality I deeply admire) and had experience with both marzipan and making fondant frosting...My only experience was related to eating it! So this afternoon we decided to test our idea and created these lovely little marzipan morsels. We had so much fun creating them and we can't wait to see what fruits & veggies the campers will create this weekend!

Kind friends all gather round....

It was a privilege to be at camp this past weekend for the marriage of Rosanna Nafziger and William Henderson. The gathering included family and friends from all over the country and even other parts of the world. The event was a testimony to the creative and intentional way that the two approach life in community with others.

Those in attendance were blessed by incredibly beautiful weather! Temperatures reached the upper 80s, the clear sky was bright blue....it was perfect, really. The charming couple planned every detail with caring thought. The invitations were hand-printed on a vintage letterpress. They forged their own rings from antique silver coins. The bride designed and sewed her perfectly fitted dress for Drift Creek's ancient forest setting, which created a romantic backdrop to their unique and artistic ceremony. Everything about the event, from the bride's bouquet of wildflowers and ferns to the groom strumming his guitar, reflected the personalities and interests of the bride and groom. 

Guests enjoyed artisan breads partnered with hand-crafted cheeses. 

I too was married at Drift Creek, nearly 16 years ago already...and to this day, camp continues to hold a magical place in my heart. My hope for the bride and groom is that thoughts of their celebration will forever evoke memories of abundant love from the family & friends who encircled them in the meadow where their marriage journey began. 

Humble Pie

Summer camp is right around the corner, so these weeks are crunch time. We're finally getting a good sense of how many campers there will be, which in turn, dictates how many people will be on staff. This time of year makes me feel a bit like I can't breathe. There are so many details to tend to and last-minute problems to take care of that it is hard to keep up. Sometimes in our hurry to get things done we blow through things too quickly. That's what happened today. There was a mis-communication, and, unfortunately, someone was hurt in the process. Now I'm sitting here wading through the regrets of how things should have been handled differently.
It's so true what they say about hindsight being 20/20.

Today I need grace. Grace from others and grace for myself. It seems impossible to not dwell on the "we should haves." I want to cry. I care deeply about my life's work. When you care deeply, making a mistake is humiliating. It is something bitter to swallow....But I can also see now what needs to change; how things can be improved. I am like a tree who has been pruned. It is sad that growth often comes from painful situations.

There are few things I dislike more in this world than causing people unintentional pain or disappointing them. The question is, what have I learned from the situation and how will I change it next time?