Summer Camps Change Lives

(Our summer camp season is upon us! It's such a wonderful time of year. This morning I ran across the following article I'd written for an issue of Twin Rocks' Sandpiper newsletter a few years back. It seems appropriate to reprint it here now in the blog. Please be in prayer for our summer. Thanks!)


At Twin Rocks we’re proud of our camps. We believe we’ve hit upon an impressive formula that works – a philosophy of camp that cares about the unique needs of every camper, and offers an environment conducive to making important decisions about life. Each camp is geared to a particular age group, but all follow a similar recipe:

• Make camp fun. Twin Rocks abounds with exciting activities: Archery, foosball, extreme swing, miniature golf, Frisbee golf, skim boarding and wave jumping at the ocean; swimming, boating, and kayaking at the lake; volleyball, arts & crafts, music, skits, overnight campouts, and much more. Kids at camp have the chance to try dozens of adventures not readily available to them back home.
  
  
• Let campers interact with nature. One of life’s best ways to see God is by observing the things God has created. When youth walk through a forest or watch the waves at the beach, they glimpse the Lord’s creativity, power, and loving character. When kids explore the intricacies of our world during nature class, they behold an awesome God. Twin Rocks Friends Camp is located in an idyllic setting: 120 forested acres bordered by mountain, lake, and stream – one block from a picturesque Pacific Ocean beach. And tide pools in Tillamook Bay are a 4-minute bus ride from camp.
  
  
• Treat every camper as special. A caring cabin counselor ensures a young person’s success at camp. For the week, counselors take on the job of friend, parent, confidante, older sibling, and role model. Counselors meet one-on-one with each person in their cabin, getting each camper’s assessment about the week and offering to pray with them. This individual attention helps campers see themselves as special, uniquely designed by their Creator.
  
  
• Build friendships. Twin Rocks camps are ‘counselor-centered,’ which means we focus most of our programming within individual cabin groups. Initiative games and discussion questions help small groups bond together in community. As youth begin to trust one another, conversations move to a deeper level, enabling heartfelt discussions about life’s important issues. Large ‘all camp’ sessions are followed by small group discussions, giving campers the chance to dialogue about a speaker’s message with their peers. At teen camps, co-ed discussion groups help individuals develop healthy, respectful relationships with members of the opposite sex.
  
  
• Instill Annual Traditions. Buddy Fires, Night Owls, Opal & Pearl, Hobo Stoves, Norah Auction, Exploratories, Lugs & Luggles, Body Building Day, Short Sands…. Each camp develops its own lingo, incorporating annual traditions that contribute to after-camp lore.
  
  
• Fabulous Food & Facilities. Twin Rocks likes happy campers, so we work extra hard to excel with our ‘infrastructure’: Accommodations are comfortable – nearly all are carpeted and have attached restrooms; and the food is tasty and well-balanced, pleasing even the most particular of palettes.
  
  
• Please Parents. We work hard to look at camp through the eyes of a parent: Is camp safe? Will my son make any friends? Can the camp deal caringly and confidentially with homesickness and bed wetting? Twin Rocks is accredited with the American Camp Association, having passed a rigorous 157-point inspection that ensures a safe and properly-programmed camp. Counselors and staff are carefully selected, screened, and trained. A registered nurse is on-site at all times. Lifeguards patrol swimming and boating areas. Top bunks have rails. And photos are posted on Twin Rocks’ website throughout the week, giving parents a chance to catch the flavor of camp from a distance.
  
  
• Tell campers about Jesus. Twin Rocks is a Christian camp, and we happily share with campers the good news of Jesus Christ. We present non-Christians with an opportunity to give their lives to Christ, doing so in a way that honors each person’s right to make their own decisions about life. And we provide tools to help Christians grow in their faith. Daily ‘solo’ times give youth the chance to be alone to read Scripture, journal, talk to God, and experience the joy of regularly interacting with the Lord. Camp is an out-of-the-ordinary, memorable place, so it’s an ideal setting for making important life decisions and setting new life patterns.

Announcing Family Getaway Weekends!

I'm excited to announce Twin Rocks Friends Camp's newest program - Family Getaway Weekends! (Yes, I'm using the Blog to advertise a Twin Rocks event. But I really think you'll enjoy this new Twin Rocks program!)

If you'd like to build great memories with some members of your family, join us at the beach for one of these special events.

WHO? You decide which family members to bring along:

• Perhaps you'd like a father-son or mother-daughter weekend with one or more of your kids;
• Maybe you'd like to give your wife a relaxing weekend "home alone" while you take all of your kids to Twin Rocks;
• Perhaps you'd enjoy an extended outing at the beach with your grandkids;
• Or maybe you want the whole immediate family at the beach.
  
• Or some other configuration - you decide!

WHAT? You decide how you spend the bulk of your time:

• Classic Twin Rocks activities like miniature golf, Kiddie Korral play structure, boating on Spring Lake, sand castle construction at the beach, etc.;
• Specialized activities like a bird watching adventure, guided nature hikes, or kite flying (we supply everything you need - kites, binoculars, etc.);
  
• Coastal excursions (for a modest extra fee) enjoying clam digging, crabbing from a boat in Netarts Bay, riding a tandem bicycle on the beach, etc.;
• And other great Twin Rocks activities like bonfires with s'mores, times of singing and worship, terrific food, and a family photo album to remember it all!
  

WHEN? You decide which weekend works for you! The first two Family Getaway Weekends will be held May 29-31 and June 5-7, 2009. Others will be offered throughout the year. Check back to the Twin Rocks website regularly for future dates!

WHY? Your family is important. You won't regret taking time to build great memories with them.

To learn more, go to the Family Getaway Weekend page on the Twin Rocks website!

Disguised Blessings

Life isn't always easy. Our great Twin Rocks staff keep moving away! We learned last week that Dennis Littlefield, Associate Director here at Twin Rocks for the past 10 years, will soon be leaving Twin Rocks to become Executive Director at Tilikum: Center for Retreats and Outdoor Ministries in Newberg, Oregon. Dennis is terrific, and will be greatly appreciated at Tilikum. I'm excited for this new opportunity in his life.

It won't be easy here at Twin Rocks, but God is good and will certainly help us weather this transition.

And on the flip side, it's fun to know that there are several former Twin Rocks staff who are serving excellently in camps throughout the west coast:

* Dennis Littlefield (mentioned above), headed to Tilikum. Tilikum is owned by George Fox University and is thus a "sister" camp to Twin Rocks (owned indirectly by the Friends Church). Dennis served 12 years at Tilikum as Program Director before coming to Twin Rocks 10 years ago (www.georgefox.edu/offices/tilikum);

* Jon Walker (Executive Director) and Bev Chapman (Guest Services Director) at Quaker Hill Camp in McCall, Idaho. Jon served on staff at Twin Rocks for 10 years, and Bev for 7, before they left to join this other "sister" camp to Twin Rocks. Both Jon and Bev grew up attending Quaker Hill as kids (www.quakerhillcamp.com);

* Brian Bol, Food Services Manager at Thousand Pines Christian Camp in southern California (after serving as Associate Food Services Director at Twin Rocks from 2004-2007) (www.thousandpines.com); and

* Joel Whitehead (Program Director) and Trisha Bergemann (Guest Group Coordinator) at Ghormley Meadow Christian Camp in central Washington. These two each served multiple years on Twin Rocks' summer staff.

All of the above are deeply missed at Twin Rocks, but it's a real blessing to see them enjoying continued service to Christ at other Christian camps.

And I've been amazed by the terrific staff whom God continues to bless us with at Twin Rocks. It isn't ever easy, but it seems that whenever we lose someone amazing, the Lord provides us with a replacement who is equally gifted and dedicated to the mission of Twin Rocks. God is VERY good.

A Million Dollar Savings!

I'm amazed: During the past five years, volunteers have saved Twin Rocks Friends Camp more than $1 million!

We are so blessed, with 541 individuals contributing more than 106,000 hours of volunteer labor between 2004 and 2008. Put another way, we average donated labor each year equivalent to 10 full-time employees!

Year in and year out - whether it's painting a cabin, washing a window, cleaning a restroom, plumbing a building, clearing a trail, or counseling a cabin of kids - we see volunteers of all ages in camp with big smiles on their faces. Some volunteers are here for a day, others for a week, or even a summer; and some live and volunteer here year-round! Whenever we get behind with maintenance or housekeeping it seems that a group of volunteers shows up to help bring things into shape. And at least half of our summer camp programming derives from volunteer labor.

It's pretty incredible. A BIG thanks to all of you who volunteer here at Twin Rocks. It makes this camp a delightful place for me to work.

90 Terrific Years!

What a joy it is to see God at work in this special place called Twin Rocks Friends Camp. This past August, Pearl Pearson blew out the candles on a cake honoring Twin Rocks’ 90th birthday. Pearl first came to Twin Rocks in 1928, the year the Meetinghouse was constructed, and she returned for a portion of Family Camp in 2008!

Nine year-old Daisy Green was also at the 90th birthday celebration, and wrote: Family Camp makes me feel happy and it makes me feel like I’m at home when I’m not. Year after year, decade by decade, Twin Rocks’ ministry for Christ continues. As part of the birthday festivities, we asked campers: What has Twin Rocks meant to you? Here are portions of some responses we received:

I’ve been going to Twin Rocks ever since I was born, 13 years. It’s been great and really helps my relationship with God. I plan my whole year around this camp and wouldn’t miss it for the world. — Heather (high school student)


Sitting on a stump on Charlotte’s Mountain [in 1964] with Alice Hampton, in view of Twin Rocks down below out in the surf, I asked Alice to marry me. She said ‘yes.’ — Nick Maurer

God is real and evident here. — Dave & Ginger Brown

I remember brushing my teeth in the trough outside Hadley Hall, and walking down the path to the restrooms. — Maribeth Hampton

Our family has enjoyed Family Camp for 19 years in a row, and we plan on keeping up the tradition. — Nadine Miller

At the very first Girls Camp [in the 1940s], just before my 10th birthday, I wrote in my Bible that I accepted Jesus as my Savior. — Betty Comfort

It is a firm place in the storm of life; a place to regain your perspective; a place where the Spirit of the Lord often blows through to touch lives. — Dan Cadd

Every time I come here, I feel as if I am returning home. — Grace (high school student)

I’m tremendously grateful for the life-changing impact of Twin Rocks on so many campers across the generations. God is so gracious.

Pleased Parents and Grandparents

I love hearing from parents and grandparents about their kids' experiences at Twin Rocks. Here are a couple of recent quotes, one from a parent in the days leading up to Day Camp, the other from a grandparent during Family Day at the conclusion of Boys Camp:

From a parent's email the week before Day Camp:
(Our daughter) is so excited about Day Camp. I went on the website and showed her pictures of what she's going to do. Yesterday she learned to ride her bike without training wheels which has been a goal of hers for months. She was elated. At the end of the day, she said, "I'm so excited about riding my bike, I didn't even think about Day Camp for the last hour!" She can barely sleep at night she's so ready. =) Every morning the question is, "How many more whole days until we go?"

From a grandparent as we talked about the week of Boys Camp:
This camp is beyond our wildest dreams.

Meeting God in the Meetinghouse

I stopped singing, closed my eyes, and listened. Those around me continued the song - heartfelt words of praise and commitment to God. A tremendous sense of contentment washed over me.

We were gathered for a worship service in the Meetinghouse, and as the music played, I thought about the past 80 years, and the thousands of campers before us, in this very room, offering their lives to the Lord.

It’s one of the favorite parts of my job – stepping into the Meetinghouse and listening to the singing. The tag line on our Twin Rocks letterhead reads Encountering Christ on the Oregon Coast – and the Meetinghouse is a place where I get to observe these encounters firsthand, campers truly connecting with God.

A lot has transpired in this world and at Twin Rocks since the Meetinghouse (then called the Tabernacle) came into being in 1928. Starbucks, cell phones, iPods, and even moon landings were beyond our wildest imagination. Twin Rocks was a tiny 3-acre camp with straw-tick mattresses and tent-frame cabins.

Yet the core remains constant. Eighty years later, campers continue to sing joyfully to God, pouring their hearts before the Lord with adoration, supplication, and gratefulness. The Meetinghouse maintains its meaningful purpose. God is good.