I love this camp! It's really quite amazing how much happens here in a summer. Here are some 2013 examples:

• Fae McClure, a retiree who has volunteered countless hours at Twin Rocks over the past six summers, spends many long days standing on her feet in our laundry room. She gets the hard jobs, including the regular task of laundering smelly, urine-soaked sleeping bags. Bed wetting is a routine part of any camp, and a potentially huge embarrassment to incontinent campers. But thanks to Fae's kind, tireless, discreet efforts this summer, dozens of kids got to enjoy a worry-free week of camp. A grateful parent recently stopped by the laundry room and handed Fae a bouquet of beautiful flowers. It was certainly well-deserved.
     
• A camper's Mom approached me at the end of one week of camp and shared how grateful she is for Twin Rocks. Not only has Twin Rocks positively impacted her son's life over his many years attending camp sessions, but Twin Rocks' teachings have made their way home to her through him, resulting in dramatic spiritual growth for her as well.
     
• A high school camper sought me out at the end of camp. He wanted to shake my hand and thank me for the way Twin Rocks treated him when he was caught breaking camp rules. His behaviors had caused consternation in camp, but I was overjoyed to witness his repentant spirit, verbalized to the camp's staff and to the Lord. Sometimes camp generates spiritual growth in unexpected ways.
     
• One night in the camp's kitchen, seemingly everything which could go wrong, did go wrong. A tray of desserts was upended by a camper. The dinner's main entree didn't cook as quickly as expected. Staff was already tired from many long summer days. We were short-staffed. And yet it was a tremendous joy to watch the staff team battle through the stress, serving a wonderful meal and doing so with kindness toward campers and toward each other. What a privilege it is to work alongside people who have such huge hearts for ministry.
     
• I was recently on the phone with a Tillamook County employee. Before I could explain to her my reason for calling, she stopped me and shared how she had noticed the difference Twin Rocks was making in the lives of kids in the County. Her job was to work with young people who had experienced troubles in life, and she could see a marked improvement in kids post-camp.
     
• I am amazed by the breadth of camper groups which Twin Rocks has the opportunity to serve. In addition to traditional camps for kids of all ages, Twin Rocks hosted camps this summer for the deaf (through Gospel Ministries for the Deaf), disabled (Joni & Friends), musically-gifted (Northwest Band Camps), and multilingual (Koreans, Ukrainians, Russians, Latinos, and Indians). In addition, several Christian churches - large and small - conducted family and youth camps at Twin Rocks this summer, representing a wide variety of worship traditions.
     
• Receiving feedback from parents is wonderful. Here are some recent notes detailing parents' gratefulness for Twin Rocks:

• When a child comes from a Christian home, it is amazing what a week at camp can do to help 'boost' their relationship with Christ. They get to hear from mature young adults and see Christianity modeled before them in a way that they don't always see in the day-to-day. Thank you for making this week one that our son will never forget.

• She has talked more about God in a more relevant way then she ever has. She is very private. It was a delight to have her talk and talk and talk about camp and everything about it. 

• They asked a lot of questions when they got home since we aren't a very religious family, so it helped foster things at home that we wouldn't have discussed otherwise.

• Our camper was excited to share that he accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at camp this year. Both my husband and I have noticed a softening of his heart toward trying to change some behaviors.... He is more willing to apologize on his own as well as make things right when he has done wrong.

• I thank God for the Twin Rocks Camp and the blessing that it is to so many! I am proud to know that there is a place like this that we can come get closer to God!