Were you a camper at Glen Mhor or Iona from July 4 through July 10? We’ve got your campwide photo available! If you would like to have a copy of your campwide photo sent to you (for free!) then send Gerber and email with the word “Camp Photo” in the subject line and an indication of the camp session your camper attended (ie: Girls Camp, Boys Camp, GM.1, Iona 1) in the body of your email. That’s all we need! Gerber’s email address is: gerber@ilovecamp.org

Thanks again for an amazing week! Our staff had nothing but great, funny and memorable stories to tell at the end of the week, and we hope your campers did, too!

If you’re interested in sending your kid(s) to camp again this summer, we still have some spaces available; we’d love to see you again!

We believe in FUN and PLAY.
Do you believe in sharing your positive energy for the greater good?

I believe I can bring fun and energy to camp by…

-staying positive
-being imaginative
-playing
-laughing all the time
-letting go and being me
-showing others how much fun it can be
-running the best adventure sessions ever
-SHOWING MY ENTHUSIASM
-singing as loud as possible
-giving 110%
-including, never excluding people in games, songs, and “camp magic”
-being myself and letting people into my heart

We Believe in our CAMPERS. Do you believe in them?

I believe that our campers are capable of…

-Anything they hope to achieve
-make us better, inspiring us to work harder and to be more creative
-discovering who they are
-coming out of their comfort zones
-changing the world
-whatever they choose
-doing and believing in anything
-achieving their goals
-being the best they can be
-seeing the best in everyone
-influencing and instigating change

Bocca, Match, The Twizz and Karen (Palais’ Mom) have been working hard all weekend to design a new graphic like mural incorporating the beauty of the landscape we have here at Cairn. Check out the photos of their progress so far!

It’s Official! We have the hardest working group of work weekend volunteers ever this year. All of our prayers last night for nice weather have paid off and it is warm and sunny for the crew who are putting in the docks. It is a daunting task, one that takes incredibly courage and determination to power past the chilly waters. This entire weekend I have been incredibly amazed with the progress that has happened! Way to go everyone! Thank you for all of your hard work and support.

Thanks to all who contribute their help this weekend. We could not do it without you! Tomorrow’s big task, putting in the docks. I think I can safely speak for the volunteers asking for prayers for warm weather tomorrow!

Yours in Camping,

Gerber

We Believe in Creativity and Imagination Do you believe in pushing creative boundaries to make “camp magic” ?

I believe that “camp magic” can be found…

-in every camper
-on the rainiest and coldest of days
-in the passion of the counsellors
-when people feel safe and have high self-esteem
-in how we live
-in the friendships and bonds we create at camp
-in faith
-anywhere there are people who are young at heart
-through enthusiasm
-in everyone who has passed through this place
-wherever someone believes there can be “camp magic”… everywhere
-in living our faith based lives and creating a community where children, teens and adults can learn and re-learn the value of playing and experiencing that “magic”

This past weekend we had almost all of our staff here at Camp for our May Orientation Training Weekend. Despite Sun, Rain and Snow we had an excellent time learning about each other and the incredible team that we are all honoured to be a part of for the 2010 season in Camping Ministry here at Cairn.

The main theme of our Training Weekend was “We Believe…” Our opening session involved the entire staff brainstorming their answers to 9 “Believe” Statements that Match, Palais and Dolce provided to us. We each then had an opportunity to discuss our answers with each other and share why each of these statements are so important to us. Throughout this week, I am hoping to share one of these questions and some of our answers with you our Cairn followers.

Believe Statement # 1

“We Believe in the example set by Jesus. Do you believe in following his example?”

The staff then responded with the answer
“I believe that following in Christ’s way will…” and then filled in their own personal response.

Here are some of the great answers

-inspire others to do the same
-make me a better person and more influential in peoples’ lives
-bring me to understanding
-be difficult but can inspire me to be a better person
-build a strong community and put caring into everything we say and do
-make everyone more loving and accepting
-show the love we are all capable of
-encourage others to follow Christ
-teach a better and more enjoyable way to live

Saturday May 1st was the first day back at camp for a fantastic Pre-Spring Team! The staff have been incredibly hard at work and having fun and laughter every step along the way. They have cleaned every nook and cranny of the kitchen and the many cabins on the Glen Mhor Programme. They have raked thousands upon thousands of leaves and started to work on varnishing the dining hall floor. The most impressive part is their ability to keep in pleasant spirits despite the rain that the site so desperately needs. It is a pleasure to see them build up this site to the beauty that it is for each and every one of our staff and campers.

We look forward to the full staff arriving on Friday night for our May Orientation Training Weekend. Only 3 More Sleeps Friends!

Yours in Camping,

Gerber