Four months from right now, we’ll start loading the truck for camp. It seems like Illuminate was just yesterday! We’re going to have some new twists to camp this year, but we’re doing our best to retain the things that matter. We’ll still have lots of fun games, both new and familiar Neat! Groups, great music, intentional time in small groups, and a relevant speaker. We may be getting bigger, but we’re not going to change the essentials.
Tomorrow, I’ll be recording a set of videos (including an interview with counselor extraordinaire, former Blueper and Yellow Yodeling Yak, Donnie Marsh) that will be posted in a new Counselor World section of the website. We want to do everything we can to train and equip our counselors. I’m excited about this new resource, and I hope all of our counselors new and old will take advantage of it.
We’re also planning a couple of new games, including a 4-night event that will, I hope, be the coolest thing we’ve ever done. Some familiar games are returning, some are getting updated to handle (potentially) 300+ kids, and some are getting retired.
Every now and then, I go back to my notes from 2008. Compared to Illuminate or 2012, Flippin’ Channels seems really simple. But the important stuff, the core values of camp, were there from day one. Even as our practices change, it’s important to remember our core values: Crazy fun. Solid spiritual instruction. Real connections. Calling of young leaders.
Camp Vineyard 2012 is coming. Start the countdown.