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ELCA Outdoor Ministry Newsletter May 2007
 

BREAKING NEWS!  Fire at Wilderness Canoe Base

Cell Phone Policies, Internet Policies, Letters...

Curriculum with Spanish Translation Take Home Section

Healthy Camp Study

Mall Marketing

Widening the Circle:  Thoughts on Diversity

Summer Staff Resources

Summer Camp Offering Ideas

Peanut Butter Alternative

LOM Education Committee News

Outdoor Ministries in the News

 

May is here!

Summer camp is just around the corner.  Retreats and conferences are still going strong. Environmental education and Outdoor Schools are in full swing.

The May issue of the Outdoor Ministry newsletter has a little something for all.

Sign up to receive the online newsletter

 

Events

ELCA Outdoor Ministry Conference

LOM Administrative Leadership Training Event
(formerly LOM School)

BREAKING NEWS!

Forest Fire Causes Major Destruction at Wilderness Canoe Base

The face of Wilderness Canoe Base has been drastically altered. The structures on Dominion Island are virtually gone, with the exception of the chapel. Many buildings have been destroyed on Fish Hook Island as well, with the exception of Stillwater, Pine Cliff (dining center) and a few others. Trail Shack which houses all of the equipment is gone. The cove sustained minimal damage.  Wilderness Canoe Base is managed by Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp.

Please continue to keep the residents of Seagull Lake, the community of Grand Marais, the hard working fire personnel, and the staff at Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp and Wilderness Canoe Base in your prayers.

For continued updates on the wildfires please go to the Wapo Web site (Wilderness Sustains Fire Damage) or the Minnesota Incident Command System site: www.mnics.org


Cell Phone Polices, Internet Policies, Parent Letters and More!

Existing and emerging technology can be a struggle as outdoor ministries tries to provide safe environments for guests of all ages. Check out samples of policies and other great resources.  Bookmark all three of these Web sites for quick reference.

ACA (American Camp Association)

Example:  "Their Space or Yours" Article

Bob Ditter

Example:  "Cell Phone Deception - and other tales form the summer" (January-February 2007) Article

Example:  Parent Letter and Camp Policies Regarding the Internet and Other Technologies Article

Dr. Christopher Thurber

Example:  Camp Staff and the Internet Article


"Listen, God is Calling"
2007 Summer Camp Curriculum

When Christians talk about having a vocation from God, we are saying that God calls us. The word vocation comes from the Latin vocare, which corresponds to the English "to call." The first thing you say about vocation is, "Thank you, God." The fact that God talks to us - that God calls us - is a wonderful thing.  More...

Spanish Translation for Take Home section available on the Outdoor Ministry Web site on May 15.


Healthy Camp Study

Get involved today to make your camp a safer place for kids to learn and play!  Learn about and sign up to participate in the Healthy Camp Study


"Mall Marketing"

Where can you buy a pair of cute shoes, get a hamburger, watch a movie, AND register for camp? You can do it all at your local shopping mall.  More...


"Widening the Circle:  Thoughts on Diversity"

We have heard a lot about trends the last few years. As camp people we are facing formidable challenges to keep our camp programs strong and healthy. We serve a church that has declined in all but one state. Since 2001 Lutherdale has experience a gradual decline in campers that is reflective of the decline in the 4 synods we serve. We are dealing with tuff decisions and painful realities. In the short term we are running lean, cutting expenses, and trying to do all that needs to be done with fewer resources. It is in deed a challenging time. More...


Summer Staff Resources

Summer Staff Devotional
Provide your summer staff members with the resources they need to strengthen their faith and deepen their own spiritual growth.  Includes a scripture reading, reflection, and a prayer for each day of eight weeks of camp.  You buy the CD or download and make as many copies as you need for your staff.
$35 plus shipping and handling

Order at www.BlueTreeResources.org

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Beloit College Mindset List
The Mindset List is a general statement of the experiences and events that shaped the view of the world maintained by students.

Check out this website that might help you to understand your summer staff a little better!  More...

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"Creating Positive Youth Outcomes: A Staff Training Resource for Camps and Other Youth Development Programs"
Your campers are learning, they are making friends, becoming independent and working as a team.  The ACA can help your camp document the value of the camp experience.  More...


Summer Camp Offering Ideas

Are you looking for a place to send your summer camp offering?  In conjunction with ELCA Global Mission, here are a few projects with a brief description of what the programs support.  More...


New Product - Peanut Butter Alternative

A new product gives you an alternative to serving peanut butter. For those guests with peanut allergies, here is a peanut-free product.  More...


From the LOM Education Committee
You will notice a few changes as you read about and register for the fall training events.

Formerly the Outdoor Ministry Schools, the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Leadership Training Events will continue to happen, but will be called something else.  More...


 
     

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