Recruiting Whirlwind

Scott Baker and I spent last week at Walla Walla University recruiting staff for Sunset Lake Camp. It was the busiest two days of recruiting I have had since becoming the director for Sunset Lake. Both Scott and I ran concurrent interviews from 7:30 in the morning until 5 or 6 p.m. We held over 60 interviews in two days and met with many promising staff candidates. I have been very impressed over the past two years with the changing face of Walla Walla University. Each year we are made to feel welcome and and the quantity and quality of interviews is increasing. At some point during the week members of the administration stop by to check in on the various camps. Hats off to all involved.Our interviews continue this week at Southern Adventist University. We have just arrived on campus and are looking forward to meeting former staff members and many new people.

Sunset Lake Photoshoot

This past Sunday, two photographers and 3 student models met at Sunset Lake for a summer camp brochure photo shoot. Everyone had a lot of fun and we got some great pictures. This year's camp brochure will be a marked departure from previous ones. Rather than simply an informational piece, the 2010 brochure will be in narrative form. It will chronicle the journey of several staff members to Sunset Lake. You can expect to see the finished product in the mail by the first week of April. Here's a few sneak peeks at some of the photos. Thanks to Heidi Martella and Jonathan Baumgartner for lending us their photographic expertise.

Kaleigh Bing was a natural in front of the camera!

Nolan Baker graced us with his guitar renditions. Check out Sunset Lake's YouTube channel for a sample of his musical genius.

Eric Yeagley spent most of his time behind the wheel wishing he could drive our classic VW bus. Here he is taking a break with the rest of the cast.

For a video of the photo shoot go to http://www.youtube.com/user/SunsetLakeCamp

2010 Summer Schedule

After a lot of planning, I am excited to announce the final schedule for the 2010 summer camp season at Sunset Lake. There is a lot that is familiar and a lot that is new. Take a look what we have to offer and then plan on joining us for a week of camp this summer.

Base Camps
Adventure Camp: June 27-July4
Junior 1: July 4-11
Junior 2: July 11-18
Tween Camp: July 18-25
Teen Camp: July 25-August 1
Urban Youth Camp: August 8-15

Specialty Camps
Cowboy Camp 1,2,3,4: July 4-August 1
Lego Robotics Camp: July 4-11
Motor Works Camp: July 11-18
Lifeguarding Camp: July 25-August 1
Specialty Week (Aquatics, Challenge Course/Rock Climbing and Equestrian): August 8-15

Summit Camps
Wed and Wild Aquatics Adventure: June 27-July4
Rock Climbing Excursion: July 4-11
The Ultimate Road Trip: August 1-8
Mountain Leadership Summit: August 8-15

Family Camp
August 1-8

Complete camp descriptions and summit itineraries will be available on our website http://www.sunsetlake.org/ by the end of the month. Online registration opens on February 1. We will also have a complete morning class list available shortly.

Can't wait to see you at camp this summer!

The Hidden Side of Sunset Lake

You may think you've experienced all there is to see and do at Sunset Lake, but come winter when the campers are all gone and the grounds are finally quiet, a whole new side of Sunset Lake Camp appears. here's a few things you might discover at camp in January.

• Sunset Lake buried in snow is an awesome sight!
• It's a strange feeling to stand in the middle of the lake when its frozen over and listen to the cracking ice reverberate under your feet.
• A mountain lion running down the entrance road is a great way to get your adrenallin pumping. Just ask Bart Soper.
• Sledding down the entrance road is a lot more fun than driving!
• The sound of trees crashing to the ground in the middle of a wind storm sends chills down your spine.
• Sometimes cross country skis are the best way to get around camp. Last year I skied from the entrance to the top of the pasture and back again.
• The camp can get really quiet when you are the only person in the entire 400 acres.
• The best way to beat the after school blues is to go ride a horse.
• Once in a while it's fun to have the camp all to yourself -- but I'll take it full of kids any day!

I can't wait for summer to start -- the sound of campers singing echoing off the lake, the bugle call at line call, the constant roar of the Air Nautique, the clatter of dishes in the dining hall -- that's what makes Sunset Lake a camp. Hope your planning to be there this summer to make some noise it won't be the same without you.

Happy New Year! Here's What's Coming in 2010

It's hard to believe 2009 is coming to an end. On behalf of Sunset Lake Camp, I'd like to wish you and your family a very blessed New Year. As we head into the cold winter months I'd like to give you something to warm you up a bit. I'm excited about our plans for this summer and wanted to share a few inside peaks at what we have in store for you in 2010.

Motor Works Camp -- Do you have a child that loves anything mechanical and even though he or she is only 11 or 12, can't wait to drive the car? This specialty camp might be the answer. They'll learn the inner workings of a motor and how to do some basic work on a car engine. They'll even have a chance to get out and drive -- safely on a go-cart track, of course. This camp will be for kids ages 10-13. Watch for more details to come.

Specialty Week -- For this week of camp we've taken three of our most popular areas of camp, added trained experts and given campers seven full days to take it all in. Campers will be able to spend their full day honing their rock climbing skills or learning how to wakeboard behind our Air Nautique or deepening their riding skills and love of horses. We will broaden the age range of these camps a bit so they will appeal to a larger cross section of campers and will provide training at multiple levels. This year Esther Lorensen founder of Equine Management Workshops, a nationally recognized equestrian training program, will be our instructor for the Equestrian Specialty Camp. Esther, trains our staff each year and has designed our summer horse curriculum. She brings years of equestrian experience to this week of camp.  We'll keep you up to date on the other specialty camps as information comes in.

Mountain Leadership Summit Camp -- I am working with Les Zolbrecht of the Mountain Leadership Institute and chaplain of Portland Adventist Academy to create a mountaineering summit camp that will strengthen and develop teens leadership abilities. This exciting week of camp is still under development so stay tune for final details shortly.

The Ultimate Road Trip -- Our goal at Sunset Lake is to lead campers into a growing relationship with Christ, train them for leadership and empowering them for ministry in their local congregation. To that end we are creating "The Ultimate Road Trip." This seven-day journey across Washington and perhaps beyond, will bring campers face to face with some of the great Christian leaders in our country today -- people who are actively making a difference for Christ in their world. They'll spend time with them, get involved in what they are doing and learn from them how Christ has uniquely gifted themselves for ministry. At the end of the week the real journey begins as we mentor these campers to go back to their home towns and home churches and follow God's calling on their lives. If you know of a teen that is passionate about serving Christ this week of camp could be a turning point for them.

There's more to come -- but this gives you a sneak peak at our summer. Our full schedule will be out in early January and online registration opens on February 1 -- we'll see you on the road this summer!

Road Trip 2010: What's Up With the VW Bus?

It all started with a crazy idea. How do you talk about the journey of Christian discipleship without boring every kid that comes to camp. Then it hit me. Discipleship is like a journey -- a road trip. And if we're talking about road trips there's no better vehicle to capture all the excitement than a classic VW Bus -- the ultimate road trip machine. I wanted to feature a VW Bus in our video and our brochure, but where to find one? I figured we could find one to borrow and then we found one on Craig's List for next to nothing. A few weeks and several repairs later and we have a working VW Bus. It runs great and what a hoot to drive! You'll be seeing a lot more of this vehicle -- in our promotional material, on some of my recruiting trips and camp meeting. For those of you coming to camp we'll be featuring our VW throughout the week. Everytime you see the VW I hope you'll think about the ultimate road trip that Christ wants to take you on. It's going to be an amazing journey. I hope we can travel together this summer. 

Road Trip 2010: Be a Part of the Journey

Once again I am looking to assembling an amazing group of young adults who are excited about sharing Jesus with kids and who are passionate about summer camp ministry. Starting in the middle of January I'll be on the road for six weeks -- going from one end of the country to the other -- looking for the finest staff members. If you are interested in being a part of the Sunset Lake Team this summer, make sure you schedule an appointment to talk with me. You can also go to www.sunsetlake.org and fill out an online application. The updated 2010 application should be posted in early January. Be sure to fill one out and complete the reference form process. Here is the recruiting schedule for 2010.

Walla Walla University -- January 19-21
Southern Adventist University -- January 26-28
Union College -- February 2-4
Andrews University -- February 9-11
Southwestern Adventist University --February 16-18
Auburn Academy, Puget Sound Adv. Academy, Columbia Academy -- February 22-25

I hope to see you at one of these locations. If I'm not coming to your area contact me and we'll try to set something up. I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of new people and reconnecting with all the staff from last summer. Don't forget, I'll be taking our former staff out to eat at each of the universities. Watch for more information.