Sunset Lake Camp ... The Road Trip Begins

Welcome to Sunset Lake Camp's blog site. For those of you just joining us, feel free to look back over all the archived posts to catch up with all that has happened in the last several months at camp.

I am so excited about our upcoming summer season. After much hard work our camp brochure was released on March 25 and should be in mail boxes any time now. If for some reason you don't receive one, please contact the camp at 360-829-0311 and we will get one out to you.

Right away you'll notice some differences in this year's brochure. Rather than simply being an informational piece, this year's brochure tells the story of one camper's cross-country road trip to come to camp. Along the way you'll discover what makes Sunset Lake special and learn about some of the great new stuff happening at camp this year.

Missing in this year's brochure is the DVD. Don't worry, it didn't fall out . Instead, all of our video content will now be on the internet on our new YouTube channel. Here is the link. http://www.youtube.com/user/SunsetLakeCamp  Within a few days our 2010 promotional video will be posted. But that is just the start. Each section of the brochure is linked to a corresponding informational video online. These will be up in the next couple of weeks. We will also be posting a series of devotional messages that will prepare campers fo for their week at camp. Then during the summer we will have a continuous stream of video updates being posted. We encourage you to subscribe to our channel and watch and share the videos however you like.

This blog site will also be an important communcation link as we prepare for summer. Look for new posts at least once or twice a week and more frequently than that during the summer. On this site we will be sharing stories of how God is working at Sunset Lake as well as news and information that will be helpful  as you prepare for your summer camp experience.

The final piece in our communcation network is our facebook page. You can find this at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sunset-Lake-Road-Trip-2010/262455555016?ref=mf  The facebook page will give you instant updates and be a great place to share photos, video, and fun camp memories. We encourage you to become a fan of this page and stay connected with us as we prepare for summer.

I can't wait to see you at camp this summer. As you look over the brochure, we encourage you to decide which camp your our your child would like to attend and then sign up as soon as possible. Registration opened February and we are already experiencing record enrollements. Family Camp and some our our speciality and summit camps are filling fast. In fact we already have over 100 registrants for family camp. If you need financial assistance, please let us know. Our funds are limited, but we will do all we can to help.

Have a wonderful spring ... and we'll see you at Sunset Lake this summer.

Thoughts on the Staff Hiring Process

Today is the best day and the worst. It's a day I look forward to all year and a day I dread. This afternoon emails were sent out to the 2010 staff applicants notifying them of their summer employment status. For two months I have traveled over 17,000 miles to 5 colleges and universities and three academies. I have interviewed more than 150 applicants. The young adults I have talked with are some of the brightest and best out there. Every year I am amazed at their courage, their passion for Christ and their desire to serve him. Even though I only get to spend 20-30 minutes with each of them I get to know them -- I learn from them -- I remember them -- and they impact my life.

It is exciting to see how God brings just the right people that we need. My associate and I spend days in front a white board pouring over reference forms and interview notes praying for guidance. And God leads -- he opens doors and closes them. Often we don't know why. It's awesome to look at the white board when all the names have been chosen and wonder what God has in store for the summer. This year, like all the others I leave this hiring process with a sense of expectation. It's going to be a great summer!

But at the same time I have to tell the majority of the applicants that I don't have a spot for them. No one will ever know the how hard that is for me. I was the kid on the baseball field that always got picked last. I was the one stood on the sidelines and wondered if there was a place for me. If I had enough budget, enough housing and a big enough camp I'd hire them all. I'd help each of those 150+ applicants discover God's calling in their life and the value he's placed in them. And stand back in awe at what they could do. But in the end I only have 75 spots.

So for some, today will be a great day -- God has answered their prayers! For others, on our waiting list, their going to have to watch for what God is yet to do. And for still others today will be a very hard day as their dream is dashed.  I just pray that every person I have met over the past two months understands that the email they received today has no bearing on their infinite value in God's eyes and the calling he has placed on their life. Whether they were accepted or turned down God has an amazing summer in store for them as they look to serve him.

So as I bring another hiring season to a close it is my prayer for each person I have met these past two months that they will be confident of God's leading in their life. And I sincerely hope I will get to meet each one next winter as I go out recruiting once more. It will be great to see how God worked in their life. And who knows perhaps he will have a place for them at Sunset Lake sometime in the future. 

2010 Family Camp -- Filling Fast -- reserve your spot today.

This year's family camp is going to be an extraordinary event. We have brought in an all-star cast of presenters and great new activities to make this an unforgettable week. We'll be joined this year by Dr. John McVay, President of Walla Walla University. He'll be holding an early morning in-depth Bible study, particulary geared for the adults as well as teaching a morning class. Our family Camp Council will be led all week by Randy Fishell, the editor of Guide Magazine. Aside from great family-centered worships he will bring a whole host of fun activities from Guide Magazine, including their "Factory" quiz tournament. In addition there will be several other guests who will be teaching morning classes on a variety of subjects.

This is the first year that we are making a special invitation to the pastors of the Washington Conference and their families to be a part of our week of camp.

We want to encourage you to be a part of this great family event. You'll be hard pressed to find this kind of family vacation experience for this low price anywhere else. Even though registration just opened in February spaces are already filling fast with nearly 80 applicants registered already. We encourage you to sign up as soon as possible to reserve your spot for this amazing week. Go to http://www.sunsetlake.org/ for more information and to register.

Sunset Lake Camp Registration Opens

We've got some great news to share! Registration for 2010 summer camps is now open. We're excited about the camps we are offering this summer. We encourage to you go to http://www.sunsetlake.org/ and look over all the details and then register your child or your family for a great week of camp.

This summer in recognition of the difficult financial times that many are facing we have frozen our fees at the 2009 level. We are also committed to do all that we can to find scholarship money for those that need it. If you are interested in sponsoring a camper for a week of camp, please contact us.

Also this summer's family camp will include a wide array of new features. Great speakers, special seminar presenters and new family activities. We encourage you to get your registration in early as space will fill fast.

New to camp this year is the week-long Urban Youth Camp, the motorworks specialty camp, the Mountain Leadership Summit, the Ultimate Road Trip and the Specialty Week. Go online for all the details.

We look forward to seeing you at camp this summer.

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!