| Camp Emmaus P.O.Box 128 3011 W Camp Rd. Mt. Morris, IL 61064-0128 | January 2004 | Editors |
Tuesday, February 03, 2004
Manager's Corner
Nature has put part of Camp Emmaus to bed for the winter with the leafers' hard work, the frosty mornings, and the light, wet snows of early winter.
0ur summer season went well with no major problems, but many happy, positive events and experiences.
We have added two new rental weeks to our summer schedule for 2004, which will further enhance the stewardship for our facility.
The winter here will be spent tending wood fires, doing repairs and maintenance, cutting firewood for the winters of 2004 and 2005, plowing snow, and trying to keep up with the book work.
Stay warm and remember the summer camping season's only five months away.
Bill Hare
Camp Manager
Nature has put part of Camp Emmaus to bed for the winter with the leafers' hard work, the frosty mornings, and the light, wet snows of early winter.
0ur summer season went well with no major problems, but many happy, positive events and experiences.
We have added two new rental weeks to our summer schedule for 2004, which will further enhance the stewardship for our facility.
The winter here will be spent tending wood fires, doing repairs and maintenance, cutting firewood for the winters of 2004 and 2005, plowing snow, and trying to keep up with the book work.
Stay warm and remember the summer camping season's only five months away.
Bill Hare
Camp Manager
Property & Maintenance Committee
We have recently completed another successful camping season, many children will have lifelong memories of the days they spent at Camp Emmaus this past summer.
The year began in a very unusual way with the water damage to the retreat lodge, which resulted in major remodeling in half of the two floors of the retreat lodge. We are thankful for the insurance company and generous contractor that covered all of the costs. This was followed by the failure of the camp well which, although expensive, was covered by the generous supporters of the camp. The year ended well with the annual leaf raking, which brought together members from several churches for fellowship as we worked together. A special thank you to all of you who have contributed your gifts of time, talents and money, and a special thanks to those who pray for the leadership of our camp.
Mike Schnierla
Property Committee
We have recently completed another successful camping season, many children will have lifelong memories of the days they spent at Camp Emmaus this past summer.
The year began in a very unusual way with the water damage to the retreat lodge, which resulted in major remodeling in half of the two floors of the retreat lodge. We are thankful for the insurance company and generous contractor that covered all of the costs. This was followed by the failure of the camp well which, although expensive, was covered by the generous supporters of the camp. The year ended well with the annual leaf raking, which brought together members from several churches for fellowship as we worked together. A special thank you to all of you who have contributed your gifts of time, talents and money, and a special thanks to those who pray for the leadership of our camp.
Mike Schnierla
Property Committee
Camp Board Notes
The Camp Board met on November 16, 2003. Those leaving the board were Kathy Gingrich, Bill Williams, and Ed Garrison. We extend to them our best wishes and express our gratitude for their many years of service and leadership of our camp and its program.
The newly elected board members serving in their place are Janis Butterbaugh, Pat Ball, and Sara Garner.
The officers for the new year are: Doug Firebaugh, president; Aaron Gerdes, vice president; Pat Ball, secretary; and Paulette Stitzel treasurer.
The new chair of the program committee is Jewel McNary who serves with Pat Ball, Sara Garner, and Paulette Stitzel.
The new chair of the property and maintenance committee is Mike Schnierla who serves with Janis Butterbaugh, Aaron Gerdes and Don Post.
Teresa Otake has again generously offered to serve as recording secretary for the board. We are grateful to her for this important service.
Jim and Jane Bicksler will continue to serve as Camp Newsletter editors. They would appreciate any news items relating to camp or the camping program.
As we prepare for another camping season we solicit your suggestions, ask for your help as counselors, directors, and leaders, covet your prayers for guidance, and acknowledge with thankfulness your generous gifts of time and money to the camp.
Doug Firebaugh
Camp Board President
The Camp Board met on November 16, 2003. Those leaving the board were Kathy Gingrich, Bill Williams, and Ed Garrison. We extend to them our best wishes and express our gratitude for their many years of service and leadership of our camp and its program.
The newly elected board members serving in their place are Janis Butterbaugh, Pat Ball, and Sara Garner.
The officers for the new year are: Doug Firebaugh, president; Aaron Gerdes, vice president; Pat Ball, secretary; and Paulette Stitzel treasurer.
The new chair of the program committee is Jewel McNary who serves with Pat Ball, Sara Garner, and Paulette Stitzel.
The new chair of the property and maintenance committee is Mike Schnierla who serves with Janis Butterbaugh, Aaron Gerdes and Don Post.
Teresa Otake has again generously offered to serve as recording secretary for the board. We are grateful to her for this important service.
Jim and Jane Bicksler will continue to serve as Camp Newsletter editors. They would appreciate any news items relating to camp or the camping program.
As we prepare for another camping season we solicit your suggestions, ask for your help as counselors, directors, and leaders, covet your prayers for guidance, and acknowledge with thankfulness your generous gifts of time and money to the camp.
Doug Firebaugh
Camp Board President
Program Committee
Greetings from the program committee.
After reading through the camp evaluations, the program committee is looking to implement some changes. There was some concern over the actions of a few counselors at camp last summer and we are hoping to avoid that with an extended training session for the Jr. Counselors this year. The date has yet to be announced, but watch for information.
The committee is still looking for the correct curriculum to use for the 2004 camping season. A decision will be made soon and directors will be contacted. Also, the directors' manual is being updated and a list of possible counselors is being compiled to share with directors. Any adult who has not counseled in recent years and is interested on being included on this list should contact a program committee member.
The 2004 camp calendar is listed on the camp website. The camp representative list is being updated and brochures will be sent as soon as possible.
Respectfully submitted,
Jewel McNary for the Program Committee
Paulette Stitzel, Pat Ball, Sara Garner
Greetings from the program committee.
After reading through the camp evaluations, the program committee is looking to implement some changes. There was some concern over the actions of a few counselors at camp last summer and we are hoping to avoid that with an extended training session for the Jr. Counselors this year. The date has yet to be announced, but watch for information.
The committee is still looking for the correct curriculum to use for the 2004 camping season. A decision will be made soon and directors will be contacted. Also, the directors' manual is being updated and a list of possible counselors is being compiled to share with directors. Any adult who has not counseled in recent years and is interested on being included on this list should contact a program committee member.
The 2004 camp calendar is listed on the camp website. The camp representative list is being updated and brochures will be sent as soon as possible.
Respectfully submitted,
Jewel McNary for the Program Committee
Paulette Stitzel, Pat Ball, Sara Garner
Greetings From Chicago
About three years ago, Bill Hare left me a message, "Call, call as soon as you can.'' My mother and I guessed correctly that the camp needed me for service. I had filled in for Margo a couple of times before. I was thrilled to be asked to come and cook at camp for the summer.
A native Michigander, I moved to Chicago at age 14 and settled in right around Bethany Hospital and the old Brethren Seminary on Van Buren, eventually residing across the street at "3446". I did my stint in the dietary department at Bethany after school, back in the days when the BVS House was just around the corner. That is when I started attending First Church, about 35 years ago.
I graduated High School in 1970, attended college, Antioch in Ohio, then obtained my certificate in Culinary Arts at Washburne Trade School in Chicago, after 3 years of college.
When I tell you that it is an honor and a privilege to serve at Camp Emmaus, I humbly say so. I have been a camper myself at Women's Camp long enough to have developed many long lasting relationships, where campers are no longer strangers, but have become a family of sorts, faithful to each other and sensitive to each others' needs, as we grow together spiritually.
Finally, I can't give enough high praise to Bill & Betty Hare, Camp Directors, for their many years of hard work and dedication which has provided our district with a wonderful camping facility. With their continued hard work and daily efforts, we as campers have this special place to come to and renew our relationship with God and each other. My personal thanks to everyone who helps in this endeavor.
Margaret Scott
About three years ago, Bill Hare left me a message, "Call, call as soon as you can.'' My mother and I guessed correctly that the camp needed me for service. I had filled in for Margo a couple of times before. I was thrilled to be asked to come and cook at camp for the summer.
A native Michigander, I moved to Chicago at age 14 and settled in right around Bethany Hospital and the old Brethren Seminary on Van Buren, eventually residing across the street at "3446". I did my stint in the dietary department at Bethany after school, back in the days when the BVS House was just around the corner. That is when I started attending First Church, about 35 years ago.
I graduated High School in 1970, attended college, Antioch in Ohio, then obtained my certificate in Culinary Arts at Washburne Trade School in Chicago, after 3 years of college.
When I tell you that it is an honor and a privilege to serve at Camp Emmaus, I humbly say so. I have been a camper myself at Women's Camp long enough to have developed many long lasting relationships, where campers are no longer strangers, but have become a family of sorts, faithful to each other and sensitive to each others' needs, as we grow together spiritually.
Finally, I can't give enough high praise to Bill & Betty Hare, Camp Directors, for their many years of hard work and dedication which has provided our district with a wonderful camping facility. With their continued hard work and daily efforts, we as campers have this special place to come to and renew our relationship with God and each other. My personal thanks to everyone who helps in this endeavor.
Margaret Scott
My Summer Working at Camp
For those of you who don't know, I spent a great deal of my summer working at Camp Emmaus as the lifeguard and helping with the camps. Throughout the summer I met many wonderful people of all ages and had several experiences I would like to share with you.
When I started out working at camp, I wasn't sure of what Camp Emmaus was or what my role in the camp was to be. I would show up, put in a day's work and go home. That was it. However, as the camps came through one by one, I started to realize that Camp Emmaus was much more than a job. It was like a home. When I would have my hour break, instead of sleeping I would spend it walking some of the trails and looking at all of God's wonderful creations. I started going to the campfires and talking to the campers, and by the end of the year I realized what Camp Emmaus is. Camp Emmaus is a place where people of all ages come together to grow stronger in their relationship with God and their relationship with one another. Now I had heard that earlier in the year and at that point it made sense in my mind, but it wasn't until I had witnessed it and been a part of it, that it made sense in my heart. I just hope every person has an opportunity to see what I saw.
Most of my time at camp was spent working at or around the pool, which reminds me I would like to take a moment to remember Norman, the pool vacuum, who is no longer with us (replaced at the end of this summer). I got to know Norman VERY well and he and I worked very hard this summer trying to keep the pool clean, which is no small task by any measure. I have a new respect for pools around the world and the people who keep them clean. I also have a new respect for anyone who has to enforce rules, because it can sometimes be a challenge.
When I wasn't at the pool, I was usually off helping Bill Hare with many assorted tasks, which would seem like a bad thing, having to do all these jobs, but if you know Bill Hare, you know he makes anything fun. Even shoveling dirt, and yes, we shoveled dirt… lots of it.
Overall my experience at camp was great. No, it was awesome. I thank God for allowing me the opportunity and the ability to work there and for the possibility of working there in upcoming years. I thank the staff, the counselors/directors, and the campers for helping open my eyes to what Camp Emmaus is all about. And I thank anybody else who has ever done anything for the camp, whether it was donating some money or coming and helping do a project.
Paul Hamilton
Camp Lifeguard & Maintenance
For those of you who don't know, I spent a great deal of my summer working at Camp Emmaus as the lifeguard and helping with the camps. Throughout the summer I met many wonderful people of all ages and had several experiences I would like to share with you.
When I started out working at camp, I wasn't sure of what Camp Emmaus was or what my role in the camp was to be. I would show up, put in a day's work and go home. That was it. However, as the camps came through one by one, I started to realize that Camp Emmaus was much more than a job. It was like a home. When I would have my hour break, instead of sleeping I would spend it walking some of the trails and looking at all of God's wonderful creations. I started going to the campfires and talking to the campers, and by the end of the year I realized what Camp Emmaus is. Camp Emmaus is a place where people of all ages come together to grow stronger in their relationship with God and their relationship with one another. Now I had heard that earlier in the year and at that point it made sense in my mind, but it wasn't until I had witnessed it and been a part of it, that it made sense in my heart. I just hope every person has an opportunity to see what I saw.
Most of my time at camp was spent working at or around the pool, which reminds me I would like to take a moment to remember Norman, the pool vacuum, who is no longer with us (replaced at the end of this summer). I got to know Norman VERY well and he and I worked very hard this summer trying to keep the pool clean, which is no small task by any measure. I have a new respect for pools around the world and the people who keep them clean. I also have a new respect for anyone who has to enforce rules, because it can sometimes be a challenge.
When I wasn't at the pool, I was usually off helping Bill Hare with many assorted tasks, which would seem like a bad thing, having to do all these jobs, but if you know Bill Hare, you know he makes anything fun. Even shoveling dirt, and yes, we shoveled dirt… lots of it.
Overall my experience at camp was great. No, it was awesome. I thank God for allowing me the opportunity and the ability to work there and for the possibility of working there in upcoming years. I thank the staff, the counselors/directors, and the campers for helping open my eyes to what Camp Emmaus is all about. And I thank anybody else who has ever done anything for the camp, whether it was donating some money or coming and helping do a project.
Paul Hamilton
Camp Lifeguard & Maintenance
Signs in front of Churches
- Under same management for over 2000 years.
- Soul food served here.
- You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.
- Beat the Christmas rush, come to church this Sunday!
- Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case, too!
- Worry is interest paid on trouble before it's due.
- A clear conscience makes a soft pillow.
- May is God's apology for February.
- God answers knee mail.
Submit an Article!
"Road to Emmaus" is looking for additional articles to be included in future issues. Tell us about a special experience or memory that involves a camping experience. Articles can be submitted by mail or email. Please mail your articles to:
Jim or Jane Bicksler
P. 0. Box 259
Dakota IL 61018
or
email them to
jbjb82193@aol.com
"Road to Emmaus" is looking for additional articles to be included in future issues. Tell us about a special experience or memory that involves a camping experience. Articles can be submitted by mail or email. Please mail your articles to:
Jim or Jane Bicksler
P. 0. Box 259
Dakota IL 61018
or
email them to
jbjb82193@aol.com
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