NATURAL LINKS - Mennonite Camping Association

Mennonite Camping Association
NATURAL LINKS
JOB OPENINGS
The Pacific Southwest Mennonite
Conference (PSMC) is looking to
hire a person to be both conference
youth pastor (.5 FTE) and outreach
coordinator for Camp Keola,
Reedley, CA (.25 FTE). Ideally this
person would show a high level of
maturity and live in CA, by the Los
Angeles area. For more information
contact Camp Keola at jobs@
campkeola.org or PSMC at 909-2435003.
Black Rock Retreat, Quarryville,
PA, is now accepting resumes from
qualified applicants for the full-time
Food Service Director position. A
culinary degree with a minimum
of three years of management and
food service and cooking preferred.
Please send resume to Beth Harsh
at office@blackrockretreat.com. For
more information, job description
and application contact Beth at (717)
529-3232 or by email.
KANSAS CITY
Be Seen!
Mennonite Camping Association
has a booth at the Mennonite
Church USA convention in
Kansas City this summer. Every
MCA camp is invited to send a
tee shirt or more plus several
(digital) photos for use in the
display. Please put your camp
name/logo on the photos. Items
should be sent to Olivia Bartel/
Camp Mennoscah, PO Box 65,
Murdock, KS 67111. Items will
not be returned unless requested.
Questions? Call Olivia at 620297-3290.
April 2015
YOUTH MINISTRY COUNCIL 2015
Youth Ministry Council: April 19-22, 2015
Spruce Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Canadensis, PA
The Simplicity of Power
by Olivia Bartell, Camp Mennoscah, Murdock, KS
I was at Youth Ministry Council this past week. It’s a simple thing for me,
other than the trick of cramming in one more thing before summer camps begin. I
find the best deal, I punch in my credit card number. I get on the plane, I get in a
rental car, and I’m there.
I don’t worry about money. I don’t fret about taking time off during a
work week and I’m not worried about being discriminated against or running into
immigration issues. My biggest fear is forgetting my toothbrush or underwear.
I’m white, of course. Or by saying “of course” is that just one more blaring
statement of my arrogance and power as part of the dominant culture?
This year at Youth Ministry Council, the focus was on racism. The theme was
Connecting Our Stories: Imagining Our Future--for how else to learn about others
and transform ourselves than through stories and seeing ourselves in the stories of
others? Felipe Hinojosa, Assistant Professor of History at Texas A&M University, was
the speaker.
Felipe told us stories of his family as migrant workers and of where migrant
workers were and were not welcome. Felipe talked of parents striving to get
an education for their kids with the idea that this would be a way to escape the
discrimination and embarrassment. He showed us the changing demographics
of the United States of America and the increase in the percentage of Hispanic
or Latino populations over the past decades. There was a session tracing racism
(prejudice and the misuse of systemic power) from colonialism to today. We heard
encouragement in stories of how people have created dignified lives in the midst of
oppression and of the resistance against white power throughout history.
If you want some conversation starters about racism, these are questions
Youth Ministry Council was asked by Felipe. What are the stories you were told
about race and racism as a young person growing up? How did those stories shape
your identity and who you are? (Who taught you to be white or Latino or …?)
How do you believe this shapes your ministry today, in what you include or exclude?
The country is changing, we were told. It was pointed out to us that racism
is not hidden. You can see it on the news, on the internet, and in social media.
Which means that we should all be stepping up to the plate and doing something
about it and I haven’t. As someone in power, it’s simple to ignore what is happening.
I don’t want to admit this because I want to be better than who I am. I also
don’t want to deal with it because racism is an uncomfortable subject. Talking about
racism and discrimination and prejudice makes me feel stupid and bad. It tempts me
to become illogically defensive. I find myself struggling like a kid saying “but…but…”
when something isn’t going her way.
I know it’s only been a few days since Youth Ministry Council, but I’m trying.
And I’m hoping that when I say things or do things that discriminate against others
or brand me as someone who sees herself as powerful, that people will offer
me grace and mercy—and point me in the right direction. I have great hope for
transformation in myself and others.
Tough issues like racism and discrimination cannot be wrestled with alone.
The conversations that were started at Youth Ministry Council must be continued
in our own communities. I need to hear the stories of those around me and, next
year, when I go back to Youth Ministry Council, I need to hear what amazing things
other people have done in their communities—and hear more stories. And I’ll need
to hear stories and work together with others until that new future is imagined and
real.
www.mennonitecamping.org
CAMP UPDATES
Spruce Lake Camp & Retreat Center, Canadensis, PA, www.sprucelake.org
Construction of Spruce Lake’s new double zip line began March 16 with the goal of
having it ready for Open House, May 31. With easy roll or walk-on ramps at both top
and bottom, two riders can simultaneously soar 500 feet through the trees at a peak
height of about 50 feet, crossing a small ravine and ending at the far corner of the
parking lot below Spruce Lodge. With new state codes regulating zip line construction,
it was time to re-engineer the former zip line while increasing accessibility for the
disability community at Spruce Lake.
Page 2
Mennonite Camping Association
BETTER IDEAS
RAINY DAY IDEAS
Crooked Creek Christian Camp
Megan Miller, Program Director
During storms, we prefer the campers aren’t glued to the windows watching
hail fall and branches be blown... We have all youth and counselors head to our
basement bathrooms and we have a sing-off between the boys and girls. The
campers cram into the showers and bathroom stalls and sing silly or campfire songs
as loud as they can. The counselors join in the fun getting their groups pumped and
excited for such a sing-off that pretty soon several campers forget there is a storm
raging outside.
We have a rainy-day relay ready to go if need be. It’s less of a timed relay and
more of a conquer-the-activity-before-the-groups-switch type of game. They’re all
activities that can be played around a table or underneath our pavilion overhang if
it’s only raining (not storming).
We have several counselors who love to dance and are passionate about teaching
campers. We turn the music up really loud and teach the Interlude dance, a couple
line dances and the Cha Cha Slide. The counselors get their campers excited about
it and it usually receives top marks on the week end evaluations.
Rainy Day Busy Bags (for younger campers)
Adapted from: www.creativecapitalb.com/2014/05/easy-camping-activity-bags-and-more.html
1) Friendship bracelets: This activity bag has a good selection of embroidery thread, small scissors and tape.
2) Rain Sticks: The items in this bag: TP tubes, mini rolls of Duck® Tape, pipe cleaner sticks, and rice. These are great
for younger kids and they love to play them around the campfire.
3) A basic beading bag: Inside is cord, some pony beads, larger wooden beads and fun buttons with larger holes.
5) Pet rocks! Kids go on a hunt for several rocks they want to bring to life, then use the glue sticks, googly eyes and face
stickers that are in this bag.
7) Camping Bingo: The Bingo printable (http://www.nwf.org/~/media/PDFs/Kids/Your%20Big%20Backyard/OtherDownloads/Camping_Bingo_Cards_Setof4.ashx). Use small rocks or whatever for the markers.
8) “Anything goes” activity bag. Leaf prints and rubbings, rock painting, and general drawing all from this one bag
option. Inside have a good stack of copy paper, washable paints, markers, crayons, watercolors, etc. A coloring book might
fit nicely in this one too.
Making Art Using Rain
http://nurturestore.co.uk/kids-art-painting-rain
How to make Story Stones
http://artfulparent.com/2014/05/story-stones-ideas-storytelling-rocks.html