JULY 2023
The Official Newsletter of Camp Lebanon
(320) 403-9555
www.camplebanon.org
The Wiffleball All-Stars aren’t the only ones taking swings at Camp this summer. At their June 10 fundraiser, the twelve sluggers belted 3654 homers and raised $35,000 for the climbing wall in the new gym. Four years of smacking homers has now generated $115,000 for site improvements! Wow! We’re also amazed by the incredible turnout for summer camp. At last count, 1830 kids had signed up and all nine camps are at or near capacity. All family camps hit “Waiting Lists” for the first time ever, too! What’s more, every weekend has rental church and family groups that double Camp’s outreach. Thanks for stepping up to the plate with us this summer!
MINISTRIES REPORT
Campaign Tops 100%! Camp has amazing friends! Two $10K gifts on June 5 put the campaign over the top for the $2.5M needed to BUILD the gym! Over 1200 households and organizations have already committed over $2,576,000 for the gym. Praise God! The big effort now shifts to raising the rest of the $500,000 needed to FILL the gym with all the fun tools needed to shine an ever brighter light for the Gospel. The “FILL IT” list is a fun one: balls, nets, pickleball, hockey sticks, sound system, stage lights, picnic tables, fire pit, kitchen, black lights, and much more. Camp is off to a good start thanks to the Wiffleball Challenge ($35K), spring events, and many new gifts. After a prolonged septic approval process, the permit has finally been granted! The new plan is to begin site work late July with the pre-cast walls coming August 15. Keep praying! There’s much to do, funds to raise, and decisions to make – all in the midst of a busy summer. Pray, too, for safety, clarity, and a January opening! Exciting days ahead!
2023 SPRING FUN! Men’s Advance! April 14-15 155 New record! Dads N Lads April 28-30 180 Super fun!! Mother/Daughter May 5-7 178 Such a great time! Mother/Daughter May 12-14 180 Sweet times for all! Young at Heart Seniors May 15-18 62 Full house! Spring Senior Day May 16 220 Sweet taste of Heaven! YAR (18-35) May 18-21 89 + 1 cow!
PRAISE & PRAY! • PRAISE! Great start to summer: Big camps, many kids saying “YES!” to Jesus! The rental calendar is full and Fall retreats are heating up, too! • PRAISE! Active Ministries: Busy & blessed spring, full summer (5000+ guests!) • PRAISE! Fall Interest – Senior retreat, women’s retreats, and quilt & craft filling fast! • PRAY! Camp Leadership: Campaign, Gym planning, cultural challenges, staffing. • PRAY! Summer Staff: The FULL team of 47 needs God’s love, health, and endurance. • PRAY! Summer Ministries: Endurance, joy, safety, spiritual responsiveness, unity. • PRAY! FT Openings: Busy summer, short-handed team makes our team vulnerable. •
FROM FAMILY WEEK “Camp was a ‘Meeting Place with God’ for our family. Being in nature, seeing God’s amazing creation pulls you all closer to him. The devotions were AWESOME and easy for all to understand and the speaker was absolutely AWESOME. What’s more, the staff is the best ever, always eager to help. We never want to leave. The amount of joy and blessings this week is wonderful and just AWESOME!”
Help Wanted: IMMEDIATE OPENINGS Director of Operations (FT - Ops Services, H.R., Office & Finances)
Housekeeping Supervisor
SUMMER YOUTH CAMPS (GRADE ENTERING) Super Kids 1 (3-6) Junior High 1 (7-9) Adventurers (1-3) Junior High 2 (7-9) Super Kids 2 (3-6) Senior High (10-grads) Super Kids 3 (3-6) Junior High 3 (7-9) Super Kids 4 (3-6) (as of 7/12/23)
(PT - gift shop, canteen)
Guest Ministries Manager (FT - hosting, contracting, set up) babeler@camplebanon.org 320.403.9555
176 Fun start! 132 + 80 North Church 185 So much fun! 211 Happy group! 226 WAIT LIST 228 WAIT LIST 226 WAIT LIST 226 WAIT LIST 220 WAIT LIST 1830
FAMILY CAMPS & QUILT
OPENINGS
Memorial Weekend Summer Sew Quilt Summer Fun Family Week Labor Day Weekend
47 families, 183 (record!) 93 women! Wow! WAITING LIST (199!) WAITING LIST (225) LONG WAIT LIST (196!)
May 26-29 June 4-8 July 2-5 June 29-02 Sept. 3-6
Register online at www.camplebanon.org
(FT - cleaning, staffing, supplies)
Sales Service Manager
June 11-15 June 18-23 June 25-27 July 9-14 July 16-20 July 23-28 July 30- Aug. 3 August 6-11 August 13-17
ROOF TRUSSES, CONSTRUCTION FENCING ARRIVE ON SITE!
It’s Gym Time!