​Hi everyone! My name is Stephanie and I will be Cookout Coordinator for Alta Mons for the Summer of 2018! As Cookout Coordinator I will help prepare, transport, and facilitate all cookout meals for summer staff and campers; as well as assist the kitchen staff when they need me!

This will be my second summer spent at Alta Mons and I am super excited to be able to come back for another amazing year! 2017 was my first summer here at Alta Mons. While I was here I had the pleasure of being a camp counselor. I had a memorable time being a counselor, getting to know all of the campers and spending time with them. I knew after camp was over I wanted to be at Alta Mons for another summer! I am very excited to come back to Alta Mons this summer as a coordinator.

Here's a little more about who I am. I am a senior at Radford University; I am majoring in exercise, sport, and health education with a concentration in sport administration. I am from a little town called Gainesville that is located in Northern Virginia. In my free time at school I play for the Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Team and I'm also the Secretary for the team. When I’m not in class or playing ultimate I like to hammock outside on the quad enjoying the weather or if its cold, cozying up in bed and watching a good movie. While I’m at home I love to be outside playing with my dog Ace or hanging out with friends playing soccer! Ace is a 7 year old German Shepard that loves to play around for about 10 minutes until he gets tired

​I can’t wait to spend another summer at Alta Mons with all of the other coordinator, the counselors, and the campers! 

Yours in Cookout Love and Appreciation,

Stephanie Judd

Hey Readers! My name is Doug and I will be coordinating all the fun camp trips this summer. Raleigh, NC is my home at the moment, as I am a senior in chemical engineering at NC State! The outdoors is my passion; high up on a rock, soaking in the sun, and a cool breeze brushing my hair reminds me of God’s glory and the beautiful Earth He created. Being high above the tree line and able to see the world around me is one the reasons rock climbing is my favorite outdoor activity. As the Trips Coordinator this summer I’m stoked to lead the campers and counselors into the backcountry and spark the fire of adventure in their hearts.

I was a backpacking guide last summer in Pisgah National Forest, so I know what goes into planning a trip and I can’t wait to plan and go on some this summer with Camp Alta Mons. Before heading to camp I will be going to Ukraine for a few weeks on a mission trip, which is oriented around me and a couple others helping a leader of operation mobilization troubleshoot his plastic pyrolysis machine. The goal of the pyrolysis machine is to turn the abundant plastic waste in Ukraine into a usable biofuel and sell it to sustainably fund future mission trips. Sustainability and care for God’s Earth is a huge passion of mine and I hope to pass that along to campers, as one day they may be faced with decisions that impact nature. Backpacking camp is new this summer and we’ll be able to explore the woods and have campers see God’s magnificent glory. Camp Alta Mons reflects that glory and I am excited to be on a team that expresses their love for God in hopes that the campers will follow and express their passions and gain more loving respect for God and His creation.
 
Keep us counselors and coordinators in prayer this summer as we work in the lives of the campers and each other by building one another up in our faith and passions!  
 
Yours in the Outdoors,
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Douglas Amrhein

Hey everyone! My name is Jakobi Tharpe and I’ll be your Resource Coordinator for Camp Alta Mons this summer!
 
I am super excited to be able to come back to camp for the summer of 2018! I had such an amazing time as camp counselor last year, and now I’m so glad to be able to be a coordinator at the place I feel I could call a second home.
 
Meredith, Sarah Grace, and I have been working diligently to get camp in tip top shape for the counselors and the kids this year! From interviewing potential counselors who we think would be the best for the position to deciding what the meals for the week will be, we’ve been busy all semester! It’s been so thrilling to be on the staff for camp and know that things I decide on will make every campers’ time at Alta Mons that much better!
 
Please allow me to tell you a little about myself. I’m a sophomore at the College of William and Mary but my hometown is in Hampton! I may be from the other side of Virginia but that’s all the more reason for me to feel like I’ve found another home away from home at camp! When I’m not working on camp work or in a daze thinking about such a terrific place, you can find me in one of my psychology classes, playing video games, or on the local river with my rowing team! Rowing has become one of my favorite pastimes and most enjoyable sports! Other activities I’ve grown to love include knitting, and backpacking and hiking with Sarah Grace and our friends!
 
I think one the most important things about Alta Mons is its dedication the children. Our goal is to provide the kids who sign up for camp with the best week of their summer for the year and everyone works hard to make sure that goal is reached. From spreading the word of Christ into the hearts of our campers to having a blast at the swimming pool, we strive to make sure that attending our camp will be an all-around amazing and uplifting experience for them.
 
I’m thoroughly ecstatic to go back to camp this summer! My time as a counselor last year was such a life-changing experience and I would recommend it to everyone! Wish me and the rest of the staff this year good luck and keep us in your hearts as we do so for you and your children.
 
Yours in adventurous, everlasting love,
 
Jakobi Tharpe

Greetings, blog traveler! I’m Sarah Grace and I’m the Program Coordinator for Camp Alta Mons’ summer of 2018!
 
I’ve been coming to camp since 2006, starting as a mini-camper. I was a Counselor-in-Training in high school and a counselor for two years. This will be my twelfth summer at camp and my second summer as Program Coordinator, and I’m beyond excited to serve the campers that we’re blessed to welcome every week of the summer session!
 
I’ve been working since January with Meredith and Jakobi to interview our staff for this summer. On campus here at William and Mary, where I’m a sophomore psychology major, I have been calling applicants, recruiting staff, building summer camp and staff training schedules, brainstorming about our theme, and dreaming about summer in general. There’s less than a month now until I move in to the staff house to start pre-camp preparations, and I’m already imagining the smell of cedar and pine, and little tie-dye stained hands giving high-fives as children walk into the Dining Hall for lunch.
 
One thing that makes Alta Mons so special is our focus on outdoor ministry. Camp Alta Mons is one of the places I discovered the beauty and thrill of the outdoors, and because of the adventures I had at camp, I’m always looking for an excuse to have an outdoor adventure even now! My favorite outdoor activities are hiking and backpacking. Whether I’m taking thirty minutes to hike to Stiles Falls at camp, or I’m on a two-day backpacking trip over a long weekend, experiencing the outdoors is the most fun when I’m right in the middle of it! Up top is a picture of me hiking the Neusiok Trail in eastern North Carolina this semester.
 
Speaking of which, I’m very excited for a special new camp this summer: BACKPACKING CAMP! Some extra-adventurous junior high campers are going to have the awesome opportunity to bond with their unit on trail! Hiking memories with friends last a lifetime, and I’m so excited that we’ll be introducing backpacking camp this summer!
 
Please be in prayer for our staff this summer! Please pray for our facilities at Alta Mons, and consider helping us in our pre-camp work by donating to our facility repair needs. And, as always, be in prayer for our campers: that they’re enveloped in sunshine and surrounded by silly songs, and that they’ll be covered by the love and grace of God this summer and always.
 
Yours in messy, beautiful love,

Sarah Grace Frary

Winter Camp
5 Buildings Full. 2476 Christmas Lights. 7 Wagon Rides. 20 Zipline Zips. 105 Beautiful Crafts. 96 Professional Photos Photographed. 186 Hot Cocoas Sipped. 82 Winter Campers Served. 24 Volunteer Staff Members. 530 Meals Provided. 45 Hours of Camp Goodness.

Office Happenings
385 Miles Driven to the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries Southeast Jurisdiction Conference. 1 New Guest Services Coordinator. 3 Days of Snow. 2 Bathrooms Under Construction. 4 Days of Zipline Reconstruction. 14 New Cabin Screen Doors Ordered.

Paul Bunyan Day
6 Clean Cabins. 6 Tidy Hogans. 169 Sanitized Mattresses. 1641 Pieces of Firewood. 3 Wood Splitters. 46 Campsites Ready for Spring. 49 Clean Firepits. 2 Weeded Flower Beds. 50 Hard Working Volunteers. 150 Hours Worked. Providing the equivalent of 3+ weeks worked by a full time maintenance person.
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Summer Camp 2018
2 Busy Camp Coordinators. 6 Excited CITs. 32 Summer Staff Applications Received. 5 Counselor Positions Still Available (We Need Dudes). 2 Camp Nurses Needed. 3 More Kitchen Staff Needed. 8 College Campuses Visited. 3 Camper Recruitment Events. 2 Church Visits so far. 30 Campers Already Registered. 200 Camp Flyers. 3000 Camp Brochures. 96 Days Until Summer Camp!

//////////////////////////  4 Crazy Girls from Unit 4 for 45 Hours of Winter Camp  ///////////////////////////

Thank you so much to everyone who was able to come out for our 60th Anniversary Celebration. August 26th was a wonderful day full of fellowship, reminiscing, and enjoying the beauty of Alta Mons. If you weren't able to make it, know that we missed you and that you are welcome to visit camp anytime. We are constantly looking to make connections with people who have had their lives touched by Alta Mons. Feel free to submit a story, photo, or just a couple sentences to us about what Alta Mons means to you. Our 60th Anniversary Celebration featured many activities, including some Willie Jack stories by former Camp Director Bob Giesy! We recorded these stories and they are available to watch on YouTube. Check out the links below. 

As we look back on 60 beautiful years of outdoor ministry, we are so thankful for everyone who helped and continues to help make Alta Mons what it is! From summer camp to retreats to a hike to the falls, we are thankful for every person's help along the way. Thanks so much for 60 amazing years!

​Hey everyone! It’s hard to believe that summer camp has come and gone. It seems like just yesterday that we were preparing for all of the campers to arrive at Alta Mons! From long hours in the office to Ropes Training to Camp Con to Coordinator and Staff Training, the pre-camp season was filled with recruiting, planning, and lots of e-mails. Once the counselors started to arrive, everything came together and our leadership team did an amazing job of fostering a community within the staff that created a culture of love, inclusion, and a desire to serve the campers and Christ.

Our 60th Anniversary summer camp season was filled with special memories and lots of new friends. We served 207 campers this summer and are thrilled to have met the goal that we set out to accomplish. “Driven by Love” was a beautiful theme that impacted staff and campers alike in its message of letting Christ drive your life. We were so blessed to have Gary Heaton, John Snyder, Robert Stutes, and Jeff Wilson serve as camp chaplains and lead us spiritually throughout the summer. Sarah Grace Frary was our Program Coordinator and did a beautiful job of leading our counselors and supporting our campers. Our summer coordinators were amazing leaders who constantly gave of themselves, worked tirelessly to make camp the best it could be, and truly served as role models. Debbie Jones, Jean Broyles, Sherry Basham, Joan Wasserott, and Charlie and Christine Hubbard blessed us with their service as camp nurses and we cannot thank them enough for their knowledge and skills.
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Our new cabin roofs and bunk beds were well loved and appreciated by campers and counselors and gave camp an updated look! The pirate ship playground was the new, fun place to hang out and Unit CIT even spent the night there! The pool bath house looked GREAT thanks to Project Faith and all the campers enjoyed the murals! The old circle logo sign was refurbished by volunteers and mounted in front of the Staff House for photos, reminiscing, and new memories. From all of these new additions to old traditions like Willie Jack, the dessert song, and Wednesday night Home in the Woods, it was a beautiful summer full of learning, loving, and serving.
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We are looking forward to continuing to celebrate 60 years of ministry on August 26! Please invite everyone you know that loves and supports Alta Mons. Additionally, we are looking forward to our Family Square Dance on October 14. Make sure to mark your calendar and plan on attending. Finally, I’m already working on Winter Camp 2017. More information, including online registration, will be published on October 1, but go ahead and save the date!
 
Thank you all for your constant support! Stop by sometime for a hike to the falls, a walk around the RV sites, or just to say hello to the Back 400. Alta Mons is always here for you!
 
Yours in Christ,
 
Meredith Simmons

Hi there! My name is Makenzi Gallagher and I am so excited to be a part of the Alta Mons Summer Staff this year! I discovered Alta Mons through my great friend Karly, our trips coordinator, when she thought we’d be a great duo on the Coordinator Team. I couldn’t agree more now, just a few months later, that we have truly succeeded in that.

 Though this is my first year here, I already feel so much love for this beautiful camp and all that it has to offer. I’ll be serving as the Ropes Coordinator, providing campers with an incredible adventure to add to the many memories they’ll make here at Alta Mons. Alta Mons has two high ropes courses, one in the trees with a zipline, and another that is hard to miss as its 50 feet tall and at the very front of camp!

Both of our ropes courses have already given me so many amazing experiences, but the Back 400 has taken the prize for my favorite place on camp. On my first day here, I was in awe when we rounded the corner to reach this back half of camp. The mountainous views are in surplus at camp, but this exact spot holds the best view in my opinion. Another special part about this location is that it is also where we store all our gear in the gear barn! Right before we prepare for great ropes adventures, I am blessed by this view.
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I’m so excited to be your ropes coordinator and provide some adventure to our campers this summer!
 
Yours in wonder,
 
Makenzi Gallagher

Hi everyone! My name is Karly Korbe and I am the Trips Coordinator for the 2017 summer camp session at camp Alta Mons! It is my first summer here at camp, but the nearby area and its surrounding mountains are my home, as I am a senior at Virginia Tech. I cannot wait for all the exciting adventures that await! As the trips coordinator, it is my job to lead the Tri-Challenge Trip during the week to take kids rock climbing, caving and canoeing on a two-day excursion. I cannot wait for the kiddos to experience these exciting, yet challenging opportunities! You can also catch me at the high ropes courses helping the Ropes Coordinator! I can’t wait to have so much fun with these great adventures!

Even though I haven’t been at camp for very long, there is a place that I hold dear. My first day at camp is when I discovered this sanctuary. It is a selection of boulders along the creek that runs by the Adventure Site. The adventure site is a site for “Home in the Woods Night” where campers can experience a night under the stars among the trees. This spot is so cozy and secluded. You can hear the creek running and it offers a perfect view for the surrounding area. It truly is a place to behold.
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I can’t wait to experience this amazing summer with so many awesome and excited kids to see what adventures await!
 
Yours in the camp van,
 
Karly Korbe

                  Hey there, blog readers! My name is Cullen Cash and I will be the Pool Coordinator at Camp Alta Mons this year. I attended Camp Alta Mons as a kid and was offered the opportunity to work at camp last year and immediately took the position. Camp Alta Mons made such an impact on me when I was a camper and I really just want to be part of that for current and future campers alike. Since I was 15 years old, I worked as a lifeguard, and later as a manager at a pool in my hometown of Salem, VA. While I was there, I learned just about everything about taking care of a pool and how to ensure safety both in and around the pool, while not sacrificing any fun. I am now 21 years old and I am going into my senior year as a sports management major at Roanoke College.

                  While the staff make up the main part of the impact that camp can have on people, the location of camp and places around camp are also very influential. There is just something about being at Alta Mons that is so freeing. Maybe it’s the fact that we don’t have direct access to cell service and internet, or maybe it is the camp community, but I think it is a little bit of everything at camp. When asked to write about my favorite place at camp, I struggled a lot. How could I decide between Stiles Falls and the Back 400, or the Intersection or the Pool, or even the Dining Hall and Purgatory Creek? Then it hit me: the entrance to camp is my favorite place at camp because it holds the rest of camp behind it. The truth is that everything at camp comes together to form my favorite place not just at Alta Mons, but in general. There is something about passing the Camp Alta Mons sign, turning onto Crockett Springs Road, and heading towards the front of camp with the cedar trees to my left and right that lets me know that I’m home.

                  I am so excited to start another amazing summer at Alta Mons. I love seeing the excitement on the kids’ faces when they come to the pool ready to cool off and play in the water and know that I am here to help make their time at camp as great as it can be. My excitement goes past my job as the Pool Coordinator, and it continues by knowing that I will be able to be there for the campers on a religious level as well. I love having the opportunity to help campers along in their faith journey with God and seeing them grow in just one week here at camp.

Yours in aquatics venture,
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Cullen Cash