2016 is off to a great start here at Alta Mons! With lots of upcoming events and exciting new ideas, we are working hard every day to better serve our community. The summer camp brochure is available online now (www.altamons.org/summer-camp) and a printed copy will be mailed to campers within the next week. Yes, I’m getting it out a tad bit later than I had hoped to, but let me tell you why. This year our brochure features more information for parents about our program and completely updated camp descriptions, including a brand new camp! This takes time and LOTS of revisions. But I’m beyond happy with the final product and I hope that you all will find it more helpful and descriptive. Now, let’s talk about this new camp!
For 2016, Alta Mons will be adding “Bridge Camp” to its schedule. Bridge Camp is a middle school camp that seeks to be a “bridge” between traditional elementary resident camp and junior high resident camp. Bridge Campers will sleep in the cabins, eat all of their meals in the dining hall, and still have the privileges associated with junior high resident camp (a later worship time, high ropes, hiking Christmas Tree Mountain, etc.). The reasoning for this is to be more inclusive of children who are too old for elementary resident camp but aren’t ready to move on to the hogans, for whatever reason. Alta Mons is a place for everyone to experience God—not just those who love hogan life. I hope that you will support it by reaching out to kids and telling them to sign up for Bridge Camp! It’s Week 2: July 3-8, 2016.
Over the next couple months, you will be hearing less from me and more from our summer staff and some camp parents! Just like last year, summer camp coordinators will be “guest blogging” for me and talking to you about their jobs for the summer and why they love camp. Get excited! I’m also searching for some camp moms (and dads!) who love Alta Mons and would be willing to write a blog for me to talk about Alta Mons from their perspective. If you are interested, send me an e-mail at [email protected] or call me at 540-268-2409. I promise I’ll help you write it and give you good feedback!
Several months ago, I introduced the concept of “Relational Ministry Wednesdays” to you through my blog. Last night I realized I haven’t really updated the general public on how that’s going! So let me tell you: Relational Ministry Wednesdays are GREAT! I’ve had lunch with Jean Ann Hughes (Girl Scouts of VA Skyline Council CEO), read to kids at COP, had meaningful conversations with summer staff over lunch or a hike, and attended camp fairs to recruit new staff members. I love spending time with people who are interested in Alta Mons and are eager to hear about our ministry. As always, if you have ideas, let me know!
Church visits are continuing as well! Gary Heaton, pastor at Greene Memorial UMC, let me give the sermon on Sunday January 31st and I had so much fun talking about why camp is important for everyone. This coming Sunday I’ll be visiting Thrasher UMC, then several other churches in the coming weeks. If you missed my sermon but want to hear it again, I’ll be giving the sermon at Woodlawn UMC (my home church) on Sunday May 1st. Mark your calendars. I would welcome your support.
Until then, keep promoting Alta Mons! Remember Paul Bunyan Day is March 19th and the Alta Mons Supporters Luncheon is April 2nd (RSVP by March 18th). I hope to see you all there!
Yours in Summer Camp Love,
Meredith Simmons
PS: Special thanks to Taylor Petty, Will Farlessyost, and Courtney Grubb for being my editors and fixing all my grammar mistakes in the brochure. Shoutout to Barry LeNoir for pushing me to grow summer camp in creative, inclusive ways and for being a great mentor in general. Thanks to Gary Heaton for believing in me and letting me take over his pulpit. And thanks to all of your for reading my blog!
For 2016, Alta Mons will be adding “Bridge Camp” to its schedule. Bridge Camp is a middle school camp that seeks to be a “bridge” between traditional elementary resident camp and junior high resident camp. Bridge Campers will sleep in the cabins, eat all of their meals in the dining hall, and still have the privileges associated with junior high resident camp (a later worship time, high ropes, hiking Christmas Tree Mountain, etc.). The reasoning for this is to be more inclusive of children who are too old for elementary resident camp but aren’t ready to move on to the hogans, for whatever reason. Alta Mons is a place for everyone to experience God—not just those who love hogan life. I hope that you will support it by reaching out to kids and telling them to sign up for Bridge Camp! It’s Week 2: July 3-8, 2016.
Over the next couple months, you will be hearing less from me and more from our summer staff and some camp parents! Just like last year, summer camp coordinators will be “guest blogging” for me and talking to you about their jobs for the summer and why they love camp. Get excited! I’m also searching for some camp moms (and dads!) who love Alta Mons and would be willing to write a blog for me to talk about Alta Mons from their perspective. If you are interested, send me an e-mail at [email protected] or call me at 540-268-2409. I promise I’ll help you write it and give you good feedback!
Several months ago, I introduced the concept of “Relational Ministry Wednesdays” to you through my blog. Last night I realized I haven’t really updated the general public on how that’s going! So let me tell you: Relational Ministry Wednesdays are GREAT! I’ve had lunch with Jean Ann Hughes (Girl Scouts of VA Skyline Council CEO), read to kids at COP, had meaningful conversations with summer staff over lunch or a hike, and attended camp fairs to recruit new staff members. I love spending time with people who are interested in Alta Mons and are eager to hear about our ministry. As always, if you have ideas, let me know!
Church visits are continuing as well! Gary Heaton, pastor at Greene Memorial UMC, let me give the sermon on Sunday January 31st and I had so much fun talking about why camp is important for everyone. This coming Sunday I’ll be visiting Thrasher UMC, then several other churches in the coming weeks. If you missed my sermon but want to hear it again, I’ll be giving the sermon at Woodlawn UMC (my home church) on Sunday May 1st. Mark your calendars. I would welcome your support.
Until then, keep promoting Alta Mons! Remember Paul Bunyan Day is March 19th and the Alta Mons Supporters Luncheon is April 2nd (RSVP by March 18th). I hope to see you all there!
Yours in Summer Camp Love,
Meredith Simmons
PS: Special thanks to Taylor Petty, Will Farlessyost, and Courtney Grubb for being my editors and fixing all my grammar mistakes in the brochure. Shoutout to Barry LeNoir for pushing me to grow summer camp in creative, inclusive ways and for being a great mentor in general. Thanks to Gary Heaton for believing in me and letting me take over his pulpit. And thanks to all of your for reading my blog!
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