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WE ARE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!For nine weeks this summer we will post free online content to help you participate in the goodness of camp at home.
On this page we will upload the content for each week as it comes out. We are excited for you to join us! ARE YOU UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?Participate in our Camp @ Home challenges and be entered into a drawing to win two free nights at our campground! Starting Sunday, June 7th, 2020 we will issue a challenge each week. Submit a photo or video of you completing the challenge by that Saturday, and we may share it on our social media. If you accomplish seven out of nine challenges, you get your name in the drawing for 2 free nights of RV/tent camping at Alta Mons! To be eligible for the drawing all submission must be in by August 24th, 2020 at 10 AM.
To submit a challenge photo use #altamonscampathome on your social media and email it to us at program@altamons.org. |
Check Out the secret surprise we delivered to our campers!
CLICK AN IMAGE TO GO TO THE WEEK'S CONTENT!
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WEEK 1: SHARE |
THE THINGS WE SHARE: SUNDAY JUNE 7TH
Before the pandemic hit, our original Summer 2020 theme was “Share” so it seems only fitting that this is where we pick up for our Camp @ Home online content. Here at Alta Mons, we structure our camp on the model of small group Christian camping. Based upon a book written in the late 1950s, the basic concept is this: the more time, challenges, conversations, and experiences that small groups share together, the closer they grow in relationship with each other, with nature, and with Christ. To us, this is the core of what camp is all about and is the reason that camp is so impactful, meaningful, and special. As we strive to create Camp @ Home experiences for you this summer, keep this idea in the back of your mind and know that it all starts with sharing. Now, on to the content! Each week we plan to structure our theme with a narrative about the camper experience, an explanation of why that specific part of camp is important, and then a challenge for you and your family. Let’s get started!
Imagine it’s a hot and humid Sunday evening in July. You have just survived the long check-in process, made your wood cookie name tag (more on that next week!), played SO MANY name games with the kids in your unit, and finally your counselors say it’s time to head towards dinner. You walk towards the hogans and find that someone has driven the tractor with the wagon full of your luggage to the bottom of a hill. The hill looks enormous as you glance up at it. As you pick up your luggage and start carrying it up the Unit 8 hill, you realize this could be a bigger endeavor than you originally planned for. How will you make it to the top carrying ALL of the things you brought—your suitcase with wheels, your pillow, your sleeping bag, AND that extra bag with the 5 towels and 1 gallon of sunscreen that mom insisted you bring. Just as you are huffing and puffing and your energy is running out, your camp counselor shows up and shares the load with you. They offer to carry that suitcase straight to your bunk!
Once you make it to the top, your counselor mentions that the group needs your help carrying the cookout supplies to the large picnic table that’s under the shelter between the two hogans. What? Go back down the hill? We just got here! You follow along and end up helping another camper carry the world’s heaviest water cooler up to the top of the hill. Then a loud car horn blares down by the wooden table and the porta potties. What does that mean? Dinner’s here? And we have to go get it? Up and down the hill yet another time, this time carrying the salad and garlic bread that’s part of dinner. Gosh, eating sounds so good right now!
As you sit down to dinner, your counselors explain that you’ll be eating family style all week. If you need something, please ask someone in the group to help you out by passing the item your way. “And please share the bug juice! We want to make sure there’s enough to go around.”
By the time you’re in line to make your Sunday night pie iron, you know you’re going to have a great week. Even though the kids in your unit are still strangers to you at this point (they say there’s this thing called “low ropes” in the morning) you have a good feeling about the group. There are a couple kids you’ve already started warming up to and your counselors seem great. Maybe these people will be real friends. Real friends who can know that you really hate green beans and that your dad died last year. The week seems to have unlimited potential and as you walk back to the hogans and look up at the stars, you know that God’s here too. Sharing this week with you and this group of strangers.
At Camp Alta Mons sharing is more than just letting your brother choose the next TV show or taking turns doing dishes. It means putting the group first. It means waiting for someone to pass you the mashed potatoes and making sure there’s enough bug juice to go around. It means hiking at the pace of the slowest person in your group and responding to the question “How are you today?” with an honest answer. The more we share with each other, the more we grow as a group and create community. In community, we learn to open ourselves to the people around us and to share our experiences, thoughts, and questions as we grow together and become connected in Christ. We tackle the hard questions and the difficult topics. We see new perspectives and we become more aware of ourselves. We share our lives with each other.
This week, we challenge you to share a family style meal. It can be whatever meal you want and you can eat it wherever you want—the in the backyard, at the dining room table, in the living room, whatever works best for you. Have someone set the table (reference the place setting chart below), ask someone to say grace, and enjoy your time together. Take a picture and email it to program@altamons.org to officially enter this week’s challenge. We also encourage you to share about your Camp @ Home experience on social media by using the hashtag #AltaMonsCampatHome on Facebook and Instagram. We hope that this week your family unit will share some things—conversations, meals, thoughts, and feelings. And that it will help you grow in your relationship with each other and Christ.
Imagine it’s a hot and humid Sunday evening in July. You have just survived the long check-in process, made your wood cookie name tag (more on that next week!), played SO MANY name games with the kids in your unit, and finally your counselors say it’s time to head towards dinner. You walk towards the hogans and find that someone has driven the tractor with the wagon full of your luggage to the bottom of a hill. The hill looks enormous as you glance up at it. As you pick up your luggage and start carrying it up the Unit 8 hill, you realize this could be a bigger endeavor than you originally planned for. How will you make it to the top carrying ALL of the things you brought—your suitcase with wheels, your pillow, your sleeping bag, AND that extra bag with the 5 towels and 1 gallon of sunscreen that mom insisted you bring. Just as you are huffing and puffing and your energy is running out, your camp counselor shows up and shares the load with you. They offer to carry that suitcase straight to your bunk!
Once you make it to the top, your counselor mentions that the group needs your help carrying the cookout supplies to the large picnic table that’s under the shelter between the two hogans. What? Go back down the hill? We just got here! You follow along and end up helping another camper carry the world’s heaviest water cooler up to the top of the hill. Then a loud car horn blares down by the wooden table and the porta potties. What does that mean? Dinner’s here? And we have to go get it? Up and down the hill yet another time, this time carrying the salad and garlic bread that’s part of dinner. Gosh, eating sounds so good right now!
As you sit down to dinner, your counselors explain that you’ll be eating family style all week. If you need something, please ask someone in the group to help you out by passing the item your way. “And please share the bug juice! We want to make sure there’s enough to go around.”
By the time you’re in line to make your Sunday night pie iron, you know you’re going to have a great week. Even though the kids in your unit are still strangers to you at this point (they say there’s this thing called “low ropes” in the morning) you have a good feeling about the group. There are a couple kids you’ve already started warming up to and your counselors seem great. Maybe these people will be real friends. Real friends who can know that you really hate green beans and that your dad died last year. The week seems to have unlimited potential and as you walk back to the hogans and look up at the stars, you know that God’s here too. Sharing this week with you and this group of strangers.
At Camp Alta Mons sharing is more than just letting your brother choose the next TV show or taking turns doing dishes. It means putting the group first. It means waiting for someone to pass you the mashed potatoes and making sure there’s enough bug juice to go around. It means hiking at the pace of the slowest person in your group and responding to the question “How are you today?” with an honest answer. The more we share with each other, the more we grow as a group and create community. In community, we learn to open ourselves to the people around us and to share our experiences, thoughts, and questions as we grow together and become connected in Christ. We tackle the hard questions and the difficult topics. We see new perspectives and we become more aware of ourselves. We share our lives with each other.
This week, we challenge you to share a family style meal. It can be whatever meal you want and you can eat it wherever you want—the in the backyard, at the dining room table, in the living room, whatever works best for you. Have someone set the table (reference the place setting chart below), ask someone to say grace, and enjoy your time together. Take a picture and email it to program@altamons.org to officially enter this week’s challenge. We also encourage you to share about your Camp @ Home experience on social media by using the hashtag #AltaMonsCampatHome on Facebook and Instagram. We hope that this week your family unit will share some things—conversations, meals, thoughts, and feelings. And that it will help you grow in your relationship with each other and Christ.
MORNING WATCH: monday JUNE 8THWe are bringing this camp routine to you at home! During Morning Watch we listen for God around us and look to the day ahead.
This week we are talking about sharing our lives together. Discussion Questions: 1. Who do you share your life with? 2. What is one thing you can do this week to open yourself up to others? |
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PIE IRONS: TUESDAY JUNE 9THTo make pie irons, you will always need the actual pie iron (available at any local Wal-Mart and on Amazon) and butter. From there, what you put in your pie iron is totally up to you! In this video, we used bread and apple pie filling. You can also do this with any other pie filling that you enjoy! To make grilled cheese, use bread and cheese. To make pizza, we suggest making a thin dough (for one side only) with water, salt, and flour. Then use pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and any other toppings you like! Note: for Pizza Pie Irons, do NOT flip the pie iron to toast on each side. Only toast on one side (the bottom of the dough.) Otherwise your pizza will fall apart!
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HIW TOUR: WEDNESDAY JUNE 10THA recent addition to the HIW site docket, sleeping over at The Hut has become quite popular. Sleeping here offers access the archery range (which now doubles as a great hammocking spot) and this large fire pit. The Hut is also a great place for stargazing and playing big field games!
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HISTORY TIME: THURSDAY JUNE 11THThe Roanoke District of the Methodist Church was looking for a site to conduct a district camp. A search committee was formed by the District and the initial property was purchased for $25,000 in 1957. In 1961, the adjoining 350 acre Rakes Farm was bought for $13,500. Later, the District held a naming contest to determine a name for the property. Alta Mons was the result and means, loosely interpreted in Latin, "High Mountains." Today Alta Mons is a camp & retreat center that serves over 10,000 guests a year.
Photos: 1) The District Property Committee scouting the land (that's the Willie Jack Cabin you can see in the background!) 2) The Bishop's Consecration of the Camp at the Alta Mons Dining Hall (pictured L to R: P. Robinson, H.Leake, T. Crain, H. Coner, B. Mullen, J. Mask) Our notes say that the Bishop was in the staff house taking a nap when this photo was taken! 3) Summer Camp 2018 campers having their Unit Photo taken by the old camp sign during History Time with Meredith |
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WEEK 2: CELEBRATE |
MORE THAN A NAME TAG: SUNDAY JUNE 14TH
You’re still not sure what camp is going to be like, but you got a top bunk and your counselor seems nice. During Monday breakfast, you notice that the camper next to you has written “BATMAN” on their name tag. They insist that you should really call them Batman! You laugh, eyeing your counselors to see if they will ask for their real name. Instead, they start asking everyone at the table what their superhero name is!
It’s a circle of wood with a red piece of yarn through it and “BATMAN” scrawled with a Crayola marker on the front. But it’s more than just a camp craft or a name tag. It’s power. It’s identity. It’s a reminder of a week where you were yourself and people loved you for it.
They didn’t know you as the little brother who isn’t quite as good at soccer. They didn’t know you as the kid who always raises their hand. They didn’t know you as Mrs. Drake’s daughter.
They knew you were the best at finding a good stick. They all cheered when you performed the greatest cannonball. They knew they could ask you for help. They forgave you when you and Billy got in a fight.
We all have been named many things. Some of them feel good: honest, helpful, funny, kind, hardworking, athletic. Some of them hurt: lazy, mean, annoying, untrustworthy, weird.
At Camp Alta Mons, you can have a fresh start. As a first time camper, no one knows you yet. As a camp staff we work hard to create an environment where kids not only have the opportunity to be themselves but are celebrated for it. That means cheering for their successes and helping them learn from their misgivings.
We don’t love each other perfectly all the time; not even close. Sometimes even with all of our effort we still fall short. That’s why we need God. We need God to show us how to learn from others and how to understand what we do not know.
In the end we hope that kids have the opportunity to be heard and feel appreciated and hear the names that God calls them: loved, precious, beautiful. Just as they are.
What makes you you? What are you good at? What do you love about yourself? These are questions for a lifetime and we hope that camp is just a start.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to answer this question:
What do you love about yourself? Look deeper to those things that truly make you you. To give us your answer, draw a picture, write a word on paper, tell us in a video, or take a picture of you doing something you’re good at. Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome or emailing it to program@altamons.org.
Make sure to send them in by Saturday, so we can celebrate YOU all week long!
It’s a circle of wood with a red piece of yarn through it and “BATMAN” scrawled with a Crayola marker on the front. But it’s more than just a camp craft or a name tag. It’s power. It’s identity. It’s a reminder of a week where you were yourself and people loved you for it.
They didn’t know you as the little brother who isn’t quite as good at soccer. They didn’t know you as the kid who always raises their hand. They didn’t know you as Mrs. Drake’s daughter.
They knew you were the best at finding a good stick. They all cheered when you performed the greatest cannonball. They knew they could ask you for help. They forgave you when you and Billy got in a fight.
We all have been named many things. Some of them feel good: honest, helpful, funny, kind, hardworking, athletic. Some of them hurt: lazy, mean, annoying, untrustworthy, weird.
At Camp Alta Mons, you can have a fresh start. As a first time camper, no one knows you yet. As a camp staff we work hard to create an environment where kids not only have the opportunity to be themselves but are celebrated for it. That means cheering for their successes and helping them learn from their misgivings.
We don’t love each other perfectly all the time; not even close. Sometimes even with all of our effort we still fall short. That’s why we need God. We need God to show us how to learn from others and how to understand what we do not know.
In the end we hope that kids have the opportunity to be heard and feel appreciated and hear the names that God calls them: loved, precious, beautiful. Just as they are.
What makes you you? What are you good at? What do you love about yourself? These are questions for a lifetime and we hope that camp is just a start.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to answer this question:
What do you love about yourself? Look deeper to those things that truly make you you. To give us your answer, draw a picture, write a word on paper, tell us in a video, or take a picture of you doing something you’re good at. Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome or emailing it to program@altamons.org.
Make sure to send them in by Saturday, so we can celebrate YOU all week long!
MORNING WATCH: MONDAY JUNE 15THIt's time to celebrate! God loves you just as you are! Pastor Alan Combs shares how knowing our identity in Christ can transform our lives and the world.
Discussion Questions: 1. What is one way you are special? 2. How can you love those around you (friends, family, neighbors) for who they are? |
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HOMEMADE ICE CREAM: TUESDAY JUNE 16TH1 can Eagle brand condensed milk
1 1/2 cups sugar 1/2 pint whipping cream 3 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla Pinch of salt 1 medium sized jar crunchy peanut butter Gallon whole milk Mix the above ingredients together with approximately 6 cups of the whole milk. Pour mixture into ice cream mixer and fill to mark with additional whole milk. Run ice cream mixer until your mixture is frozen and creamy! |
HIW TOUR: WEDNESDAY JUNE 17THFor our virtual "tour" of HIW sites this week, we're visiting a site that isn't on Alta Mons' property! The Tri-Challenge Trip (a junior high camp option) spends each Wednesday away from camp to be close by to their rock climbing, caving, and canoeing adventures (hence the term "Tri-Challenge".) Over the years, their campout location has changed but their spirit has not! From mud fights to flashlight tag to eating without forks, this unit is often known for its creativity and improvising skills. For the past several summers, they have been staying at the Whitt-Riverbend Park, located right alongside the New River. Many campers and staff will likely remember the classic Kelty one man tents that were used for years on this trip. Pictured here are our new Marmot 3 person tents that were donated in 2017 to help further our trips program! You can also spot Jolene, our tried and true camp van.
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HISTORY TIME: THURSDAY JUNE 18THAlta Mons is located on Native American land. As the story goes, a long, long time ago the Shawnee Native Americans lived in this area. One day, there was a battle. A warrior was wounded and it was not believed that he would survive. His tribe left him to die peacefully by a natural spring (remember, hospitals didn't exist back then!) He began to drink the water and slowly he felt better. He cleaned his wounds and, after some time, was strong enough to walk back to his tribe. They were amazed! The waters must have healing properties. The tribe’s medicine man was so impressed with the warrior’s recovery and story that he returned to the spring to bring back some of this amazing healing water. The results were so good that the medicine man then began taking his sick and ailing patients to the spring to perform his healing rites. The spring site became almost a sacred shrine to the Shawnee of this area. We'll pick back up on this story another week....but this healing spring does still exist today!
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WEEK 3: PLAY |
RECREATE AND RE-CREATE: SUNDAY JUNE 21st
After a long and exciting time at the Roanoke River one afternoon, you and your unit start walking up the hill to start a new activity. You hear your new friend asking your counselors for hints as to what your next activity will be, and laugh as your counselor tells you all that “it’s a surprise!” (despite pulling out a key attached to a rubber fish, and holding a bag of bread). When your unit reaches the Dining Hall, a couple of campers rush in and grab a red playground ball, and as your unit refills their water bottles and rests their feet, a game begins right on the front porch: Four Square!
You rush to get in line behind a strip of duct tape. One of your new friends stations himself on the bench, declaring himself a referee.
Four Square rounds happen in short bursts that last around ten seconds, so you’ll be sure to get several rounds in before your group has to move on. You step up to the first square.
The girl in the king square serves the ball. The ball bounces once in square two. The boy beside you hits it to the far corner of your square. You dive and hit it underhand back to the king. Eventually the ball hits your sneakers, and you go to the back of the line, determined to give it another go. A couple rounds in, the ball rolls down the hill beside the Dining Hall, and the girl who just moved up to square two takes off running to get it before it rolls into the creek!
You’re about to step up the the square again. But your counselor, in their goofy socks and fanny pack, announces that “it’s time to go fishing!”, and that Four Square will be waiting for you before dinner. Your unit, thrilled to fish and canoe, rushes to deliver the ball back to its perch in the Dining Hall again. How a three minute game of Four Square became so exciting is a mystery, but it’s a game with no real beginning or ending, so you’re not worried about how you did.
At camp, play is all around us. From Monday night big games to lazy afternoons at the intersection to speedy rounds of Prince of Paris around the campfire, we believe that play helps restore our minds and bodies and open us up to what God is trying to tell us. Play lets our hearts run wild, gets our lungs pumping, and helps us see the beauty that is around us. This is intentional—we want campers to experience joy, laughter, and to live life fully as they grow closer with their counselors and fellow campers. As campers play, they learn more about who they are and who they want to be. They get to try out new roles and open their imaginations to new possibilities. Playing helps us see the good in the world and the God in the world.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to PLAY! Have a board game night, host a comedy show in your living room, or maybe even set up an at home Four Square court! To show us how much fun you had, send us a picture or video of you and/or your family playing! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org.
Make sure to send them in by Saturday, so we can play along too! If you need some ideas to get you started, here are the details on some popular camp games-- including Four Square!
FOUR SQUARE
A standard Four Square court is 10 feet square. We have one made with duct tape at the Dining Hall and a new one made with spray paint at the basketball courts. You can also use chalk for paved surfaces! Scroll to the bottom of this post to see a photo of our court.
At Alta Mons, the Four Square ball is a standard playground ball. It is possible to play the game with lighter alternatives, like rubber inflatable balls, for an extra challenge, but Four Square is typically played with a playground ball.
It’s easiest to play Four Square on a flat, level surface. It is possible to play on a slanted surface, but that will make some squares easier to play than others, so be sure to put the king square on the downhill side. It is very difficult to play on grass. If you have a paved patio, large sidewalk, or other flat surface outside, ask an adult if you can create a Four Square court there to play on.
NEVER make your Four Square court in a road, and avoid making it close to a road or busy parking lot; there is a chance that the ball could roll into a road. Always play with an adult present for this reason! If you have a home church that isn’t as busy as it used to be, call them and ask if you could make a Four Square court with chalk or tape in an empty section of their lot. If you know of a park with a tennis, volleyball, or basketball court, these places may also have flat surfaces for Four Square. It’s best to use chalk on these surfaces, because it is the least permanent option.
If you must play Four Square inside, consider making the squares smaller, and use a softer and lighter ball. Move all furniture out of the way and remove fragile things from the room, including monitors or picture frames. Always play underhand only while inside to avoid using too much force. It is better to play outside if you have any option to do so.
The Rules to Four Square:
1. Inside lines are out, outside lines are in.
2. The King serves and must serve to the person directly across from them.
3. You cannot pass back to the King on the serve.
4. If you hit the ball outside the court, you’re out.
5. One bounce per square.
6. When the King serves at least one of their feet must be behind the line in the King square.
7. All hits must be underhanded.
8. Underhanded is defined as your fingers must be pointing down.
9. Don’t argue with a counselor about being out—if kids argue, they’re out.
10. If you are standing in your square and the ball hits you, you are out.
11. If you are standing in your square and you catch the ball, you are out.
12. Older campers should be nice and polite towards younger elementary / mini campers!
FRISBEE
This one is usually pretty easy to start: if you have a frisbee, make a big circle and show off your throwing and catching skill! You can make up your own rules or challenges, too. Just avoid situations where you would be throwing directly at cars or windows, and try not to get the frisbee stuck on the roof (which happens at Camp Alta Mons very often). Do not play frisbee inside.
FIFTEENSIES (and other hide & seek variations)
Fifteensies is a fun hide & seek game for larger groups. Select a space that is safe to run through yet has good hiding spots, then pick someone to be “it”. they will count to 15 while everyone else hides. When the person who’s “it” opens their eyes, they will look to see if they can spot anyone. “It” may take 1 step and can turn in any direction. If someone is seen then they are out.
“It” then counts to 15 again. This time everyone must run, tag “it”, then hide again. This process continues with “it” counting to a lower number each time (15, 14, 13, 12, and so on), until there’s only one person left hiding. That person is the next “it”.
This game is best played in a wide open space with obstacles, like a park, or one large open room of a house (which would call for starting with a smaller number than 15).
If you must play inside, try Sardines in a Can for a very fun hide and seek alternative. One person hides while the rest count. When done counting, the search party splits up. The first person to find the hidden person must hide with them, and the next person as well, until all but the last person seeking are shoved into their hiding spot like, well, sardines in a can. The first person to find the hidden person is the next to hide.
You rush to get in line behind a strip of duct tape. One of your new friends stations himself on the bench, declaring himself a referee.
Four Square rounds happen in short bursts that last around ten seconds, so you’ll be sure to get several rounds in before your group has to move on. You step up to the first square.
The girl in the king square serves the ball. The ball bounces once in square two. The boy beside you hits it to the far corner of your square. You dive and hit it underhand back to the king. Eventually the ball hits your sneakers, and you go to the back of the line, determined to give it another go. A couple rounds in, the ball rolls down the hill beside the Dining Hall, and the girl who just moved up to square two takes off running to get it before it rolls into the creek!
You’re about to step up the the square again. But your counselor, in their goofy socks and fanny pack, announces that “it’s time to go fishing!”, and that Four Square will be waiting for you before dinner. Your unit, thrilled to fish and canoe, rushes to deliver the ball back to its perch in the Dining Hall again. How a three minute game of Four Square became so exciting is a mystery, but it’s a game with no real beginning or ending, so you’re not worried about how you did.
At camp, play is all around us. From Monday night big games to lazy afternoons at the intersection to speedy rounds of Prince of Paris around the campfire, we believe that play helps restore our minds and bodies and open us up to what God is trying to tell us. Play lets our hearts run wild, gets our lungs pumping, and helps us see the beauty that is around us. This is intentional—we want campers to experience joy, laughter, and to live life fully as they grow closer with their counselors and fellow campers. As campers play, they learn more about who they are and who they want to be. They get to try out new roles and open their imaginations to new possibilities. Playing helps us see the good in the world and the God in the world.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to PLAY! Have a board game night, host a comedy show in your living room, or maybe even set up an at home Four Square court! To show us how much fun you had, send us a picture or video of you and/or your family playing! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org.
Make sure to send them in by Saturday, so we can play along too! If you need some ideas to get you started, here are the details on some popular camp games-- including Four Square!
FOUR SQUARE
A standard Four Square court is 10 feet square. We have one made with duct tape at the Dining Hall and a new one made with spray paint at the basketball courts. You can also use chalk for paved surfaces! Scroll to the bottom of this post to see a photo of our court.
At Alta Mons, the Four Square ball is a standard playground ball. It is possible to play the game with lighter alternatives, like rubber inflatable balls, for an extra challenge, but Four Square is typically played with a playground ball.
It’s easiest to play Four Square on a flat, level surface. It is possible to play on a slanted surface, but that will make some squares easier to play than others, so be sure to put the king square on the downhill side. It is very difficult to play on grass. If you have a paved patio, large sidewalk, or other flat surface outside, ask an adult if you can create a Four Square court there to play on.
NEVER make your Four Square court in a road, and avoid making it close to a road or busy parking lot; there is a chance that the ball could roll into a road. Always play with an adult present for this reason! If you have a home church that isn’t as busy as it used to be, call them and ask if you could make a Four Square court with chalk or tape in an empty section of their lot. If you know of a park with a tennis, volleyball, or basketball court, these places may also have flat surfaces for Four Square. It’s best to use chalk on these surfaces, because it is the least permanent option.
If you must play Four Square inside, consider making the squares smaller, and use a softer and lighter ball. Move all furniture out of the way and remove fragile things from the room, including monitors or picture frames. Always play underhand only while inside to avoid using too much force. It is better to play outside if you have any option to do so.
The Rules to Four Square:
1. Inside lines are out, outside lines are in.
2. The King serves and must serve to the person directly across from them.
3. You cannot pass back to the King on the serve.
4. If you hit the ball outside the court, you’re out.
5. One bounce per square.
6. When the King serves at least one of their feet must be behind the line in the King square.
7. All hits must be underhanded.
8. Underhanded is defined as your fingers must be pointing down.
9. Don’t argue with a counselor about being out—if kids argue, they’re out.
10. If you are standing in your square and the ball hits you, you are out.
11. If you are standing in your square and you catch the ball, you are out.
12. Older campers should be nice and polite towards younger elementary / mini campers!
FRISBEE
This one is usually pretty easy to start: if you have a frisbee, make a big circle and show off your throwing and catching skill! You can make up your own rules or challenges, too. Just avoid situations where you would be throwing directly at cars or windows, and try not to get the frisbee stuck on the roof (which happens at Camp Alta Mons very often). Do not play frisbee inside.
FIFTEENSIES (and other hide & seek variations)
Fifteensies is a fun hide & seek game for larger groups. Select a space that is safe to run through yet has good hiding spots, then pick someone to be “it”. they will count to 15 while everyone else hides. When the person who’s “it” opens their eyes, they will look to see if they can spot anyone. “It” may take 1 step and can turn in any direction. If someone is seen then they are out.
“It” then counts to 15 again. This time everyone must run, tag “it”, then hide again. This process continues with “it” counting to a lower number each time (15, 14, 13, 12, and so on), until there’s only one person left hiding. That person is the next “it”.
This game is best played in a wide open space with obstacles, like a park, or one large open room of a house (which would call for starting with a smaller number than 15).
If you must play inside, try Sardines in a Can for a very fun hide and seek alternative. One person hides while the rest count. When done counting, the search party splits up. The first person to find the hidden person must hide with them, and the next person as well, until all but the last person seeking are shoved into their hiding spot like, well, sardines in a can. The first person to find the hidden person is the next to hide.
MORNING WATCH: MONDAY JUNE 22NDIt's time to play and to think about why we play! This week Pastor Brad and his son, Michael, bring us our Morning Watch message!
Discussion Questions: 1. What is your favorite way to play? 2. How do you feel when you play? 3. How do you see God when you play? |
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ORANGES AND PEPPERMINT STICKS: TUESDAY JUNE 23RDFor this snack, you'll just need 1 orange and 1 peppermint stick per person. We purchase our peppermint sticks at Cracker Barrel, but you can get them on Amazon if you can't find them at the grocery store. Knead your orange, create a hole, bite the ends of your peppermint stick, place your peppermint stick in the hole, and ENJOY!
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HIW TOUR: WEDNESDAY JUNE 24THThis week our HIW tour takes us to "The Clearing"-- a relatively new HIW site. Created during the summers of 2014 and 2015, The Clearing got its name from the amount of work that was required to clear this area. It is located at the home of the retired high ropes element "Jim's Limb" in Purgatory. You can still see the orange LEAP anchors on the tree! Some people try to call this site Purg 5, but they're silly. The Clearing was also home to our Thursday Night worship in 2016 where our leadership team created an electric start fire (inspired by Gary Heaton.) The Clearing also features a "fake tree" to tie up HIW tarps with.
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HISTORY TIME: THURSDAY JUNE 25THThe pool is a great place to play! Long ago, the Alta Mons pool was located across Purgatory Creek, right up against Christmas Tree Mountain. It was notoriously cold (it was fed by the creek) and a bit smaller than our current pool. In 1995, Elbert H. and Evelyn J. Waldron donated money to build a new pool and shower house. This gift has been enjoyed by many people of all ages in the years since. In 2014, we had the pool resurfaced and removed the racing lane lines. Check out the photos to see how the pool has changed over the years!
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WEEK 4: DING |
THREE BEARS AND A DING: SUNDAY JUNE 28TH
Camp is going great so far, but there is this one thing you don’t understand. It happens each night at dinner and you’re not even sure how to describe it. It’s tons of fun and the older campers and staff go wild, but what are they even saying? Or screaming? Doesn’t matter too much—after the commotion is over, dessert arrives! As the years go on, you come to realize they are singing about Goldie Locks and the 3 Bears. In fact, it’s kind of a rap. It’s pretty cool, bush gosh it’s hard to get all of those words down. Thankfully your counselors help you practice at the hogans and the other units even scream “DING!” for you. Eventually you become a camp counselor. Rivaling only “Hey Burrito” in popularity, this song is your anthem. You shout it loud and proud and at the top of your lungs. You know the words by heart and you sing it in your sleep. You’re careful not to wear a ring while doing the hand motions though—you remember the story where Meredith told you that Bert Ramsey broke his wedding ring while singing this song in 2011. So, just like high ropes, no rings for this one!
What do three bears and a ding have in common? If you have been a camper and/or staff member in the past twenty years you'll know the answer.
Campers spend years listening carefully and trying to figure out the words to the Dessert Song. It becomes a point of pride for returning campers to be able to sing all the words and get to teach their new friends.
What may seem like a ruckus is a soft spot in the hearts of our campers and staff. Just ask them how they felt when we decided to be healthy and stopped serving dessert at lunch a few years ago. The Dessert Song isn't just a Dining Hall tradition. Units who stay at the hogans sing the song together after eating dinner at their shelter. The last line ends with “BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE HUH!” Campers strain their ears trying to hear their neighbors yell “DING” in response.
The Dessert Song is about being silly. It’s about letting go of your inhibitions and letting yourself be free with your new and old camp friends. It’s about including everyone as they learn the words and celebrating when they finally get the hard part right. We do silly things like this at camp to help us remember that we are all children of God. We are all learning, growing, and discovering new things about ourselves, each other, and our faith all of the time. When we let ourselves be silly and get wrapped up in a song about three bears, it helps us grow closer with our friends and counselors. As we open up throughout the week, we share our best parts, our funny parts, and the parts of ourselves that we’re still working on. Together we lift each other up and help each other remember that we are all loved by God.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to sing this song with your family and make sure to have someone DING! at the end. To show us how much fun and silliness you had, send us a picture or video of you and/or your family singing! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org.
In the name of fun and shared experience, we are finally disclosing one of the greatest camp mysteries, the words to the Dessert Song. If you’re unsure of the beat—don’t worry! We have several example videos coming your way!
The Dessert Song/Three Bears Song:
*Bang/clap beat, start on a bang
Once upon a time in a nursery rhyme there were three bears
cha cha cha
They went a walkin’ in the woods and a talkin’
And along came a little girl with long flowin’ golden curls
Her name was Goldie Locks, up on the door she knocked
She didn't care, that no one was there
She walked right in
Home came those three bears
Someone's been eatin my porridge, said the Papa Bear, said the Papa Bear
Someone's been eatin my porridge, said the Mama Bear, said the Mama Bear
Hey Papa he-bear, said the little wee bear, someone has broken my chair, HUH!
Goldie Locks she woke up, she broke up, the party
She beat it outta there, she beat it outta there
Bye bye bye bye bye, said the Papa Bear, said the Papa Bear
Bye bye bye bye bye, said the Mama Bear, said the Mama Bear
Hey Papa he-bear, said the wee bear, bye bye bye bye bye bye bye, HUH!
DING***
Here are some 2015 Summer Staff trying their best to overcome Wi-Fi lag to perform The Dessert Song!
What do three bears and a ding have in common? If you have been a camper and/or staff member in the past twenty years you'll know the answer.
Campers spend years listening carefully and trying to figure out the words to the Dessert Song. It becomes a point of pride for returning campers to be able to sing all the words and get to teach their new friends.
What may seem like a ruckus is a soft spot in the hearts of our campers and staff. Just ask them how they felt when we decided to be healthy and stopped serving dessert at lunch a few years ago. The Dessert Song isn't just a Dining Hall tradition. Units who stay at the hogans sing the song together after eating dinner at their shelter. The last line ends with “BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE-BYE HUH!” Campers strain their ears trying to hear their neighbors yell “DING” in response.
The Dessert Song is about being silly. It’s about letting go of your inhibitions and letting yourself be free with your new and old camp friends. It’s about including everyone as they learn the words and celebrating when they finally get the hard part right. We do silly things like this at camp to help us remember that we are all children of God. We are all learning, growing, and discovering new things about ourselves, each other, and our faith all of the time. When we let ourselves be silly and get wrapped up in a song about three bears, it helps us grow closer with our friends and counselors. As we open up throughout the week, we share our best parts, our funny parts, and the parts of ourselves that we’re still working on. Together we lift each other up and help each other remember that we are all loved by God.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to sing this song with your family and make sure to have someone DING! at the end. To show us how much fun and silliness you had, send us a picture or video of you and/or your family singing! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org.
In the name of fun and shared experience, we are finally disclosing one of the greatest camp mysteries, the words to the Dessert Song. If you’re unsure of the beat—don’t worry! We have several example videos coming your way!
The Dessert Song/Three Bears Song:
*Bang/clap beat, start on a bang
Once upon a time in a nursery rhyme there were three bears
cha cha cha
They went a walkin’ in the woods and a talkin’
And along came a little girl with long flowin’ golden curls
Her name was Goldie Locks, up on the door she knocked
She didn't care, that no one was there
She walked right in
Home came those three bears
Someone's been eatin my porridge, said the Papa Bear, said the Papa Bear
Someone's been eatin my porridge, said the Mama Bear, said the Mama Bear
Hey Papa he-bear, said the little wee bear, someone has broken my chair, HUH!
Goldie Locks she woke up, she broke up, the party
She beat it outta there, she beat it outta there
Bye bye bye bye bye, said the Papa Bear, said the Papa Bear
Bye bye bye bye bye, said the Mama Bear, said the Mama Bear
Hey Papa he-bear, said the wee bear, bye bye bye bye bye bye bye, HUH!
DING***
Here are some 2015 Summer Staff trying their best to overcome Wi-Fi lag to perform The Dessert Song!
MORNING WATCH: MONDAY JUNE 29THWhat is sweet and comes after a ding? Dessert! Pastor Jeff Wilson of Huntington Church UMC in Roanoke shares his camp dance moves and a message of God's love.
Discussion Questions 1. How have you felt God's love? 2. Have you ever felt like you have to work to receive God's love? 3. What can you do this week to show God's love to those around you? |
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BROWNIES: TUESDAY JUNE 30TH1 and 1/3 cups softened butter
2 and 2/3 cups sugar 4 eggs 3 tsp vanilla 2 cups flour 1 cup cocoa 1/2 tsp salt Cream butter & sugar until light and fluffy Beat in eggs & vanilla Combine dry ingredients, gradually add to creamed mixture Pour into 13 x 9 pan; spread about 3/4 inch thick Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes in conventional oven (300 degrees F for 20-25 minutes in convection oven) |
HIW TOUR: WEDNESDAY JULY 1st
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This week we're "touring" Purg Site 1. "Purgatory" is the name given to the area where most of low ropes and many Home in the Woods sites are located. It's the low lying spot along Purgatory Creek, which was named this before the United Methodist Church purchased the property in 1957. Purg Site 1 has the benefit of being located very close to the porta potties, the retreat center, and Cindy (the tree where the food gets dropped off.) The downside of Purg Site 1 is that everyone sleeping at Purg Site 2 must walk through your site. This summer, we cleared some brush and weeds so that another flat spot for a tarp can exist outside of the walkway to Purg 2. We're excited for campers to check it out in 2021! Like the clearing, Purg 1 also features a "fake tree" to help hold the tarps up!
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HISTORY TIME: THURSDAY JULY 2NDCamp t-shirts help mark a camper's summer and hold memories that will last a lifetime. Over the years, Alta Mons has had many different shirts with many different themes. Each year our camper shirt correlates with the spiritual curriculum of the summer and includes artwork that reflects the message for the week. From Walking with Giants to Waters of Grace to Join the Party, we've been making shirts like this for over 20 years! In 2013, we decided to start tie dying our shirts and there's no going back now! Each week, campers tie-dye their shirt at the Craft Hut and receive their finished creation at lunch on Friday. After All Camp Swim, they change into their new t-shirts and wear them for our Closing Celebration at the Dining Hall. Speaking of which, who remembers when our Closing Celebration was at Shelter 3? If you were a camper from the mid-2000s through 2012 you likely do! Enjoy some photos from the past of Alta Mons Campers and Staff rockin' their t-shirts! Do you still have your camper t-shirts?
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WEEK 5: EXPLORE |
THE PLACES WE EXPLORE: SUNDAY JULY 5TH
It’s Wednesday morning and the week is flying by! From silly songs to Morning Watch to crafts to nature to fishing and beyond, camp is amazing. This morning your counselors announce that your unit is going creek hiking. You find your water shoes under your bunk, change into your bathing suit, and off you go!
As your unit enters the creek and starts walking, you realize that this could be a bigger endeavor than you originally planned for (much like walking up the Unit 8 hill—which you have now mastered…sort of…) The rocks are sometimes slick, the creek bottom is uneven, and overall, it’s a slow-moving process. Just as you’re beginning to lose interest, one of the kids in your unit spots a Great Blue Heron! Woah! As the loudness of your unit startles it and the beautiful bird takes flight right before your eyes, you think “Wow! This really is cool!” and it gives you the boost you need to keep going.
As your unit continues up the creek, you begin to see all sorts of new things. Cool looking plants, moss, rocks, and critters. Your mind begins to wander and think about your next steps. Do the kids in my unit really like me? Do my counselors think I’m cool? What role will I have in this week’s skit? Will people think I’m funny? These are just some of the questions that pop into your head as you make progress up the creek.
Gradually, the rocks in the creek get bigger and creek hiking turns into creek low ropes. Someone in your units says “That one rock is slippery and wobbles, step on the one slightly to your left,” and then “Grab my hand and then put your foot on that little ledge and I’ll help you up.” You start helping people too, and soon everyone is helping everyone else up and over some massive boulders. Wow. This is fun! Who knew that shy girl had such good tips on slippery rocks? And who knew the loud kid could provide such a steady hand to everyone as they make the big step from rock to rock?
As your creek hike comes to an end, you look around you and think “Wow, we’re a team. We can do things together. This feels good. And it feels like God’s here too. In the creek, in the birds, in the trees, and in the sky.”
When we leave the comfort of home, pack up our bags with butterflies in our tummies, and step into a new environment, something magical happens. We grow. We learn. We understand. We see differently. We explore. For many campers, camp is a new and unfamiliar environment. For even the most seasoned camper there are always new things to do and explore. Even though it is hard and scary to step out and do something new and be with new people, this is how we grow. If we never did anything different, we would never be different. Camp offers children the opportunity to explore themselves, their environment, and their relationship with God during their time at camp.
Camp is a place to try new things and hear different perspectives. What other place would you eat a crawdad out of the creek or perform a goofy rap at skit night?
Exploring is like trying on a new pair of shoes. You put them on and they may feel uncomfortable and clunky at first. Maybe you take them off and put on another pair. Then you start walking around. And if they really fit you, they feel good, you feel good. And people tend to notice. They might even comment on how confident you look in those new shoes. Those people help you see yourself and help you see that that new thing is you.
When we keep exploring, we become more comfortable with those new situations. The next time we are caught in a thunderstorm, we are prepared. The next time we get into an argument with a friend, we know what not to say because it went really bad last time. Our comfort zone gets bigger and those situations aren’t as bad as they used to be. Not only that, but when new situations come up, we have an idea of what we might do because it looks a bit like it did when you figured out how to get back into your car after being locked out.
We are always learning and growing. Camp offers an environment intentionally built and structured so that kids can explore themselves, their relationships with others, and their faith. What does it mean to be a Christian? Who is Jesus? Does He love me? These are just some of the questions that we try to explore with campers during a week at camp.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to get out and explore! Step into an environment where you can see the world differently and maybe even see yourself differently. Go on a hike. Look in the nooks and crannies of your backyard. Check out every street sign in your neighborhood. Explore a familiar place from a different perspective and see what you find! Share your exploration with us by sending us a picture or video of you and/or your family exploring! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org.
As your unit enters the creek and starts walking, you realize that this could be a bigger endeavor than you originally planned for (much like walking up the Unit 8 hill—which you have now mastered…sort of…) The rocks are sometimes slick, the creek bottom is uneven, and overall, it’s a slow-moving process. Just as you’re beginning to lose interest, one of the kids in your unit spots a Great Blue Heron! Woah! As the loudness of your unit startles it and the beautiful bird takes flight right before your eyes, you think “Wow! This really is cool!” and it gives you the boost you need to keep going.
As your unit continues up the creek, you begin to see all sorts of new things. Cool looking plants, moss, rocks, and critters. Your mind begins to wander and think about your next steps. Do the kids in my unit really like me? Do my counselors think I’m cool? What role will I have in this week’s skit? Will people think I’m funny? These are just some of the questions that pop into your head as you make progress up the creek.
Gradually, the rocks in the creek get bigger and creek hiking turns into creek low ropes. Someone in your units says “That one rock is slippery and wobbles, step on the one slightly to your left,” and then “Grab my hand and then put your foot on that little ledge and I’ll help you up.” You start helping people too, and soon everyone is helping everyone else up and over some massive boulders. Wow. This is fun! Who knew that shy girl had such good tips on slippery rocks? And who knew the loud kid could provide such a steady hand to everyone as they make the big step from rock to rock?
As your creek hike comes to an end, you look around you and think “Wow, we’re a team. We can do things together. This feels good. And it feels like God’s here too. In the creek, in the birds, in the trees, and in the sky.”
When we leave the comfort of home, pack up our bags with butterflies in our tummies, and step into a new environment, something magical happens. We grow. We learn. We understand. We see differently. We explore. For many campers, camp is a new and unfamiliar environment. For even the most seasoned camper there are always new things to do and explore. Even though it is hard and scary to step out and do something new and be with new people, this is how we grow. If we never did anything different, we would never be different. Camp offers children the opportunity to explore themselves, their environment, and their relationship with God during their time at camp.
Camp is a place to try new things and hear different perspectives. What other place would you eat a crawdad out of the creek or perform a goofy rap at skit night?
Exploring is like trying on a new pair of shoes. You put them on and they may feel uncomfortable and clunky at first. Maybe you take them off and put on another pair. Then you start walking around. And if they really fit you, they feel good, you feel good. And people tend to notice. They might even comment on how confident you look in those new shoes. Those people help you see yourself and help you see that that new thing is you.
When we keep exploring, we become more comfortable with those new situations. The next time we are caught in a thunderstorm, we are prepared. The next time we get into an argument with a friend, we know what not to say because it went really bad last time. Our comfort zone gets bigger and those situations aren’t as bad as they used to be. Not only that, but when new situations come up, we have an idea of what we might do because it looks a bit like it did when you figured out how to get back into your car after being locked out.
We are always learning and growing. Camp offers an environment intentionally built and structured so that kids can explore themselves, their relationships with others, and their faith. What does it mean to be a Christian? Who is Jesus? Does He love me? These are just some of the questions that we try to explore with campers during a week at camp.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to get out and explore! Step into an environment where you can see the world differently and maybe even see yourself differently. Go on a hike. Look in the nooks and crannies of your backyard. Check out every street sign in your neighborhood. Explore a familiar place from a different perspective and see what you find! Share your exploration with us by sending us a picture or video of you and/or your family exploring! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org.
MORNING WATCH: MONDAY JULY 6THPastor John Snyder and CIT Bennett Synder share their experience exploring at the falls.
Discussion Questions: 1. When is a time you have gone exploring? 2. What did you notice? 3. What did you notice about yourself? |
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NATURE WALK: TUESDAY JULY 7THGoing on a nature walk and exploring is all about noticing the small things, slowing down, and having fun! Check out this video for some fun tips on nature walking! Meredith and Taylor demonstrate how to explore a familiar place, Camp Alta Mons, with a new perspective! Make sure to pack a map, study shoes, and a great attitude! This week, we challenge you to explore your backyard, neighborhood, a local park, etc. and see what you can find! Have fun and send us some photos of your adventure!
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HIW TOUR: WEDNESDAY JULY 8THPurg Site 2. The most loved HIW site? Maybe so! Purg Site 2 features the ideal set-up: 2 flat tarp spots, not much grass, an amazing fire pit, and everyone can see your awesome site set-up from their wagon ride! Situated behind Purg 1 and parallel to the road, Purg Site 2 is rarely empty. A favorite of elementary units, this campsite has seen lots of campers through the very first HIW. Check out the photos and re-live your favorite Purg 2 memories!
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HISTORY TIME: THURSDAY JULY 9THStiles Falls, the 40 foot waterfall located on Alta Mons' property, has an interesting past. As the story goes, a confederate Civil War soldier Randy (Randolph) Stiles came to the Crockett Springs Resort one day. He hiked up to the waterfall with a group of people and decided to swing on the vines up at the falls to impress some ladies. The vine broke and he fell to his death. His younger brother visited Alta Mons sometime in the 1960s-1970s and told this story to camp staff. The waterfall has been known as Stiles Falls ever since! Today people travel from all over to see the falls and enjoy the beautiful scenery at Alta Mons.
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WEEK 6: BOND |
the bonds of camp, creation, and christ: SUNDAY JULY 12TH
It's Wednesday afternoon and you and your friends are on a mission. Your counselor told you to go find sticks that were thicker than your finger, but thinner than your arm. You and your new best friends, whom you only met four days ago, are on the hunt for the perfect sticks to start the fire that will cook your dinner tonight. After all, tonight is the best night of camp: Home in the Woods!
You find a good bundle of sticks, and take a break to look at a red newt one of your friends spotted under a rock. Then you head back through the woodsy trail to your campsite. Your counselor is hanging up the tarp you’ll sleep under tonight; the worship coordinator is building the fire; a CIT is telling riddles. Home in the Woods feels different from any other moment at camp. It feels like there is no schedule at all, no rush to be here or there. It’s the perfect time to tell your friends that story you’ve been meaning to spin, or go catch crawdads in the creek before dinner.
Time passes slowly, and eventually you make your silver turtle for dinner, all wrapped in foil and shaped like a flamingo or a chocolate kiss. Now it’s time to sit next to your friends around the fire and talk about who’s going to win the spirit paddle, and what your skit is going to be. Your counselor serves your food and it is AMAZING!
When the lightning bugs come out, it’s time for a wagon ride. All of your unit packs together on the wagon and sees all of Alta Mons, from the Roanoke River to the falls trail, and then stops to hear a story about a boy named Willie Jack. You shout and sing on the way back to your campsite; the moon is out now, and the stars are dazzling.
Home in the Woods night is one of the most special parts of a week at Camp Alta Mons. Part of what makes it special is the once-a-year dinner of silver turtles, the wagon ride, the tarps and the sounds of the night around you as you sleep. But what makes it the most special is the people you spend it with.
You met your unit on Sunday evening during check-in. Usually they are like strangers at first. Getting to know your new friends can make you nervous and can take a long time. But soon, by Wednesday night, when everyone crowds around the fire pointing at their meals, and your tarp-mates take off their smelly socks before bed, these strangers have become your family!
Nothing quite says “family” like building a rock bridge across the creek so that no one will get their sneakers wet. Nothing quite says “friendship” more than making a s’more with your friend’s stick they’re sharing with you. There’s nothing more special than a sleepover in the woods, surrounded by trees and the sound of the stream, giggling with your pals until midnight. Home in the Woods is the time to bond with your new camp family, and to be in communion with God’s creation. It’s a time to reflect on all of the things you may have thought were impossible, but through teamwork, companionship, and the strength God gave you, you were able to accomplish.
It’s the community that makes Home in the Woods night so special, which is why it’s possible to do it at home. While Home in the Woods at Alta Mons is beautiful and memorable, you can build the same memories in your living room or in your backyard, as long as you spend it with the people you call family!
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to bond with your family and friends! One night this week, do Home in the Woods or Home in the Living Room or Home in the Yard! Spend some intentional time together with your family, away from electronics, and sleep somewhere different! You can even make silver turtles together for dinner! Share your night with us by sending us a picture or video of you and/or your family bonding! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org
You find a good bundle of sticks, and take a break to look at a red newt one of your friends spotted under a rock. Then you head back through the woodsy trail to your campsite. Your counselor is hanging up the tarp you’ll sleep under tonight; the worship coordinator is building the fire; a CIT is telling riddles. Home in the Woods feels different from any other moment at camp. It feels like there is no schedule at all, no rush to be here or there. It’s the perfect time to tell your friends that story you’ve been meaning to spin, or go catch crawdads in the creek before dinner.
Time passes slowly, and eventually you make your silver turtle for dinner, all wrapped in foil and shaped like a flamingo or a chocolate kiss. Now it’s time to sit next to your friends around the fire and talk about who’s going to win the spirit paddle, and what your skit is going to be. Your counselor serves your food and it is AMAZING!
When the lightning bugs come out, it’s time for a wagon ride. All of your unit packs together on the wagon and sees all of Alta Mons, from the Roanoke River to the falls trail, and then stops to hear a story about a boy named Willie Jack. You shout and sing on the way back to your campsite; the moon is out now, and the stars are dazzling.
Home in the Woods night is one of the most special parts of a week at Camp Alta Mons. Part of what makes it special is the once-a-year dinner of silver turtles, the wagon ride, the tarps and the sounds of the night around you as you sleep. But what makes it the most special is the people you spend it with.
You met your unit on Sunday evening during check-in. Usually they are like strangers at first. Getting to know your new friends can make you nervous and can take a long time. But soon, by Wednesday night, when everyone crowds around the fire pointing at their meals, and your tarp-mates take off their smelly socks before bed, these strangers have become your family!
Nothing quite says “family” like building a rock bridge across the creek so that no one will get their sneakers wet. Nothing quite says “friendship” more than making a s’more with your friend’s stick they’re sharing with you. There’s nothing more special than a sleepover in the woods, surrounded by trees and the sound of the stream, giggling with your pals until midnight. Home in the Woods is the time to bond with your new camp family, and to be in communion with God’s creation. It’s a time to reflect on all of the things you may have thought were impossible, but through teamwork, companionship, and the strength God gave you, you were able to accomplish.
It’s the community that makes Home in the Woods night so special, which is why it’s possible to do it at home. While Home in the Woods at Alta Mons is beautiful and memorable, you can build the same memories in your living room or in your backyard, as long as you spend it with the people you call family!
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to bond with your family and friends! One night this week, do Home in the Woods or Home in the Living Room or Home in the Yard! Spend some intentional time together with your family, away from electronics, and sleep somewhere different! You can even make silver turtles together for dinner! Share your night with us by sending us a picture or video of you and/or your family bonding! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org
MORNING WATCH: MONDAY JULY 13THThis week Pastor Alan Combs shares a message about the bonds that we have as Christians and how we can strengthen those bonds during this time.
Discussion Questions: 1. What are some ways that you like bonding with other people? 2. How can you encourage someone this week and show them love? 3. How can you connect with a Christian community this week? |
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SET UP TARPS FOR HIW: TUESDAY JULY 14THThis week we're challenging you to do Home in the Woods (HIW) @ Home! This video will tell you all about how to set up your tarps and HIW site! You will need:
-2 tarps -twine or rope -scissors or a knife -a buddy -pillow -sleeping bag -favorite furry friend (optional, but encouraged!) |
MAKE SILVER TURTLES (BONUS CONTENT!): WEDNESDAY JULY 15THThis video will tell you all about how to make silver turtles (and s'mores!) You will need:
-aluminum foil -butter -vegetables (potatoes, peppers, carrots, onions, etc.) -meat or veggie patty -salt -pepper -BBQ sauce and/or other seasonings of your choice -fire and grate (you can also make them in the oven!) -fire gloves -fork -gloves to handle food with |
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HIW TOUR: WEDNESDAY JULY 15THThe Adventure Site is often the spot that every junior high unit is vying for. Way back near the falls, this site is the perfect location for HIW. It's got plenty of downed trees for firewood, Purgatory Creek runs right past it, there are tons of trees to hammock from, the porta potty is close by, and the Adventure Cabin makes a great rain location in a pinch. The only downside-- it's nearly a mile from the Dining Hall. The Adventure Site is always picked early in the week (by lashing a cross and placing it in the fire pit) and never spends a HIW night empty. What's your favorite thing about the Adventure Site?
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HISTORY TIME: THURSDAY JULY 16TH
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This week for History Time, we're diving into our Small Group Christian Camping roots. Alta Mons credits Gary Heaton (former Crockett Springs UMC pastor & Alta Mons Camp Director) with bringing this methodology to our camp program. Beginning in the summer of 1990, Alta Mons transitioned towards the model based on the book "Camping Together As Christians" by Ruth and John Ensign (John was the long time Director at Camp Hanover in Mechanicsville, VA.) Small Group Christian Camping meant that campers were divided into groups (called "units") and did everything together throughout the week. From picking their schedule to going to the pool to selecting a Home in the Woods site, everything was done together. Even the concept of Home in the Woods is a part of Small Group Christian Camping!
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WEEK 7: WILLIE JACK |
AN HONEST AND HARD WORKER: SUNDAY JULY 19TH
The sunlight hits your face as you squint and roll over. You accidentally roll into someone else and scoot back a bit. “Good morning, it’s time to wake up!” “Already?” You think. You sit up to see the sun’s rays filtering through the trees and the sleepy faces of your fellow campers. Happy Home in the Woods morning. It looks like some kids are walking back with something. It’s breakfast: bagels, peanut butter, cream cheese, milk, cereal, and grapes. You all sit on logs around the firepit and sing grace before eating. You are about to get up, when your counselor asks everyone to stay seated around the firepit; you’re going to have Morning Watch. “Where’s DJ?” someone asks. “It’ll be just us this morning,” your counselor says. She asks how you have seen God in nature? “The stars.” “The lightning bugs.” “The little frogs.” As you go about your day today, she challenges you to look for God in other people. Look for the moments when people are kind, honest, hard working, giving, and selfless.
Then off you go packing up Home in the Woods. You struggle forever trying to roll up your sleeping bag, ‘til Macey comes over and helps you. Then you all fold up the gigantic tarp. You walk around the campsite looking for trash. Robert offers to carry the trash you found. Everyone gathers all of their things in their arms to walk back to the cabins. You can’t figure out how to carry your sleeping bag, pillow, and Puppy all at the same time. Patrick says he will carry your pillow for you, and Mary’s pillow, Jenna’s blanket, and Deon’s backpack. Wow. CITs are so strong!
Willie Jack is more than a fictional character in a story. And much more than a scary old man meant to keep you up at night. Willie Jack is the spirit of Camp Alta Mons. At one point or another we are all Willie Jack. When we decide to be helpful or take extra time to benefit someone else, we are Willie Jack. Much of the magic in camp is in how we serve one another and how we give without expecting anything in return. It is that moment when you offer your stick to the kid who couldn’t find a good one. And when you agree to walk down to the bathroom with a friend who is scared. And when your counselor keeps reading until they are sure everyone is asleep. The way you give doesn’t have to be big or grand. What matters is why you choose to give.
We call this way of living servant leadership. Modeling after Jesus, we want to lead others by serving them. John 15:13 says it this way, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” It is our hope that at camp, campers have the opportunity to give love and receive love in this way.
In our stories, Willie Jack goes on journeys plain or exciting, but in the end it is his honesty and hardwork that carries him through. When we say we saw Willie Jack walking around, we mean we saw the person who collected tinder for everyone’s Home in the Woods site or created a new fun Winter Camp activity. Willie Jack doesn’t just exist in a story. Willie Jack is inside us all.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to do a good deed for someone! It can be for a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or a stranger! Big or small, doesn't matter what it is, but find something that you can do to make someone's day brighter and kinder. Share your story with us by sending us a picture, video, or message about your good deed! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org
Then off you go packing up Home in the Woods. You struggle forever trying to roll up your sleeping bag, ‘til Macey comes over and helps you. Then you all fold up the gigantic tarp. You walk around the campsite looking for trash. Robert offers to carry the trash you found. Everyone gathers all of their things in their arms to walk back to the cabins. You can’t figure out how to carry your sleeping bag, pillow, and Puppy all at the same time. Patrick says he will carry your pillow for you, and Mary’s pillow, Jenna’s blanket, and Deon’s backpack. Wow. CITs are so strong!
Willie Jack is more than a fictional character in a story. And much more than a scary old man meant to keep you up at night. Willie Jack is the spirit of Camp Alta Mons. At one point or another we are all Willie Jack. When we decide to be helpful or take extra time to benefit someone else, we are Willie Jack. Much of the magic in camp is in how we serve one another and how we give without expecting anything in return. It is that moment when you offer your stick to the kid who couldn’t find a good one. And when you agree to walk down to the bathroom with a friend who is scared. And when your counselor keeps reading until they are sure everyone is asleep. The way you give doesn’t have to be big or grand. What matters is why you choose to give.
We call this way of living servant leadership. Modeling after Jesus, we want to lead others by serving them. John 15:13 says it this way, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” It is our hope that at camp, campers have the opportunity to give love and receive love in this way.
In our stories, Willie Jack goes on journeys plain or exciting, but in the end it is his honesty and hardwork that carries him through. When we say we saw Willie Jack walking around, we mean we saw the person who collected tinder for everyone’s Home in the Woods site or created a new fun Winter Camp activity. Willie Jack doesn’t just exist in a story. Willie Jack is inside us all.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to do a good deed for someone! It can be for a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or a stranger! Big or small, doesn't matter what it is, but find something that you can do to make someone's day brighter and kinder. Share your story with us by sending us a picture, video, or message about your good deed! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org
MORNING WATCH: MONDAY JULY 20THThis week our Morning Watch is led by Pastor Mike Sanborn. Mike was a Chaplain at Alta Mons 2012-2014 and retired from Park UMC in Christiansburg, VA. This week he talks with us about servant leadership and
Discussion Questions: 1. When has work been fun? 2. How can you give to the people around you? 3. What do those around you need? |
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willie jack story: tuesday july 21stThis week find some time to settle down and listen to a Willie Jack story! If you'd rather read it out loud, click on the link below for the text outline to this Willie Jack story! If you're interested in creating your own story, follow this basic outline:
-Start with: "Let me tell you a story about a boy named Willie Jack. He's about your age and he's an honest and hard worker!" -Struggles often happen to Willie Jack in 3's-- make sure that he tries and fails at something 3 times before getting frustrated and figuring it out. -Repetition is key to a good Willie Jack story! -Time is relevant in a Willie Jack story; both the Crockett Springs Resort and Camp Alta Mons tend to simultaneously exist in these tales. |
hiw tour: wednesday july 22ndThis week for our HIW tour, we're featuring the most Willie Jack site: the Back 400! On a clear night, you can see tons of stars and the Milky Way! The Back 400 is often hot and sunny during dinner and then perfect as the sky changes from day to night. In June and July you can even see the lightning bugs on Christmas Tree Mountain out and about! The Back 400 site is also a favorite spot for a Willie Jack story. What's your favorite HIW Back 400 memory?
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history time: thursday july 23rdThis week for History Time we're talking about the Willie Jack Cabin! Part of the Crockett Springs Resort (1889 to 1940), this cabin is the only remaining building left at Alta Mons that was part of the Crockett Springs Resort. It was once a retreat cabin for guests and then later the caretaker's cabin. The story goes that the caretaker was named Willie Jack and one winter he became ill and froze to death in the cabin. Other staff at the Crockett Springs Resort found him dead, but when they left to go get help and came back, his body was gone. This started "ghost stories" and tales of a haunted cabin. If you were a camper in the 1980s and early 1990s you may remember these tales. When Director Bob Giesy arrived at Alta Mons in 1996, he changed Willie Jack stories from scary stories to stories about a young boy who worked hard and tried his best. This is how modern day Willie Jack stories got their start! Bob based his stories off of Jack Tales (European Folk Tales) and ever since then, staff have been building off those legends to create our current Willie Jack stories.
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WEEK 8: TOGETHER |
WHEN THE WHOLE CAMP GETS TOGETHER: SUNDAY JULY 26TH
As you lazily walk up the hill to the Dining Hall, you're sad that your time at camp is coming to a close. It's been a great week and you can hardly believe it's Thursday evening and it's time for dinner! As you make your way to the four square court to wait for the dinner bell, you notice that it seems like EVERYONE is there. From Unit 1 to Unit 10, it seems like everyone is represented! Tonight should be good-- it's always more fun when everyone is in the Dining Hall.
As the bell rings to line up for dinner, you notice that it's kind of hard for everyone to fit on the four square court in their usual spot. The junior high kids nicely move out into the yard and soon the Program Coordinator is asking the counselors if all of their campers are there. As soon as they release the counselors to go inside, the fun starts! From smelliest shoe to craziest afternoon adventure, it's so fun to be with everyone and hear about their day at camp. As you all shout "Counselors to your tables, please!" and the counselors pretend to not hear you, you smile a bit, just because. Camp is a fun place, and it's even better when you're together.
As you make your way into the Dining Hall, it's the usual: controlled chaos. The Ropes and Trips Coordinators are in weird matching scuba outfits and you see someone else stashing some shaving cream in a mail tin. All of the kids are hyped up and hungry, and as soon as you finally make your way to your seat and sing grace, you start passing ALL of the taco toppings. Salsa, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, rice, corn, black beans-- you name it, it's there! As you bite into your taco, Unit 9 starts shouting their new self-proclaimed anthem, "Hey Potato!" (a variation on Hey Burrito!) and then the Unit 7 and 8 counselors loudly begin a rousing chorus of "Hey Burrito!" and ALL of the elementary campers shout the words at the top of their lungs. Things like this continue on and off throughout the meal (the staff table also joins in with the ABCs song to the beat of "We Will Rock You"...it's oddly genius) and soon it's time for everyone to sing Father Abraham. As you lean your head back, stick your tongue out, turn around, and sit down, you know that camp is better together.
After dinner, things get even more interesting. Skit Night starts in 20 minutes and it's obvious that some people aren't prepared. From last minute skit rehearsals to face painting to moving chairs down to the Elementary Chapel, the Dining Hall is filled with excitement and the rushing around of coordinators. As you make your way down the hill and line up at 7 PM sharp, you see a CIT hiding a teddy bear and a bowl of corn inside their book bag. What in the world? You can't wait to share your skit with all of camp-- it's pretty funny. Your unit practiced right before dinner and everyone knows their line!
As skit night unfolds, you laugh until you cry, you narrowly avoid some applesauce, and you see the joy of camp in the faces of the people around you. Everyone is there and everyone has a part. From the kind of homesick kid to the loud kid to the crazy staff members to the goofy Program Director, it warms your heart to sit on the hill with everyone at camp and see a bit of their week through Skit Night. As the Program and Resource Coordinators wrap up skit night with their messy skit, you can barely wait until next year to do it all again.
When the whole camp is together, you feel like nothing could be better. No one is busy getting from one place to another, running errands for another unit, or even worrying about what's going on somewhere else because everyone is right there. The staff laugh and tell you about their inside jokes and you get to show your unit spirit to the whole camp. It's fun to see the other campers too and to hear about what they've been up to that week. You see your counselors from years past and hanging out with the coordinators is pretty fun too. Being together reminds you that God is so present in each and everyone of the people at camp, and it gives you peace knowing that you're part of this giant, crazy family called Camp Alta Mons.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to do something fun together with your family! It can be a board game night, comedy act, skit production, or whatever else you dream up! Spend some time intentionally having fun and laughing with your family. Share your story with us by sending us a picture, video, or message about your time together! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org
As the bell rings to line up for dinner, you notice that it's kind of hard for everyone to fit on the four square court in their usual spot. The junior high kids nicely move out into the yard and soon the Program Coordinator is asking the counselors if all of their campers are there. As soon as they release the counselors to go inside, the fun starts! From smelliest shoe to craziest afternoon adventure, it's so fun to be with everyone and hear about their day at camp. As you all shout "Counselors to your tables, please!" and the counselors pretend to not hear you, you smile a bit, just because. Camp is a fun place, and it's even better when you're together.
As you make your way into the Dining Hall, it's the usual: controlled chaos. The Ropes and Trips Coordinators are in weird matching scuba outfits and you see someone else stashing some shaving cream in a mail tin. All of the kids are hyped up and hungry, and as soon as you finally make your way to your seat and sing grace, you start passing ALL of the taco toppings. Salsa, cheese, sour cream, tomatoes, rice, corn, black beans-- you name it, it's there! As you bite into your taco, Unit 9 starts shouting their new self-proclaimed anthem, "Hey Potato!" (a variation on Hey Burrito!) and then the Unit 7 and 8 counselors loudly begin a rousing chorus of "Hey Burrito!" and ALL of the elementary campers shout the words at the top of their lungs. Things like this continue on and off throughout the meal (the staff table also joins in with the ABCs song to the beat of "We Will Rock You"...it's oddly genius) and soon it's time for everyone to sing Father Abraham. As you lean your head back, stick your tongue out, turn around, and sit down, you know that camp is better together.
After dinner, things get even more interesting. Skit Night starts in 20 minutes and it's obvious that some people aren't prepared. From last minute skit rehearsals to face painting to moving chairs down to the Elementary Chapel, the Dining Hall is filled with excitement and the rushing around of coordinators. As you make your way down the hill and line up at 7 PM sharp, you see a CIT hiding a teddy bear and a bowl of corn inside their book bag. What in the world? You can't wait to share your skit with all of camp-- it's pretty funny. Your unit practiced right before dinner and everyone knows their line!
As skit night unfolds, you laugh until you cry, you narrowly avoid some applesauce, and you see the joy of camp in the faces of the people around you. Everyone is there and everyone has a part. From the kind of homesick kid to the loud kid to the crazy staff members to the goofy Program Director, it warms your heart to sit on the hill with everyone at camp and see a bit of their week through Skit Night. As the Program and Resource Coordinators wrap up skit night with their messy skit, you can barely wait until next year to do it all again.
When the whole camp is together, you feel like nothing could be better. No one is busy getting from one place to another, running errands for another unit, or even worrying about what's going on somewhere else because everyone is right there. The staff laugh and tell you about their inside jokes and you get to show your unit spirit to the whole camp. It's fun to see the other campers too and to hear about what they've been up to that week. You see your counselors from years past and hanging out with the coordinators is pretty fun too. Being together reminds you that God is so present in each and everyone of the people at camp, and it gives you peace knowing that you're part of this giant, crazy family called Camp Alta Mons.
This week for your Camp @ Home challenge, we challenge you to do something fun together with your family! It can be a board game night, comedy act, skit production, or whatever else you dream up! Spend some time intentionally having fun and laughing with your family. Share your story with us by sending us a picture, video, or message about your time together! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org
MORNING WATCH: MONDAY JULY 27THThis week our Morning Watch is led by Pastor Robert Stutes at Mount Pleasant UMC in Roanoke. This week we're talking about being together and the gift that is Christian community!
Discussion Questions: 1. What is one of the best things about having alone time? 2. What is one of the best things about having together time? 3. What is one new thing that you can do this week for together time and can you invite Jesus? |
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HOW TO SKIT TOK: TUESDAY JULY 28THSkit Night is a treasured part of Summer Camp and this week we're challenging you to bring silly skits and laughs into your home! Watch this video for some "short versions" (TikToks) of some classic camp skits. Here is a list of some 2-4 person skits that might help get you started with your in-home performance! Remember, changing clothes = you're a different person!
-Creamy Foamy -Fluff & Jelly -The Duck Song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtN1YnoL46Q) -JC Penney -Doctor's Office -Invisible Bench -Candy Shop -The Wee Skit -The Forgiveness Cup -Staff Fridge (Taylor eating cookies with a spoon) -anything else you dream up! |
HIW TOUR: WEDNESDAY JULY 29THThis week we're featuring Purg Site 3 for our HIW Tour! Purg Site 3 is also a popular spot-- it's got 2 great spots for tarps, an amazing fire pit, and it's right beside several low ropes elements! The downsides are that it's further walk for carrying your food and to go to the bathroom. Purg Site 3 is home to many HIW memories and stories. What's your favorite thing about Purg Site 3?
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HISTORY TIME: THURSDAY JULY 30THThis week for History Time, we're diving way back in time. Remember that wounded Shawnee warrior from Week 2? Well, soon after his miraculous recovery word started to spread about the healing waters in this valley. Eventually, the land was purchased by Europeans and they formed the Crockett Springs Bottling Company. They shipped water from the spring (named the Crockett Spring after the Crockett family) all over the world! To go along with the healing water, a hotel and several cabins were built to serve as a place of retreat and healing. Many rich people would leave the hot cities for the cool and calm of the country during the summer. The hotel was thriving and then the Great Depression hit. It fell into disrepair and the land exchanged hands several times before the Roanoke District (Week 1 history post!) purchased the land in 1957 to create a District Camp and Retreat Center-- Alta Mons.
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WEEK 9: LOVED |
YOU ARE LOVED: SUNDAY AUGUST 2ND
As skit night ends and the transition to Thursday night worship begins, you know that the tone of the evening has changed. From wacky, tacky fun to what feels like a more serious and reverent mood, it's almost time to circle around the campfire and have one last worship service together. After the Worship Coordinator opens the evening in prayer, you all stand in a circle and sing about the love of God. As you sing, you find that those words of love, grace, hope, and community resonant in your heart as you look up at the mountains and around at the people in the circle. Wow, what a week it's been. From creek hiking to high ropes to canoeing to the dessert song, you've had a great week together. You've made memories and bonds that will last a lifetime, and you've also learned a good bit about your faith and where you see God in the world around you and within yourself and others.
After the chaplain gives the message, they invite you to take communion. They explain that this is one way we can all be united in Christ and that communion is something we do to remember what Jesus did for us. As you're given the opportunity to take communion, you decide to go for it. You know it's optional and that it's your choice, and something inside you yearns to be a part of this community of Christians that extends far beyond the boundaries of Camp Alta Mons. As you dip the bread into the grape juice and eat it, you feel connected God and you smile, knowing that He is here with you.
As worship wraps up and the final prayer is said, the Cookout Coordinator steps up and offers some preacher cookies to everyone. You take one and bite into the most delicious snack you've ever tasted. Ooey gooey peanut butter and chocolate fills your mouth and you know that tonight is a good night. As you gather with your unit and debrief worship, you look up at the stars in the Back 400 and you know that you are so loved. So loved by your friends, your counselors, the camp staff, and most importantly, by God.
On Thursday night we share the joy of the gospel with our campers, which can be pretty powerful for kids. Snack time in that space afterwards allows campers time to hug a friend and chat with their counselors about what they are experiencing. It's a time for them to celebrate their week, make the most of their last night at camp, and ask the questions they've been wanting and waiting to ask all week. It's our goal to let every camper at Alta Mons know that they are loved and we hope that this message is especially clear on Thursday nights. So maybe there is a lot more in a preacher cookie than just butter, sugar, and oats. There are hints of friendship, compassion, and belonging.
Thanks for unpacking all these camp traditions with us! For your final challenge, we want to give you the opportunity to experience a bit of worship yourself.
Worship is one of those funny church words that we often don’t really know what it means. For today worship is going to mean being with God. We want you to have the opportunity to be with God and feel God’s love. Your challenge: Like a candle and sing a worship song. If you need help thinking of a song or want to sing a camp song, check out our worship songs playlist! youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlVl8jIia-DCmR1SMIFoqntuyYrGvvQlq
Share your story with us by sending us a picture, video, or message about your time of reflection! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org
After the chaplain gives the message, they invite you to take communion. They explain that this is one way we can all be united in Christ and that communion is something we do to remember what Jesus did for us. As you're given the opportunity to take communion, you decide to go for it. You know it's optional and that it's your choice, and something inside you yearns to be a part of this community of Christians that extends far beyond the boundaries of Camp Alta Mons. As you dip the bread into the grape juice and eat it, you feel connected God and you smile, knowing that He is here with you.
As worship wraps up and the final prayer is said, the Cookout Coordinator steps up and offers some preacher cookies to everyone. You take one and bite into the most delicious snack you've ever tasted. Ooey gooey peanut butter and chocolate fills your mouth and you know that tonight is a good night. As you gather with your unit and debrief worship, you look up at the stars in the Back 400 and you know that you are so loved. So loved by your friends, your counselors, the camp staff, and most importantly, by God.
On Thursday night we share the joy of the gospel with our campers, which can be pretty powerful for kids. Snack time in that space afterwards allows campers time to hug a friend and chat with their counselors about what they are experiencing. It's a time for them to celebrate their week, make the most of their last night at camp, and ask the questions they've been wanting and waiting to ask all week. It's our goal to let every camper at Alta Mons know that they are loved and we hope that this message is especially clear on Thursday nights. So maybe there is a lot more in a preacher cookie than just butter, sugar, and oats. There are hints of friendship, compassion, and belonging.
Thanks for unpacking all these camp traditions with us! For your final challenge, we want to give you the opportunity to experience a bit of worship yourself.
Worship is one of those funny church words that we often don’t really know what it means. For today worship is going to mean being with God. We want you to have the opportunity to be with God and feel God’s love. Your challenge: Like a candle and sing a worship song. If you need help thinking of a song or want to sing a camp song, check out our worship songs playlist! youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlVl8jIia-DCmR1SMIFoqntuyYrGvvQlq
Share your story with us by sending us a picture, video, or message about your time of reflection! Share it with us by using #AltaMonsCampatHome and emailing it to program@altamons.org
MORNING WATCH: MONDAY AUGUST 3RDAmanda Garber of RISE (a UMC Faith Community) gives our final Morning Watch message this week. She talks about the love of God that has for us and the fact that nothing can separate you from God's love for each and everyone of us. Watch until the very end for a special surprise!
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HOW TO MAKE PREACHER COOKIES: TUESDAY AUGUST 4THThis video will teach you how to make our famous Camp Alta Mons Preacher Cookies! You'll need the following:
-2 cups sugar -1/4 cup cocoa -1/2 cup milk -1 standard size stick of butter/margarine (1 stick = 1/4 pound!) -1 tbsp vanilla -a pinch of salt -1/2 cup peanut butter -2 and 1/2 cups of oats Other useful items: -wax paper / silicone baking mat -ice cream scoop -spoon / spatula -large pot -a stove top! |
HIW TOUR: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5THThis week for our final HIW site tour, we're checking out Purg Site 4! Purg Site 4 is located near all of the other Purg sites, but across the creek. Staying here requires that everyone carry their sleeping bags, pillows, food, and supplies across the creek to set up the site. This is sometimes difficult, but does make creek play a super fun and easy activity for HIW evening. Purg Site 4 is isolated and beautiful. It's also rather flat and ideal for tarp set up. We've included a map of the Purg Sites to help you determine it's location-- it can be tricky! Have you ever stayed at Purg Site 4?
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HISTORY TIME: THURSDAY AUGUST 6THThis week for history time, we're exploring Crockett Springs UMC. This church is one of the 69 churches in the Roanoke District that supports Alta Mons. It was founded in 1978 as 2 other churches, Piedmont UMC and Alleghany Springs UMC, merged together. The Reverend Emory Tarpley served as the first pastor of Crockett Springs UMC and for many years the pastor at this church was also the Summer Camp Director at Alta Mons. Gary Heaton (1990-1993) and C. Russell Davis (1993-1996) both served Crockett Springs UMC and Alta Mons in this way and lived in the parsonage, now called Cedar View, at Alta Mons. Bob Giesy began as the first full time Director of Alta Mons in the fall of 1995.
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