Camp Report 2008
We wanted to take a moment and thank everyone in the Rocky Mountain Booster Club for their support and participation with Colorado Camp 2008. We had another great year ...hard to believe this was our 14th summer and our 20th camp!
In fact, statistically speaking we had our best camp ever. According to Winston and Mary – Sonlight’s wonderful proprietors/directors, who keep meticulous records on us each year – we had fewer injuries, less visits to the camp nurse, required less Tylenol, drank more water and ate better than any other year of camp. In short, we had the healthiest and happiest year on record.
We were able to add a few new items this year to the list of perennial camp favorites... the foam mountain on the slip-n-slide was a big hit. Also, the kids rejoiced in the opportunity to experience the legendary MUD PIT this year. Thanks in part to bountiful rainfall. Many campers had only heard stories – rumors actually – about the “mud pit” so shrouded in mystery that it was only spoken of by graduated campers from days-gone-by in hushed and reverent tones. We know the moms probably were not too thrilled with the muddy laundry afterwards, but the kids sure loved it!
One of the special moments of this year’s camp was the final midnight devotional with the senior campers and camp friends on the mountain. It was a wonderful conclusion for our Bible study theme: Trust Walk – Learning What it Means to Walk By Faith.
We appreciate Florida College sending us four outstanding college representatives this year: Jared Acuff (who specifically requested to return to Colorado Camp because he enjoyed working with us so much), Caleb Churchill, Christine Hubbard, and Heidi Wickersheim. Their work was simply "above and beyond" the call of duty.
We also want to thank our "Adult" counselors: Chad Hymel, Lorenzo and Lauren Gonzalez, and Dennisa Cowley. We want to thank you for everything that you contributed and everything that you are. And we want to especially thank and praise our wonderful, amazing co-directors: Rob and Maureen Taylor (We really wish you could see these guys in action!) Their enthusiasm, cooperation, friendliness, and leadership are such a godly example. Thanks for being "on board" and sharing the load as you always do.
We may be a “small” camp but we are a strong camp. Over the years our quality has proven true. Year after year, Colorado Camp has sent outstanding young people to Florida College. These young people have shown themselves to be spiritually strong and have demonstrated leadership at every level. From Camp to Campus, Colorado-campers-turned-Florida-College-students have been involved as class officers, camp “Friends,” society officers, musical “Friends,” and Dean’s List honorees. Not to mention the numerous campers-turned-students who have simply grown and matured and taken full advantage of the spiritual and educational opportunities Florida College has to offer.
Tami and I cannot begin to express our gratitude for all of you and all you do on behalf of these young people. We can never express our sincere thanks enough to the club, club officers, Moms and Dads, and friends of Florida College, that make this wonderful camp experience a blessing and a reality.
We are truly looking forward to serving these young people and Florida College again next year! We really have a great "product" at a reasonable price (even with the cost increase next year). Let's get the word out! Lord willing, we will see you all next year!
With hearts of gratitude and much love and appreciation,
Craig and Tami Bean
This was a superb year of camp. We filled every possible minute with activities, Bible studies, singing, sports, team building fun and more. The campers were cooperative and excited. Considering about 1/3 of our camp was new campers we accomplished so much thanks to the example our seasoned campers set.
The week started off with the teams’ course on Monday. The teams’ course is such a valuable tool for the rest of the week and valuable tools for life. It is a favorite day for all. Every year there are new challenges and this year they did a great job of emphasizing the trust walk. That was a physical reminder for us all week in our Bible study about truly trusting God.
Lorenzo and Lauren did a marvelous job with the crafts. They had origami for one craft and stamping for another. The campers stamped their own mats for their camp pictures. Lorenzo led his team to victory in the category of “Team Cheer.” Lauren was there every time she was needed, through morning sickness and exhaustion. She was a trooper.
The Sonlight staff once again was so valuable to us. They set the example of servant leadership. They do all things without grumbling or disputing. They stayed on the alert, as usual, for any camper with special needs. The staff interacts with us the most on teams’ course day. This is a need that not every camp fulfills. Some camps require the FC Friends, trained or not, to be the lifeguards, to harness kids in for their safety and to give swimming tests and be the judges of whether or not a child is ready for the deep end. All of the safety matters are handled by Sonlight staff.
Our FC Friends, Jared Acuff, Heidi Wickersheim, Caleb Churchill, and Christine Hubbert were prepared, creative and a Godly example to the campers, as usual. We love the energy they bring and their examples as servants, leaders, fun, Bible teachers and game leaders.
Thanks to Dennisa and Chad. They know their roles and fill them so perfectly; the canteen mom and the oldest camper. You are both a vital part of camp.
Thank you to Tiffany for getting the camp registration organized and for continually sending me updates. For all your work in this effort we thank you.
Our thanks and admiration goes out to the Beans. They just seem to have camp brains. It takes them 2 seconds to shift gears when the rain starts and the planned activity can’t go on. We admire their creativity and hard work.
We do hope to continue next year as camp directors in tandem with Craig and Tami again.
Thank you booster club for your efforts to put on the camp and for your willingness to let us serve in this capacity. The camp is a necessary part of Florida College and without camps that wonderful college would not be there in the future.
Sincerely,
Maureen and Rob Taylor
