Pre-Camp: Where did it go?

Days at camp go incredibly past. It feels like just yesterday I was arriving at Senior Pre-Camp and jumping out of the car to hug friends that I hadn't seen in months. Within a half hour of arriving, I was in the lake.

Which is why I am so amazed that we already have campers arriving tomorrow. Tomorrow! Craziness.

The past eleven days for me have been filled with maintenance, paperwork, and sitting in sessions. But it's also been filled with canoe trips and cook-outs, so everything balances out quite nicely.

We've been getting stuff done, slowly but surely, just finishing up the last of the physical preparation of the Waterfront today. I left for a period of twenty-four hours to attend my brother's high school graduation (so proud of him!), and was quite surprised to come back and find a large chunk of the work completed.

I also had the delight of, one cloudy but warm morning, teaching about two dozen staff how to use the various boats we have at the Waterfront. This arose out of seeing a need for more instructors in boating, as well as just getting more use out of our equipment. It was so much fun to challenge leaders to feel comfortable in a skill they had never tried before. I am so excited for what this means for the Waterfront this summer.

I've spent some time thinking and reflecting on why I was called to camp this summer. Yesterday, during my evening off, I sat and watched the sunset over the lake. I felt this deep assurance that even if sometimes I feel uncertain as to why I am here, I know God has something beautiful planned.

Sunsets over Clearwater...

Some prayer requests:
- Energy! We're tired already, and we don't even have campers yet!
- The ability to remain present. Somehow this summer thoughts of entering my fourth year and what comes after have been constantly in the back of my head.

- Flipturn

My goals for the summer

Every summer as a staff member at Adventure Camp, we have to list our goals. I struggled with this as a young chalet leader, and I still do. I've chosen to deal with this in the past by injecting a fair amount of silliness (last year one of my goals was to get good at catching fireflies), but it's easier when you go into a job knowing what you want to get done and already having ideas of how to do it.

That being said, these are my goals for boating at Adventure Camp this summer. I've bolded the main ones that I'll be focusing on.

·      Remove the kayak dock (it's a hazard!)

·      Give instructors feedback once a week

o   Friday lunch?

o   allows for growth in instructors and hopefully stimulates desire to continue to work on the Waterfront / less intimidated by Waterfront staff

·      Create and completely integrate some faith-based component into curriculum

o   praying before each class!

o   verse for all boating students to memorize?

prize? candy? small boat (paper boat?)

·      New Beginner Boating ideas!

o   Design a new treasure hunt

·      Double check all boating curriculum

·      Clearly label lifejacket hut so they can be put away properly by anyone

·      Find a way to encourage staff members to learn how to sail

o    do Sailing101 Workshop during pre-camp?

·      Remove those  roots that I'm always tripping on in the boating area

·      Be able to lift two kayaks at the same time by end of summer

This was the result of a random idea of mine last summer- turn a paddle boat into a sailboat so the little five-year-old campers could go sailing. It is one of my favourite memories of last summer. Hopefully we can create more wacky and fun memories like this in 2014!

Plus update this blog once a week! I'd love your support in prayer for any or all of these things.

Rebecca "Flipturn" Isaak

Welcome to Adventure Camp!

Summer is just around the corner, and that means one thing to my family and I: camp.

Specifically, Ontario Pioneer Camp in Port Sydney, Ontario, Canada. My parents met there when they were sixteen and were engaged as staff members a few years later. Of course, my brother and I started attending when we were small and have grown up there.

I can say, with utter confidence, that it is the most important place in my life.

Years later, Ben and I are both staff members at Adventure Camp, the section of the camp for five to ten year old campers. This year, I am returning to my role as Boating Director, a position I experienced for the first time last year, and Ben will be a chalet leader, for his second full summer as staff.

Currently our living room is an explosion of bright colours, warm clothes, and bathing suits as I finish packing. I leave on Tuesday, but last minute packing isn't unusual anymore in this household.

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If you're looking at this blog, it's possible that I sent you a request to be a part of my prayer team this year! Thank you so much for checking this out!

I love keeping people updated, and having recently just finished writing about my trip around the world, I thought a blog might be enjoyable for myself and you. Last year I wrote emails to those supporting me, but this year I thought I would do this, making it easier to share with others if you want.

My goals for this blog are to share any prayer requests we have for the Waterfront at Adventure Camp, my own personal prayer requests, and also to share with you some of the awesome memories we create this summer. God is bound to do incredible things, I just know it.

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Last summer at Adventure Camp, I was blessed to work alongside two incredible people. Jon and I spent our best moments together in the middle of the lake during a thunderstorm and arguing about boating report cards, but all in all, he watched out for my sanity in a way that I am still incredibly thankful for. Esther, who I have known for at least six years now, is the loving sister I never knew I wanted, who also never let me forget to put on sun screen.

 This year, Esther has moved into the role as Waterfront Director and we have a staff member named Sam becoming the Swimming Director, while I remain with my trustworthy boats.

I'm excited for the new challenges that arise this summer, and I'm thankful for your support!

Love,
Rebecca "Flipturn" Isaak