-
Strenghts
- Relationships
- Low cost
- Rural location
- Theme relations
- Clear & Simple presentation of the Gospel
- FOOD!
- Bible as Textbook
- Bible teaching
- Crafts
- Low camp costs for campers
- Faith
- Bible emphasis
- Reaching the unchurced
- Wide support base (lots of support)
- God Focused
- Crafts
- Staff unity
- Cooks
- loving & including kids from all backgrounds
- Making due with the resources we have
- Legacy that spans generations
- Loving & Accepting
-
Weaknesses
- Longer mission visibility
- Wide support base
(no supporting church)
- Songs that glorify God
- Exciting activities
- Church relationships
- Poor facilities
- Good leadership
- No ongoing director
- Staff too young
- Working with change
- Shortage of board
- Expanding in terms of new campers
- Raising and transition of staff
-
Opportunities
- Young staff mentoring
- There is always opportunity to present the Gospel
- Form deep relationships with campers (small camp)
- Opportunity for families/churches
- ESL camp
- Low income families
- Crafts are followed up
- We are still affordable
- Staff ---> Director
- Connect with more churches
- Single- mother camp
- Family camp
- To disconnect from gadgets
- The Bible message doesn't change
- Bible teaching (outreach)
- Close to reserve
- After camp fundraising activities
- Stand up for God
- Focus on discipleship
- Join with other camps for training,
facilities, camp? (combining resources)
- Mobile outreach
-
Treats?
- Lack of leadership
- Insurance issues
- New costs
(hard to keep affordable)
- August time slot
- Broken families and young
staff facing big issues
- Technological gadgets
- The self-centeredness
society promotes
- Loosing the focus of the basis of our camp
- Lack of faith in putting vision 1st
- Cultural complacency
- Trying to please everyone
(afraid to step on toes)
- Balancing moving forward with
not giving up core values
-
Mission
- + Time
-
Vision
- + Plans
-
Strategies
- + Hardwork
-
Mission
- Accomplished!
-
Pros
- Missions
- Seed Planting
- Food
- Songs
- Vic Labutes
- Joy & Jack Rix - inspired others
- Dedication & Faithfulness of Stevens, Rix, Risto, Hogman, Arnold Family
- Relationships
- Memory verse excitement
- Crafts
- An introduction to Missions
(Risto's, Serhol, Ross Comwell (1977-'85)
- New Friends
- Match Making
- Fun
- Staff camaraderie
- Rocketry
- Gospel minded
- Food donation (cows, bread, strawberries etc.)
- Returning staff & campers
- Staff training weekends
- Crafts
- Slime slide
- Vion's
- First experience = non-cliquey
- FOOD
- When Terence was speaker
- Fellowship
- Relationships & friendships
- Staff inclusivity
- Discipleship camp
- Howard & Naomi Pearson
- Affordable
- George Hensch
- Drayton Valley group staffed and ran camp
- Campfire testimonies
- Whole family involvement
- Spiritual Highs
- Encouragement
- Visiting ministry team
- Ta Tumu
- Ziplining
- Feeling like family
- Crafts
- Kids coming to Christ
- Music & Drama classes
- Openess of staff
- Relaxed practical jokes
- Soccer
- Rope Making
- Hogman (Bread)
- Campers got to bring snacks
- Mission Jar
- Spiritual Growth
- Campfires
- Team work
- Openness at campfire and Chapel
- FBC traditions like certain games or themed meals
- Continues relationships with staff & campers
- Baptism of Maam in lake
- Baptisms
- Camp Christmas cards
- Chelsea's Baptism
- Having campers recognize you from year to year
- Tralier : Vision became reality
-
Cons
- Lack Leadership
- Attempted suicide
- Crafts class was lacking
- Rented facility
- Loss of consistent leadership (director)
- Military Regime of 1990's
- Unwillingness to change
- Conversion vs. Disciples
- Demon Attack
- Food
- Board not supporting director
- Burnt out - small board carrying board
- Bullying
- Unorganized & stressful
- Lack of order
- Food allergies- not just the campers
- Changes in amount of campers allowed
- stuck in a rut
- No unity
- Staffing volunteers on decline
- Military regime of 2000-2004 (Boys and girls not allowed to
- Poor staffing (quality) & kids learning during the week
- Staff lacked training
- Inappropriate staff
- Lack of volunteers/staff
- Teasing/jokes gone too far
- Spread to thin - Too many jobs
- Poor leadership
- Board Collapse
- Lack of board members (overworking of those on it)
- Not enough direction at times
- Uncertainty of leadership changes - dates of camp
- Facilities are getting rundown
- Music is canned - No live worship music
- Cakesters
- Little use of the lake
- Too strict sometimes (too many rules)
- Cliques
- Burnt out
- laziness or lack of motivation in campers and staff
- Switching to August
- Transition of Jnr. staff
- Staff hanging out with each other more than the campers
- Staff lose focus
- Sometimes too competitive for points
- Lack of dedication (sacrifice)
- Distraction with relationships
- Not all staff focused on God
- Low standard for leadership
- Starting to become cliquey
- Lack of commitment
- Criticism without willingness to help
- Unwilling to step up
- Hard to get staff, especially males
- Camp date change
-
Lessons Learned
- Faithful Prayer
- Mission Focus
- Servant Leadership Development
- Broad Support Base
- Importance of staff training
- Mature staff members are needed
- Make use of actual testimonies
- Good board directions
- Need to distribute work load (avoid burnouts)
- Importance of buy in (to vision)
- Affordability is very important
- Importance of organization by board
- Importance of personal promotion of camp
- Importance of vision (not just getting by - going on status quo)
- Need new fresh input and ideas
- People like food (good food)
- Strong leaders needed
- Re-established mission emphasis
- Core values: Evangelism, Discipleship, Affordablility
- More mature cabin leaders. A parent, grandparent.
- If people feel loved, they will want to return
- Importance of board members connecting with staff
- Develop a strong summer staff team
- staff unity is key
- High standard of servant leadership
- Trust in God even when things are hard
- Quality over quantity for staff
- Learn to value each other and their roles
- The ability to answer questions with clarity
- Keep the casual relationship for chapel and campfire
- recruitment & retention of staff is important & leadership needs attention
- Most often, if the staff is excited about camp, the campers will be too
- Keeping focus on the Mission
- More direct teaching/monitoring for rising staff
- Have faith
- Beginning of July is better for staff than August
- Staff training & discipleship is important