kids need adventure. challenges. direction. faith. Summer Newsletter 2013
In this Issue + Letter from the President.......... 1 + Retreats....................................... 2 + Overnight Camps....................... 3 + Day Camps.................................. 5 + Planned Giving ........................... 6
summer newsletter:
president’s letter what to pray for By Michael Perry President of SpringHill Camps
There are three items I pray for daily during our busy summer camp season. They are SpringHill’s three highest priorities and our most passionate desires. First, I pray for the emotional, physical and spiritual safety of all our campers, staff, volunteers, families, and ministry partners involved in summer camp. There is no higher priority we have at SpringHill and no more urgent prayer I lift up to God on a daily basis than safety. SpringHill’s second highest priority is creating life-changing experiences where young people can know and grow in their relationship with Christ. I diligently pray daily for the spiritual transformation of our campers, staff, volunteers, families and ministry partners.
volunteer today!
come make a difference
SpringHill’s volunteers are an integral part of camp. Our volunteers span from young to old, and depending on interests and expertise, perform a variety of work including activities, medical staff, maintenance, and administration. Top Overnight Camp needs: Nurse Practitioners and Doctors during the summer months. For more information on what volunteer projects you can be a part of, visit: Michigan: springhillcamps.com/mi/volunteer Contact: Joel Hamilton at 231.836.1039 or jhamilton@springhillcamps.com Indiana: springhillcamps.com/in/volunteer Contact: Amanda Wolf at 812.497.0008 x.111 or awolf@springhillcamps.com
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Finally, I pray every day that God would allow us to serve more and more kids, that our camps and programs would be full. I pray this because I see how God uses SpringHill to change the lives of people, so I want as many people as possible to have this experience. So as you think of SpringHill this summer, please join me in praying for these three priorities; together we can work and pray into reality a fruitful summer for God’s Kingdom.
It’s not too late to start Looking for direction? Come alongside friends of SpringHill as we read through the Old and New Testaments in one year. Start your journey by visiting www.michaelperry1.wordpress.com and click ”Reflections”. Devotional is compatible with your electronic reader.
job openings
Year-round and seasonal positions available
SpringHill Camps is seeking qualified applicants for several positions around camp. If you know someone with business, leadership or ministry experience and a passion for reaching kids for Christ, please contact us. Join SpringHill, one of the top rated Christian employers in the USA!* For a list of our most recent job postings, please visit springhillcamps.com/experience. * Best Christian Workplaces Institute. www.bcwinstitute.org
summer newsletter:
retreats upcoming retreats
women’s retreats
check out all the different events happening at springhill!
reignite your soul in a totally unique environment.
Bring your friends, family and coworkers to our Fall Women’s Retreat. Michigan Overnight: October 4th-6th. Indiana Overnight: September 19-22. Be filled with tightly knit communities bonded together through challenging sessions, collective worship, and a multitude of exciting and fun SpringHill activities.
michigan Family camp August 30–September 2
A weekend at SpringHill camps grants the time to spend away from the business and distractions of daily life that allow for us to meet Christ. SpringHill retreats take a unique twist different from regular conferences, we believe in an exciting balance of faith paired with fun that makes sure you are always growing. If your kids have loved SpringHill and you have always wanted to experience it for yourself—now it’s your turn!
women’s fall retreat OCTOBER 4–6 fall pre-teen retreat November 1–3 November 8–10 November 15–17
labor day family camps What happened to quality family time?
For more information, visit springhillcamps.com/MI/retreats.
With busy schedules and to-do lists, wouldn’t it be great to really connect with your family in a meaningful way? At SpringHill, we’ve made it easy for you to build unity, have fun and experience God...as a family!
indiana
Labor Day Family Camps are happening at both overnight locations. At our family camp you’ll spend quality time with each other, enjoy activities, have interactive sessions and learn how to strengthen your relationships as a family with Christ at the center.
father/daugher retreat september 6–8
family camp August 30–September 2
fall teen retreat September 13–15
For more information please contact registration Michigan Overnight – 231.734.2616, Indiana Overnight – 812.497.0008 or email register@springhillcamps.com.
the well women’s retreat September 19–22 For more information, visit springhillcamps.com/IN/retreats.
SIGN UP FOR CAMP!
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There are still open weeks at camp this summer – Find your spot today! If your plate is full this summer, sign-up for 2014 Summer Camp and lock-in 2013 pricing before December 1st!
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overnight camp:
52%
michigan
of Michigan Overnight campers committed or recommitted their lives to Christ LAST summer.
fall pre-teen retreat
camper QUOTe
Our Pre-Teen Retreats are a powerful way to bring 4-6th grade youth together to experience SpringHill activities like the zipline, high adventures, paintball, and solo challenge, while learning about the message of Jesus Christ.
For the last 10 years, students from the Grand Rapids Public Schools have had the opportunity to come to SpringHill on donor-funded scholarships.
With small group discussions, speakers, and worship music, we integrate faith and fun activities, aimed at developing relationships with Christ.
For many students, coming to camp is the only time they’ll have the chance to leave their neighborhoods, get outdoors, and hear and experience the truth of Christ.
For questions about registration or to register, please call 231.734.2616 or e-mail register@springhillcamps.com. Session 1: November 1–3 Speaker: Michael Bouchard Band: Joe Vercellino Session 2: November 8–10 Speaker: Sean Sweet Band: The Spark Session 3: November 15–17 Speaker: Jason Raitz Band: Sing Love Worship
We’ve partnered with some of the nation’s top speakers for pre-teens, found bands that will get these students fired up about worship, and are preparing to capture the attention of 1,500+ students and leaders all around this year’s theme: Impossible… because we believe, that with God, the impossible can happen!
“This place has allowed me to interact with other kids I wouldn’t have met before.” - Damian Wilson, GRPS Camper To help send Grand Rapids Public School students to camp, please go to springhillcamps.com/donate and use the drop down box to designate Grand Rapids Public School Kids.
- Eric Woods, Retreat Director
family fun day family fun day is here!
Have you heard we have an overnight camp, but haven’t visited yet? Now is your chance! Family Fun Day is an opportunity for families new to Overnight Camp to experience everything we have to offer. This is truly a fun-filled day full of free activities and adventure! Take a wild ride on the zipline, climb the giant rock wall, or cruise the lake on a canoe or kayak. Free Family Fun Day is a great opportunity to tour the camp, meet the activity staff and spend quality time with the directors that will be serving your campers. To register, or for more information, visit: springhillcamps.com/familyfunday 3
when: August 3 time: 1pm–5pm Note: This is a come and go event. You’re welcome to stay the entire time; however, this is not required. We suggest allotting at least an hour and half to get through the tour and some activities. If you stay for all the activities, your experience may be closer to four hours.
95%
overnight camp:
of Indiana Overnight campers said they want to grow more in their relationship with God.
Celebrate and Dream Big! The Reach Out Campaign is a $1.5 million campaign, focused on offering a more outstanding SpringHill Experience for our campers and guests. Celebrate with us what has been happening around camp. We have received just over $900,000 in support to date!
indiana father/daughter retreat
Bring your daughter and mark the calendar!
Dining Hall Upgrade
Upgraded our existing building to allow for improved programming, worship and dining experiences. Funded and completed spring 2012! Bathhouse Construction
September 6–8
For most dads, engaging in our daughters’ lives can be overwhelming. They are little women, and let’s face it…we haven’t even scratched the surface of understanding the full-grown women in our lives yet! This retreat is designed and structured to create a special bonding experience for you and your daughter. John Eldredge and his wife, Stasi, reveal in their book, Captivating, that a girl learns what it means to be a woman from her mother, but from her father comes an understanding of the value that a woman has, the value she possesses even now, as a girl.
Built two new bathhouses to accommodate and meet the needs of campers and guests. Funded and completed in 2013! Speedball Course
Daughters will learn mercy and tenderness from her mom, but big questions, like “Am I lovely?” and “Am I captivating?” can only be answered by her father. Dads hold a very powerful place in the young hearts of girls, and they will forever look to them to answer those questions. If you have been looking for ways to open the lines of communication (and keep them open!) with your princess(es), we believe this is the place to start. The weekend includes teaching moments, in order to give the ladies an introduction to their heavenly Father who loves them so much. Also enjoy the zipline, rock climbing wall, fishing, horseback riding and canoeing. We know you will both leave with cherished shared memories.
New paintball course at Joey’s Field. Planned construction in 2014! There is more work to be done. We are seeking funding to add two new Day Camp teams and expand the cabin areas to expose more campers to Jesus. To donate to the Reach Out Campaign, visit: springhillcamps.com/reach-out. You can also contact Kate Wilson at 317.643.7000 or kwilson@springhillcamps.com.
For questions, please call our registration department at 812.497.0008. For more information, or to register today, visit: springhillcamps.com/IN/retreats
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summer newsletter:
day camps who’s behind the scenes?
Serving over 15,000 Day Campers within four states!
reaching all campers
Clay Ludlow
Cincinnati Day Camp Director How many summers with SpringHill: 8th summer working for SpringHill. Originally from: Pittsboro, Indiana Favorite camp activity: Target sports.
Thanks to our supporters, we can bring kids into an environment that nurtures relationships and builds community beyond the walls of their everyday life.
Favorite camp meal: Chili Dogs!
“ It’s fun to find creative solutions so that our dynamic program can work in a variety of locations.”
Favorite camp song: Da moose, da moose!
- Jay Taylor, Detroit Day Camp Director
Something unique about me: My middle name is Swift. It’s a family name shared by my father, grandpa, and great grandpa (my full name is Clayton Swift Ludlow). An adventure that helped shape who you are today: Before I got married, I would often travel to visit friends on a whim and a shoestring budget. I got used to bedding down wherever I could drop my sleeping bag– usually a couch or a tent. Once I even slept on the roof of a house. That taught me to live simply and value the important things like faith and community. Why SpringHill?: I have always been impressed with SpringHill’s vision, intentionality, and wisdom as a ministry. However, I think their emphasis on the kids and integrating faith and fun are what drew me in the most. Favorite thing about Day Camps: The staff on a Day Camp team is such a tight community. We get more time to foster the relationships that are started during training, and having smaller teams allows us to really feel like a family. Advice to a camper parent: Relax and enjoy the week! Your camper is going to have a fun, safe time at SpringHill. 5
Celebrate with us! Seven urban weeks are taking place around the ministry this summer! These locations are impacting more than 1,300 campers within urban locations with limited access to a camp experience.
Urban Weeks are designed to come alongside ministries and families to reach out to all children and build opportunities for sustainable relationships within their community. Help us impact more As Day Camps grow, we want to offer more Urban Weeks to our campers in need. Make a difference and donate today. In 2012: + 2,000+ campers experienced SpringHill Day Camps on scholarships + 1,300+ campers attended an Urban Day Camp Week + $100,000+ raised to suppose Urban Week locations Learn more about our Urban Day Camps by watching our highlight video. Visit: www.youtube.com/springhillvideos.
SpringHill changed my life. It changed how I think, but it mostly changed who I am. – Elrod, summer camper
summer newsletter:
planned giving why kids need camp
Times Have Changed. So Should Your Estate Plan. “SpringHill was a gift sent from God. I just hope and pray that others will be touched here the same way that I was.” – Connor, Summer Camper “I learned that God can do everything…God can do miracles. If you are scared you should ask God because he will keep you safe.” – Kylie, Storybrook Camper “They taught me encouragement, direction, respect, commitment, and safety. Most of all, I leaned about Jesus. At everything we did, we connected it to God.” – Brendan, Summer Camper
The first step in securing your assets for your loved ones is creating an estate plan. However, what many don’t realize is that step two should be to ensure that your estate plan is up-to-date. With endless tax law changes and changes in the estate itself, estate plans may quickly become out-of-date. PhilanthroCorp, a Christ-centered estate planning firm and our trusted partner, would like to help you take care of your most important assets, your family. Their services are free to friends of SpringHill! To ensure that your estate plan is following your wishes or to take the first step in creating your will or trust, contact PhilanthroCorp at 800.876.7958.
Donating to SpringHill is easy and secure!
during one week at springhill camps...
78 68% 79% %
of campers were changed by the message of Jesus.
Text-to-Give
Partner with us and help send a child to camp!
are more comfortable sharing their faith.
1. Text 45777
are more comfortable with prayer.
2. Follow the link
with a donation amount and designate to “SpringHill”. Example: “$50 SpringHill”
to the safe and secure registration – one time only!
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Help write their story Every camper has a story. Help more kids come to camp and write theirs. Camp allows kids to see themselves as God made them to be. Camp brings life-change.
to your contacts for easy, one-text giving!
TRY it – It’s fun!
We look to offer over 3,500 scholarships this year. Donate today and give a life-transforming experience. To donate or for more information, visit www.kidsneedcamp.com.
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SpringHill Camps | P.O. Box 100 | Evart, MI 49631 | 231.734.2616
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