Each year, thousands of campers, young and old, attend High Point Camp. Over the last five years we’ve seen our annual camp and retreat attendance grow from 5,600 to 6,500 in 2011. Although Current Pavilionthis growth may not seem drastic, it has stressed needs that we’ve known all along yet had not been able to address. In 2009 and 2010, we began to take steps towards meeting those needs in renovating two dormitories. We are now faced with the next step, the need for an indoor chapel.

During the summer, our services are held in our centrally located outdoor pavilion. We can seat over 300 campers in the pavilion and it has served us well, but when the weather turns cold, we run into problems. For years, the gym game room has doubled as our winter chapel. However, this room can only seat 120 people, and we have to turn away campers and churches when we exceed that limit. We have tried to be creative, having groups meet in the Dining Hall and even transporting our winter retreat campers to the auditorium at High Point Baptist Chapel because we just don’t have enough room. These steps, however, have created new challenges only further highlighting our need.

Simply put, we need a designated chapel building – a facility that will enable us to communicate God’s Word to the campers that already attend High Point Camp and to the many more that will come when there is adequate space.

 
The Plan: Proposed Renovations

After much thought, prayer, and planning, we have decided that the renovation of our outdoor pavilion into a year-round indoor chapel is the most ideal and most cost-effective solution to our need. We will miss the feel of an outdoor pavilion; however, we are aware that enclosing the pavilion will also remove unwanted distractions (heat, rain, wind, noise, etc.) from our service times, while providing indoor seating for 300 campers. In addition to enclosing and insulating the pavilion, we will install bathrooms, new seating, heating and air conditioning, carpeting, a sound booth, and a lobby at the entrance.

In order for us to complete this project we are seeking to raise $150,000. Our goal is to start this project by fall 2011 so that it could be enclosed before winter in order to work indoors during the cold months. We hope to have this project completed by January 2013 for our winter retreats.

How Can I Help?

Never before in the history of High Point Camp have we gone outside of the High Point Ministries for help in funding a project. However, in celebration of 50 years of Christian camping and thousands of lives impacted for Christ, we want to give you a chance to join with us in completing this project. The $150,000 needed for this project is no small amount, but the return on the investment will be immeasurable and eternal. We ask that you would prayerfully consider giving to this project. If you decide that this is something you would like to be involved in, there are two ways to give. You can mail a gift directly to High Point Camp or you can donate by going to this link and clicking the “Donate” button at the top or bottom of the page; all donations are tax deductible.

There is another way that you can help – by giving your time. This project will take thousands of man hours and we could use several church groups to volunteer to come and work for a day, a weekend, or a week on this project. If you would like to organize a group from your church, please call the camp office at 610.286.5942 – ext. 153.

Whether you give, work, or pray, we thank you for your investment with us. We are confident that God will provide funds, safety, and grace for this project to further His Glory!

Thank you for considering what God might have you do!

We do this constantly. A few years ago, we introduced a new way to do registration using “Fast Passes.”  That idea was stolen directly from Disney World.  A game we did for the teens two summers ago was stolen from the television show Minute to Win It.  A recent concept for an indoor climbing wall was stolen from a local indoor climbing gym.  A pastor who comes as a camp speaker is stolen for a week from his church.   It is all thievery.

This type of theft is tolerated and even condoned and encouraged in the camping world.  Many a great idea has stemmed from the ideas of others.  Many a building has been built from another structures plans.  Take something good and make it better.  Make it more campish.  We attend camp conferences where people sit around and throw out ideas specifically for other camp people to steal and develop on their own.  And in the end, for all the stealing, the camp is a better place.

Now, we are not condoning criminal stealing.  It is one thing to steal an idea (patents and copyrights aside) and change it to meet your needs, and it is something quite different to steal  $1,000,000 and have it meet your needs…and wants!  But, be assured, if there is a great idea out there and we can take it and change it into something that can be used for camp…we’re gonna get our hands on it.  So… builders,  comedians, chefs, businessmen, athletes, architects, singers, janitors, zookeepers, and bankers beware…we want what you got!

This all comes to mind today, because Mr. Lee (Tropical Storm Lee) is choosing to drop loads of rain on the camp.  As I sit at my desk right now, the roof above me is reverberating the thunderous roar of the deluge.    I think that the real weatherman has called for us to get something like five inches of rain in the next few days.  This is no surprise since High Point Camp’s Men’s Retreat is this weekend and it ALWAYS rains leading up to and during Men’s Retreat.

So, take the five inches that we are supposed to get and add them with the five to six inches we got during Hurricane Irene and then add the sum of that to the already high water table (due to record rainfalls in August), this all equals a great, resounding “It’s raining out here, Tom!”

Ok, so, back to Randy. Randy was on staff at High Point’s Christian school.  But, for most of those years, Randy spent his summers back at High Point Camp doing the behind the scenes stuff that no one ever saw but absolutely had to be done.  On top of all the hidden work, Randy spent countless hours talking with homesick campers.  Somewhere in Randy’s life, he picked up a knack for convincing otherwise inconsolable kids to stay for “just one more day” until by the end of the week, they couldn’t wait to come back the next summer.  Randy also specialized in High Point’s famous “Pool Games.”  For years, Randy controlled the bull horn at pool games and, in turn, controlled the attention of hundreds of campers and the fate of a few goldfish and eels.  (Rumor has it that one of the eels still lives in the lake is reportedly over five feet long.)  But most of all, Randy will be ETERNALLY remembered for “Mail Call.”   Everyday at camp, during lunch, Randy would dispatch hundreds of letters and packages to campers eagerly awaiting news from home.  His unique humor and memorizing voice kept campers on the edge of their seats hoping to hear their name.  “S.W.A.K.” (Sealed With A Kiss) and “XOXO” were frequently heard and were only two of many celebrated phrases Randy often used.  In fact, Randy is the ONLY High Point Camp staff member, past or present, to ever have a t-shirt made with his face on it for campers to take home as a camp souvenir. On the front was a giant picture of Randy’s face and “Randy Is My Homeboy” in bold letters.  On the back was a “Top Ten” List of Randy’s favorite mail call sayings.  I still have this shirt tucked away in my t-shirt drawer and it even still gets worn on occasion.

All in all, Randy will be missed around here.  He put in more than 25 years of summers well spent at High Point Camp, and I think I can say with some certainty, that he will be not soon forgotten.  So, in honor of Randy and all he means to the history of High Point Camp, and as the rain outside my office gets heavier, I say one more time, “It’s raining out here, Tom!”

Randy – you will be missed!

As many of you know, college students all over the country are taking final exams and preparing for a summer of work, loafing, travel, job hunting, or ministry.  (Over 50 college students will be coming here this summer to serve the hundreds of campers that will come.)

Well, what you may not know is that camp has final exams, too.  Each year, at about this time, we get put through the paces to test and see if we are ready for summer camp.  The exams have begun.  This morning we met and discussed the many things that still need to get done and what seems like the lack of manpower to get it all done.   If we don’t pass the exams, camp doesn’t happen.  Now, historically, we have always passed and never failed.  God always seems to intervene, despite us, and pull us through.  We have no doubt that God will once again come to the rescue and help us pass the final test of preparedness for summer camp.

With all that being said, would you please pray for High Point Camp.  Specifically, here are a few things to be praying about.

1. The Wilderness Cabin renovation.  There is still lots to do to be ready for summer camp.  Pray that it will all get done and that the cabin will be useable this summer.

2.  Pray that the program, activities, games, etc, will all be ready on time.

3.  Pray for the Bakersburg Community Church from Altoona, PA as they bring a group of volunteers to build a new deck on the guest room building.  They will be here in mid-May.

4. Pray for the 2 guy counselors that we still need to find.

5.  Pray that God would send us as many campers as possible so that we can minister to them all.  “An empty bed never receives Christ or makes a decision for Him.”

Thanks for reading through this and praying with us.  God is good all the time and we look forward to seeing what He will do through your prayers and by His powerful hand.

Tom

1.  The Magnolia tree that stands between the Dining Hall and the Duck Pond is in full bloom today.  It is absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, the flowers only stay on the tree for about 2 weeks.  But, those two weeks are spectacular.

2.  Another thing that can be quantified as “Spectaculor” is the renovation of the cabin Wilderness.  Ken and James ( construction / maintenance crew) have been hard at work and the improvement is noticeable.  If you have ever stayed in Wilderness, you will know that this renovation is much needed.  Praise the Lord for how it is coming.  It should be ready to go for camp this summer!  The picture will give you a little glimpse into some of the changes.

Well, that’s it for now.  Have a great day!

Tom

The Duck Pond has also been the home of the goldfish that are used for the “Fish and Eels” game we play for summer camp.  At one point, over 50 goldfish swam about enjoying the confines and relative safety of the Duck Pond.  However, this winter, when the camp lake, and almost every other body of water in the Northeast was frozen, our local Blue Heron (giant crane-like bird) came and made quick work of the vulnerable fish.  Poor fish!  We’ll restock it this summer.

The Duck Pond has had some problems over the years and they have culminated this spring with the pipe that runs from the Duck Pond to the camp lake collapsing.  It is going to be repaired next week and should be as good as new for this coming summer. Many counselors will end up in the ice cold water this summer and the legacy of this famous little pond will live on.

The Duck Pond – your one stop source for all your hot summer day refreshing needs!

Refreshing, Cold, and Crystal Clear

1. The Wilderness Renovation is moving right along.  So much has been done.  Pictures will be posted soon.

2.  The Coffee Shop plans and designs have been approved and we have already purchased tables, chairs, an espresso machine, blenders, and other necessary equipment.

3. Addison Lamborn turned one year old on March 22.

4. 9 Square In The Air was built for summer camp.  (Google it…it’s gonna be fun.)

5.  The summer camp theme, program, games, and activities are set in stone.

The Present @ High Point Camp

1.  Steve’s phone is ringing.

2.  I am in the office alone.  Where is everybody?

3.  Ranger is sleeping on his chair.

4.  It is POURING outside.

5.  Oh, Gil just walked in.  Hi Gil!

The Future @ High Point Camp

1. It will get warmer and dryer.

2.  The Wilderness Renovation will be done for summer camp.  It’s gonna take camping to a whole new level.

3.  530 teen boys will be converging on High Point Camp for one massive camp-out in May.

4. Over 50 college students will be coming to High Point in late May and early June for summer counselor training.

5.  Ranger will be off his chair and sitting at the bottom of the zip line tower barking at kids as they jump off or perched in the bow of the speed boat catching some sun.

Well…there you have it.  The Past, Present, and Future of High Point Camp in 5 easy statements each.  Registrations for summer camp are pouring in, so make sure you get your in soon.  Hope to see you this summer.

Tom