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Redwood
Glen Newsletters
Go back to archives here.
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The latest
news and events at Redwood Glen
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September
2007
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WELCOME
OUR VISION:
"To
Reflect Christ through Serving Others"
A WORD FROM OUR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A
question I often get asked is "So, what do you
all do now that summer is over?" The
answer might surprise many of you who think that Redwood Glen becomes
very
quiet and serene with few guests until next summer.
As
soon as the 400 guests from Sunnyvale
Presbyterian leave Labor Day afternoon we will change Shepherd Lodge
into its
winter configuration to make room for the offices for San Joaquin
Outdoor School. Their teachers arrive right after
Labor Day
to set up their office space and begin training.
The 2nd Monday following
Labor Day we
begin 32 weeks of Outdoor Education Science Camp for about 100
students, which continues through the end of May.
On weekends, guest groups
continue to use the
cabins and Siden conference center for their retreats, planning,
training, etc.
Usually the only "empty"
weeks at Redwood Glen are
Thanksgiving week, two weeks at Christmas, and possibly Spring Break.
In the midst of all our
non-summer guests, we
also spend a lot of time and resources repairing, improving, and
planning for
next summer.
This is even truer as we
are gearing up for our
50th anniversary celebration. We can hardly wait to
celebrate how God has
provided for our ministry and how lives have been impacted over the
past 5
decades.
Full-time ministry happens
year-round at Redwood Glen. Thank for your
"year-round" support!
Jay E.
Nordgaard,
Executive
Director
(650)
879-0320 Ext. 12
exec@redwoodglen.com
DOWN TO 7
& COUNTING
Thanks to all who gave to our new mattress
campaign!
Because of the generosity of so many, we are now down to the final 7.
At $90 per mattress, we need only $630
to reach our goal. If you'd like to help put us over the top,
contact us at (650) 879-0320 or info@redwoodglen.com.
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Hello Friend of Redwood Glen
WELCOME
to the monthly
on-line newsletter of Redwood Glen, your local Bay Area Christian Camp
and Conference
Center
.
As a new school year begins, a new camp year also begins at Redwood
Glen.
Have you ever wondered what happens at camp once the summer crowds
leave?
This September edition of our e-newsletter highlights the transition
from "peak season" to "off season."
If
you would like to
subscribe and receive this monthly newsletter via email, please
register your
address via the link on our homepage (www.redwoodglen.com).
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REDWOOD GLEN SERVES KIDS YEAR-ROUND
As the
calendar changes from August to September, Redwood Glen transitions
from the rush of summer groups to the routine of the fall. Labor
Day marks the official end of summer as "peak season" prices become
"non-peak season" costs; two garbage pick-ups a week become one; and
Shepherd's lodging capacity reduces from 60 to 30 beds.
What takes place at Redwood Glen nine months out of the year? The
answer: SJOE.
 While
weekend guest groups continue year-round, from September to May Redwood Glen becomes the site
for San Joaquin Outdoor Education (SJOE). At Shepherd Lodge, the
upstairs right-side bedrooms become the offices for the SJOE staff.
Each week from Monday afternoon through
Friday morning, fifth and sixth
graders from a different San Joaquin county school participate in
lessons which increase their knowledge of scientific concepts,
ecological relationships, and significant environmental issues, while
instilling an appreciation of, and a sense of responsibility for, the
earth's natural resources. Activities include: Coastal Crash
Course,
Beach Day, Night Hike, Trail Lunch Hike, Gardening, Music Social, and
Performing Arts Campfire.
"Half of
our kids come from low income areas," says Gregory Bahr, SJOE
Principal. "And half of our kids
have never seen the ocean! The
partnership we have with Redwood Glen strengthens, supports, and
enables us to have a good strong program, and access to the
coast. We work hard to have a symbiotic relationship with the
camp." .
Gregory (whose nature name is "Grey Wolf") has been with SJOE since
2000. A graduate of Humboldt State, Simpson College, and SF
State, Gregory enjoys learning primitive skills (making fire
without matches, animal tracking, shelter building, etc.), and spending
time with his family hiking and camping. He, his wife, Elaine
(middle school science teacher at
Pescadero), and their two children, Sage
(age 5) and Jade (age 2), make
their home year-round at Redwood Glen.
 During the school year, San Joaquin County
Office of Education employs full-time resident naturalists, who live in
the trailers at camp and work with the students who come to Redwood
Glen each week. This year, we welcome (picture above with Gregory) - Marisa Lindsay, Aileen Murphy, Erin Blanchard, Dave Chermak, Leah Ricci, Jon Duckworth, and Lis Tanner.
For 32 weeks, the naturalists work hard to create a meaningful and
enjoyable environmental education experience, as they use an
"interdisciplinary, multi-sensory, direct, discovery-oriented approach"
to teach their students to live in companionship with nature, other
children, and adults. Students live in the cabins, with a trained
high school cabin leader. The cabin leaders create and
maintain a pleasant, safe atmosphere in the cabin and on trail, and
help the staff accomplish the program's teaching goals.
While Redwood Glen prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2008,
SJOE marked its 50th year this past school year with over 360,000
elementary school students served. Beginning in 1956 at Camp
Jones Gulch (SF YMCA Camp - down the road in Loma Mar), SJOE expanded
in 1990 with a second site at Redwood Glen. For the first time,
Redwood Glen will become the only SJOE site during the 2007 fall
term. Camp Jones Gulch will be added as a second site in the
spring of 2008.
For more information on San Joaquin Outdoor Education, check the SJOE website. |
STAFF
SPOTLIGHT: Linda Koopman
 (Linda and vacuum on "Gordy" ready to roll
and clean)
As camp life transitions from summer
into fall, the first weeks of September are busy for our housekeeping
staff, but no one manages it better than our Housekeeping Supervisor, Linda Koopman.
In a matter of days, the staff house and trailers need to be cleaned as
summer staff leaves, and the SJOE naturalists arrive. The upper
rooms in Shepherd need to be cleared, cleaned,
and transformed into the SJOE office. And with the summer
housekeeping staff completing
their service at the end of August, there are less hands available for
the extra work.
For Linda, "getting everything done well and on time" are the greatest
challenges during this time of year. But with over 8 years of
experience on staff at Redwood Glen, Linda knows how to make it
happen.
Linda first began at Redwood Glen working in the camp office. Her
attention to detail,
and skills in organization, decorating, and housekeeping were quickly
recognized, and opened up new opportunities for her and the camp as she
officially became the first Housekeeping Supervisor in 2005.
Since then, Linda has developed a standard of cleanliness and quality,
which characterize the housekeeping department.
"Watching housekeepers learn their jobs, fulfill their duties as
taught, and complete their tasks well" are, for Linda, the most
rewarding aspects of her ministry here. As a pastor's wife, Linda
knows her work at Redwood Glen is a "ministry" as she strives to
encourage and equip those with whom she serves.
Working and serving together creates a community
spirit. Though Linda and her family
have lived "off camp" in neighboring La Honda and commute to work,
they are integral members of the Redwood
Glen staff community. Linda's husband, Reg, served as pastor of Church in
the Redwoods in La Honda, where members of the camp staff
worshipped. Daughters Aimee and
Holly,
now both students at Biola University, worked at Redwood Glen in
housekeeping, food service, and as lifeguards. Son Jared, who now works for IBM, also
served as a lifeguard.
For Linda, "watching staff support each other in
difficult times" is her most memorable experience over the
years. "We really care for each other as a family," she says.
Currently, life is in transition for the Koopman family,
and the staff has rallied around them with love and care. After
11 years as pastor, Reg completed his
ministry at Church in the Redwoods, and Linda will soon be completing
her service at Redwood Glen. While Reg seeks a new ministry
position, they will spend time with Linda's parents in Alaska.
Though our Housekeeping Department will not be the same upon her
departure, Linda's legacy as "housekeeper extrordinaire" will continue
with the staff, and hopefully, with our guests as well. Linda's
encouragement to each person who comes to Redwood Glen: "Think of your
stay at camp as an extension of your home, and treat both places
equally the same with cleanliness and respect."
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Still
looking for a location for your winter event?
 Redwood Glen can help!
During December and January, Guest Groups that book now can BUY ONE NIGHT AND GET A SECOND NIGHT FREE! Weekends
are still available in our cabins and even in our Conference Center. Call
us at (650) 879-0320 or email us for more information. We might not have snow
during the winter, but we do have a great offer!
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 50th
ANNIVERSARY -
TRIVIA QUESTION
As we prepare to celebrate 50 years of ministry at Redwood Glen, we are
beginning a monthly trivia contest. Answer correctly and you
could be
the first to win a Redwood Glen 50th anniversary momento. Send
guesses to news@redwoodglen.com.
The correct answer and winner will be featured in next month's
e-newsletter.
Our
September question:
What is the
largest guest group that annually hosts an event at Redwood Glen?
How many
years have they come and how many people attended in 2007?
A
SHEPHERD STORY:
We are looking for pictures and stories from the early years of
Shepherd Lodge. Church retreat photos around the building or
remembrances about the camp prior to 1980 are especially welcome.
Our ministry as a camp is built upon the commitment and faith of people
like you, who have given of yourselves through the years. If you
have a photo or story to share, or if you would like to be part of the
50th Anniversary planning team, please email us at news@redwoodglen.com.
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UPCOMING
EVENTS
RENEWAL RETREATS FOR CLERGY -- Tuesday, Nov 6 (Men)
/ Thursday, Nov 15 (Women)
Two one-day specialized retreats for
men & women in ministry. Click here for a downloadable
brochure.
Click the following links for downloadable registration forms: Clergy Men's Retreat - Clergy Women's Retreat
ABI NATIONAL CONFERENCE -- Monday to Friday, January 14-18,
2008
Redwood Glen is the host site for the
2008 gathering of the American Baptist Institute of Camp and Conference
Ministries. Join other camping professionals for a week of
top-notch training, encouragement, and accountability.
For more information: Click here for a downloadable
brochure / Click here to register on-line.
PASTORS CONFERENCE -- Monday to Wednesday, February 25-27,
2008
Make plans now to attend our second
annual Pastors Conference as we consider our EQ (emotional
intelligence) as leaders. Church staff teams are encouraged to
come and learn together. Big discounts are available if you
register this fall.
Click here for a downloadable
brochure.
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| For more information about our events
or facilities, email us at info@redwoodglen.com |
Redwood
Glen REFLECTIONS
This
monthly e-newsletter is being developed as a communication tool for the
supporters, friends, and guests of Redwood
Glen in Loma Mar, CA. We welcome your comments and suggestions. To ensure that you continue to receive our
e-newsletter, add info@redwoodglen.com
to your address book today. Redwood
Glen is located in the scenic coastal redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains,
between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz.
We are conveniently located one hour from both San Francisco and San Jose
airports.
For more
information, www.redwoodglen.com.
 
Redwood
Glen, a Bay Area Christian Camp and Conference Center,
is an
accedited member of the American
Camp Association
and a member of the Christian Camp and Conference Association.
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If you have
a Redwood Glen story or an idea for this email newsletter, contact...
Larry
Jay
(650) 879-0320 Ext. 11
news@redwoodglen.com
If you would
like to
subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, please register your email via
the link
on our homepage (www.redwoodglen.com).
THANK YOU! (Our e-newsletter is supported by Constant
Contact.) |
Redwood Glen | 100 Wright Dr. | Loma Mar | CA | 94021 |
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