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Redwood
Glen Newsletters
Return to our archives here
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The
latest news and events at Redwood Glen
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May 2009
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WELCOME
OUR MISSION:
"To
Reflect Christ through Serving Others"
A WORD FROM OUR
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The
last bus of Science Camp school children
left our camp just last week which means our focus now turns to summer
camp.
In less than 3 weeks Discovery
Camp staff and campers will arrive.
Our summer camp season is our core reason for
existing these past 50+ years.
Children
and youth from all over the Bay Area will come here to have a
fun-filled week
of camp that will focus them on their relationship with Jesus and take
them
further on their spiritual journey.
We still have
opportunities for people like you
to join us on staff for our various camps.
We need counselors and other staff positions so we can have a great
camp
for the hundreds of children and youth who will join us this summer.
Prior
to moving here
to Redwood Glen, for 10 summers I used one of my vacation weeks
so I could be a volunteer counselor or staff member at the two camps to
which I was
connected.
They
were among the most memorable times of my
life and I still have friendships with former staff and campers for all
those
years; many of whom still are connected with summer camps.
The
countless stories of changed lives are
forever in my mind as I look back over my life.
I cannot fully express how impactful it was to be a part of 10 summer
camp staffs and to see how the lives of children and youth were changed
by
their participation.
I realize not everyone has
the ability to take a
week off. Possibly you know someone at
your church who might volunteer this summer.
I would ask that you share with others our need for volunteers.
Networking with others can be very helpful to
us this year.
You can volunteer at our annual Work
Day this weekend on Saturday,
May 30
from 8:30am-4:30pm as well.
I hope to see many of you here as we get ready for the summer
season.
You can make a difference in the life of a child
or youth by being a volunteer for Redwood Glen.
Come join us!
Jay
E. Nordgaard,
Executive
Director
(650)
879-0320 Ext. 12
exec@redwoodglen.com
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OUR
MINISTRY LINKS
Join us for an
"INDESCRIBABLE"
week this summer at Redwood Glen
(Click the above link for more
information or to
register for
one of our summer camps.)
Children's MAD
Camp
June 22-27
Discovery Camp
June 14-19
Jr. Adventure
Camp
July 6-11
Jr. High Camp
July 13-17
Me and Mom/Dad
August 15-16
Sr. High Camp (NEW)
July 13-17
Youth MAD Camp
July 6-11
HEARD THE NEWS?
We're launching a NEW Sr.
High Camp this summer.
See article to the right. Register today and bring a friend!
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Hello Friend of Redwood Glen
WELCOME
to the monthly online
newsletter of Redwood Glen, your local Bay Area Christian Camp and Conference Center.
As the calendar will soon flip into June, summer is here. Are you ready? At Redwood Glen
we are gearing up for another exciting summer of fun, faith, and
fellowship. Time is ticking, and we don't want you to miss out!
If you've not already done so, we encourage you to check out one of our
summer camps for children and youth. Though there is room in all
camps, don't delay! It will be a summer that is simply, INDESCRIBABLE. More
information on all of our camps is featured below, along with an
interview with our returning Assistant Summer Director, Stephanie Knapp.
If you don't have kids but would still like to get in on the action, we
have two opportunities to for some summer fun. Make plans to join
us THIS SATURDAY for WORK DAY as friends and staff of
Redwood Glen spend Saturday, May 30th
preparing the camp for hundreds of excited and eager footsteps this
camp season. And on June 27th and July 11th, we will again be
hosting our annual OPEN HOUSES
featuring musical presentations and a BBQ meal. More details are
below.
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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READY,
SET, CAMP: Meeting the needs of
today's children & youth
With many
options available for children and youth during the summer, none has
transformed more lives than camping. With
summer nearly upon us, we hope that you will consider the blessings
that a Redwood Glen camp offers your children.
 The benefits
of a week at a "residential camp," which Redwood Glen offers, are
well-documented in both personal anecdotes as well research. Self-esteem, lasting
friendships, team player perspectives, compassion, connections with
nature, and creative potential are just some of the opportunities that
stretch young people and allow them to explore who they are created to
be.
Click on the "Ready, Set, Camp"
You-Tube video above from the American Camp Association to hear why it
is important for parents to invest in a week of camp for their children.
When spiritual nurture is added to a camp, an eternal impact extends
the blessings as life-saving stories tell how God's love is experienced
through speakers, staff, counselors, and other campers. The
Christian life is best exhibited in community and there is no better
community (outside a local church) than a group of committed women and
men, children and youth, working together to share Christ's love at
camp.
Thus, there is no better summer investment for parents who want to
build faith in the lives of their children; no better opportunity for a
church that wants to experience renewal than a week of a Christian
summer camp.
Redwood Glen offers a variety of programmed camps which target the
various interests and needs of children and youth today. Through
our 2009 summer theme, campers will encounter the extravagant love of
God as they are introduced to the person of Jesus Christ and challenged
to commit their lives in worship and service of the One who is, in a
word, INDESCRIBABLE.
Here is an overview of the camping opportunities Redwood Glen provides:
 Children's Music And Drama Camp (CMAD) -
Through drama and songs,
children completing grades 2-5 at
CMAD will
discover the joy of using their gifts for God. Along with
preparing and performing a Christian musical on the last day of camp
for our June 27th Open House, campers will create life-long friendships
through swimming in the pool, worship in the Chapel in the
Woods, cabin times, and campfire, while enjoying great food, playing
fun games, and so
much more.
With seasoned veteran, Jeannette
Claxito of First Baptist Alameda, and Rev. Jen Plantenberg of San Mateo
Community Baptist, CMAD 2009 again promises to be another year of
praise to God.
Discovery Camp
- For children who may not be "into music and drama," fun-filled times
of learning await those completing grades 2-5 at Discovery Camp.
With an
enthusiastic staff and speaker, Sara Clark of Waterford Community
Baptist, campers will meet Bible heroes of the faith and come away with
greater meaning from the biblical stories, while making life-long
friends from across the Bay area, and not just campers, but counselors,
too. Veteran director, Janise
Wilson of Waterford Community Baptist and her staff have an
exciting week planned full of crafts, swimming, singing, praise and
worship, hiking in the redwoods, exploring Pescadero Creek, awesome
games, memorable campfires, and much more.
Adventure Camp at Indian Point - Spending
the night in a tent with friends, cooking food over a campfire,
and exploring endless trails and stomping through the creek await
children completing grades 4-6 at Adventure
Camp. This week at Indian Point, Redwood Glen's back country, may
only be a 10 minute walk from main camp, but gives adventurous campers
an opportunity to make
delicious foods over a campfire, including bread-on-a-stick!
Directed by Indian Point veteran, Carolyn
Neitzke of First Baptist Sacramento, Adventure Camp also holds
fun times of singing in an outdoor chapel, messages by Pastor Mike Brown of First Baptist
Vallejo, nature-inspired crafts, hiking along redwood
trails, playing fun games, swimming in the camp
pool, and much more. Lifetime memories and
friendships are made when living in community among the redwoods.
Youth Music And Drama Camp (YMAD) -
American Idol eat your heart out, because the real up and coming talent
is at YMAD! Along with preparing and
performing the musical on the last day of camp for our July 11th Open
House, youth completing grade 6-12 will have opportunities
to create life-long friendships with talented teens from all over the
Bay Area. Times in the pool, hanging out with friends,
worshipping in the Chapel
in the Woods, thought-provoking messages with Pastor Brydon Marks of First Baptist
Vallejo, singing around the
campfire, and playing outrageous games are just some of the ways
memories are created and friendships forged. In its 26th year,
YMAD is directed by Jeff Tessier
of First Baptist Vallejo, who has been part of nearly everyone as a
camper, counselor, and staff.
Junior High Camp - All the stops
are being pulled out to make this year's camp the very best ever for
youth completing grades 6-8 as Redwood Glen Executive Director, Jay Nordgaard serves as
director! As Redwood Glen's fastest growing camp since it was
launched 5 years ago, more and more middle school-aged youth have
experienced an awesome week of hanging with new friends, challenging
talks, junior high games, and lots of activities throughout the day
including swimming and good eats.
Senior High Camp - Though it may be
our newest camp, Senior High Camp for those completing grades 9-12 is
packed full of experience through its co-directors, Darin Elquist of Emmanuel Baptist in
Sparks NV, and Rodney Owens of
Crosswalk Community Church in Napa. With an enthusiatic staff,
high schoolers will experience a life-changing week of meeting new
friends and lots of awesome activities throughout the day including
swimming, sports, and Tradin' Post snacks!
Me and Mom/Dad Camp - This 30-hour
camp experience offers a child completing grades K-2 to come to camp
with a parent and get a sneak peek at what a day at camp is like.
With fun lessons, crafts, games, hikes, swimming, a campfire, and more,
this little get-away is also a wonderful time for a parent and child to
learn together, play and spend time away from the regular, busy
schedules and routines of life.
For more information or to
register on line, click here. If you have
questions, feel free to email us at program@redwoodglen.com
or give us a call at (650) 879-0350.
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 READY
FOR MORE: Stephanie Knapp
Assistant Summer Program Director
Though the position calls for commitment, late nights, early mornings,
time away from family, and at times, downright chaos, Stephanie Knapp returns to Redwood
Glen for a second summer to serve as our Assistant Summer Program
Director. Both she and last summer's director, Brandon Benziger, are
working with excellent volunteer camp directors and staff to put
together a summer that promises to be "Indescribable."
With summers off from the elementary school where she serves as a
teaching assistant in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing classroom, Stephanie
has
the time, patience, and committed perseverance needed to work with
seven different camps over an eight week period. "I've chosen to
come back to Redwood Glen specifically because I thoroughly enjoy
children," she says. "This summer, I hope to share bits of my own
testimony and have a hand in helping others to form their testimony in
experiencing our remarkable God."
Yet it is not just Stephanie who embodies the commitment needed to make
a summer camp work. It requires "a village," or a whole crew of
volunteers to make every Redwood Glen program camp a successful
one. Stephanie is simply amazed by the enthusiasm and effort that
each person brings.
"They volunteer time away from family, friends, work," she says, "in
some cases using up the only allotted vacation time they have to come
serve children whom they do not know in hopes that they can make a
positive impact in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with them."
Though each camp brings its own challenges and crises, the struggles
are worth it, even the stress of registration days, she admits.
"At the end of each camp week when I've witnessed smiles, laughter, and
new relationships I know that the Kingdom of God has been impressed
upon the kids and I've had a hand in it," she says. "I praise God
that he is using me in ways I would have never imagined as he is
revealing more and more how He uniquely crafted me."
With interests in becoming a Marriage and Family Counselor, Stephanie
is deeply committed to family, including her own, and admits that being
away from her mom and sister in Modesto is the biggest challenge of the
summer. Her interest and involvement in the Deaf Community comes
out of her own experience as her sister is deaf, with Steph being
fluent in American Sign Language.
As she considers the value of Christian camp and the choices parents
have today, Stephanie believes in the positive influence a week at
Redwood Glen can have in the lives of young people. Having served
twice as a counselor at Discovery Camp, she has experienced first hand
how God uses the culture and community of camp to eternally impact the
lives of children.
"The staff and volunteers have remarkable influence on the children,"
she says, "not only spiritually but emotionally and mentally as
well. Children have the opportunity to encounter mentor-like
adults who can make a lasting imprint on their future lives, and bring
them closer to the call of Christ. I can only hope an opportunity
like Redwood Glen camp is around for my children."
If you've not already done so, we encourage you to register a child in
your life for a Redwood Glen summer camp. You'll be glad you
did. Click here for more information.
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Planning
an event this summer? Redwood Glen has open dates.
Because the
camping needs of groups shift and change, the following 2009 dates have
opened up. Contact us for more information at info@redwoodglen.com.
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Friday-Sunday, July 17-19
- Sunday-Friday, July 19-24
- Friday-Sunday, July 24-26
- Sunday-Friday, August 2-7
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Sunday-Friday, August 9-14
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Friday-Sunday, August 21-23
- Sunday-Friday, August 23-28
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Friday-Sunday, August 28-30
And
remember, through our REFERRAL PROGRAM, you can save $250 off your next Redwood Glen event if you
refer a group and they book a first time event with us. They also
will save $250 their event. For more details, contact us at (650)
879-0320.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
WORK
DAY - THIS WEEKEND!! Saturday, May 30th -
8:30-4:30 pm
A wonderful
service project opportunity for a youth group, a church, your family,
or simply yourself as we prepare the buildings and grounds for the
summer camp rush. Overnight accommodations are available.
Please email
or call us (650) 879-0320 to let us know you are coming. Lunch
will be served.
SUMMER
OPEN HOUSES
Saturday,
June 27th and July 11th begins 10:30 am
Make plans
to join us for our two annual open house events which feature a
barbecue lunch (tickets available for purchase), activities for
children, swimming in the pool, tours of the facilities, and musical
performances by Children's Music And Drama camp (6/27) and Youth Music
And Drama camp (7/11). For more information and to pre-order your
luncheon tickets, email
or call us (650)879-0320.
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PARTNERING WITH
PASTORS: Pastor's Sabbath Week
Through Metamorphosis, Redwood Glen's
ministry to church leaders, we are excited to again offer a special
week of rest and renewal for pastors and their families.
Reservations are being taken for our 2009 Pastor's Sabbath
- June 14-19.
This is an opportunity for pastors to bring their spouse and children
to experience a low-cost getaway, among the majestic redwoods, near the
beautiful California coast. Enjoy accommodations in our Siden
Conference Center with motel-style rooms for only $50 for the
week. Meals are available for a donation.
Call or email us for more information or to reserve a room at (650)
879-0320 or info@redwoodglen.com. (If you need a break before summer,
contact us about a personal retreat. Spouses are welcome, too!)
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Redwood
Glen REFLECTIONS
This
monthly e-newsletter is 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. 14
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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