September 28, 2017

Our Mission Statement

Our Core Values

1. Bible-based
2. Community
3. Excellence
4. Christ-likeness
5. Diversity
6. Experiencing God in Nature

THE BENT TREE

Have you ever seen a bent tree such as the one pictured above? It could have been pointing a way home for someone. “Native Americans would bend young trees to create permanent trail markers, designating safe paths through rough country and pointing travelers toward water, food or other important landmarks,” explains Katrina Marland, a former managing editor with American Forests. “Over the years, the trees have grown, keeping their original shape, but with their purpose all but forgotten as modern life sprang up around them. Today, we may not need these ‘trail trees’ to navigate, but their place in history makes them invaluable.”

What kind of ‘trail’ have you marked out for others to follow? Is your camp ministry’s pathway clearly marked and leading others to the soon-coming Savior? Let’s hope so. Those ‘trails’ are what makes camp ministry invaluable!

DIRECTOR’S CLIPBOARD for ALL STAFF

SUMMER CAMP EVANGELISM REPORT – SHARING THE RESULTS!

This is just a reminder to be sure to complete your Summer Camp Evangelism Report (summer camp attendance, those requesting baptism, and decisions made for Christ). Send your report to Tracy Wood on or before September 30th. THAT'S ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS AWAY! Thanks for doing your part in making known the value of camp ministry throughout the North American Division!

2017 Summer Camp Evangelism Report Form

Tracy’s email is TracyWood@nadadventist.org.

FLOOD WATERS RECEDE AT CAMP KULAQUA

Camp Kulaqua reports that the flood waters have receded and are back where they belong... in the natural spring! They have begun work on the areas that were flooded including the pulling out of drywall to reduce molding opportunities. “You can't even tell as you drive through camp that floodwaters were surrounding us last week!!  With the help of our wonderful team of volunteers we are making wonderful progress,” reports Theresa Stride.

MAKE THE COMMITMENT: GET YOUR ACA ACCREDITATION

Do you want to take your camp’s reputation to the next level? How would you like to reduce the number of potential safety risks on a camp property? One answer is to maintain accreditation through the American Camp Association (ACA). It’s worth the time and investment.

When parents send their children to an ACA accredited camps, they have an expectation they can trust the staff to protect and treat the campers as their own. ACA accredited camps make additional contributions into their staffing, property, and standards. ACA accreditation provides these benefits:

• Industry accepted risk management requirements and training
• Consistent criteria for staff screening and supervision guidelines
• Expanded partnership with other camp professionals and organizations 

Prepare to renew your ACA accreditation for 2018. The renewal period is October 1-November 1. If your camp is not already a member, take advantage of the discount negotiated by the North American Division, and an additional discount from Adventist Risk Management, Inc. on the ACA renewal membership fee.

Frenita B. Fullwood; Manager, Communications & Resources; Adventist Risk Management, Inc.
ffullwood@adventistrisk.org | AdventistRisk.org

ACA BASIC STANDARDS COURSE OFFERED AT AACP CONVENTION

If you are planning to have your camp visited next summer, you will need to take the ACA Basic Standards Course. This will be offered at the AACP Convention (currently scheduled for Friday, December 1st). In order for enough materials to be available to the camps, you will want to register through this link: Basic Standards Course @ SDA AACP Convention.

ACA representatives will be present throughout the day to connect with you and answer any questions you might have. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get a head start on preparing for your visit next summer!

STORE DECORATIONS FOR FALL

If you have the room, create a fall window display and rotate your retail display locations. Add fall themed props such as leaves, pumpkins, and gourds, nuts and other natural items. Pumpkins are great because they carry you from early September through Thanksgiving. With permission from Patti Biro and Associates; P.O. Box 2994; Fredericksburg, TX 78624; (760) 712-7385; http://www.pattibiro.com

SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING NOTES

• AACP Constitution and Bylaws – Recommendations for changes
• Website Upgrades coming
• AACP Convention Report from Ray Queen
• Should there ever be surplus funds from an AACP Convention, they will be placed in an  AACP Convention Reserve Account for future convention use

AGENDA ITEMS FOR YOUR AACP BOARD

Do you have an idea, concern, or dream that you’d like to share with the AACP Board? Be sure to let your Union’s AACP representative know, OR contact David Yeagley and share your thoughts with him at david.yeagley@wc.npuc.org. Our next board meeting will take place on October 10th. 

BOARD MEETINGS AT AACP CONVENTION

Board members, please remember our board meeting that will be meeting on Wednesday, November 29th, from 9:00 until 3:00 and on Sunday, December 3 from 9:00 until noon (or before).

AACP WEBSITE UPGRADES COMING

Tracy Wood informed the board that the NAD is providing $2700 to AdventSource to move forward on upgrading the AACP website! Plans include including a link to each camp’s website (as opposed to having a page for each camp), doing away with a member login, updating the photos and making it more user friendly for iPhones and other similar devices.       

AACP MEMBERSHIP INCREASES

Norm Middag reported that the 2017 NAD camp membership drive had excellent results. All camps are members with the exception of three camps.  253 members are currently on the mailing list for E-News.

BASIC CONVENTION INFORMATION

AACP CONVENTION

As has already been announced, the AACP convention will be held at Pine Springs Ranch in the Southeastern California Conference. Check-in will begin sometime Wednesday afternoon, November 29 and conclude with Sunday breakfast on December 3, 2017. You might want to plan some vacation days before or after since there are plenty of attractions in Southern California. NOTE: The AACP Board will be meeting that same Wednesday morning at 9:00, so you might want to arrive Tuesday evening. More information will be coming out on that later. More information will be shared as it becomes available. Hope to see you there!

FLYING TO THE CONVENTION?

The airports recommended by Carmen Ibanez (Pine Springs Ranch Director) are either the Palm Springs airport (PSP) or the Ontario airport (ONT). Those are the two closest ones. Palm Springs airport is about 1 hour away from the camp, and from Ontario it is about 1 1/2 hours away. Los Angeles (LAX) is always cheaper, but the travel time to camp can be unpredictable due to the traffic.

SPECIAL FEATURES AT THE AACP CONVENTION

Currently scheduled, our Main Speaker is Sam Leonore. Our worship will be led by the "Doug Mace Band" and Highlights for this year include "Good Morning AACP", a seminar "LGBTQ in the Camp World" by Jon Daggett (legal representative for the Pacific Union Conference), a Childcare Track for young kids, an evening talent show, and OPEN camp activities will include Archery, Paintball, Go-Carts, & Ropes Course. You won't want to miss these!!!

CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS PROPOSED CHANGES

Several recommendations have been suggested by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee which will be voted on at the business session during the AACP convention. These will sent out to everyone who received E-News and be posted on the AACP website. If a hard copy is desired and access to the web is impossible, please send/email your name and address to Jeff Wines (jeffw@uccsda.org ), committee chair no later than October 16th.

PINE SPRINGS RANCH VIDEO

Take a look at where the AACP convention will be held in just a few months! 

• https://vimeo.com/167972316
• http://www.pinespringsranch.org/meeting-areas
• http://www.pinespringsranch.org/lodging

WANT TO HOST THE 2018 CONVENTION?

If your camp is interested in hosting the 2018 AACP Convention, click here to find out details and submit a request to Ray Queen, the VP for Conventions: rayq@campkulaqua.com

QUOTES FOR CONTEMPLATION

• I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday. — Abraham Lincoln 
• Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but playing a poor hand well. — Robert Louis Stevenson    
• Our love for Christ is only as real as our love for our neighbor. — Unknown 
• Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame again by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light. — Albert Schweitzer 
• Words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. — Mother Teresa

TRADING POST

This is a section dedicated to those camps either looking for equipment or wanting to donate or sell one or more items. Send your list of needs or items you’d like to get to another camp (donating or selling) to terry@leonimeadows.org.

Résumé – SEEKING JOB POSITIONS

DO YOU HAVE JOB OPENINGS?

If you have a job opening for year-round staff, let us know and we can post it here. Or if you are having trouble finding someone to fill a particular position in summer camp, that can be posted here too. Contact terry@leonimeadows.org to get it published.

CAMP ALAMISCO – ‘ONE YEAR’ ASSISTANT CAMP RANGER

If you or someone you know could be interested in this position, please contact the Gulf States Conference Youth Director, Todd Casey at tcasey@gscsda.org.

CAMP WAIANAE – ‘ONE YEAR’ ASSISTANT CAMP MANAGER

For more information, please contact Dennis Anderson, Manager. Camp Waianae, Hawaii Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists,danderson@hawaiisda.com, www.campwaianae.org, Office (808) 696-1717, Mobile (808) 282-2921

CAMP WINNEKEAG – FULL TIME ASSISTANT CAMP RANGER

For more information, contact Jose Alarcon   SNEC Secretary/HR Director, Phone 978-365-4551 - E-mail: jalarcon@sneconline.org - Fax: 978-365-3838

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

AACP OFFICERS & UNION REPS

The dates for the AACP board meetings via conference calls are posted here once they are finalized. You will also be notified by email and/or phone call prior to the meeting, along with agendas when possible. Meetings begin at 2:00 Eastern Time, unless otherwise specified.

• September 12
• October 10
• November 14, if needed
• November 29 - 9:00 – 3:00 before AACP Convention at convention site
• December 3 - 9:00 to noon after AACP Convention at convention site

7. Health of our year round camp staff
8. Successful completion of on-going camp projects and goals
9. Praise (and prayer) for the annual AACP Conventions

INSPIRATION, ENCOURAGEMENT & COUNSEL 

REVEALING JESUS

Lift up Jesus,--lift him up before the people; dwell upon his matchless love. But the heart must first be imbued with that love, in order to speak it, to preach it, to pray it, to live it. We must have personal communion with Christ, in order to reveal him to the people. The graces of his Spirit, the loveliness of his character, must be shining forth in the characters of his witnesses.  {RH, December 20, 1881 par. 7}

AACP E-NEWS is the regular communication to all of our AACP members. This message is sent to you because you or your camp is a member of AACP. Its purpose is to provide news, announcements, reminders, and ideas on a regular basis. If you have any items you would like to include in E-NEWS, please email them to terry@leonimeadows.org and list the subject as ‘AACP’. Please include your name and camp name in the email and any contact information as appropriate. For email address corrections or additions, or to unsubscribe, please contact Norm Middag at bnmiddag@gmail.com. We do not hold any responsibility/liability for the excerpts/announcements/articles.