May 31st: Our Final Discount Deadline

Three days until our final discount deadline & your last chance to save on a week at PSR Camp.

If you're like me, it's tough to pass on a good deal.

So I am trying to get the word our that our final, last, best deal for a week of camp is ending at midnight on May 31st.

So register soon!

FULL PRICE CAMPERS
Did you know that some of our supporters are parents who wait until all of the discount deadlines have passed so that they can pay full price for a week (or two) of summer camp?


As you can imagine, our Full-Price Campers (FPC's) fulfill a valuable role by allowing us to balance our budget & make PSR Camp sustainable for the communities we serve.    

If you are a supporter who's waiting until after May 31st to register because you want to give the gift of camp to so many others we hope you'll accept our most heartfelt thanks.

We'll see you soon,

~Jeremy

A Crown Like No Other

PSR CHRISTIAN CAMP: NEWS OF THE DAY

   I spent several minutes this week developing different artwork for our Sabbath uniform shirts. Due to our desire at PSR Camp to create original content (and avoid piracy of other people's work), I created a 'Crown of Thorns' piece in Adobe Illustrator that was not well received by the people I asked for an honest appraisal. 

   Here is that artwork:

Attempt #1: Crown of Thorns (5/21/14)

   I think I agree that it's entirely too thick and pretty unpolished. I was pretty happy with it for all of two minutes, and then I made a second attempt today.

   Here is that artwork:

Attempt #2: Crown of Thorns (5/22/14)

   Much better, I hope. (Are the thorns too small?)

Attempt #3: Crown of Thorns (5/28/14)

   This is a different angle, forward facing with a darker top/front to provide perspective.

   I know that some of our staff might feel uncomfortable wearing a shirt that displays such a recognizable Christian symbol; I might even include myself in that group.

   I learned growing up that displaying a cross on a t-shirt doesn't make someone a Christian, but I have also heard people tell the most heartfelt stories about a special Christian tattoo or piece of Christian-themed jewelry that personally means so much to them. While I won't directly equate a tattoo to a 3" x 3" symbol on a removable tee, I am curious about how people feel about displaying these kinds of markers.

   If you have an opinion you'd like to share, go ahead and leave it in the comment section below (invitation extended at the risk of having no comments).

   We'll see you at camp soon!

-Jeremy

P.S. I'm getting to blog format ready for summer camp, this is one simple design I have been working with.

What's About to FILL UP at PSR Camp!

A parent who follows us on Facebook mentioned that posting when activities fill up isn't very helpful; she wants to know what's about to fill up.

So, today I'm going to post the TOP 6 classes that have the least amount of space available.

TEEN WEEK: Wakeboard Trip (1 spot left for a girl; all spots for boys are full)
TEEN WEEK: Small Engine Racing (1 spot remaining)
TWEEN WEEK: Short Film (2 spots remaining)
TEEN WEEK: Drama & Theater (3 spots remaining)
DISCOVERY: Indian Camp (4 spots for boys; all spots for girls are full)
TEEN WEEK: Ropes Course & Bouldering (5 spots remaining)

Otherwise all other activities have at least 6 spots available, but this could change at any minute!

We'll see you at camp!

~Jeremy

It's time to register for Pathfinder & Adventurer Family Camp!

May is Pathfinder & Adventurer Family Camp registration time!

If you weren't able to get tickets to OSHKOSH, don't miss out on Pathfinder/Adventurer Family Camp. We're offering our camp family April's rates if they are missing out on Oshkosh due to the low availability of tickets.

From June 25 - 29th @ Pine Springs Ranch

Join us for an extended weekend of fun, friends, and fellowship! Call for more information:
951-509-2266

We teach at least two Pathfinder honors & two Adventurer honors each season.

Go-Cart rides!

Even adults have the chance to try new things during family camp!

Pool time can be a blast!

Every day we play a giant field game called 'Big Event' to get the pulse going.

Who doesn't like a 30-foot long waterslide?

We'll see you at camp!

~Jeremy

Friday Night Pageant

On Friday nights we have a special program at camp.  We haven't chosen all of the music yet, but here's what we're listening to right now:

1. The Digital Age - All the Poor & Powerless

2. Jamie Grace - Hold Me

3. Superchik - We Live

4. All Sons & Daughters - More Than Anything

5. Audio Adrenaline - Believer

6. Jason Castro - Only a Mountain

7. Desperation Band - Counting On God

Just a few more weeks until we're all back at camp, we're counting down the minutes!

~Jeremy

Dear Future Staff: Posts you may have missed... and might be of interest to you.

Did you miss any of these posts?

1) People always ask: How much will I get paid at summer camp? It's a great question. Click the link to find out.

2) Did you notice the job assignment on your contract? Please navigate to this blog post for more information about job descriptions.

3) At PSR Camp the executive team is made up of three individuals:
      1) The Executive Director;
      2) The Assistant Director;
      3) & The Operations Assistant.

We also have an addition team of supervisors, known as the Leadership Staff (or L-TEAM) who have all sorts of wonderful duties to perform.

4) How can you earn a little a extra cash this summer? Read about how to qualify for a small bonus in this post from December.

5) Camp = New Friendships! It can also means the renewal of friendships that formed in previous years.

PSR Summer Camp Staff 2014

6) Everyone (or nearly almost everyone) at camp is an actor! With several evenings of scripted programs & and even a few choreographed program (with no dialogue), summer camp is a great place to test your acting talents.

Feel free to browse the entire blog for more information about camp.

We'll see you at camp!

~Jeremy

The Sunday Company: Sunday Night @ the Ranch

This is the cast list from our new, semi-scripted program that we'll be performing on Sunday nights for all of our campers this summer. 

We've done something similar before, but this year there will be a set cast list, in order to maximize the enjoyment of the audience.

A lot of programming happens during this time of year as we are getting ready for camp to begin. New props, costume, and backgrounds are being assembled to create the kinds of plays that make camp memorable and inspiring.

If you're going to work at camp this summer, I hope you see a part you'd like to learn more about. We cast all of the parts to every play (Sunday Night, Outpost, & Pageant)  before Tuesday night of staff training week.

We'll see you at camp!

~Jeremy

Decline/Unable to Hire

We interviewed over 200 people for camp positions this year at Pine Springs Ranch, and we really thought most of you did very well.

Unfortunately we do not have enough positions for everyone, and we try our best each season to select applicants for the individual position(s) they are most qualified to fill. This means that the person who was likely the second most qualified applicant was not able to receive a position on staff.

Usually I get a few phone calls and emails every season from people who feel rejected and want to know why they weren't hired (or why their son, daughter, nephew, friend, cousin, etc... weren't hired).

Instead of trying to wade through all of the individual requests, here are some general tips.

1) Apply early. (Between January and March)

2) Call us. Most people do an application and wait for a phone call, but with 200 applicants we are unable to communicate with everyone regularly for interviews. People who call us once in awhile to check on their hiring status seem more interested in a job, and are more likely to get an interview and then subsequently get a position. 

3) Get your recommendations submitted. This year we made is simpler and easier for people to submit recommendations using an online form. If you have at least one recommendation in, you are more likely to get an interview and then subsequently get a position.

I hope that we get even more applicants earlier during the hiring season next year. One of the hardest things to do is interview someone amazing, but we've already filled up every position!

We'll see you at camp!

~Jeremy 

P.S. If people drop out and decide not to work at camp, we will be filling positions from a specific list. If you made that list you will also be contacted.

From our friends @ The Power of Camp

Hiring Complete: Hiring status updates to arrive soon!

Final Hiring Status Update: 5/7/14

Today, one of the following two emails will be sent to our last group of job applicants.

1) UNABLE TO HIRE: Reference form(s) incomplete.

Today we planned to send out our last batch of intent-to-hire letters. You may be currently slated for a position at PSR Camp, but we are unable to extend an offer to you at this time because you have missing references. 

If you are still interested in a position, please forward this link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hLxieXNm9Vl_pKJOQaUlQz3JbDU4tqFjEmMVqQCYv1M/viewform 

to at least two people who would be willing to recommend you for summer camp employment.

We hope that all of the references will be complete before the end of the week.

Blessings to you and yours,

Stephanie Strode

Secretary

PSR Summer Camp

OR;

2) PSR CAMP: EMPLOYMENT INTENT LETTER

Congratulations,  

Attached is our offer of employment with Pine Springs Ranch Summer Camp, for our 2014 season.

Please read the attached carefully and respond accordingly.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Blessings to you and yours,

Stephanie Strode

Secretary

PSR Summer Camp

***Please note: IF/WHEN people reject their offer of employment, we will extend those positions to others.

Staff-in-Training or... "Teenage volunteers at summer camp."

I spent a lot of time volunteering at the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital during the summer when I was 14 & 15 years old.

The main reason was that my parents did not want me to be home all day, but I also knew a lot of adults who worked in media services because I was also a volunteer at Loma Linda University SDA Church as a camera operator.

During those years, I learned a lot from working with adults. At first I was a bit intimated, but the more they taught me (and the more I learned) the more I felt like part of the team.

I was once allowed to film a surgery in the Operating Room (OR) which was transmitted to medical students watching in an annex. I remember the stares when I walked down to the cafeteria in white scrubs, mask around my neck, surgery cap, and booties. Someone asked me if I was a doctor, and I just remember the look of relief they had when I told them I wasn't.

Being a volunteer meant that I wasn't paid for my time, but I really felt like I was on the winning side of the transaction. I learned a valuable skill, worked with professionals, and discovered what it meant to try my best every day.

At PSR Camp, we have several different types of volunteer positions for teenagers (16 & 17), and I hope that they all have the opportunity to capture all of the skills I learned when I was younger. Staff-In-Training (age 17) participants are at camp for about 4.5 weeks during the summer, and Counselor-in-Training (age 16 & 17) participants are at camp for about 2.5 weeks during the summer.

It's not too late to interview for a volunteer position at camp, for more information please email me before May 12th.

We'll see you at camp!

~Jeremy

Time to Serve! (Mark 10:45)

PLACE: PSR Camp

YEAR: 2003

SESSION: Junior Camp #2

DAY: Friday, July 11th 

TIME: 10:31 PM

MISSION: Clean North Village Bathrooms

After Pageant the assistant camp director pulled me aside and asked me if I was busy. After a week of working in the cafeteria (an unexpected assignment that I definitely felt was beneath me) I was tired and more than a little moody. 

I probably gave her an answer like 'yes', but what I remember is walking up to the bathrooms with a toilet brush, a gallon of bleach, and a promise that 'others' would soon be joining me to help.

I must have waited a few minutes, but eventually I started the job myself. I distinctly remember this particular job because when I walked into the bathroom I immediately walked back out to take a breath.

We had a big international group that week, and in their cultural tradition toilet paper doesn't go into the toilet bowl, it goes into a provided trash can. However, there were no trash cans in the bathroom, so the paper was piled high on the floor.     

This is the kind of mistake, as a camp administrator, that you only need to make once. Today we have signs in the bathroom to remind our visitors, but in 2003 we did not have any indicators or directions for our guests.

As you can imagine, my mood did not improve over the course of the next hour. As I was de-gloving after the job was complete (around 11:30 pm) the camp supervisors and a few more volunteers did show-up just in time to watch me throw away the empty bleach container and toss my shoes (and socks) into the trash can.  

That was a long time ago, and it's almost a fond memory at this point.

Nowadays I still have the opportunity to clean bathrooms (the glorious life of a camp assistant director) and I'm really more than happy to do it. When you are a leader at camp, people see you as an authority figure, but what we really do is clean a lot of bathrooms and assign ourselves other inglorious duties that some would cringe at. 

    

I'm really proud of the team of servant leader's we've assembled to work at camp this summer; they really want every staff member & camper to experience success (even when that means a clean bathroom).  

We'll see you at camp!

~Jeremy

"For even the Son of Man came not to served but to serve, 

and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~Mark 10:45

Our friends @ Camp MiVoden

I once had the pleasure of visiting Camp MiVoden on the shores of Hayden Lake in Cour de'Alene, Idaho.

It's a great place with a friendly staff and a Christ-centered ministry. My cousins would tell me all sorts of wonderful stories, which may have even planted the seed to be a part of camp ministry in me.

We're adding a link on the toolbar so you can navigate to their website.

Blessings,

~Jeremy

COUPON CODE #1: XMAYDAYSX

On Sunday, a parent asked me...

   "Is camp going to be a lot different because of the fire?"

It's a fair question, and one that we knew parents would be wondering. So we set out this year to rebuild, improve, and add to camp.

Here are a few ways that we're working to make camp better than ever before. 

Ropes Challenge Course
    1) Leap-of-Faith element rebuilt.
        The northern trees where the leap was located were affected by the fire, so we're moving this
        element closer to others. This will also improve camper supervision and safety.      

    2) Climbing wall resurfaced.
        We're going to be making improvement to ensure the quality of the climbing wall.

Marksmanship
    1) Redesigned course
        The course was also affected by the fire, so we'll be making improvements for our tween &
        teen camper to enjoy.

    2) New equipment
        Our marksmanship equipment is still practically new, and we're adding a few new piece to
        make it more convenient for staff and campers to refill air tanks.    

Skateboarding
    1) New course elements
        This year the skateboarding elements will be new to PSR Camp, things that we've actually
        never had at camp before.  

    2) New padding/skateboards
        We bought brand new pads last year, and we're planning to purchase a few more boards.

Program Location Improvements
    1) New Fort
        The PSR Fort project is still in full swing. We plan on completing  before camp

    2) New Wagons
         Since all of the wagons were affected by the fire, we'll be replacing them with six new ones.

    3) New Teepees
         I've been told that the new teepees are going to be permanent structures at PSR Camp and I
         can't wait to see them.

    4) New Stargazing Tents
         We've already purchased two large canvass tents for stargazing on the mountainside near
         camp. This is away from the light pollution in the parking lot. On moonless nights at PSR
         Camp satellites orbiting the Earth are visible with the naked eye!

These are just some of the things we are planning. Look forward to upcoming posts on more activity improvements.

We'll see you at camp!

~Jeremy

P.S. If you still haven't registered, please use the coupon code below to save $10.