Junior Camp #2: Sabbath

Final Prayer with Pastor Jon

Tonight was our last night of Junior #2 and it surely was an interesting end to the week. Our Sabbath morning started with the sound of thunder and from there we stayed on rainy day schedule for the entirety of the day. We delivered breakfast to the cabins so the kids wouldn’t have to walk in the rain and then we moved to the Ponderosa Room for an indoor version of our weekly Sabbath village. 

Our staff all pulled together and while we would have liked to be outside in our usual locations for Sabbath programming, we had a great time. From the Ponderosa Room we traveled over to the Chaparral Room for Line call and mail delivery before trekking to the cafeteria for lunch. 

After a brief rest, we headed back to Ponderosa for Church. Pastor Jon finished his series on the armor of God with a sermon about the sword of the spirit. After church we dispersed through the lodge for an indoor version of our afternoon Sabbath program. It was a little loud in the lodge, but by God’s grace we accomplished everything today indoors.

Gymnastics Expo

We had a short vespers to close the Sabbath and then we shifted gears into our Saturday night program. The saturday night program featured a Gymnastics exposition, several skits by our staff and the media department’s end of week videos.

We work hard to make sure rain doesn't hold us back here at camp, we hope we succeed,        -Colin

Junior Camp #2: Friday

We are nearing the end of Junior Camp 2 here at PSR, and after cabin Commanche raised the flag, our specialty camps spent their mornings finishing their final class sessions. Some of those sessions included Gymnastics rehearsing for their Saturday night performance, Digital Photography doing some light writing, and Ropes Course taking on the zip line and leap of faith.

A brave camper flying down the zip line

In the afternoon, Super Big Event took place. The campers played a large game of Capture the Flag, then split off to participate in various open activities. Field games and the ropes course were open, but the pool in particular was a very popular place to be. Even a few counselors hopped in to escape the heat.

Diving in at the pool

After successfully working up our appetites, we enjoyed a classic dinner of haystacks, and then began preparations for Sabbath. As usual, our Friday night concluded with Pageant. This year’s program follows a young girl being led astray by the temptations of the world, only to find her way back into her family’s loving arms.

At the end of the program, our campers were given the opportunity to give their lives to Christ, and several answered the call. The moments of reflection after Pageant always offer a wonderful chance for campers and staff alike to think about all the things God has done for us and to rededicate ourselves to Him.

Campers committing themselves to Christ

I’m excited to see what else Sabbath has in store,                    -Colin

Staff Profile: Charisse de Belen (Videographer)

Charisse During Staff Training

It's been a while since I've posted a staff profile, but we are back again this week and this time we are hearing from Charisse de Belen, the camp videographer. Here's what she has to say:

"If I were to make a list of my favorite things, near the top would be the night sky and being part of a well-functioning team. When I was given the opportunity to join the Pine Springs Ranch staff this summer, I figured I would get to experience those two things, but I didn’t expect just how abundant and rich those experiences would be.

I've encountered plenty of people who have been camp staff members at some point in their lives, and several years ago, I came to the conclusion that they are a whole other breed of human. They are enthusiastic, dedicated, and loving people who pick up any challenge you throw at them with smiles on their faces. Seeing this, I decided I wanted to work at camp one day to learn what makes them that way.

When I finally got the chance, I wasn’t expecting it to be here. I live in Washington and go to school in Tennessee, and I knew a total of maybe three other PSR staff members before I arrived. I wasn’t sure how I—who had never been a camper or worked at camp before in my life—would fit in with all these Californians who already knew each other, but my worries were quickly wiped away.

The way each staff member interacts with each other and with the campers, it is very clear that God has rooted Himself deeply in each of them. There’s no way we would have the strength to do our jobs by ourselves, but the faith and camaraderie that flows through this staff is absolutely powerful.

Being part of the media team, I am blessed to be able to witness and share the incredible things that happen here at PSR. When I look up at the stars while I’m taking down after evening programs, or when I listen to campers talk at the end of each week about everything they experienced and how much they look forward to returning next year, I know there are great things happening here. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the summer brings."

We are extremely proud of the work she is doing both with the kids and behind the camera. Charisse has been an extremely valued member of our team.

I'll be bringing you more profiles soon, but in the mean time stay tuned to our daily blog and don't forget to check out our daily photos on Instagram and Ultracamp. Until next time,          -Colin

Junior Camp #2: Thursday

Carnival Photo Booth

We absolutely love Thursdays here at camp. The morning starts off like a normal camp day. Breakfast, Camp Council, morning activity rotations and the rest all happen without interruption.. After our afternoon activity rotations end, we head to the field for big event (today it was Ultimate Soccer). Then we head off to dinner and from there our schedule changes drastically. 

Fun in the Drama Deparment

Ultimate Soccer

We abandon our typical journey to outpost  and instead head off to the PSR carnival. The carnival starts with a giant human sized game of Sorry.  The twist with the Sorry game is that the campers have to answer trivia to move instead of simply drawing cards. Each week we get a great response from campers and staff alike who love to play the game.

Then we break up the group and enjoy endless games of basketball, lasertag and food from our camp store. We even have a Photo Booth for campers to take silly photos with their counselors. Thursday is a nice, fun, silly day before the seriousness of our most impactful programs.

I’ll be posting more staff profiles soon and as always, have a great night,            -Colin

Junior Camp #2: Wednesday

Blackfoot raising the flag

This morning we all gathered in the cafeteria for some delicious pancakes and fruit from the cold bar and then headed out to linecall where we were treated to a flag raising by cabin Blackfoot. That’s where our day deviated from the norm. We went to the Ponderosa Room for Camp Council instead of going to the church bowl. When we got there we sang a few songs and then we dimmed the lights and watched a video about the aftermath of the fire.

Pastor Jon in Ponderosa for Camp Council

Two years ago fire struck our home here at PSR. When we left the mountain we thought we may never see camp the same way again, but miraculously the camp was saved. She is still a little scarred but she survived and we are here to tell the story. God put a protective blanket around camp and we are so grateful to be here serving him today. We finished up at Camp Council with a message from Pastor Jon about righteousness.

Activities and classes opened until lunch when delivered the mail to our campers, but not before “Putt Putt” stole it from the campers. The media team retrieved the mail from “Putt Putt” and finally delivered it to the campers. From there we shifted back to our regular schedule for the afternoon complete with flag lowering and our final night of outpost.

Have a great day!,             -Colin

Junior Camp #2: Tuesday

Outpost Night 2

This morning we were treated to breakfast burritos by the cafeteria and then headed off to line call where for the first time we saw our South Village campers raise the flag and then went to Camp Council where Pastor Jon taught us about how faith is the shield that protects us from all the bad things that could happen to us. 

Pastor Jon at Camp Council

From there we dismissed to our morning classes and rotations. Our classes had a great time skipping past the introductory lessons and getting to the meat of the material. I met the students in my photography class for the first time today and I’m incredibly excited to work with each and everyone of them. 

After our morning classes we came back for lunch and had some delicious enchiladas, but it was after lunch that the real fun started. We took the campers up to the cabins and had them take their cabin photos for the souvenir packages. Cabin photos is one of my favorite times of the week. I get to go talk to campers and make them smile and then capture it to send home.

After an hour of taking photos it was back to activity rotations. I spent some time visiting with Archery, Gymnastics, the store and field games today and everywhere I went, campers were having a great time. That’s why we work so hard here at PSR to make sure the Campers have a good time and come closer to Jesus.

Fun at Skateboarding

We premiered our second night of outpost to this group of kids tonight and it was a hit. The campers thought the conflict in the Wrightley was very dramatic and exciting. I’m thrilled to see how they respond to tomorrow night’s conclusion.

Looking forward to talking to you tomorrow,                     -Colin

Junior Camp #2: Monday

Nature Class with Jordi

Another week here at PSR has begun. This week more than any other is the week that people assume is just like the one before it. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth is that camp is and always has been about the campers. That being the case, we have a very different group of kids this week and that means that camp will be very different. 

Last week we had what seemed like a million high energy camp veterans in our cabins. They knew the drill, they knew what to expect and they wanted it to happen yesterday. We love those kids because they love camp, but the truth is that while they give us energy to get through the day, when they leave they leave behind a very tired staff. That makes us really excited for the group that follows them. It’s a smaller group and not many of them have been here before, we even have a group of foreign exchange students here this week.

The campers this week aren’t sure what to expect so they just wait and see what comes their way. They are a little more patient because of that. It gives our staff a little breather before next week. It also gives us the opportunity to spend more time one on one with the campers. We do everything we can to touch campers hearts, but sometimes they touch ours too and I have a feeling that’s what is going to happen at camp this week. 

This morning our South Village girl’s counselors raised the flag and started off our first full day of Junior Camp #2. From there we walked to the Church Bowl for Camp Council where we received a message from this week’s camp pastor. Jon, or Johnny as we call him around here has been a staff member here for years in our horsemanship and maintenance departments, but is serving this year as a youth pastor at Redlands SDA. He’s excited to be here and we are excited to have him.

Camp Council

After Camp Council we dismissed to our classes. I have eight students in photography this week and so far they have all been wonderful. Gymnastics has two boys this week as opposed to the all girls club from last week (see what I mean about every week being different?). Our new Adventurus class has seven really happy campers in it and I’m sure they are going to have a great time.

Oscar absolutely loves to teach skateboarding.

In each of our classes this week they took a short test this morning so we could be sure that we weren't teaching them something they already know. At the end of the week they will take it again to see how much they learned. I’m positive all our campers this week will learn a ton of new skills that they can come home and share with you. 

At the end of the day, we are just excited to be spending another week in paradise here at PSR,                        -Colin