SH 2008

A few hours ago, Senior High Summer Fest 2008 wrapped up. It was a by far a great week. Campers were treated to a dinner theater entertainment night, a giant slip ’n slide, a bike rodeo, a slime fight (It was basically pancake batter) and a barn dance. Much fun, laughter and spiritual growth were staples of the week


Our speaker for the week was Rollie Johnson and he shared through many stories, visuals and demonstrations the great lengths that God went to love us.

For those of you who went to camp this week, feel free to share some of your highlights and what God did in you life at camp….

21 Days to go

Where does the time go? We are officially 21 days until the first day of camp! Things really have been busy around here. The program team is busy planning games, writing skits and drinking way to much coffee. The Summer Festival Band just finished recording a live CD! We did the recording at St. Pats in IGH. We had about 50 people there. The CD is due out July 8, which is the first day of camp.

This Saturday a bunch of the Summer Fest crew is getting to together to make props, paint sets, and grill. We hope to get a lot of work done and

I just wanted to all let you know a little bit what has been going on with a camp legend, Bobo Burns. Bobo has had some major health problems over the last few months. To make a long story short he had minor brain surgery about a month ago. He is doing fine now and is working hard at getting his energy back. He will be at camp up to his normal mischief, playing the drums, making really bad puns and giving us all a little spiritual insight. Please keep his recovery in your prayers.

If you want to know more or drop Bobo a note, visit his caring bridge website go here and drop him a note http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/boboburns

Camp will be here before you know it! If you can not wait I have to projects for you.

1. Invite everyone you know to come to camp. Summer Fest is an awesome gift to give someone. Bring a friend or two and share in something spectacular.

2. Make a horse head out of paper mache. It’s sounds a lot easier then it is. If you are up to this task, we will use your creation in the running bit.

Soon enough we will all be together again. We will laugh, sing, bogaloo, get messy and hangout. See you there

Just like high school musical, we are all in this together,

--Tony <><

Saturday Afternoon

What is it about a Saturday afternoon that is so wonderful? Maybe it’s the extra sleep or maybe it’s knowing you can put off homework for a whole day. Perhaps your mother use to make chocolate chip cookies or you’d play football with all of the neighbor kids on Saturday. Maybe it’s like the old Disney one Saturday morning song use to say: “five hours of summer, once a week. I don’t know why, but there is something magical about this day. Why am I talking about Saturday so much? Well....

Last Saturday afternoon we had our first Summer Festival program team meeting. I know this sounds like an official big deal. Really it just means Bobo, Jeffo, Christina and myself go out for coffee and start talking about what camp is going to look like this Summer. I am not allowed to share many secrets, but I’ll tell you a few things from our meeting.

First off, This summer is going to be just as awesome as the last few. There will be wild games, there will be messy events and there will be dancing. Plus all of the other great Summer Festival Staples: Skits, Speakers, Music, Cabin time and free time.

Another thing I can tell you. A few of the rejected themes for the Summer:

Summer Festival: When Darby attacks!
The Lion, the Witch and the Biff
Scooby Doo CSI
How to loose Bobo in 10 days
Windows Vista

There are some more bad ideas that I’ll post later.

So here is the chance for you to participate,

What would you like to see this Summer? What would make camp extra special for you? Reply to this blog and we’ll use the good ideas! Hope to hear from you soon!

Remember Gang, just like highschool musical, We are all in this together!

--Tony <><

The Bench of Love

This past weekend I spent in Iowa promoting Summer Festival to a few churches in Christina’s (on the program team) hometown. I spent the weekend meeting with pastors and youth workers to talk about why I love Summer Fest and why they should come check it out this summer. We had a ton of fun hanging out, planning camp and meeting all these awesome people. If any of you Iowans stumble upon this blog, thanks for a great weekend!


On they way back we rescued an old friend, the board we use to stand on to lead games on the field. The old board was recovered from Mankato in the snowy field in which we play games in the summer. It was a little worn from the weather, but it’s still has all of it’s structural integrity. Due to the Summer Festival staff’s desire to go home after camp and see our families, we forgot to grab the board. Thankfully all is right with the world as the board is back in its resting place.


After a great week of camp, it’s been a long-standing tradition to write your name on this board. I think about how many great camps this board has seen. What stories would it tell about camp? It’s survived mud fights, trash can relays and even people dancing on it. This board has history. Nicknamed the “bench of love” by Bobo Burns, this board has really seen the love of many great camps. Whatever your favorite memory is, this board probably was at camp when it happened. Maybe this blog post is starting to sound a bit silly or perhaps overly sentimental, but I tell you the truth, that board is an artifact of Summer Fest.

The board reminds me of all of what I have to be thankful for. It reminds me of how great camp has been, and reminds me of how great camp is going to be. Take a look around your own room. What artifacts remind you have what you have to be thankful for? What reminds you of the good in this world?

Last summer we built a stage to use out on the field. Although the original use of the bench of love is gone, it’s found a new purpose. This summer that board and all of its history will become part of the new stage, as the new stage needs reinforcing. The bench of love will be used to reinforce the great things happening at camp. That is a wonderful things! Your great experiences at camp are the support which makes the events of next summer happen! Thanks for you prayers and support of camp!


Remember, just like high school musical: were all in this together.

--Tony <><