Race day officially began on June 14 with our first week of family camp at Northland Camp and Conference Center. Both teams, Accelerate Motorsports and Full-Throttle Racing, have started their engines!
Northland Camp has actually been in full gear for “Off-Road Adventure” since June 2 when over 140 staff members arrived for staff training. This training, almost like race qualifiers, included nearly seventy sessions in areas of staff life, philosophies of camp, counseling training, emergency training, evening services, Power Groups, and training specific to departments of service. We’re thrilled with the staff the Lord has provided to serve our campers this summer.
Our spiritual theme, or apex in racing lingo, for summer 2010 is “Life in the Gospel: Truth and Love” from I John 4. Lord willing, this theme and Bible study will permeate the atmosphere of Northland Camp all summer. Each staffer will be part of a three- to five-member Power Group, meeting each week with their leader to study one of the eight lessons. Every teen and family camper will participate in a four-day study through I John 4. This passage will be the focal point of the morning teaching and preaching sessions for all teen and family camps, taught by either Will Galkin or Steve Pettit. The campers will also work their way through a four-day devotional booklet and Bible study on this passage. Our prayer is that God’s Word will effectively change the hearts of our staff members and campers throughout the course of this summer.
Northland Camp is excited to unveil two new activities this summer for campers to enjoy—outdoor, remote control racecars from Traxxas and the ultimate Aquazorb! In addition to all of the new elements, campers will still enjoy many of the activities and traditions welcomed year after year, such as our Carnival, Funny Time, SwingShot, Zipper ziplines, and our 90-foot water slide—The Liquidator! Campers will spend time developing new friendships as well.
However, one of the best parts of Northland Camp remains the opportunity to get away from the tasks and distractions of daily life in order to worship God through biblical preaching, great music, and time alone in the Word in the beauty of the camp setting. The summer schedule at Northland includes three weeks of family camp with guest preachers Mark Minnick, Tim Jordan, and Les Ollila; five weeks of teen camp with preachers Jerry Sivnksty, Tom Farrell, Will Galkin, Keven Brownfield, and Jeremy Frazor; and five weeks of Pioneer Village, specially designed for third through sixth graders, with preachers Ed Dunlop, Joel Albright, Will Galkin, Jeremy Frazor, and Mike Egerdahl. Some specialty weeks are devoted to leadership, sports, and music camps.
If you are still interested in attending camp this summer but have not yet registered, you can check the remaining availability for specific weeks by visiting the camp website at northlandcamp.org . We hope to see you this summer at Northland Camp and Conference Center. Let the races begin!