the camp hammer blog

Ok friends and family.   I must begin by sending out an enormous apology because of the scarceness of posts!  We are mere weeks away from summer, and we are incredibly busy!  I hope you’ll forgive me, and in the absence of consistent blogs you will day dream about all of the great stuff we are preparing for the youth that will be arriving in just a weeks!  Anyway, before the day dreaming commences, let me fill you in on some of the great things going on around here!

Skit Set.

As many of you know we are very serious around here about our night games!  With that in mind, we have been working tirelessly to get our set built for this summers skit.  I cannot tell you exactly what it is, but let me tell you that it looks great!  We have had all kinds of help from old and new staff members, as well as high schoolers from Twin Lakes High School group!  From painting to building and everything in between, we are almost done!  Get ready for one of the best summer skits in history!

Bridge Project

We are in the process of putting in a brand new bridge down by the fire circle and it looks amazing!  We had the Mens Ministry from TLC here last week, and they did some incredible work.  It is going to be a great blessing when it is finished!

Other Stuff.

We are ordering all of our summer merchandise, prepping the rest of the grounds, and gearing up.  The pond is full, the sun is shining, the set is nearly finished and we are beyond excited for staff and campers to arrive.  Thank you for all of your support and prayers.  We love and value everyone who supports our ministry!

Love,  Camp Staff.

PS.  If you are interested in supporting Camp financially we are still raising money for scholarships!  We want every child interested in Camp to be able to attend, and you can help that happen by donating financially!  Check out the “Give” Section on our website, our call our front office for more information (831.338.3200 x10)!

Tags: 2010, blog, bridge, build, camp, camp hammer, hammer, high school, kids, love, paint, pond, set, skit, Summer, sun
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Hey Friends and Family,

I hope all is well on this beautiful winter day.  Camp is busy preparing for the months to come, and we are getting so excited for another incredible summer in 2010!  I mentioned a few months ago that the Camp website will be launching a campaign called “Camp Hammer Love Stories,” in the new year, and the new year has definitely arrived.  We are still finalizing the details, but the campaign should be up on our website starting February 1st.  What is this campaign all about?  Well, let me tell you.  Camp Hammer is the home of millions of memories for thousands of men and women.  We want to share those with you!  From current and former Camp staff and campers, to parents and retreat attendees, we want to hear about your experience.  Over the past few months we have been compiling some stories from “lovers” of Camp Hammer.  Starting February 1st, we will be posting these stories on our website for you to read.  Depending on how many we recieve, we will be posting them either weekly or bi-weekly for your reading pleasure.  Now, that’s not all.  We would love it if you would send us YOUR Camp Hammer Love Story.  Tell people your favorite memory of Camp Hammer, or tell of a life-changing experience you had in the Redwoods tucked up in the Santa Cruz mountains.  There is no limit to how much you can write, and you don’t have to write a lot if you don’t want to!  We just want to know, and to tell others about your story.  You can send your stories to andrew@camphammer.com.  We will edit them, and make sure they are appropriate!  Seriously, take a moment and write down your Camp Hammer Love Story, and be sure to watch out for the campaign to begin in February.

Camp Staff

PS.  If you’re not already, become a fan of our page on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (CampHammerTime)

Tags: blog, camp, camp hammer, campaign, family, February, friends, hammer, love, love story, New Year, story
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Hey Camp Friends and Family.  I hope you are well on this Wednesday morning.  Blogging is a very interesting aspect of our website.  Up until this point, our blog has served as another way for people to stay in touch with, and continue hearing about what is going on at Camp.  But I want to ask you what you think!  A blog is something that can be interesting and fun to read, or dull and repetitive.  My question for you is, what do you want to read when you log onto a blog?  Your opinion matters!  We want people to love reading this blog, and eagerly anticipate the next one to be published.  So, if you have things that you would love to hear or read about on this blog, comment on this entry and let us know!  We want to serve our readers to the best of our ability!  Let us know what you want to read on the Camp Hammer blog!

Camp Hammer Staff

Tags: blog, blogging, camp, camp hammer, family, friends, hammer, love
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Hello All.  Well I hope this blog finds you well on this beautiful September morning!  I walked down to the office this morning and it was already like 75 degrees outside.  Love it.  Makes it feel like summer will never end.  As I sit in my office (the Cave) some may call it, I have no choice but to daydream of next summer.  I know summer 2009 just ended, but I can’t help it!  I mean c’mon, my job is to create fun games and activities for kids to do at a Camp.  My mind is constantly going over different things we can do…even when I am not working.  It’s like a sickness, a good sickness if there is such a thing.  I am already thinking of new skits, possibilities for team comps (something with a mud-pit?), banquet themes, and even a new gag to use before night games.  Call me crazy, but I just love this place, and planning for summer.

Ok, so, I am going to abruptly change my train of thought, but just go with it!  This year, 09/10, we need to get the word out there about Camp Hammer!  If you have worked here, or come as a camper, or you just plain love this place and you follow us online (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, Website), you gotta spread the word.  Camp Hammer is like this hidden treasure…but better (that rhymed).  We are a small camp with HUGE heart.  If you have experienced Camp you know what I am talking about.  So my mission to you: tell your friends about camp.  Show them videos on our website or you-tube.  Follow our blog, and tell your friends as well!  Join the Twitter community and follow our “tweets…” Our twitter is called “CampHammerTime.”  Become a fan of Camp Hammer on Facebook!  All of these are great ways to stay connected to camp.

Also, if you are interested in submitting a reason, or story, that explains why you love Camp Hammer, send it in!  We would love to post it on our site!  You can send in entries to info@camphammer.com and just make the subject out to “Why I love Camp Hammer.”  You can send them with your name, or we can post them anonymously!  All entries will be censored for appropriateness of course!  Alright friends, we have work to do.  Enjoy this 2nd day of September!  Much Love.

Camp Hammer Staff

Tags: 2009, 2010, blog, camp hammer, facebook, family, friends, love, mission, morning, night games, september, Summer, summer camp, team competitions, twitter, youtube
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Hey Friends and Family.

Well, another week has passed since summer has ended.  Camp is so quiet!  It is always an interesting transition going back into the “year-round” here at Camp Hammer.  It is crazy just how fast summer goes by!

I wanted to write a quick blog to let all of you know that you are not forgotten.  As you transition back into school or whatever the fall holds for you, we are thinking and praying for you often.  We loved having so many wonderful young people up here this summer.  And if you are a parent reading this, we loved having you pick up and drop off your kids too, ha!  Now that summer is over, we hope that you will remember your time shared with us (in whatever capacity that may have been) this year!  Study hard, have a great school year, and watch for more Camp Hammer mailings and blogs to come!

Camp Hammer Staff.

Also: check us out on Twitter (camphammertime) and Facebook (camp hammer)!!!

Tags: 2009, 2010, blog, camp hammer, facebook, reading, school, Summer, twitter
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Alright Camp Hammer Family.  2009 is here!  You know what that means.  Summer preparations have begun!  This is a great time of year up at Camp.  We are all gearing up for the spring and have started the initial steps to planning a great summer.  The Directors will be traveling around in the next 2 months to begin recruiting staff for the summer of 2009.  If you are interested in working at Camp this summer, check out our application on the website (camphammer.com).  We will be in the Northwest from Jan. 19th – 24th, and down in Southern California from Feb. 8th – 14th.

At camp we are working hard to improve the facilities and create some really great things for Summer 2009.  Josh Dunton aka “Auger,” has completely transformed the upper basketball court into a great hang out area with benches and even some stadium seating.  It’s amazing what someone can do with a little bit of wood, and some hard work!  It’s going to be the hottest spot at Camp!

Registration opens this week so whether you are a parent looking to sign your child up, or a camper ready to sign up, make sure you do it as soon as possible, so you don’t miss out!  Keep checking back on the website for some really great new additions.  Watch for a new “History” page with old pictures and some historical facts about Camp Hammer.  Also, watch for our brand new promo video which will be on the main page any day.  We are putting some finishing touches on it, and then it will be ready to view.  Lastly, the Camp Hammer blog will be updated each week from here on out, so be sure to check back!  We look forward to seeing you this summer, and we have realized that the best advertisment is word of mouth, so if you have experienced Camp Hammer, tell your friends, and share the experience with them as well!  See you in a few months.

Camp Hammer Staff

Tags: 2009, Auger, blog, camp hammer, Dunton, friends, job, New Year, northwest, Summer, website, work
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