the camp hammer blog

Hey Friends and Family!

I hope you are well on this beautiful September day!  A lot has happened in the last week and a half.  We had two Future Life Retreats come and go, and also Twin Lakes Church Family Camp was here two weekends ago.  It has been very busy to say the least.

Family Camp was so much fun.  Over 200 people were here camping together.  It was great to meet and re-connect with so many families who love Camp Hammer.  So many campers from previous summers were here as well.  It actually felt a lot like the summer because of all the fun things going on.  We had a great time hosting you Family Campers!  See you next year.

Monte Vista and Calvary Christian came last week for their annual Fall Future Life Retreats.  If you don’t know what  a Future Life Retreat is, I will explain it.  A Future Life Retreat is when a youth group or school comes to camp and we facilitate a 3 or 4 day program for them.  We play games, open rides, do some team building, have great seminars and worship, and really just have a good time!  Anyway, we just had two.  They were a blast.  We brought back a famous team building activity called The Egg Drop.  For this activity students are given a small bag of supplies and an egg, and are challenged to create a contraption that will keep the egg safe when dropped from about 8 ft.  It is a lot harder than it sounds.  Out of 28 teams, we had 2 that did it.  It is a fun activity nonetheless and causes students to work together and problem solve as a team!  Pictures will be on the site in the next few weeks!  Keep your eyes out.

This week is a pretty mellow one around Camp.  We are preparing for groups to come, and have started brainstorming ideas for next summer.  Be sure to check the mail in the next week or so, you might just have something delivered by Camp Hammer.  Alright, have a great Tuesday!

Camp Hammer Staff

Tags: calvary, camp, camp hammer, egg drop, family, family camp, hammer, monte vista, redwoods, retreat, school, Summer
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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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Hey Camp Family!

My apologies for how long it has been since our last post.  Summer came, and to be honest, it was’t on the forefront of my mind to update the blog.  Next year I’ll have to keep it written on my hand so I can remember!  Well, nonetheless, I thought I would write this morning and give everyone some info on what happened at Camp Hammer in the summer of 2009.  It seems odd to put into words what happened this summer, only because it seems like there is no possible way that it is already over.  I feel as though it must have been a dream becuase of how fast it came and went.

Well, I suppose I will begin at the….beginning.  The staff arrived, and it was evident from day one that it was going to be an incredible summer.  The summer staff of 2009 immediately clicked it seemed, and were all eager to learn what they would need to minister to young people over the following 8 weeks.  Orientation flew by: camp names were given, games were learned, schedules memorized, and on sunday we patiently awaited our first group of campers.  I would love to take time to describe each of the individual camps, but I fear some of them have blended into eachother in my head (this is the lesson I learned, and so next year we will blog weekly…ha!).  We had campers ranging in age from 8 to 18.  So many young people came to Camp Hammer this summer, and they had a blast to say the least.  We laughed, played, sang, cried, lived, and loved together.  With a tough economy, and plenty of financial hardship, it was absolutely incredible to see how faithful God was in bringing children to Camp Hammer.  Over 200 campers receieved scholarships.  That means that 200 children, who normally wouldn’t be able to afford a camp experience, were able to come here and enjoy what it means to be a child of God.

Along side our normal camps, our Apostle program was phenomenal this summer.  We held 3 two week sessions for high schoolers wanting to grow in their faith.  Over 80 campers took part in Apostle.  Our Apostle students take a deeper look at the Bible and who Jesus is.  This year they looked in depth into the book of Acts, learning about community and service.  As mentioned in a previous blog, Camp Hammer had an opportunity this year to partner with a non-profit organization called Invisible Children (IC).  IC came each week and worked to raise awareness for their cause.  Our Apostle program worked most directly with IC, and were able to write letters to officials, discuss and pray for the children in Uganda, and they learned tagible ways to get involved and to be a part of the solution.   It is a beautiful thing to see high schoolers step outside themselves and love one another regardless of circumstance or style.  From team building and service work to seminars and small groups, Apostle was an amazing success this summer.

Well, in a very small nutshell that is the summer of 2009.  Check out the pictures portion of our website in the next few weeks for some shots from this summer!  Thank you to all who love and support Camp Hammer.  This wouldn’t be the place it is if it weren’t for you.

Camp Hammer Staff.

Tags: 2009, camp, camp hammer, camper, hammer, invisible children, love, redwood, Summer
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Hey Camp Family!  Coming up in just a few weeks is our full service week!  May 11th – May 16th is our “Build His Kingdom,” week.  People who want to serve are coming from all over the county to help us prepare Camp, for the amazing summer ahead.  We will be working on all sorts of great projects to help make sure this is the best summer Camp Hammer has ever seen.  If you are interested contact our front office at:

(831)338-3200 x16

Don’t miss this great opportunity to hang out with people who love camp, and want to help make a difference!  You don’t have to commit to the whole week, even just a few hours of your time would be greatly appreciated.  We hope to see you soon, and remember, if you haven’t registered yourself, or your camper for summer camp, do it now!  Spots are going quick.

camphammer.com

Tags: build, camp, camp hammer, fun, hammer, kingdom, love, Summer, summer camp, week, work
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Hey Camp Family!

I hope this post finds you well.  Summer is right around the corner, and we are checking in to make sure you are up to date on all the incredible things going on at Camp this summer.  Here are a few of the highlights to look for in 2009.

Invisible Children

Camp Hammer is partnering with an incredible organization called Invisible Children this summer.  I.C. is a non-profit based out of San Diego that is helping raise awareness of all of the injustice taking place in Uganda.  They will be coming to Camp on monday of every week all summer to share about their organization and talk about how we can all be involved in helping the children of Uganda be free from fear.  It is truly an amazing organization that has some great things to share.  Don’t miss them this summer!  You can also learn more at invisiblechildren.com!

These are just a couple highlights among many.  Camp Hammer will have all of the crazy fun team-comps, night games and free time activites that you can think of, as well as incredible speakers and music, food, and relationships!  2009 is going to be an incredible summer! Don’t miss out.  Register today at:

camphammer.com

Excited to See You,

Camp Hammer Staff

Tags: 2009, camp, camp hammer, food, fun, hammer, inivisble children, night games, non profit, Summer, summer 2009, team, TOMS
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The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it is lighter later.  These things, can only mean one thing, SUMMER IS ALMOST HERE!  We are so excited for all the incredible things going on at Camp right now.  Everyone is kicking it into high gear preparing for the most incredible summer in Camp Hammer history!  There are several scheduled work days when people from all over the county are coming to help Camp prepare for the summer months.  We are building some incredible things and upgrading things around Camp, and for all you Campers we are building the best skit set in the history of skit sets.  Summer is just around the corner, don’t miss out on the incredible opportunity of Camp Hammer in 2009!  Register at camphammer.com today!

Tags: 2009, camp, camp hammer, campers, camping, day, hammer, skit, Summer, work
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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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