1st Annual Camp Crestridge Day

We are declaring December 1st as the 1st Annual Camp Crestridge Day! Why? Well, it’s about half way into the year and we all need a little taste of camp, don’t you think? From this point on, every December 1st will be a day to celebrate Camp! Each year we might do a little something special. This year, we want to give you a few ways you can remember camp, even in the month of December. Here are a few ideas…

1. Before Dec. 1st, download the recording of the Crestridge Wake Up Bell and Marva’s Good Morning and be ready to wake up to this familiar sound on Dec. 1st.
2. Sing the Good Morning song at Breakfast before you head off to school.
3. Make sure you are wearing your favorite Camp Crestridge shirt to school that day!
4. Ask your parents to honk 2 times before backing up. Make sure all the other campers know you are there!
5. Dress up like a staff person of your choice.
6. Do your favorite Village Cheer at dinner! Capture it on video!
7. Have a group of your friends over and watch the new Ridgecrest Summer Camps video and even your Session Videos from this summer, or earlier summers.
8. Build a campfire with your parents in the back yard, and invite Ron over to lead you in some campfire songs.
9. Make a packet meal for dinner in your campfire or your oven and enjoy it with your family!
10. Do a Quiet Time on your own, or have cabin devotions with your family before you head off to bed.

For each thing you do, take a picture or video and send it to us.  We will enter your name in a drawing for $50 to the Clothing Store! Be sure to check out our Blog for a recording of the Crestridge Wake Up Bell and Marva’s Good Morning! Enjoy Camp Crestridge Day and we can’t wait to see you next summer!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged 1st Annual Camp Crestridge Day, Camp Crestridge, Crestridge, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

1st Annual Turkey Bowl

We are getting into a great time of year…Thanksgiving, turkeys, cold weather and snow (for some of us), Christmas, Christmas trees and lights, giving, great food, special time with friends and family and more.  Have you ever thought about the traditions you have during the Holiday Season?  What about the traditions of others?  Well, a tradition that we are starting here at camp is the Turkey Bowl.  Check out this special news report straight from Ridgecrest Summer Camps…

Thank you to all of the parents, campers and staff who make Ridgecrest Summer Camps such a special place!  We are so thankful that God has given us the opportunity to impact lives for His Glory!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Crestridge, Crestridge Thanksgiving, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Thanksgiving, Turkey, Turkey Bowl | Leave a reply

Retro Friday: Roller Skating

Did you know that roller skating in the gym was a camp activity for a long time?  They didn’t use the roller skates we have now.  They had skates that attached to the bottom of their shoes with straps.  Apparently they were pretty tough to put on and adjust.  Roller Skating can be a good work out.  What a fun activity!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Activity, Camp Crestridge, Crestridge, Gym, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Roller Skating | Leave a reply

Retro Friday: Village Ranks

Did you know that the 5 Villages we have now did not exist until the summer of 1962?  Up until then we had 3 Villages-Junior, Intermediate, and Senior.  Since there were only three Villages, the ranks for Council of Progress were different than what they are now.  In addition to honor bands, they also used Emblems.  The Emblems were a Tomahawk, Coonskin Camp, Staff, and White band of Purity.  The Emblems and Ranks have changed a few times through the years.  The picture on the left shows the Villages, Ranks, and Emblems used in the beginning.  The picture in the middle shows what the they were changed to in 1962.  The picture on the right shows the next change in 1967.

 
I’m not sure when the Ranks and Emblems changed to their current state and when we stopped using the Emblems, but I do know it was before 1981.

The current ranks are as follows:

Chippewa – Explorer

Chickasaw -Champion

Cheyenne -Defender

Choctaw -Seeker

Cherokee – Achiever

When you come this summer, be sure to look for the old Emblems in the Museum!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Council of Progress, Crestridge, Crestridge Villages, Emblems, Ranks, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Village Ranks | Leave a reply

Retro Friday: Cherokee 1

The cabin that is now Cherokee 25 has gone through a few changes in it’s time.  In our post last week, the aerial view showed that there was only one cabin built on Cherokee Hill at the beginning.  Technically, it wasn’t called Cherokee Hill then.  That cabin started out as Arvine Bell’s living quarters and the Staff Lounge.  The original cabin had a wall separating where Arvine lived from the Staff Lounge.  It also had a fireplace.  When they decided to build the Cherokee cabins, that cabin became Cherokee 1.  Arvine had to move down to the cabin that is now where the SALT girls live.  The Staff Lounge was moved to what was most recently the store.

In this picture, it looks like they are having cabin devotions just before bed and they have a fire in the fireplace.  How great would that be to have a fireplace in your cabin!  Although it would be great, it probably is not too safe.  They decided to take the fireplace out.  In 2009, Cherokee 1 was changed to Cherokee 25 since we added 5 new cabins.  By 2010, we were able to renovate all of our cabins.  Cherokee 25 is now all open with 2 bathrooms and 2 showers.

Our new store will have the Museum on the top floor.  You will be able to find lots of great information about camp and its history!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Arvine Bell, Camp Crestridge, Camp Crestridge for Girls, Cherokee 1, Cherokee 25, Crestridge, Retro Friday, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Staff Lounge | Leave a reply

2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest Winner

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for…time to announce the winner for the 2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest!  We had some great submissions which made this a tough decision.  Thanks to all who participated and showed their creativity!  Without further adieu,  I’d like to introduce the winner…Lisa Saari!

Congratulations Lisa and get ready for a free store!  Our Honorable Mention is Mary Massey for her Hammock carving.

*Please consider donating your Halloween Costume to camp!  We are always looking to expand our costume closet!  You can send your donations to 290 Yates Ave. Ridgecrest, NC 28770.

Happy November!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, Crestridge, Crestridge Pumpkin Carving Contest, November, Pumpkins, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

Retro Friday: An Aerial View

We have an areal photo of Crestridge that was taken in April of 1956.  During the first summer, we did not have all that we do now.  As you saw last week, the Dining Hall was being built.  There was no gym.  They didn’t have all the cabins we have now.  There was no Bear Trap, Store, or even Riflery Range.  Take a look at this picture and find all the things that have changed through the years (if you click on the picture, it will get bigger):

If you start at the bottom of the picture, the gate is past the Lodge instead of before it.  There is no Kitchen Boys’ House, Horseback Cabin, Small Riding Ring, Landsports Hut, Store, Chapel, Crafts Building, Zipline, Slide, Blob, Gym, Cherokee Cabins, and the list goes on.  The one cabin you see on Cherokee Hill started out as Arvine Bell’s house.  We’ll talk more about that cabin in a later post.  Something else that is interesting is the amount of “dead” space behind the lake towards the green.  All the tall trees we have were not grown yet.  You could see the mountains behind the lake.

We had the opportunity to take some aerial photos of camp in 2008 just before the new cabins and Bear Trap were added.  These pictures didn’t turn out as good because there were still too many leaves on the trees, but you can see how much camp has grown since the beginning.

We sure do have a lot to be thankful for!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Aerial Photo, Aerial View, Camp Crestridge, changes, Crestridge, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

Retro Friday Begins

The first summer at Camp Crestridge was 1955 which means we’ve celebrated 57 summers!  That is a lot of history, pictures, stories, etc.  We’d like to show you what camp was like “back then”.  Every Friday, we are going to post a blog that will highlight different parts about camp through the years.

Today’s focus is the beginning of the Dining Hall.  Did you know that when camp began in 1955, the Dining Hall wasn’t even built yet?  The campers and staff had to put their dresses on and walk to the Ridgecrest Conference Center to eat every meal.  And remember, the roads weren’t paved yet.  They had to walk on the dirt roads.  How would you like to do that now?

As you can see, these pictures are of the Dining Hall being built after camp began.  Sometimes it is hard to imagine what camp was like before all the buildings were here.  We are thankful for the way God has provided for us and grown camp through the years!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge for Girls, Crestridge, Crestridge dining hall, dining hall, Eating, Food, Meals, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply

Remembering the Past

As you may know, our beloved Store was recently taken down in order to build a bigger, better Store.  Most of us aren’t aware of what the Store once was.  After digging through old pictures, I found one that reveals its history.

The Store used to be the Staff Lounge back in the day.  This picture was taken in the 1960’s.  It used to be an open room with furniture, books, and the signature pay phone.  According to Anja Cleveland, if a staffer wanted to make a phone call, they had to wait in line and everyone would end up hearing their conversation.   Campers were rarely allowed inside.  As a camper, Rhonda Smith went in only once and that was to give her counselor a perm!

At that time, the clothing was sold in a small building behind the Dining Hall called “The Beehive”.  The small building was where the Crafts building is now.

After the Staff Lounge was moved, it turned into the Store; a place where we currently give out candy and drinks and sell camp clothing.  The Store had a more official name which was “Crestridge Cupboard”.

Before we tore down the Store, we wanted to take out anything salvageable.  This was the last picture taken of the Store.

That building held a lot of memories!  We were sad to see it go, but just wait until you see what is taking its place!  Check back soon to see pictures of the progress.

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Beehive, Camp, Camp Crestridge, Camp Crestridge for Girls, Christian Camping, Crestridge, Cupboard, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Staff Lounge, Store | Leave a reply

What Camp is like without the Campers

Have you ever thought about what camp is like after the summer?  Have you ever wondered what we do when you’re not here?  It’s a hard transition when you leave camp and there’s only a few of us here.  I’m sure you probably go through a “camp” withdrawal after you leave.  We go through a “camper” withdrawal as well.  Just know that we are here thinking and praying for you.  Anytime you want to stop by or send us a message to let us know how you’re doing, we’d appreciate it!  Well, hopefully this will give you an idea of what camp is like without the campers…

What Camp Is Like Without Campers from Ridgecrest Summer Camps on Vimeo.

I hope you heard at the end of the video that we are getting a brand new Store/Museum this year!!!  Construction will be starting soon so be sure to check back for updates!

Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp, Camp Crestridge, Camp Crestridge for Girls, Camp without the Campers, Crestridge, Ridgecrest Summer Camps | Leave a reply