Coffee and Convo with Ashley Genoble
Posted by Ashley GenobleHey camp family! It’s a quiet afternoon around the office today. The rest of the team is all out and about doing a variety of things to make camp awesome. So it’s just me and my cup of coffee hanging out together. I know I sure enjoyed coffee and convo with Becky and Elise so I figured why not let you in on the convo I’m having with myself while I drink my coffee!
Me to self: What has been the best part about coming back to camp after being gone for 5 years?
Self: Oh gosh! Literally everything! Being back in the mountains (especially now that the leaves are changing!), introducing my husband to the camp family, meeting so many awesome new campers and staff that have joined the family since I’ve been gone, seeing past campers all grown up and joining staff, spending tons of time with Sharon (and Scout!), I could go on and on but should probably move on…
Me to self: What is your favorite song we sing in the dining hall?
Self: I don’t do favorites!! But I guess any that we get to stand in our chair for! I really like Farther Along because of the stomp clap clap and the slower Ky Yi at the end.
Me to self: What is your favorite Bible story?
Self: There we go again with “favorites”. It really depends on the season and what’s going on in my life. I really liked studying the story of Esther a couple of months ago. It is full of so many intricate details that shows God at work. Esther is also an example of boldness, courage and humility.
Me to self: If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
Self: Wow I love sleep and thank God He made it part of our day. But if He hadn’t then I would have a solid 7-8 more hours to read, work out, clean, spend more quality time with friends and family, paint my nails, the list goes on and on!
Me to self: What are some small things that make your day better?
Self: A text from a friend I haven’t talked to in a while, bright blue skies, Scout falling asleep in my lap.
Me to self: What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?
Self: Definitely Israel. Man that plane ride and jet lag were no joke but totally worth it!
Me to self: If you suddenly became a master at woodworking, what would you make?
Self: Maybe I can by taking the woodworking skill at camp! Definitely some fun furniture- a coffee table and a big kitchen table so we can have people over. I’m so inexperienced at woodworking I don’t even know what professional woodworkers can make!
Me to self: Would you rather be able to teleport anywhere or be able to read minds?
Self: Hmm…it’s tempting to say read minds but that takes all the fun out of getting to talk to people. Teleporting would allow me to visit people and places all over without having to fly…not a fan of flying.
Me to self: What is the silliest thing you get nostalgic for?
Self: All the movies on VHS at my parents’ house…especially my complete collection of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen movies and Dunkaroos…
Me to self: If you could pick a slogan for your life, what would it be?
Self: “Love you, mean it” has become my go-to phrase, especially while I was in full-time youth ministry. I just want people to know how truly loved they are by me and Jesus!
Me to self: Alright Ashley, that’s enough. You are out of coffee and have work to do!
Thanks for hanging out with me and my cup of coffee! Can’t wait until we can hang out for real this summer! And in case you are wondering, Scout still hasn’t returned Becky’s call so keep checking back to see if we ever get to interview him! Love you, mean it!!
Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Ashley Genoble, Assistant Director, Camp Crestridge, coffee, Girls, Scout, Sharon | Leave a reply
Coffee and Convo with Becky Haltiwanger
Posted by KarahHey all of you blog readers out there! We are here with Becky Haltiwanger. Becky is one of our interns at Camp Crestridge this year. She is a wonderful soul full of life and love. Today, we thought it would be nice for all of you to hear a little bit more about Becky. So, sit down, grab some coffee and enjoy a nice convo with the one and only, Becky Haltiwanger.
Me: So, Becky, Tell me what you love most about camp.
Becky: All of the fun kiddos that come to camp. They bring so much joy to my heart. Meeting new campers and seeing old ones is always an awesome time. I love having the chance to be goofy and have dance parties along with seeing the Lord work in their lives. Those are definitely some of the best memories I have of camp!
Me: What is your favorite campfire song?
Becky: I just want to be a sheep! It just cracks me up from all the play-on words! It’s the song I definitely get hype about.
Me: What is your favorite childhood memory?
Becky: One of my favorite times during my childhood was when me and my close friends worked on our middle school news team together. We would be goofy and weird for all the school to see. We loved each other, which made it really fun, honestly it was such a great time. We established great memories and bonding time that we still laugh about today. Truly though.
Me: If you could be any kind of animal, what would you be and why?
Becky: Honestly… a camp dog. These dogs have the life, man. They get to be loved on and get to run around camp and just have a great time with kids. But seriously, if I wanted to be an animal, it would be Scout.
Me: What is your favorite Bible story?
Becky: The story of Joseph. This is partially due to the fact that I was in the musical in high school and the songs in it are so fun to dance to and learn from. But also because it is such an amazing story of God and His provision and forgiveness. It’s such a great reminder of how God’s plan is so much better than our plan and how He will take care of us in every situation. He knows our stories even if we don’t.
Me: If you were a new addition to a crayon box, what color crayon would you be?
Becky: Shoot… I’d probably want to be a really pretty blue or a solid green. Like a nice pine green or a pacific blue. They are colors that can be used to draw nature. Nature is just SO beautiful if you’re catchin’ my drift.
Me: Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or 100 horses the size of ducks and why?
Becky: 100 horses the size of ducks. I think they would be really cute and I’d want to be their friend. I wouldn’t want to fight them, I’d just be their friend. Then I could have a whole farm of these cute horses that people could come hangout with if they are feeling blue. I could bring them to camp and the kids could play with them during horseback skill and I’d be saving camp a lot of money. Except… we would have to buy mini saddles and lots of food so it might be too crazy.
Me: If you could only choose to play one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Becky: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” By Marvin Gaye because it is such a motivational song. You can dance to it, get hype to it and it has a great message for the listeners. And you know what, there ain’t no mountain too high for our Lord. Ya feel me?
Me: If you were a box of cereal, which kind would you be?
Becky: Fruity Pebbles. They are my favorite and they should be everyones favorite cereal. If it’s not your favorite, you’re doing it wrong.
Me: If you could pick a slogan for your life, what would it be?
Becky: It would be “Let your Freak Flag Fly” or “Dance like EVERYONE is Watching” (because you probably have some cool dance moves that I want to try). I just want everyone to know how unique they are as a person and how we can all learn from each other if we just be the person Christ made us to be– each with unique gifts and skills He has equipped us to use for His kingdom work!!!
Well, that is all we have for you folks today! Stay tuned for next week for Coffee and Convo with Elise! Until then, stay blessed, stay humble and keep serving on!!
Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge for Girls, Girls | Leave a reply
Evolving Traditions for Belles and Trekkers
Posted by Karah
The Belle test and Ranks of Trekkers and Belles have been a long standing tradition at Camp Crestridge for years and years. We love the experience this provides for our campers. The lessons that come from the challenge, the test, and the outcome of it don’t stop at the lifting of the silence ban. Many times those lessons are just beginning. We love how God uses this experience in each of our lives (whether we are in the test or not) in very different ways. For some it is a once in a lifetime unique experience that challenges them in fun ways that can only be experienced at camp, for others it is a pivotal point in their walks with the Lord, for others it is a time they discover things about who God has made them to be, for some it is an experience of discipline and dedication and dependence. Whatever the impact, we love that there always IS an impact. It is an opportunity for us all to see challenges, tests and experiences as coming from the Lord and being FOR the Lord.
This year we want to share how an element of the Belle and Trekker Tradition will be evolving. In the past we have had girls who have, or will be receiving the rank of Trekker or Belle sit in the spotlight on the stage during our Council of Progress Ceremony. This year we will have the Trekkers and Belles sit in the audience with their fellow cabin mates out of the spotlight. We will still have them walk across the stage to receive their honor bands and ranks, but we hope that this will allow them to simply enjoy the ceremony and message as we all do, without having the eyes of camp on them. Our desire is to provide a setting for all of our girls to both celebrate like crazy with those who have had a unique experience AND to easily focus on Christ and the growth He is working in us through the encouraging illustrations and His word spoken through our camp leadership.
Chippewa, Chickasaw, Creek, Cheyenne, Catawba, Choctaw, Cherokee, and Chehoapek, WE CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TO GET HERE!
So many things to look forward to!
Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Belle, Belles n Trekkers, cc4g, Council of Progress, CP, Evolving Traditions, Girls, Trekker | Leave a reply
On-line Scavenger Hunt Challenge
Posted by KarahHere is the blog post you need to complete the on-line scavenger hunt we had in the Spring Bear Tracks you recently received. If you didn’t receive the Bear Tracks, you can still complete this challenge! Complete this scavenger hunt and be the first one to email the answers to rscamps@ridgecrestcamps.com and you could win $50 to the camp store. (Please put your name in the email along with the answers numbered to match the blanks!) To do the on-line scavenger hunt follow the clues below and answer each question. The links will take you to different websites to find the answer for each blank! Have fun!
My Ideal Day at Camp
The first thing I want to hear in the morning is the sound of the Blank 1 ___Blank 2_and Marva’s voice ringing loudly over the speaker. All morning when I am at skills I think about Blank 3 Blank 4 Blank 5 . That is just what I need to give me the energy I need for my favorite activity – sock war! The only problem is that I have a sweet tooth, but that will be Blank 6 by going to the Blank 7 to get some Reese’s Cups. After working up a sweat during sock war, it feels great to Blank 8 into the nice cool lake. After free swim, a few friends and I go find Blank 9 Blank 10 and start building the Blank 11 so we can cook Blank 12 Blank 13 . But we can’t hang around for too long because we get to go sing campfire songs with Blank 14 Blank 15. There is no better way to end the day than to sit by the fire and watch the Blank 16 float into the starry sky.
- Blank 1 & 2– What is the first thing listed on the “Typical schedule” here: http://www.ridgecrestcamps.com/girls/program/day_at_camp.shtml?
- Blank 3 – What is the main kind of meat this carrier offers: meat carrier?
- Blank 4 – What is a word that means, “Having a soft or yielding texture”? (Hint: you can use Google to help you.)
- Blank 5 – What day is two days after Sunday?
- Blank 6 – Follow this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+17:15&version=NIV1984 to the New International Version of Psalm 17:15. What word in this passage could also mean “content”?
- Blank 7 – Go to this picture on the Camp Crestridge for Girls Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151220240870188&set=pu.96538800187&type=1&theater. What building is this a part of?
- Blank 8 – Watch the video on the Blog for January 30th called, “These are a few of my favorite things.” http://girlsblog.ridgecrestcamps.comcategory/girls/ The 2nd to last camper on the video says she likes two things “_______ and being in the cabin with friends.” What is the first thing she says she likes?
- Blank 9 – First word: opposite of wet: _____________;
- Blank 10 – Second word: What is this website giving you information about: information?
10. Blank 11 – According to this website, (dwelling places), what are Plains Indian’s dwelling places?
11. Blank 12 – This is a kind of car that is a mix between an SUV and a standard car. An example is a Buick enclave.
12. Blank 13 – One of the fireside “desserts” we eat at camp: fireside dessert
13. Blank 14 – 1st word: what are the girls doing in this video: Crestridge Video Blog ?
14. Blank 15 – What is the name of a Native American Leader (wikipedia ) and also the name of a kind of tree (wikipedia)
15. Blank 16 – What is something that is in a fire? online dictionary
Don’t forget to e-mail your answers to rscamps@ridgecrestcamps.com! First person to send us the correct answers will win $50 to our camp store!
Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Bear Tracks, Camp, Challenge, Crestridge, Girls, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Scavenger Hunt, Store | Leave a reply
Crestridge Beehive Construction Update
Posted by KarahThings are moving along very quickly here! The construction workers have almost completed their work before the final inspection for the Beehive. There are just a few last things they have to finish up. Since the last update, they have put on a lot of the finishing touches like door handles, lighting, toilets, sinks, and the rest of the trim. It looks fantastic!
They have put in wood floors and lighting in the clothing store and the museum and they look so nice!
They put in tile floor in the food area of the store, and looks great!
They also put tile floor in the bathrooms, as well as toilets, sinks, and door handles on all of the doors.
Workers have also been working on the gym – the inside has been repainted and looks so nice, especially with those new windows! Pretty soon, the outside will be painted as well!
The latest project has been the riflery range, which has been going up quickly. This is up on Cherokee hill, beyond Cherokee 22. It is a much bigger platform than our old one, and will be nice to have more space up there.
We can’t wait for everyone to see these awesome improvements to camp in person! The time will be here before we know it!
Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Beehive, Camp Crestridge, construction, Girls, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Update | Leave a reply
Announcing the “2012 Theme Design” Contest Winer
Posted by KarahWell, the time has come to announce the winner for our “2012 Theme Design” contest. It was a hard decision, as we had some great submissions! We really enjoyed looking through all of the designs and seeing different perspectives. None of the submissions were actually chosen for the design for our t-shirt, although you may see the winning design around camp this summer, but they did give us some great ideas! So……our winner, for the 2012 Theme Design contest, is …. (drum roll, please) …… Kaitlin Harlow!!!! Click on the link, “The Well” at the end of the post to see the impressive design she created and submitted. The “Honorable Mention” goes to Meghan Hartline! Great job, and thanks to everyone for your participation!!The Well
Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Camp Crestridge, contest, Girls, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, t-shirt design, The Well, Winner | Leave a reply
Everything You Need to Know – 1B
Posted by KarahYou think you know everything? While watching this video you might learn things that you didn’t previously know. Here are some wise tidbits from some enlightened Crestridge folk. Watch and take note….
Posted in Girls, News | Tagged Campers, Crestridge, Girls, Learn, Ridgecrest Summer Camps, Things You Need to Know | Leave a reply