Pictures

Well, it seemed to take forever, but after a bunch of hard work and clogging the Internet pipes, all of the pictures that I have are up on the Picasa albums.

What a great week! 

I have a lot more photos to sort and put up on Picasa.  They will be trickling in as time permits.  Hopefully they will all be up in a couple of days.

Other things to look forward to:

• a program for Saturday's performance
• a lost and found gallery (perhaps?)

My 6th year at camp!

So this is my 6th year at camp and I love camp.  But, this year just isn't the same.  This year they split us into age groups.  So now it really isn't the same.  There is no more guessing and wishing you are in another group.  But I still love camp even if it is different!

In all of my 6 years of camp, it is the one place where I feel God the most.  Where I feel unconditional love, Where I feel welcome no matter that I feel sad, happy or mad.  I always feel loved there and cared about.  And I have had the most fun I have had in all of the yeares here at music camp.

I Love Camp!!!

-- Anja

A rule for next year: Only 1 complaint per day.
-- Delia

It is Saturday!

We are very busy.
packing, cleaning, talking, messing around, talking, moving things, getting things ready, and getting ourselves ready for the performance. 

This means that you will not see much on the blog today.  I have two more submissions that I will add and then I will pack up the computer.  Look forward to all the pictures being uploaded in the next couple of days. 

- Jay

Boof!

Rules

Serious Rules

One of the Boofers to watch out for.

RUN!

Don't get hit!

More Boofers

More Boofers

Performing the healing.

I need a healer please

Watch out!

Commentary provided during both games

You get a mark after you have been healed.  Three and you are out.

It is OK to distract the referee.

LT Hunt!

LT hunt questions this year:

• At 1 year of age, I bounced off the couch and few through a plate glass window onto the lawn below.
• I was a gymnast for 6 years.
• I've sang the national anthem at a MN Twins game 3 times.
• I went to the midnight showing of the Dark Knight Rises.

• I am scared to touch fish, but only when I'm fishing.
• I had my goldfish blessed in an ice cream bucket at a church pet blessing.
• I was in Washington DC when the AIDS quilt was displayed for the 1st time.

• I have size 11 1/2 feet.
• I once had 13 teeth taken out at once.
• When I was 6, I was attacked by a dog leaving me with 21 scars and 207 stitches.
• I am a junior park ranger in 6 national parks.
• I've been extreme cliff diving.

• I am terrified of mannequins.
• I've had dreams that I'm trying to stay awake.
• When I was 5, I fell down the stairs and lost 3 teeth.
• I am secretly an amazing cook.
• When I was little, I liked to play with worms.

The goal is to match up the right question to the right LT person.
But, it is not as easy as that.... 

You have to:

• Find a LT person that is not busy
• The LT people are spread out in various locations in camp.
• You have to act out your guess.
• You can not speak during this time
• You only have three guesses before you have to move to another LT person.
• If the LT understands what you are doing and you are doing their item, they will sign your slip.

I love it here.  Everyone is so kind and generous.  It's like when were upset, they will stay by your side until you feel better and there is so much fun stuff to do.  Tonight we are playing Boof!  It's my favorate part of camp and I can't wait!

-- Lexie

This week at camp as LT has been truly amazing.  The kids have amazing attitudes and I get so excited when they come and talk to me.  I remember being a camper and how much fun I had and I can see that reflected in the campers this week.

- Maxine

In order to blend in with all of us down at EYMC, here is some vocabulary that you should be familiar with.

• FOBBY - Flat on your bunk by yourself / Flat on your back by yourself Time after lunch to rest and re-cooperate so that everyone can be ready for the excitement of the afternoon.

• White Sock- Every day our co-deans will inspect the cabins, and during lunch they announce the winner of the White Sock award. This is very competitive, as the winner of the White Sock will get a free canteen item, the privilege of being first in line to canteen, as well as an actual white sock to display in their cabin.

• No Hands Dessert- This is exactly what it sounds like. Campers will often compete to see who can eat their dessert the fastest without using their hands. (And who can get the messiest face.)

• Activity time vs. Free time - While both are chances for campers to relax in the afternoon, these are two different things. Activity time is where there are specific activities that the campers have to chooses from such as swimming in the pool, playing basketball, swing dancing, and arts and crafts. Free time is less structured, giving the campers a chance to just hang out. This time is also when the canteen is open, and we can buy candy, snacks, and EYMC gear.

Thursday

Today is Thursday.  Our theme of treasure continues,"Jesus's gift of new life is the greatest treasure of all."  All of the cabins will be working with the Easter story during their faith formation.  We continue with the theme with what we are going to wear to dinner.  Stay tuned for pictures of that as well.  Speaking of pictures, we continue to add them to the picasa web albums. 

Although things were really damp from the dew and high humidity, things are looking good for a rousing game of Boof tonight.

Skye is such a nice LT.  I've enjoyed spending time with her and can't wait to spend even more time getting to know her.  She makes awesome hair wraps!
- Annalee

[Tuesday]

Dear blog,

Cabin 5 does some of the funnest things.  There were two birthdays today.  We got up and sang Happy Birthday to our counselor, Kate.

- Tasha

Good morning

Good morning from music camp.  It is Wednesday, the middle of the week.  It was raining when we woke up this morning.  Nothing bad, just enough to feed the trees, grass, and all of the other plants.  We still had morning worship at the stage.  Some people brought towels to try off the benches, others sat on their raincoats.  We were invited to stand if we wanted.  The rain paused long enough for us to get from the wake up song involving hippopotamuses to the procession to breakfast.

The rotations were held the same as when it wasn't raining.  We were dancing under the roof of the stage with the rain poring down around us.

And, don't worry, the staff has plenty of plans on how to do activities and free time if it is still raining, and the evening event can be held indoors as easily as out.

Mail

One of the most popular times during lung, other than eating and the announcement of the white sock award, is receiving mail.  There are two ways of sending mail. 

Postal address:
     Camper/Counselor's Name, EYMC
     c/o Camp Heartland
     26001 Heinz Road,
     Willow River, MN 55795
              [keep in mind the amount of time that it will take for the post to get there.]

Email address:
      EYMCDean@gmail.com
        [Please place camper name in the Subject line.] 
        [We print out the email and deliver it during lunch.]

Blog post from cabin 1

What a great start to camp! 

The girls in cabin 1 are having a great time.  They have mastered the daily schedule and are all contributing in their music classes and during christian formation. 

At FOBBY and Free Time they make good individual choices and last night at the LT Hunt the score was a tremendous 9 - very rewarding.

The Weather has been outstanding... great for the pool, evening camfire and other outdoor activities.

We are all healthy and happy, renewing old frendships and making new ones.

We send our love to those back home who may be reading this.

- Nina, Kathleen, Priscilla, Reed, Lexi, Molly, Margaret, Lauren, Elizabeth and BreAnne.

I always love how everyone in Jesus Land (camp).  So kind and caring and nice!  Nobody makes fun and everyone is considerate!  I love everyone here!
- Molly

Woo!  I had an awesome time at swing dancing!  There wasn't enough people (or guys)!   It's a lot of fun so everyone should try it! 
- Sammi.

Pictures are being uploaded to the Picasa web.  Check them out here.

It is easier to fall asleep the second night of camp!

Camper News Update

Jackie and Annalee woke up to join the morning road runners at 7:30.  They ran for a full minute and 26 seconds before they turned around to go back and shower.  Success!

Grace

For every meal we say grace before we eat.
Do you recognise any of these?

Just a quick note to say that all is going well up here at camp.  My campers in cabin 7 have kept me too busy to post the pictures and notes.  I will be catching up tomorrow morning.  There is about 1/2 hour left of cabin bonding time, then off to campfire, story time, and bed.

Good morning from Music Camp here in Willow River.  The weather is comfortably cool.  Staff and the Leadership Team are assembling for breakfast.  It will be a great week.

The roads up to camp are open and in good condition!  35 goes down to a single lane from a little after Hinckley and ends just before the exit to Willow River.  Don't worry about missing the exit during the construction detour like I did.

We are looking forward to all the campers arriving safely.

(The primary website isn't available as the service we were using was discontinued.  We will be working during our spare time at camp to get a new one up and running.  Keep tuned to this blog, it is where all of the updates will be.)

Morning walk

Mr. D. announces:
"I'm planning the 6:58 a.m. BRISK Walking Club again this year. Hope I have some company!"

This is one of several activities that happens before breakfast.
There are also morning run and stretching/yoga. (my favorite - Jay.)

Directions to Camp

• Travel north on Hwy 35 towards Duluth.
• Drive past Hinckley to the Willow River Exit (#205).
• Take a left onto County Rd 43.
• Travel 1/4 mile until the stop sign and take a left onto Hwy 61. 
• Take a right onto Long Lake Road 
• and another Right at Heinz Road. 
• Follow the signs to the main building.

Camp Heartland is located at 26001 Heinz Road in Willow River, Minnesota.
 

View Larger Map

We may have some road condition reports from the Camp staff as we are going up early to get things ready.

Thank You!

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!
Through the support of many of the camp staff, parents, alumni, and those wanting to support our mission we have been able to raise $12,120 so far this year with more funds coming in.

All of the staff at EYMC donate their time to the program, so this money can go directly to camp programming, scholarship help, and building a solid financial base to keep EYMC strong year after year.

We are so blessed to have the support of our wonderful donors!

Thanks for helping to make camp happen for our kids!

Pre-Camp Homework

If you have not yet Facebook 'liked' EpiscopalYouthMusic yet you are missing out on some great pictures of people doing their Pre-Camp homework, like this one...

What a great meeting, we are gong to have a great camp this year!
Good people, good fun!  (see pictures for proof)

35E closed

Alison reports that 35E was closed at Maryland this morning and that traffic was backed up.  Those going to the EYMC meeting today may want to consider alternate routes or allow for extra time.

Facebook Page

We have a Facebook Page for music camp and the festival.
Why?  Pages are visible to everyone, even if they don't have a Facebook account.

www.facebook.com/EpiscopalYouthMusic

Episcopal-Youth-Music-Camp-and-Festival

This the central hub for general camp and festival information and communications on Facebook.  

Matching Grant

Wonderful news! An Anonymous Donor has contacted EYMC with the offer to contribute up to $5,000 in matching funds.

Any individual who donates to EYMC between now and July 15th will have their donation matched up to $5,000. If you donate $50, EYMC will actually receive $100.

We are beyond excited to have received this gift. The donor has stated that she wants to support EYMC because, “Camp gives confidence and community to youth who need just that.”

If you would like to be involved in supporting this amazing ministry and have your gift be doubled, please send your tax-deductible donation made out to 'Episcopal Youth Music' before July 15th to:

EYMC
c/o Sheila Foster
St John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church
2175 First Street
White Bear Lake, MN 55110