Welcome to TRIUCHAN TAIRUS - Issue #10
October 2005
Happy Thanksgiving!
Welcome to our Fall Newsletter. At the end of each month, we put up a new online newsletter to keep you up to speed on all the “goings on” within our Glen Mhor Family. We welcome your contributions, emailed photographs, and updates.
SYNOD NEWS
Our annual Synod will take place from Monday October 17 th to Tuesday October 18 th at Canadian Forces Base in Trenton. The camping report is scheduled for Tuesday morning. Zoic and Topaz will be there to hear all the news about the Synod’s decision on Synod Camping. To read more about the current report from the Synod Camp Board, please visit the first page of our website: www.glenmhorcamp.com. We’ll give you a full report in October’s newsletter!
FROM THE CONVENOR OF THE GLEN MHOR CAMP COMMITTEE:
The last year has been a time of deep reflection, soul-searching and discovery as Christian camping in the Synod has undergone a long-overdue assessment. A little over a year ago, Glen Mhor published a paper called "The Promise of Christian Camping" that looked at the challenges faced by camps today and offered a number of principles to guide how we should proceed in the future.
About three months later, the Synod's Commission of Inquiry into Christian Camping released a document that outlined their assessment of the state of camping and offered a list of recommendations on how to proceed in the future.
The Synod felt that further consultation was required and charged the Synod Camp Board -- made up of representatives from each of the camps -- with leading this process.
Since then, there has been consultation with, and input from, churches and Presbyteries across the Synod. There have also been extensive discussions among the five camp committees.
Over a period of about eight months, we have together developed a series of recommendations and a detailed plan that would see a tremendous renewal in Christian camping in the Synod including:
- Greater interaction between the camping ministries and the churches;
- Improved sustainability of all camping programs:
- A reduction in overlap between the camps;
- Greater operating efficiencies;
- Improved governance of all camping activities;
- Greater financial resources; and
- Most importantly, a better Christian camping experience for everyone in the Synod.
Make no mistake, this has not been an easy process for anyone. We have each had to recognize that the status quo would not be sustainable. We have together grown to understand how our camps are different, and how they are similar. But with God's guidance (and Job's patience), we have persevered.
And we are excited. New changes are coming -- for every camping program in the Synod -- and while change is often difficult, it brings new, unexpected opportunities and experiences. We hope that you will embrace these changes with us. That you will ask questions, offer suggestions and be active in this time of renewal.
We are grateful for all your support, all your prayers and your committed involvement in Christian Camping.
What Camp is Like Without You
It’s pretty quiet at Glen Mhor these days. The leaves have begun to change colour and it is really beautiful. But…the lodge is empty, no one is cooking in the kitchen, no one is splashing in the lake, no campfires are aglow, and the bell is silent. WE MISS YOU!
Topaz and Zoic have been keeping extremely busy. Although the summer is over and all our fall events, there is all kinds of work to do to get ready for next year. They have already sent out Bowl-a-Thon letters to all the campers, LITs and staff, they have redone the Outdoor Centre forms and information and contacted schools (with the help of Jersey), and written their reports for the Camp Board and for Synod. They are even revamping the website as we speak. Staff and LIT applications for next year are next on their list!
Staff News
Most of our staff are back at school. A number of them have gone off to university for the first time. Several staff members have finished university: Taps is working for Adventure Works , Zilch is working in an office in Toronto, Aloe is working for a pool in Acton. We’ll keep you posted with news on our staff members as the months pass.
Camper News
Let us know what you are up to! If you have any exciting news to share with our camp community, email us at: topaz@glenmhorcamp.com and we’ll put it in our next newsletter. Don’t forget to include your age, what session(s) you attended, what cabin you were in and who your counsellors were. We also welcome any photos you can email to us!
Bowl-a-Thon
Our Camp Reunion and Bowl-a-Thon takes place on Saturday, October 22 nd in Toronto at Thorncliffe Bowlerama in Leaside. We will meet at the lanes at 12:45 and the event runs from 1:00 to 4:00.
We simply cannot wait to see all of our campers and staff again! This will be a great time to have some fun, see your cabinmates and counsellors and raise some capital funds for Glen Mhor too!
For further information and to download a pledge sheet, please click here.The Penny Project
Hey Campers, be on the lookout in your church for the Penny Project letter. Jersey sent out a mailing this month asking all Sunday School Superintendents and children to collect their pennies from now until the end of 2005. At the end of the year, we are asking each church to roll the pennies collected and send a cheque to Glen Mhor Camp. We’d also like to hear from you about how well your Sunday School did and would love to put a photograph of your group and the pennies you collected on the website! Good luck with collecting and thanks so much for helping to make Glen Mhor an even better place for our campers!
Our 75th!
As you know, we have been celebrating our 75 th anniversary this year and it has been great! Many celebrations have taken place. Our Dinner and Evening of Praise in May was a huge success with a terrific turnout and a super silent auction. Thanks so much to all those who came out to support Glen Mhor and who took part in all the festivities. A special thank you to all our staff who helped to set up, serve and take down. You were amazing!
Our 75 th Alumni Weekend has just wrapped up at camp and it was a blast! Many people from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and this century took part! The highlight of the weekend was our campfire on Saturday night. Thanks to all of you for making it so memorable! If you are interested in a yearly event for alumni, please let us know and we’ll set it up for next September!
Project Partners
How would you like to become a Glen Mhor “Project Partner” in the off-season months? There are many special and exciting projects that need your assistance and it’s a great way to help out camp!! Many of the projects can be done in your own home. Please contact us if you would like to put your skills to use in the following areas:
- Making worship banners
- Repairing and maintaining canoes
- Clearing paths at camp for biking and hiking trails
- Making wooden signage (carved or painted)
- Sewing Costumes for Music and Drama
Calling All Nurses
We are looking for a Registered Nurse who would like to work at camp. If you are interested or know of someone who would like to spend part or all of the summer with us, please contact Travis.
Church Visits
We are inviting our campers to join us for church visits in the New Year. Please check our website for the dates. If we are coming to a church near you, please contact us. We would love to have you help with our presentations!
If you would like us to visit your congregation, please contact us as soon as possible to book a date.
Teen Week Reunion
Our annual Teen Week Reunion is planned for Saturday, December 17 th, from 1:00 to 5:00. All Teen Week Campers (#15) are welcome to attend.
We are just sorting out the location so will give you all the necessary info in next month’s newsletter.
Mark the date on your calendars, Teen Campers, and get ready for the fun!!
Calling All Alumni
With our 75th anniversary year, we are hoping to further develop our network of all alumni. If you know of anyone who has ever been a camper or staff member at GMC, please have them drop us a line with their name, camp name and home and email addresses.
Look for our alumni page on our website!
Registrations
If you register and pay in full by January 15 th, you will receive the early bird price! Family Camp is booking quickly and so is Teen Week and Adventure Camp so get your registrations in now!
The Glen Mhor Outdoor Centre
The year 2006 will see the 7th year of our Outdoor Education Centre. In the spring, Glen Mhor will welcome school groups for 3 or 4 day programmes.
Bring your classmates to camp in the spring and get a jump-start on the summer fun!
For an information package, contact Zoic or Topaz or click on the “Outdoor Centre” link on our website.
Church Visits
We are inviting our campers to join us for church visits in the New Year. Please check our website for the dates. If we are coming to a church near you, please contact us. We would love to have you help with our presentations!
If you would like us to visit your congregation, please contact us as soon as possible to book a date.
What’s Ahead?
Look for a report on Synod, more updates on our staff and campers, photos of Reunion, and much more in our next newsletter. We are excited to make this monthly newsletter more fun and interesting with each passing month. So please send us your poems, your stories, your news (school concerts, teams, Sunday school and youth group events, etc) and your photos. Let’s keep our Glen Mhor community alive and thriving throughout our fall and winter months!
Blessings to you and your families,
Topaz and Zoic
CHECK BACK AT THE END OF THE MONTH FOR ANOTHER NEWSLETTER!!
TRIUCHAN TAIRUS, Issue #10 - October 2005
www.glenmhorcamp.com
Editors: Zoic & Topaz (Travis & Beth Allison)
Triuchan Tairus is an electronic newsletter supporting the work of Glen Mhor Camp. Its purpose is to provide excellent communication to campers and alumni of the camp, further support the mission of Glen Mhor and to help spread the word of the work of our favourite people & their place.
If you have any content that you would like to add to future editions of Triuchan Tairus(stories, poetry, pictures) please send an email to zoic@glenmhorcamp.com
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