Another improvement by Ross and company.

Another improvement by Ross and company.

Looking forward to spring...and summer

Here are a few things we are looking forward to this spring:

• Spring OEE season starts April 15 with Triton followed by Chandler, Benton, Parkside, Waterford, Westview, Millersburg, Centreville, Wakarusa, Riverview, Middlebury, and still some more firming up dates.
• Even more than the schools coming, our program continues to develop as Cheryl Mast works very hard to keep current and improving education opportunities. With Jess Andrews helping and some summer staff coming early, our instructors will do a great job providing unique experiences for the students.
• We have a transitional ministers training, a mother daughter crop and an Exploritas (formerly Elderhostel) session coming this spring as well.
• With Addie Leaman returning to lead summer camp, I am excited as we continue to focus on making the week a special time for the campers.
• I have been blown away by the quality of the applicants I have gotten this year, which has forced me to turn away some very good people.
• And Day Camp is coming back, Sara McDonald will be leading it as we continue to develop this program in serving youth in the area.
• And on a personal note, the Lichti family is anticipating a third child any day.

grace&peace

Jason Lichti

Spring time

Came down to camp yesterday and saw that the cherry tree had blossomed overnight and with the daffodils up and some little blue flowers up, I thought I should post a couple pictures from the archives of some different flowers in honor of spring and to remind me that "April showers bring Mayflowers"

Summer Camping

With getting ready for summer and thinking about all the things that will go on here, like Outdoor Ed with over 12 groups coming this spring, summer camp, day camp, family reunions, one of the most popular is camping at Amigo Park. It is a place set aside where connections are made and renewed each year. There have been families camping in tents and RVs for over 30 years. Fishing, playing volleyball, riding bikes, swimming, hanging out around the campfire, sharing stories, laughing and comforting.

Preparing for Summer Camp

We are getting ready for summer camp. We are processing registrations for the campers and applications for the summer staff, and I am excited about both. A few things to look forward to this year:

• Studying the Sermon on the Mount and finding ways to incorporate the Lord's Prayer throughout the day.
• Using pontoons to transport campers to the swim area and spending more time swimming.
• Quality staff who love working with kids, being outside, and following Jesus in community
• Survivor camps, Horse camps, Sports and Art Camp
• New ways to stay connected after camp and even during camp for parents
  

What we do, friendship and mentoring...

One of my favorite dynamics of camp is the friendship and mentoring that happen between counselors and campers. Young people pointing the way for younger people, taking time to guide and give once in a life time kinds of experiences. Here are a few pictures of the counselor/camper experience. I wonder who learns more the counselor or the camper? I think I probably learned more for my campers than I ever could have taught them.

Mennonite Camping Association

Here is the link for Mennonite Camping's website. Check it out!


http://www.mennonitecamping.org/index.html

Mennonite Camping and Curling

Each year, we gather with other Mennonite Camps to share ideas, struggles, and our journeys. In the odd numbered years we meet with our region, last year we met at Swan Lake in South Dakota. The even numbered years, we meet with camps from across Canada and the US. Last week, we gathered at Hidden Acres in Ontario, Canada. We worshiped, networked, laughed, prayed, and more together. We described ourselves as family and worked to build bridges towards each other.

It was a time filled with refreshment as we connected with 60+ people involved in camping in like 15 different camps. We tried curling which might just need its own blog post, what fun we had on the pebble trying to get stones in the house. Amigo had 9 people attend to get ideas, share in concerns, and get ready for the coming months. Each of us came away with new energy for camping, for sharing, for following Jesus.

Please check out other Mennonite camps as you travel around, very beautiful places that we have been entrusted with.

grace&peace

Why Scrapbook at Amigo

I asked the question on our evaluations: What did you find meaningful this weekend? Below I listed some of the responses to share some of why people keep coming and what they find when they are here.

• Focused Time! Beautiful surroundings. Very helpful, welcoming, accommodating staff. Fellowship with friends
• Spending time with friends and family, recording memories and making new ones
• I love scrapping in a quiet, friendly, Christian environment. It was nice to stay in such nice facilities and get to know new people and see their scrapping methods
• Lots of space for work, lots of friends for laughs and lots of food to eat
• Learning from others and their different styles. Listening to their stories
• The fellowship and the friendship (helpfulness) of all the staff. It really helped to have the wooden chairs and GREAT idea for waste baskets. Also, liked the wheeled dollies available
• Freedom from cooking
• The ability to go for walks on the trails, relaxing, doing something fun that I enjoy doing (scrapbooking)
• The caring and nurturing environment is encouraging. The scrapbooking time with friends is productive and fun. Nature inspires me
  
• Time to think about what a wonderful life God has given me!

March Scrapbooking in Pictures

This past weekend or so, we hosted our March Scrapbook event. 40 ladies gathered to organize memories for family and friends. We provide the space, time, food, lodging, and a few vendors and get out of their way.

What we do at Amigo...part 3

Camp is setting around fires, making fires, having campfire worship, sharing stories, cooking meals, connecting with people , God and creation

Summer Camp, Day Camp...What do we do? part 2

We try to take advantage of beautiful Lake Perrin in St Joseph County, Michigan. There is not much better than hanging out on a lake in the summer.

We swim even if it is a little gray out.

Play water games, time to connect and have a great time!
120 foot water Slide!!

Exploring nature and digging in the mud (optional activity)
boating and canoeing are available

Instruction on proper and safe boating methods

Fishing!

and catching fish (not guaranteed but likely)

Time to explore on pontoons

Look forward to more memories and good times this summer on the lake.

Part 3 coming later this week.

Summer Camp, Day Camp...What do we do? part 1

so what all do we do at Amigo in the summer? That is a question I get a lot. So I thought I would pull out a couple pictures from last summer showing my answers. Part 1 here I will show some pictures from our rec field. We provide a variety of activities to get campers moving and being active. It also provides opportunity to build relationships with both fellow campers and with counselors. Play builds up trust and trust is key to connecting and sharing with each other.

We try to change up the activities and make them a little different than just what they can play at school. Here we take a wiffle ball and fill full of shaving cream which adds a little more excitement and mess to the game.

And by the end of the day, we are tired and worn out but still have the energy to swap our stories of conquest and defeat. Memories are made, life lessons learned, and friendships built.

grace&peace

Day Camp schedule

Here is our schedule for the summer of Day Camp. We have widened the age range that can come and provide a few themes to try this year. As we are still learning what works and what doesn't please contact us with any questions.

June 14-18 - Group A
June 21-25 - Group B
June 28-July 2 - Group A
July 5-9-Group B - Special Sports Emphasis
July 12-16-Group B - Special Water Activity Emphasis
July 19-22-PreK to 1st grade
July 26-30-Group A and B
August 2-6-Group A and B

Group A are campers who have finished Kindergarten to those that have finished 2nd grade. Group B are campers who have finished 3rd grade to those that have finished 5th grade.

There can be space for a sibling to join their sibling in another group (ie. a 1st grader could tag along with a 4th grader)

Sounds of Spring...the sandhill cranes

Starting hearing the sandhill cranes this past week, so I thought I would put up some pictures from past years to celebrate. I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and anticipating the return of green. What other signs of spring are people seeing? daffodils? song birds?

grace&peace

see ya next year Winter...

It has been a very exciting and beautiful winter this year. We had about 50 more youth attend our winter retreats this year than last year. Plus we had an OEE group here, several Sunday School class retreats and more this winter. We had snow and ice and all the good things that go with Michigan winters and so while the sun is out and spring is very promising, I know that winter is not necessarily gone. Here are a few pictures to remember what a good winter it has been...soon spring and summer will be here with new blossoms and green all around. I love the seasons and the changes that we go through. Enjoy