In Glorieta Summer Camps

In our first summer of Glorieta Family Camp, we asked a few families to tell us what they thought of Family Camp. Here it is!

Family Camp Interviews from Robert Suggs on Vimeo.

“Are we there yet?”  It’s a question most all of us have uttered at some point in our lives, often with excitement, sometimes with impatience. It’s a question that often surfaces not long after a family pile into a vehicle for what they hope will be an unforgettable vacation.

Glorieta Conference Center, owned and operated by LifeWay Christian Resources, is excited to offer a new type of family vacation – Glorieta Family Camp! 2011 will mark the second season for these one-of-a-kind weeks.

For many families, the words “camp” and “vacation” do not seem to go together. However, at Family Camp, families spend a week in deluxe housing, eat dinner to a different “theme” each night, and have access to a coffee shop and free wireless Internet. Throughout the day, families experience a true time of togetherness – canoing, playing laser tag, hiking, horseback riding, or just hanging out away from the comforts of their homes.

Family Camp provides opportunities for kids to be kids – and adults to be kids again! From our famous pancake toss breakfast to spending an afternoon jumping on inflatables; from crazy games to family trivia, Family Camp is hands-down, good fun for the entire family.

For the more adventurous, there are opportunities for sleeping under the stars. Families can also choose different excursions on “Choose Your Own Adventure Day” that range from whitewater rafting and train rides to Jeep tours and horseback riding.

For the Garrett family of Texas, this was, “a place where all of the family could participate in a Christian and fun environment.”

In addition to the climate of the mountains of New Mexico, the Hicks family of Arkansas chose Family Camp because “of the variety of activities for our family, as well as the time for worship and Bible study. This camp was everything we desired as a family,” they said.

Glorieta Family Camp is a programmed, all-inclusive vacation specifically designed with your family in mind. Whether you are a traditional, single-parent, or blended family, there is a place for you at Glorieta. It has also proven to be a great destination for multi-generational families – there are no age limits for our campers!

The Nehrt family of Michigan unanimously agreed “this has been our best family vacation ever.”

If you are looking for a Christ-centered, family-focused, exciting vacation, check out Glorieta Family Camp. We’re sure it will have everyone in your family excitedly saying, “Are we there yet?”

For more information about Glorieta Family Camp, visit www.glorietacamps.com, call 1-866-794-CAMP, or email us at familycamps@lifeway.com.

At the “Go!” signal, families scramble toward the 700 Easter eggs spread out on a lawn, yelling out the numbers contained in each egg. Each family must find numbers one to 20 before moving on to the next station. 

Laughter, teamwork and bit of competition unfold as the families vie for the title in Glorieta Family Camp’s “Amazing Race.”

The Horne family crosses the finish line first and collects the prize, but for them the experience was more than winning a game – it was an opportunity to work together and communicate. “This was one of the best things for our family,” Brad Horne said.

This summer marked the beginning of a new family tradition at LifeWay Christian Resources’ Glorieta Conference Center located outside Santa Fe, N.M. Family Camp is a new and different kind family vacation designed to help grow and nurture family bonds through Bible study and various camp activities.

“I want Family Camp to be seen and known as a valuable family experience where they are away from distractions and in an environment that gives them opportunities to love on one another and create memories that will last,” said Hal Hill, director of Glorieta. “I think that every family needs an experience like this … multiple times.”

Family Camp caters to the individual family, with every activity and program designed for families of any size and with children of any age. Childcare is available for children under 5.

“Family Camp is a chance for families to walk together and grow closer to God and each other,” said Becky Suggs, Glorieta Camps manager. “We’ll provide the activities, and you participate as you want to,” she continued, pointing out that each activity is a chance to learn new skills and create lifelong memories. 

“We hope to bring families together to learn about God, worship, and grow together, which is the most important thing,” Hill added.

The days were filled with activities and fun, but each morning featured an emphasis on spiritual elements through a celebration and worship time. The theme, “Under Construction,” focused on the fruits of the spirit.

“The spiritual component, it’s a great part of the week … to be challenged to be grounded spiritually,” said Dave Hunt, worship leader for the camp.

After the morning celebration, parents and children went their separate ways for a Bible study time designed around topics unique to the parents’ experiences and the children’s experiences in the family.

For the adults, the time served as an opportunity to come together, share, pray and encourage each other in their roles as parents. They discussed everything from the comical struggle of young boys who do not want to use soap in the bath, to more serious concerns about disobedient teenagers.
 
“We want to set a different example for our children,” one family shared as others nodded, understanding the importance of having a Christ-centered home.

While adults delved deeply into discussion, camp staff taught children, divided by age, about the fruits of the spirit.

Families who attended this inaugural year of Family Camp agreed that the vacation had been the memorable experience they had hoped for.
 
The Nehrt family, from Michigan, came across the country to attend Family Camp, but agreed it was worth the trip. “We take family vacations every year, and our family unanimously agrees that this has been our best family vacation.”

Family Camp 2011, themed “Deeply Rooted,” is scheduled for July 4-9 and July 11-16. For more information, visit GlorietaCamps.com or call 1-866-794-2267.

As many of us know well, it's way too easy to get caught up in the hectic pace of today's wired-in lifestyle. We get so focused on the next meeting, the next phone call, the next tweet or status update, that we forget the things that are really important.

Many times what gets forgotten, or pushed to the side, are our families. The following post was written by John Ashman. John is currently the Executive Director of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions and prior to that was a VP with Christian Camps and Conference Association.

As you read it I would encourage you to think about your own family. Do you need to take some time out and renew your relationships. As you'll see from this mom's perspective, family camp is a great place to do just that.

Camp is a refreshing stream along life's journey...

Laura eased open the screen door and stretched out in the rocking chair, favorite book in hand. Out on the lake, silhouetted by Monday’s sunrise, the canoe carrying her husband and two daughters glided silently through the water. A smile spread across her face as she imagined their conversation.

An earlier rain had refreshed the forest and the fragrance brought back some wonderful childhood memories. Overhead, two squirrels debated the ownership of a cache of acorns. The family from the cabin next door waved good morning and wandered off along the path to the point.

This placid camp setting was a welcome contrast to her familiar suburban scene. She glanced at her watch. Still 40 minutes ’til breakfast. She took another sip of coffee and closed her eyes. This was going to be a wonderful week.

At the urging of some friends from church, Laura’s family had decided to spend these six days at a Christian family camp. The place offered cabin or lodge accommodations, three family-style meals a day, horseback riding, biking, hiking trails, a challenge course, dirtboarding, fishing, canoeing, swimming, beach volleyball, a well-known Christian band, an impressive list of speakers, and more.

But the part of the brochure that caught Laura’s attention was “time out from the rush of life for spiritual renewal.” She needed that, and so did her family, much more than anyone knew.

Finding Time
These days, few of us wash dishes in the sink and ponder the world through the kitchen window. Instead, we stack the plates and utensils in the Maytag and rush to the next task. Come end of day, rather than sit on the front porch and contemplate, we click the mouse or remote and “process.” We live in a hurried, harried world. Freeways, cell phones, business appointments, micro-waves, school functions, online transactions, late-night news, and alarm systems form the borders of our behavior.

Our children aren’t strangers to stress, either. Pushed by parents or peers to perform beyond their years, they’re rushed into maturity by Madison Avenue and the media. It’s no wonder many kids emerge from their teen years frustrated, fearful, and fatigued.

Just over the hill, across the meadow, or through the woods, Christian camps are offering experiences that can arrest our runaway routines. Spending a week at a Christian camp, or conference center, will not immediately unbundle the anxiety of the twenty-first century lifestyle, but it will provide a refreshing break with a chance to relax, reflect, recreate, and re-evaluate priorities.

Time, which seems to be a rare commodity in the “real world,” is abundant at camp. There’s time to eat together, play together, and talk together. Parents can use time to assess family progress and form new goals. Kids can spend time enjoying the miscellaneous pastimes of childhood. So much can get done when there’s nothing pressing to do.

Finding God
At camp, God does not hide in the chapel, waiting for the evening service so He can reveal Himself. His presence permeates the program and property. God speaks on the ropes course, helping people discover the truth about trust. He’s present on the trail, teaching people through the intricacies of nature. He’s there in the person of a child’s counselor, bringing peace through the demonstration of patience. The messages spoken and songs sung from the platform are just added benefits.

Chuck Swindoll, author, radio pastor, and chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary, has long been a supporter of Christian camping for the entire family. Some time ago, he spoke about the value of total family involvement.

“All the Swindolls have enjoyed and benefited from Christian camping for many, many years,” he said. “In fact, I can’t recall an unhappy or unrewarding experience that we’ve ever had.”

When families get together in a camping situation, they relate eye-to-eye, maybe for the first time in months, without the distraction of television, radio, or phone in the background, he observed. They have time to think through their values and their priorities. And they have the opportunity to establish or strengthen their relationships with Jesus Christ.

The testimonies around Friday night’s flickering campfire stirred the hearts of the households gathered in its glow. Tears welled up in Laura’s eyes as her own husband of 16 years stood to his feet and uttered soft-spoken words of recommitment to Christ and family.

Following the service, the girls ran ahead to the cabin to pack for departure. Taking the long way back, Laura and her husband walked hand-in-hand, then arm-in-arm, speaking without talking. It was a wonderful week. Spiritual renewal did indeed take place. God’s voice was heard.

It wasn’t that He spoke any louder in the serene camp setting. For some reason, it was just easier to hear Him.

What about you? Has family camp played a part in your family's heritage? If so, would you mind leaving a comment and sharing it? If not, I encourage you to consider attending a Christian family camp this summer. You won't regret it!

Growing up, I never had the opportunity to attend a summer camp. At the time it was no big deal because I didn't know what I was missing. However, the longer I've been involved with our summer camps, the more I wish I could have enjoyed the camp experience as a child.

The following is a recently published article detailing a mom's wish to provide that summer camp experience for her kids. I hope you'll enjoy it.

When Heather Murry tried to enroll her children in camp at Ridgecrest, there were no spots open. Camp staff suggested she try their newer sister camp in Glorieta, N.M. The mother of five from Belmont Baptist Church in Conyers, Ga., said that was divine providence.

"Glorieta boys and girls camps are the jewel of the Southwest – it’s an undiscovered treasure," Heather said. "We wouldn’t trade any camp in the world for this one. It has everything from good, old-fashioned archery and canoeing to worship and quiet times all in one of the most beautiful settings you’ll ever experience."

To read the entire story, please click here.

What about you? Did you have a camp experience growing up? What about your kids? A week or two each summer, at a Christian camp, could have a huge impact on their spiritual growth. If you don't believe me, find someone who's had a "good, old fashioned camp experience" and I'm sure they will tell you the same thing!

Hard to believe, but summer is upon us. Temps are starting heat up, the humidity is becoming a real pain and everyday I see "tweets" (mini posts on Twitter for you non-Twitter folks) from summer staffers arriving at Glorieta or Ridgecrest. All sure signs that summer is here! 

If it's summer, then that also means it's time for summer camp! Later this week our counselors and staff will begin arriving at Camps Ridgecrest and Crestridge to begin a rather intensive (but also fun) 9-10 days of training. This training is critical in ensuring that we provide our campers with a camp experience that is both life-changing and safe. (I'm looking forward to getting over to North Carolina and catching the last couple of days of this training. Who knows, maybe I'll even take a turn on the blob if the lake's not too cold!)

In coming to LifeWay over 8 years ago, the one area of our conference center and camp ministry that I knew very little about was camp. I must admit, my impressions of camp were heavily influenced by movies such as "Meatballs" and "Heavyweights". Imagine my surprise when I learned that not all camps are like those in the movies! During the past several years I've had the opportunity to meet many excellent Christian camping professionals and to hear their heart for the camping ministry. In addition I've heard story after story of life change from folks who have attended our own summer camps.

As a result, I have become a huge proponent of Christian camping and would encourage any parent to seriously consider sending their child to a summer camp. For a parent like me, who had no camp experience growing up, choosing the right camp could be overwhelming. Fortunately there is help online. The American Camp Association (ACA) has an excellent resource article on their website to help parents choose what type of camp to consider. (Click here for the ACA article.) For those parents with a special needs child, I found another article online that you may find helpful. (Click here for the special needs article.) A third resource, to help you locate a camp near you, can be found at FindaChristianCamp.com.

Attending summer camp can be a great opportunity for your child to grow in Christ and learn how to spread their wings away from mom and/or dad. What about it? Will you consider sending your child to camp this summer? It's not too late!

Written by:  Becky Suggs, Glorieta Family Camp Director. 

Family vacations have always been a part of my life.  The question of where we as a family would venture each summer was one eagerly anticipated.  We’ve spent countless days at the beach, waited for hours in the sweltering sun to experience a 30 second thrill on a rollercoaster, and driven more miles than you can imagine to visit places we’ve never been before.  Civil war battlefields?  I think I’ve seen every site east of the Mississippi River, and much to my father’s dismay, each looked exactly the same to his daughters as we rolled our eyes in the back of our van.

One thing I treasure more than anything from these trips is the time spent together as a family.  Whether we were laughing at a bumper sticker on a passing car, counting license plates from different states, singing along to the latest song on the radio, or just simply riding in the car without much conversation, we were together.  As I’ve grown older and started my own family, I long to build this same tradition.

That is why I am so excited to be a part of a new type of vacation offered by LifeWay’s Glorieta Conference Center – Family Camps!  In the summer of 2010, Glorieta will offer two weeklong sessions of family camp designed with one purpose in mind – to grow families!

Imagine the joy of having a programmed vacation at your fingertips!  From dynamic seminar sessions for parents to Bible Study for your children, every individual will have a chance to grow in his or her spiritual walk, as well as be challenged in growth as a family.  Each day will offer activities such as canoeing, horseback riding, kayaking, paintball, archery, hiking, basketball, arts and crafts, and so much more, led by our trained staff.  The afternoons will bring opportunities to spend quality time with your family through our planned adventures, games, and activities.  Themed meal times, optional camp-outs, and exciting evening activities will only add to your fun while here.

Have you ever dined with cowboys or had to catch your dessert in a bowl attached to your head?  Ever wanted to do something your kids never thought they would see you do, like take a ride on a zip line?  What about spending a day on a trail ride, white water rafting, on a train, or at cooking school?  Do you feel the need to spend quality one on one time with your kids in a setting free from distraction (there are no TVs in hotel rooms at Glorieta!)?  Do you desire to have true spiritual conversation with your family, but just don’t know how and when to do it?  That’s what we’re here for – you bring your family, we‘ll take it from there, providing an environment rich in opportunity for growth.

Glorieta Conference Center is located in the majestic Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, just 20 miles east of Santa Fe, New Mexico.  With over 2,000 acres of mountain beauty, Glorieta provides the perfect place for a family getaway and spiritual retreat.  Deluxe accommodations make for a comfortable and relaxing stay.

Glorieta Family Camps are here to enrich, enhance, encourage, and engage the family, your family – we know and value the importance of quality family time.  We invite you to join ours this summer!  (Oh, and by the way – for any of you that can’t seem to take a trip without finding a Civil War battlefield – don’t worry, we’ve actually got one right down the road!)