Three Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty

We haven't exactly started to pack yet, but we cut the ribbon to celebrate the new staff homes at our AGM at the end of June.  Kevin Thiessen, our building chair, along with the rest of the building committee and the Underwood family were on hand to celebrate and pray for the new staff homes.  We're excited to see the homes get to this stage and are very excited to see them completed.

Both homes have been sitting for about a month as we were waiting for them to settle.  House number one has settled about 4.5 inches!  Thankfully its been an equal settle - not just the front or back.  The frost is finally gone and we're pretty confident that the homes have finished their downward trend.  We've been landscaping around the homes making sure the water will flow away instead of towards the basement.  Craig let us know that the drywall guy was coming to get his final "take off."  Apparently he's not flying in, just figuring out how much drywall is needed to finish the homes.

Reaching Higher continues to move forward as we finished up our new video and brochure.  We're working behind the scenes to get both of those up on this web site as soon as we can.  Our goal is to continue to visit with people this summer asking for support.  It is a large project and we need you to continue to give above and beyond to see it become a reality.

Summer 2017 has started.  My absolute favourite time of year.  It gives me great joy to see and hear the campers running around my office as I write this blog.  Our theme this summer is Shine and we are excited to see God's love shine through us and into the campers lives.  Our first week was one of two short weeks this summer and included our first ever Junior Explorer camp.  The weather was hot and our staff did a great job of giving our campers the best week of their summer.  Currently we are 83 campers ahead of last summers total.

This week is our first full week and one of our largest camps.  One of the reasons we are reaching higher with a new lodge is the number 3,840.  Three thousand, eight hundred and forty is the number of plates of food our kitchen (small outdated kitchen) is putting out - just this week!  If you think that is a little crazy - you're not alone!

Staff who eat at the end of the meal line will not have a seat in the dining hall and will not have a dinner plate!  They will be eating outside on a paper plate.  Thankfully we have a gazebo to eat in as its been raining over a couple of the meals this week.

Our lack of space is a good challenge to have and tells me we are doing a great job of seeing lives transformed by the power of Jesus.

Thanks for your continued support.

Bob "Ranger" Kroeker
Executive Director

Dylan Peters!

One of the reasons for Reaching Higher is Dylan Peters.  Dylan shared with our seniors last Friday (read last weeks blog) and I was once again encouraged how Camp Evergreen has impacted individuals.  You've heard us talk a lot about numbers lately.  How our Guest Group Ministry and Summer Camp Ministry numbers are up - in fact we now have 1,012 campers registered for this summer!  You've heard us talk about how we do such a good job year round that guests are sending their children to summer camp.  That happened again last weekend.  But through all these numbers, through all the good challenges we have with space, individual lives are being transformed by the power of Jesus.  Dylan is one of those lives.  Listen to what he shared last week.

"When I was nine, my parents brought me to my first ever summer camp.  I was so excited that I forgot my sleeping bag and had to use the old blanket we kept in the van, but it did not dampen my week.  I had the time of my life!  Archery, climbing wall and candle making were just some of the things that filled my heart with joy.  On Roughin' It (Teepee Camp) we filled every available pot with small amphibians.  Our team name was "The Understatements" and our cheer was "We're OK".  And I learned about and experienced the life changing love of Jesus Christ.

I started working at camp in the summer of 2010 when I was 17 and the love I already had for camp grew.  I felt so blessed by the opportunity to come alongside campers and walk with them through an exploration of faith, to lead worship, and see the Holy Spirit stir change in their lives.  I now knew what I wanted to do with my summers!

I came back the next summer and stayed for fall where my love for camp continued to grow.  It was cool to experience another side of camp - our Guest Group Ministry.  Even though we don't have chapels its amazing how many different ways we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ.  I was at camp for the next three summers, this past summer as one of our Pit Crew Directors.  It was the most amazing summer of my life!

Currently I'm the assistant food services manager working under Ken Underwood.  Not bad for a wrench turner eh?  In the kitchen I've seen so much growth in my life as Ken challenges me to be a better person and to really have a servant heart!"

Dylan will continue to experience growth this summer as he takes on another new role as one of our Intern Directors.  Our unique style of ministry allows us to mentor young people.  It allows us to train leaders which ultimately allows us to see kids come to know Jesus.  As we continue to reach higher, we will see more lives transformed by the power of Jesus!

Thanks for your continued support.

Bob "Ranger" Kroeker
Executive Director