Camp
Thurman is such an exciting place to be! No matter what time of year it is, it seems
there is something great going on!
First Ever
Camp Thurman Reunion was held
in Summer 2005 at the camp.
CT Reunion
Report
Download this February 2007 Newsletter
Summer 2004 Highlights
4,258 CAMPERS experience camp CT style!
BIBLE VERSE for the summer was Ephesians 1:11.
K-KLIMB, our 20 ft/12ft net and slide activity was a
hit!
ELIJAH’S CHARIOT – an exciting trailer ride through
camp!
TEAMWORK and Training made a difference.
RAIN records were broken for June in Texas and at CT.
FAMILY DAY, our make-up days were a pure joy!
Summer 2005 –
Plans for the Coming Year
ZIP LINE to be added to the K-Klimb for ages 7-9.
MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING - initial stages of a new project
DIRECTOR will now be full-time year ‘round.
FAMILY FUN RUN – 5K and One Mile Run to be added to
Open House activities
Other
Highlights
CREATIVE CONNECTIONS BY DESIGN OUTDOOR
COUNSELOR NEWS
TREASURE DAYS
SCHOLARSHIPS
BOARD MEMBERS
TRAFFIC
PHOTOS
STAFF – where are they now?
Camp Photo Program
CT Special Friends
CT
Supporters
Summer ‘04 – The 4,258
CAMPERS who came found camp full of fun activities with plenty of
space to enjoy the outdoor experience. As a staff, we were made more
aware that it is in Christ that we find out who we are and what our
purpose for living is (Ephesians 1:11). Teamwork was a big part of
our training with the counselors, which began back in March and
continued through May, and teamwork was presented to the campers in
the games they played and the rope elements in which they chose to
participate. The new K-Klimb was just plain fun! Climbing up the
towering 20 foot net or even the long 12 foot side in order ride
down the spiral slide on potato sacks became a favorite activity –
especially for the younger campers. Our little ones (age 4-6) also
eagerly climbed aboard Elijah’s Chariot (a wooden trailer with
sides, pulled by a 4 wheeler) armed with water pistols to surprise
anyone they passed with a hoop and a holler and a refreshing squirt!
The riders also got sprayed with a water hose by a counselor hiding
somewhere along the route.
Water was a central theme for a few weeks at camp this year.
Arlington had the most rain it’s had since 1928. One particular
deluge caused us to close the camp for a day for the first time in
the history of CT.
Our ballfield became a lake that Smiley and
Wolverine waded.
The bridge across Kidron Valley was under water.
But those showers brought a new blessing to
the program in the form of Family Days – two Saturdays in which the
campers (who missed a day due to the closing) brought their families
for a day of fun at CT. What a joy to see Dads, Moms, grandparents,
brothers and sisters playing together at Camp Thurman.
Summer 2005 – Yes, we are in
the planning stages of building a 10,000 sq. ft. multipurpose
building to keep the campers out of the rain and continue with camp
daily in the summer, to open up further the fall and spring team
challenge program, and to provide a platform for further expansion
of CT’s ministry.
 The fact that Jim Rose is
now employed as the camp director year round will enable the camp to
take advantage of the possibilities of expansion and give him time
to accomplish the ever-growing tasks required by the increase each
year in the summer program and activities.
There are plans to add a zipline to the K-Klimb. With the mini-zip
for our 4-6 year olds, the towering four-line zipline for our 10-13
year olds, this new K-Klimb Zip will provide the excitement of the
zip for our 7-9 year olds.
Plan to attend the Open House, May 28th, to see what’s been added
and visit with our staff. AND you’ll have a chance to participate in
our first Family 5K / 1Mile walk-run. The benefits will be to fund
camper scholarships to those families who need assistance in order
for their campers to attend CT.
Other Highlights
–
CREATIVE CONNECTION BY DESIGN – is our outdoor education that
facilitates teamwork through games and rope elements. In others
words, it is a program to enhance communication skills / mutual
respect / decision making / getting along with others .
Cindy Hatchell, Hummer, is the Director and has worked with
In-Service Teacher training for many schools, including AISD, Lake
Country Christian School, St. Alban’s and Pantego Christian.
Students from the following schools and organizations have also
experienced the positive effects from attending: Abilene Christian
University, Martin High School’s girls soccer team, Arlington High
School’s volleyball team, Summit High School, Nolan, Grace Prep, UTA,
HEB, Ft. Worth Country Day and several churches. If you’d like more
information about this program, click here.
TREASURE DAYS – because of the joy of families attending camp
during the rain make up day, we will be offering a similar type
FAMILY DAY in the Fall & Spring. More information on this program
will be coming later.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Through generous donations from our CT
community of familes and through CT monies set aside, we were able
to award $7727 for camper scholarships this last summer. The CT
Board also awards $8000 for College scholarships to faithful staff
members each year.
BOARD MEMBERS: In case you have wondered, the following
volunteers are members of our CT Board: Mark Topel (chairman), Rich
Lowe, Vince Puente, Rollie Jones, Bill Sweaney, Craig Prather, Blake
Bowman, Iva
Roxburgh and Jim Rose.
TRAFFIC: We employed a policeman to monitor the last two
weeks of camp. Having a professional traffic director did not seem
to make any difference in the flow. In fact, he concluded that we
were doing very well with the large number of vehicles which need to
move in and out during that 20 to 30 minute period at the dropoff
and pickup times. There is no way to stagger the arrival of cars, so
when too many arrive at the same time, we have a problem for a short
time span. Generally speaking, parents do well in varying their own
departure and arrival times. So, we are doing “as well as can be
expected.” AND thanks for your patience from day to day.
PHOTOS – This last season we had a part-time staff member who
took snapshots of the campers each week, which made for a super photo
album for the office and a great collection of digitals for our
archives. Next year we hope to expand that by placing
the snapshots on the website a couple of times during each week for
your enjoyment and for you to order inexpensive prints if you would
like. We will not be taking orders to take photos of particular
campers, so our action and group photos are still your best chance
to get a photo memory of your child at CT; however, we hope to give
you a chance to see even more of what goes on here through online
photos.
STAFF: Campers, do you sometimes wonder what your counselor
is doing now? Just a few tidbits: Tarzan is in school studying to
become a Fire Fighter, Pinky is graduating from the University of
Texas, Peaches will be the Aquatic Director next season, Casper
became a Highway Patrolman, Sunflower is an Opera Singer, BoPeep is
working on a Masters degree, Tigger is coaching at PCA, and Gilligan is
a drama/speech teacher at Lamar High. Stay tuned for more updates.
<top>
"Vince Jr." |
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Camp Photos Program
A very popular part of the camp experience again this year was the Camper Photos program.
An independent company, Puente Photography, owned and operated by Vince Puente, Jr., made
it possible for the campers to have a special memory to keep for years to come. Vince is
one of our camper graduates, and he was both a staff counselor and a supervisor for
several years. Vince and his photographer spent four days each week taking pictures of
each camper with their group and their counselor so that each child had the option to
purchase an attractively mounted set of photos to take home with them. |
| For the
third summer, action
photos of individual campers were available. Parents were able to request that Vince take
photos of their child as they were taking part in one of the exciting activities here at
camp. <top> |
CT Special Friends
Anytime you see an organization that seems to be running smoothly and has a special touch
from the Lord, you can be assured that there are some special "friends" who have
volunteered their time and efforts to add to the effort of those who are officially
responsible. Camp Thurman is especially blessed in this area. Bill Sweaney's volunteer
team continues to work tirelessly to improve the grounds and facilities. Our board members
are volunteers who offer willingly their time and experience to provide direction for the
camp.
The most important group of friends, however, is made up of those of you who
continue to pray for the camp, for children to learn of the love of God, for camper
safety, and for wise decisions about facilities and staff. <top>
CT Supporters
Many people are part of our
CT "family." There are supporters who give each year and others who give
occasionally. Some think of creative giving - like Mona Puente, who donates the proceeds
from her Line Dance instruction. On our office wall is a plaque with the names of
precious people being honored by loved ones who gave donations in their name. Some people
come in to the office and routinely give a scholarship each time they register their own
children. What a blessing these people are! And how the angels must sing - to see this
money used to bring joy, love, and memories to God's special creation - children!. <top>
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