Merry Christmas, All Year Long

Merry Christmas, maybe a day or two late. I hope that everyone has enjoyed this holiday season as much as my family and I have. I really enjoy all of the things that come with the Christmas season...the music, the happiness that it brings to so many people, opportunities to spend time with people I love, and with so many people talking about the reason we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ. While thinking about Christmas, it actually reminded me of spending time at Camp Deer Run. I love the singing at Camp, I am always happy when I am inside the gates of Camp, I love the people I am around while there. And most importantly, I love that the focus of Camp is telling Christ's message to the kids who are there. Which led me to think of something that may be a challenge for many people, me included. Its easy to keep our focus on Christ during the Christmas season, because we are constantly thinking that "Jesus is the reason for the season". Or we are seeing nativity scenes in every yard. Just like it is so easy to be burning for Christ when we are at Camp. The challenge is to have that same focus about Christ and the things He does in our lives throughout the entire year. We need to make sure that we are sharing the story of Christ in April and May, just like we do during December. Jesus isn't just the reason for the season, He is the reason we have a hope of an eternal life in Heaven. And because of this hope, we are expected to live our lives in a way that reflects Christ. As we start a new year in a few days, make it a priority to live every day in a way that reflects Christ for others to see, so that they are thinking about God's gift to us in more ways than just as a holiday in December. Have a great finish to 2010 and a wonderful start to 2011.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Christmas...CDR Style

Its that time of year. Christmas music is playing everywhere, people are out shopping, cold weather has moved in, and people are thinking about Christ's birth. Unfortunately, Camp Deer Run is a pretty quiet place during this time each year. But that doesn't mean that Christmas doesn't hold a special place in Camp Deer Run memories for many people. Of course I would be talking about Christmas in July!

As you you can tell from the picture above, Christmas at Deer Run is not exactly like the Christmas we are celebrating right now. Obviously some Deer Run flavor has to be added to make it a truly unique experience. Christmas in July is celebrated on July 25th, and is a unique celebration at Camp, since it only happens once a summer, if the 25th is on a day that Camp is in session. Because of this, many people never get to experience Christmas in July at Camp during their years at Camp. Christmas is celebrated all day long, and activities have a Christmas feel to them, like making Christmas tree ornaments in crafts, as well as making gifts to give to friends. It all comes together in the afternoon when the campers and staff gather around the "Christmas Tree"(which is really a small little cedar tree next to the canteen) to sing carols and share gifts. There is nothing like singing Jingle Bells in the 102 degree heat. Finally Santa Claus makes an appearance and shares his holiday spirit with everyone. It might not be the Christmas we all know, but it is a lot of fun and everyone who has experienced Christmas at Camp will tell you how great it is to share this special time with friends at Camp.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Men's Alumni Retreat

The time is getting closer for our first Camp Deer Run Alumni event of the year. The Men's Alumni treat is February 5th-6th, and open to all former CDR campers and staff members 20 years of age and up. Festivities get started at 11:00 on Saturday and we will wrap up the same time on Sunday. There was a smaller Men's Retreat last year with about 25 guys spending the night out at Camp, and it was an absolute blast to be around old friends. The details are being put together and a schedule is being worked on. If you are planning on attending, then go to www.campdeerrun.com and register for the retreat. The cost is $25 each, and covers everything, including meals, a night in a wonderful Camp Deer Run cabin, and a CDR t-shirt. Make sure to spread the word about this retreat as we are wanting to get as many CDR Alumni men to make it out for this weekend of great fellowship and great fun. I promise that this will be a time that you will remember all year, and will be a time that draws you closer to God. Hopefully we can have a good group of guys get together, and we can make this an important tradition that we can do every year. If you have any questions you can email me at cdralumni@gmail.com, or get a hold of Ty Ford on the Camp website. Hope to see many of you there.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Prayer Thoughts

This weekend, many members of the summer staff trekked to the Piney Woods of East Texas and had a staff retreat at Camp Deer Run. These young adults did a great job this summer of showing over 1,000 kids how wonderful it is to have God in their lives. They gathered this weekend to reconnect, praise God, and to be rejuvenated in their quest to live for God. I want to ask everyone to pray for this past summer's staff. Many of them will be back out at Camp this next summer, continuing to work for God. Others will move on to the next part of their lives. Pray that they continue to live their lives for God, and to be leaders in their churches. Ask Him to give them the strength to stand up to Satan as he tempts them when they become adults and enter the working world. The staff members are very important to the success of each summer of Camp, but let's make sure we continue to keep them in our prayers all year round, as they are young people continuing to learn about God and the great things He can do in their lives.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Changes at Camp...Canteen

Camp Deer Run has undergone many changes since it was founded over 50 years ago, which is pretty amazing considering that it has basically stayed the same place over that time. I wanted to highlight one of the most central parts of Camp that was forced to change after a very memorable, and scary moment...the Canteen.

Three times a day, each group makes a trip the canteen porch to get something to snack on, drink a soda, and relax out of the hot sun while fellowshipping with each other. Its always one of the favorite times of the day for everyone because it is a chance to just sit back and relax during a schedule that always keeps everyone moving.

This first picture shows what the Canteen was like before. The porch was about 8 feet wide all the way around the Canteen. After the campers went through and got their goods, they would hang out all around the porch, eating and drinking and having a good time.

Every so often, the canteen was used as cover for Flag Devo when it was raining. It was the best place to have everyone cram so that they could stay out of the rain, yet still be close enough to the flag pole to make it seem like a flag pole devo. During 4th Session sometime in the mid 90's, it was raining in the morning so everyone crammed onto the canteen for a very crowded flag devo. Little did they know that they were about to become a part of Camp Deer Run history.

4th Session is always one of the most popular sessions, and the mid 90's was no different. With everyone piled on the porch, something bad happened...the porched collapsed! Thank God, there was no one severely injured, but several people were shaken up. But everyone had a great story to tell everyone. Since the porch was not connected to the actual canteen building, only the porch was affected. But the porch obviously needed to be repaired/replaced. Instead of just replicating the old porch that went all the way around the canteen, an extra level was added on one side. The porch still wraps all of the way around, but now there is a large area to the left of the canteen. You can see that canteen as it is today in this picture.
This new porch has been a wonderful addition to Camp over the past 15 years or so. On the old porch, everyone was spread out all around the porch and there was no way to be together as a group. Now during Canteen all members of the group can be together on the porch, sharing laughs and stories with each other.

The new porch (which its hard to think its new since it is around 15 years old) offers so many other opportunities for Camp that the old one didn't. There is now another place that Group and Cabin Bibles can go to spend time in the Word.
The new porch also affords Camp with some flexibility about different activities throughout the session. The porch is a great place to hold an indoor scavenger hunt, or have a luau to celebrate Hawaiian Day.
I think that the canteen porch is a great example of how Camp is always making changes, but is never truly changing. Each change that is made at Camp is made to continue the mission that has been Camp Deer Run for over 50 years. If you haven't been to Camp in many years, I hope you enjoy getting to see what it looks like today. I really do believe that if you were to go out there today, you would see the same place that you fell in love with many years ago. Camp's main purpose is the same today as it always has been...to change young lives with the story of Christ.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Thanksgiving

Wow, its been a very long time since my last post, and for that I truly apologize. I will do my best to fix that little problem. With the month of November being here, we all know that in a few short weeks we will be gathering with friends and family to celebrate Thanksgiving. I want to encourage everyone to think about what they are thankful for, and give thanks to God for these things everyday, not just on a designated holiday. We are always taking prayer requests and needs to God in prayer, but too often we forget to give true thanks to Him for the things we have been blessed with. Whether you thank Him for big things or small things does not matter. We know that God wants us to have a true relationship with Him, and that He likes to hear us talking to Him. This includes voicing our gratitude for the great things that have been put into our lives.

As always, if you have prayer requests, or thanks, that you would like to share with the CDR family, you can email them to me at cdralumni@gmail.com and I will post them on this blog. I also promise to start writing more often on this blog, so make sure to check back often.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run

Sparky

The Stars at Night

A few nights ago I was outside late, outside of the city. I was in a quiet place away from bright lights, and when I looked up into the sky I saw millions and millions of stars. Immediately I had a very happy thought in my head...this reminds me of Night Devo! It was a good feeling to be able to look up and see God and his power in those stars.

During my years at Camp Deer Run, I always loved Night Devo. The singing was constantly great, the short talks that the Group Leaders brought were very insightful, and finishing off the day with the special Night Devo group song was always a highlight. But none of those things were what I loved most about Night Devo. The stars were my favorite. I loved standing at 2nd base on Hoche Ballfield and just looking up in awe at the amazing lights above our heads. I've never felt closer to God than when I was standing under the stars singing praises to Him. If you have ever experienced a Night Devo at Deer Run, then I'm sure you feel similar to me. Sometimes we get caught up in the lives we live daily, and we are always rushed to do whatever is next in our busy schedule, but I challenge you to walk outside sometime and look up at the stars. Remember how special it is to be able be here living for God and to be blessed by Him on a daily basis. Sometimes it takes something as simple as the stars in the sky to remind us of what a wonderful Lord we worship.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Prayer Requests--October 3rd

Another week is about to start up, and I want to ask you to take time to spend a few minutes in prayer over a few things. They school year is in full swing, and all of our staff and campers from this summer have been away from Camp for a couple of months. Pray for all of the young people to be able to stay close to God throughout the year, and to be able to turn away when Satan shows up to to tempt them. We all know that school can be a very difficult place for young Christians, but with the strength of God, they can stay strong.

I also would like to remind everyone about our upcoming CDR Alumni events that we have planned for the next year. Please pray that all of the planning and thought put into these events will be something that will be beneficial to all involved. They are going to be a wonderful time for everyone to be able to catch up with old friends, and fellowship with people that they have fellowshipped with many times before. Here is a reminder of the dates.

February 4-6

CDR Alumni Men's Retreat

March 25-27

CDR Alumni Women's Retreat

June 11

CDR Alumni Family Day

Before too long I will be getting information out about the events, but until then, make sure to take these dates before God and ask Him to bless these days and make them a time for everyone involved to draw closer to Him.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Summer 2010 - From Ty's Perspective

Hey Camp Friends!

I wanted to share with you some things I wrote in my prayer journal shortly after the end of this summer. I found this the other day and it really helped me reconnect with how great our summer was at Camp Deer Run! God blessed our camp in many ways throughout the summer. I thought this might help you all reconnect with your camping experience whether as a camper or staff member. I asked myself five questions and here are my answers.

What was your favorite moment of the summer?

Most summers I would have difficulty pen pointing one moment but this summer all though there were many awesome moments, I find it is easy to name my favorite. 4th Session, the second Wednesday night. M8 campers led worship that night. Kade Cox, Brad "Duff" Beard, Aaron Bently and Sean Dulock preached from the Word that night. Most of the boys have been camping for many years a few of them since they were nine years old. It was wonderful to see how these boys have grown and matured in Christ. Camp has played a part in their development. That night following the service we baptized eight campers in the new pool. I was privileged to baptize Abby Fair who I was a part of the Gilmer church of Christ youth group when I attended there and worked with the Youth Group. She is an awesome young girl who has great joy in all that she does. It was an uplifting night that showed how God is using CDR to help develop young people into strong Christian men and women.

What will you miss the most from the summer?

I will miss the daily opportunity to work along side 54 awesome Christians (the Summer Staff). Their energy, their focus, and desire to serve is amazing. I will miss their smiles, their laughter and their contagious love for camp. I will miss watching them serve the campers and enjoy their camp experience. I will miss watching them love on my son, Drayton. I will miss their beautiful singing. I will miss their passion for God and their desire to offer Him a pleasing sacrifice. I will miss Thursday night's in the office having fun with everyone working together to prepare things for Friday checkout. I will miss these awesome young men and women. I cherish all the moments we shared together.

What is the best part of living at camp each day during the summer?

The best part of living at camp each day during the summer is having the opportunity to live in a place that is focused on God and separate from the world. The purpose of all that is going on is to glorify God and teach others about Him. To be surrounded by this each day and to feel the bond between co-workers in the Gospel is an incredible daily blessing. It is always hard to return to the "real world" when the summer ends.

What was a funny memory from this summer?

Funny but painful - Walking back from Hoche Outcamping with staffer, Jamie Green, I was bitten by a mystery creature. It was not the unifang since whatever it was left two sets of fang marks on my side. I'm sure it was a spider, or at least I think so. I never got a look at what bit me but it hurt! I howled like crazy as the pain set in. I returned to my house to google bite marks and the closest thing I found was a black widow bite! I took some medicine and went onto bed wondering if I would wake up and have to visit the Winnsboro E.R. as a patient for the first time! Luckily it was not really a black widow and the swelling went away by the next morning. It was a funny occurrence and I hope I never meet that mysterious creature again!

What would be your message to the campers and staff?

Realize today and every day that Jesus Christ died for you! God loves you so much! Respond to that love and imitate it. Know that God is with you and come before Him in prayer because He cares for you. Know that I love you and I'm thankful for your faith in Jesus. God can and will do amazing things through you!

In Him,

Ty Ford

CDR, Director

Checking In

I want to apologize to everyone for not having many posts up lately. I am going to start doing better with this blog. A couple of weeks ago I posted a message about sharing prayer request with each other on this blog, and trying to do it every Sunday. A few Sundays have passed since then, I haven't done one of those posts. So here we go. I didn't get any specific requests, but that doesn't mean there aren't things for us to pray for. Camp has been over for almost 2 months, but there is still plenty of work that needs to be prayed about. Running Camp Deer Run is a year long job, and prayers from the Alumni is always appreciated. I encourage you this week to take a few minutes out of your day to pray for Camp Deer Run and for God to continue to bless the work that is being done at this special place.

Hopefully this post will get me back into a fairly routine habit of posting again, and I will stick with the weekly prayer list. If you have something you would like to share with the CDR Alumni family so that we may all pray about it, you can email it to me at cdralumni@gmail.com.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Do you have any prayer requests?

I tried doing this a few months ago, and kind of got away from it, but would like to try it again. I would like to start listing prayer requests from any and all CDR Alumni. I think that it can be such a powerful tool for us to be able to take requests to God together as Deer Runners. I would like to post these requests or praises every Sunday for everyone to see and pray for during the week. I hope that this is something that will really take off and will help all Alumni to be able to grow closer to each other and to God. If you have anything that you would like for me to post this Sunday, email it to cdralumni@gmail.com .

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Thank you for Camp Deer Run

I think this is too cute of a story not to tell, and I think that it sums up how so many of us feel about Camp. My wife, Sarah, and I have a 2 year old son named Riley. We have taken Riley out to Camp since he was born, and this summer he went out there with me several times. He really enjoys spending time out there and being able to run around, hanging out with the big kids. He also has made several friends his age that he talks about all of the time. Well, every night when we say our prayers, I will start out by saying "Dear God," and Riley will follow with "Thank you for ____" over and over and over. Usually he will fill in the blank with a grandparent, or an aunt or uncle, or somebody's pet. But every night, without any prompting from me or his mommy, he says, "Thank you for Camp Deer Run." Every time I hear this it puts a huge smile on my face a warm feeling in my heart. I feel the same way about Camp as my two year old son does, and I already know that it is a place that he loves. I just think that's really cool.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Changes at Camp...Pavilion

When I started doing this blog, part of my intent was to provide former Deer Runners with a look into Camp today. I know that there are lots of Alumni who have not been out to Camp in many years, so I want to show them what Camp is like today, and how things may have changed over the years. In all parts of life, change can be looked at in a negative light, and Camp is no different. Its important to understand that the changes that have been made at Camp are made with the purpose of bettering the work that is done there every summer...preaching the Gospel to the thousands of kids that come to Camp. There is always much thought and prayer put into all the decisions, and making sure that Camp stays the same place that we all fell in love with. If you haven't been out to Camp in over 15 years, some things may look different, but you would be able to see that Camp is the same as it always has been. So, I would like to show some of the things that have changed at Camp, and bring everybody up to speed on what Camp is like today.

The first "new" addition to Camp that I would like to highlight is the Pavilion. I say "new", but it was built 12 years ago. I'm starting with it because I think it is the best thing built at Camp since I became involved with Camp almost 20 years ago. The Pavilion was built and named in honor of E.H. Smith, or PaPaw to most people. It was built between Cheuk and Hoche Ballfields, and met several needs immediately. The Pavilion is a true multi use facility. It is used for cabin and group activities, especially for application lessons. On mornings when it rains, Flag Devo can be held underneath the roof so that campers and staff don't have to start the day off soaked.

Before the Pavilion was built, the only place to play basketball was on an uneven, bumpy stretch of pavement out by Hoche Ballfield. It was not a very safe place to play, and was difficult to get a good game going. The Pavilion has a full length basketball court with goals on both sides.
On special occasions such as Pass the Torch, or the 50th reunion, tables and chairs can be set up to serve a meal underneath the shade.
The best use of the Pavilion though can be seen on any Middle Sunday of a 2 week session. This summer during 4th Session, there was close to 600 people worshipping together in the Pavilion. Before the Pavilion was built, all worships were held in the Rec Hall, which is just big enough to squeeze in around 200 people. Obviously this would not be an adequate place to hold worship with 600 people. Being able to worship together in the Pavilion, all under one roof, lifting praises to God, really captures the true spirit of Camp Deer Run.
If you haven't been to Camp in many years, I encourage you to mark your calendar to come out to some of the Alumni events we have planned. I really think that you will be happy seeing Camp today and understanding the impact that it is still having today on the Campers that come through the gates every summer.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Mark Your Calendars

About 8 months ago I met with Ty Ford and we discussed the need to reach out to former Camp Deer Runners, or Alumni. We decided it was time to embrace technology to be able to spread the word about Camp, and started this blog, as well as getting a Camp Deer Run Facebook page running. The Camp Deer Run website has been redesigned and has a great new look. These things helped to get us off to a great start with reaching out to CDR Alumni, and will help things to only get better. Through this blog we have been able catch up on Alumni during the "Alumni Spotlight" posts, and have let people who aren't able to make it out to Camp see what it is like today.

Part of the plan of reaching out to Alumni was to organize times for Alumni to get together with each other and have fun catching up with people you may not have seen in years. We had the first one of these this year with the first "Camp Deer Run Baby Round Up." It was a great success and will have another one in 3 years. Close to 30 little children were at Camp with their parents who worked at Camp in the past. I know that everyone who attended had a wonderful day. Now it is time to expand on these gatherings. There have been several things planned for the next year, and you need to know about them now so that you can put them on your calendar.

February 4-6

CDR Alumni Men's Retreat

This is obviously for men only. There was a small Men's Retreat last year to see how well it went over and it was a great time. This year we are expecting a big turnout. If you are a former male Deer Runner, then this is for you. It will be a time of fellowship and worship, with plenty of time to catch up with old friends.

March 25-27

CDR Alumni Women's Retreat

This is obviously for women only. Same idea as the men's retreat.

June 11 OR June 25

CDR Alumni Family Day

We are not sure which day this will be, but should know within a week or two. This is going to be a day for anyone who has been a part of the Camp Deer Run Family to come out and enjoy a Saturday at Camp with other former Deer Runners. It is being called Family Day not because it is only for "families", but because we are all part of the Deer Run Family.

Hopefully all three of these events will have big turnouts. As we get closer to the dates I will be posting updates with schedules and other information, but for now, make sure to put these on your calendar. Friendships that are formed at Camp are so special, and these events will give us all a chance to catch up with each other and strengthen those relationships. Don't worry about contacting anyone right now about your plans to attend, just plan on being able to attend these events. If you have any questions you can email me at cdralumni@gmail.com.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Summer Recap

Its been over for about a week, but there are still many campers and staff who constantly have Camp Deer Run on their minds. If you take the time to ask anyone who spent time at Camp this summer, they will tell you that they had an amazing experience. Every summer at Camp is special in its own way, and this summer was no different. Each camper left Camp at the end of their session with a fire burning inside of them that was ignited at Camp. They left with a strong desire to live life for God, and will have many stories and memories to lean on during the year. If you were able to make it out to Camp this summer, then you know how great things are going. But I thought it would be fun to share some numbers from this summer at Camp.

206...Total number of PeeWee day campers. This is a very important part of the summer for Camp Deer Run, for these campers are introduced to Camp for the very first time, and will hopefully come back when they are old enough to camp overnight.

977...Total number of overnight campers this summer. If you average that number out over 6 sessions you get 163 campers per session. This an impressive number considering that Camp is considered at capacity at 160. So, obviously each session of Camp is full. Kids want to come spend a week or two in the woods surrounded by Godly young men and women, running around getting dirty, playing in the creek, worshipping God. This is a good thing.

1...New pool. The new pool was a physical highlight this summer. Everyone who saw the new pool was very excited about it. I can't think of a better place to cool down during a hot day.

1647...Total attendance for all 3 Middle Sunday worship services.

85...Chickens cooked during Hoche outcamping.

27...Number of little ones who attended the first ever CDR Baby Roundup with their families.

5040...Total attendance for all worship services, both Wednesday nights and Sundays.

27...Campers who decided to take on Christ in baptism. This is the most important number of all, and shows just how successful of a summer this was for Camp Deer Run. A wonderful staff was assembled, a staff that was given the task of being Christian leaders for each and every camper that came to Camp this summer. We know that they succeeded. The 27 baptisms this summer is one way of knowing this, but we also know that each camper was loved during their time at Camp, and that they were shown the love of Christ. They left Camp closer to God, and with a desire to live their lives for Him. These are the things that truly show Camp was a success. You can ask any camper, and they will tell you how on fire they were for God when they left Camp, and how their things they learned at Camp motivates them to live for God.

It was a great summer. I hope that you had a chance to make it there this summer, but if not, maybe through this blog you are able to keep up with the happenings of Camp. Just because the summer is over, the work of Camp does not end. Preparation for next summer has already begun. Continue to pray for Camp and the work that goes on there.

In the next post I am going to share some dates for CDR Alumni gatherings in the next year, that way you can get them on your calendar. Its been a great to get started trying to bring former Deer Runners back into the fold, and there are many great ideas being tossed around to better serve the Alumni. Keep checking back here to get some updates soon.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Wenache Group Leader...Scott Busby

Tonight is the last night of Camp Deer Run 2010. I know it is a sad night for the campers who are experiencing 6th Session, but it is also a sad night for the 50 staff members who have given up their summer to spend 10 weeks in the hot woods of East Texas to share God's love with thousands of children. I want to highlight the Wenache Group leader tonight. Scott has done a great job this summer leading this group. Its very cool for me see Scott as the Wenache Group Leader because I had Scott in my group in 2003 when I was the Wenache Group Leader. It gives me great pride to be able to look at all 4 of the Group Leaders and to remember when they were campers and see what great young men they have become.

CDRAlumni: What years have you been at Camp?

Scott: I camped from 1998-2007 and have been on staff from 2008-2010.

CDRAlumni: How did you come to Camp in the first place?

Scott: I guess I would have to give the Spencer family the credit for introducing me to camp. I am from Huntsville, Texas and grew up going to church with John Richard and Renee's family who told my parents about it. I guess my parents thought it sounded like a good idea to send my sister and I. Thanks, Spencers.

CDRAlumni: What is your favorite memory from your time as a camper?

Scott: In 2003 Pete Garner and Sparky led the men of the Wenache nation on a search for a place called "Pete's Pass." After a week of searching for it, we finally found it only to find out a few years later that Pete's Pass was really just a joke. Also, in either 1999 or 2000, Ty Ford led my cabin on a hunt for an "escaped convict." After an hour and a half of searching we caught the convict who turned out to just be Sparky.

Scott (far right) and his cabin at Pete's Pass in 2003.

CDRAlumni: Who had the biggest impact on you while you were a camper?

Scott: Cameron Hartsell had a big impact on me when I was a camper. I was a camper in GB6 in 2005 and 2006 and Cameron was my counselor for both of those years. It was evident that Cameron was truly interested in us not only as far as his job as a CDR staff member went, but also as a friend. Since GB6 is at the top of camp on a hill of sorts, Cameron called our cabin the city on a hill, helping us realize the importance of being a Christ-like example to all. Even though he called me a fat-head, his impact on me was immense.

CDRAlumni: What made you decide to be on staff?

Scott: I decided to apply to become a staff member after my first summer as a camper in 1998. At that time I probably only wanted to be on staff because camp all summer long sounded like the greatest thing in the world to me. As I grew older, however, I began to realize that much of my spiritual growth could be attributed to the staff members at Deer Run. I wanted to share in that ministry for future campers. I wanted to bless the campers who I would work with just as much as the staff members who blessed me did.

CDRAlumni: What do you think makes Camp so important for so many people?

Scott: I think the reason camp is so important is because of the overwhelming sense of acceptance that is felt at Camp Deer Run. People from all walks of life are thrown together in a group at Camp and participate in the weirdest, most fun activities imaginable all while learning what it is to be Christ-like. When everybody is doing something weird, nobody is "too cool" for anybody else and a Christ-like sense of unity shows through. That unity leads to some of the best and most long lasting friendships possible.

CDRAlumni: What is your favorite part of the typical Camp Day?

Scott: Night games and Night devo would have to be my favorite two parts of any camp day. Games like steal the bacon, three deep, and pull apart are so fun to play and then the day ends in worship to God through night devo with an amazing view of the stars. That portion of the day combines the two purposes of camp, fun and worship, in the best way possible.

CDRAlumni: Talk about the responsibility of being a Group Leader.

Scott: This is my first year to hold this position and so far, I have loved every minute of it. The responsibilities involved in group leading can sometimes be tough, but are extremely rewarding. A huge difference between counseling and group leading is the amount of preparation involved. It is now my job to plan activities, games, Bible lessons, etc. for the whole group, for ten weeks, which can be challenging. I am now also responsible for the staff members in my group. It is my job to set an example for them but to also encourage them in all that they do.

CDRAlumni: If there is one thing that you hope the campers take away from there time at Camp, what do you want it to be?

Scott: I want campers to leave camp knowing that God is alive and that he is working. I think just being out in the woods, in God's creation, for one or two weeks is enough in itself to show that God is alive and that he is powerful. Often, the world outside of camp may seem very dark and discouraging. But I hope through camp that everyone who comes here will see that God is alive and working in the world. You just have to look a little harder than you would have to at camp.

CDRAlumni: What is your least favorite part of Camp?

Scott: My least favorite part of camp is camp improvement. It's just not campish to be cleaning when you could be in the creek.

CDRAlumni: What is your proudest accomplishment from your time at Camp?

Scott: My proudest accomplishment at camp has been the two baptisms that I have been priveleged to perform. This year I have baptized Cheyenne Wolfe and also Britt Moody. I was so fortunate to have that opportunity to study with them and to baptize them into Christ. I am so glad that God was able to use me to that end.

CDRAlumni: Anything you would like to say to alumni?

Scott: To former CDR Staff, I'd just like to thank you for the hard work that I know you put in while you were working here. You may not have been in my group ever or even been working while I was camping but I know that the example you set for me just by being here has helped mold my faith. So thank you so much for that. To those who camped in the past and even to former staff I would ask that you would be in prayer for the mission of camp at all times. Pray that God's will can be done through camp and that He can continue to work through the memories made here even during the school year, that those memories will only serve to spur on a deeper faith in God.

Thanks again to Scott and the other Group Leaders for answering some questions and letting us know what it means to them to be a in charge of a group at Camp. Its been fun talking to these guys and getting their perspective on their job.

The Camp offseason is just about upon us. But continue to pray for the campers throughout the year and for Camp as a whole as there are many projects to be done and needs that need to be met. Thanks for supporting Camp Deer Run this summer and for the many prayers already offered.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Alumni Spotlight...Robert Martin

Time for another Alumni Spotlight. This time I am highlighting Robert Martin, or you may know him by his Camp nickname, Ol' Blue. Robert was at Camp as a camper from 1989-1993 and was a staff member from 1994-1996.

CDRAlumni: What brought you to Camp Deer Run as a camper or staff member; How did you find out about camp?

Robert: I was actually told about camp through my preacher's son at the time Brent Nichols. At that time I was 12 or 13. I started off as a Nashami and moved up through the Hoches, and fell in love so much with all the staff and camp that in 1994 I went and got my lifeguard certification and became the men's lifeguard for 3 summers.

CDRAlumni: Share a favorite memory from your time at CDR.

Robert:Wow there are so many. I will have to say that most of my favorite memories as a camper and even as a staff member had to be all the friends that I made through the years. I totally grew attached to staff members like Trevon "Worm" Buchanan, and John Boles, and Mark "Tree" Taylor and even David Ward.

CDR Alumni: How did your time at CDR impact your life?

Robert: I had always grown up in the church and loved the Lord with all my heart, but it wasn't until I started going to CDR that I truly got to see Him move in the lives of people. To this very day, once I walk through the gates I can still feel His presence and see His glory and greatness in that place.

CDRAlumni: Tell us everything you would like people to know about your life since camp. What do you do for a living, are you married, do you have kids, etc.

Robert: Well, I have had some major ups and downs since I was last at CDR on staff. I played around in college and thought that working was more important. My mind set wasn't on bettering myself, it was on trying to work and get paid. Then I thought that getting married was the answer, but apparently I was wrong on that too. Went through a nasty divorce, but I got 2 of the greatest things that God could've ever blessed me with, my kids. I now have custody of my 9 year old daughter and my almost 8 year old son.

CDRAlumni: Please tell us more about your family, names, ages, anything you would like to share.

Robert:My family is a little different from others since my kids and I have lived with my best friend and his wife and kids for almost 7 years now. My daughter Makayla is 9 and my son Micheal will be 8 in September. Because of my best friends Robert and Heather Wheeler, I have been blessed with 4 god children. My oldest god daughter Alexus is 15 and just went to CDR for the first time 2nd session of 2010, my oldest god son Matthew is 13, my youngest god daughter Emilee is 10 and my youngest god son Cameron is 6. So with all of us living under one roof you can guess that there is never a dull moment with a 15, 13, 10, 9, 7, and 6 year old living together.

Thanks to Robert for taking the time to share his story with us. It is fun seeing how people are living their lives today. If you would like to share your story and be highlighted in an Alumni Spotlight Post, fill out this survey. Now that summer is almost over, I would like to be able to do several of these type of posts a month, but will need many people to spotlight. So if you haven't done so yet, take the time to answer the questions. And if you send me pictures then you will be moved to the front of the pack.

Summer is almost over, and in the next couple of weeks I hope to be able to share some exciting news about plans that are being made with CDR Alumni in mind. Pray for Camp to finish strong and for the fire that was started in the campers hearts this summer to continue to burn brightly for the Lord.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Nashamie Group Leader...Travis Perkins

Here is the third installment of posts that highlights the 4 group leaders from this summer. I think it has been a great look at what type of attitude and ideas that it takes to be a in charge of a group of campers and staff during a summer of Camp. This week Travis Perkins took the time to answer a few questions and gave some insight into what he thinks makes Camp the place that it is.

CDRAlumni: What years have you been at Camp?

Travis: I began coming to Camp when I camped in 2001.

CDRAlumni: Why did you come to Camp in the first place?

Travis: My sister had camped two years before I did and convinced me to go.

CDRAlumni: What is your favorite memory from your time as a camper?

Travis: Nashamie outcamping on the fourth of July.

CDRAlumni: Who had the biggest impact on you while you were a camper?

Travis: Chris Banks, Ty Taylor, Jace Allen

CDRAlumni: What made you decide to be on staff?

Travis: I wanted to feel like I was doing something worth while during the summer.

CDRAlumni: What do you think makes Camp so important for so many people?

Travis: For the campers, I think it's the escape from the world into a little slice of heaven. For the staff, it's the feeling of meaning in thier lives. For the parents and alumni, I can only assume it's the knowledge that camp really does change lives.

CDRAlumni: What is your favorite part of the typical Camp Day?

Travis: Afternoon canteen.

CDRAlumni: Talk about the responsibility of being a Group Leader.

Travis: It's a welcomed responsibility. The work is hard, but the reward of seeing growth and change in the campers makes it worth it.

CDRAlumni: If there is one thing that you hope the campers take away from there time at Camp, what do you want it to be?

Travis: I always want the campers to take away the knowledge that God loves them more than they could know, and that if they actively seek God, he will make himself known in thier lives.

CDRAlumni: What is your least favorite part of Camp?

Travis: My least favorite part of camp? A session ending just as the group has become unified.

CDRAlumni: What is your proudest accomplishment from your time at Camp?

Travis: 5th Session 2009, Chiefy wins indian day!!

CDRAlumni: Anything you would like to say to alumni?

Travis: Thanks for all the support and wisdom. If it weren't for your Christ-like example, none of us would be on staff today.

I want to thank Travis for taking the time to answer these questions for me. I know that there isn't a lot of free time during the summer for the staff, but its great that these guys are willing to take a couple of minutes and give us all an inside look into their thoughts about Camp. Travis is a great example for the campers to look to. He has experienced some things in life that have helped him draw closer to God and strengthened his faith and understanding that God is in total control. I know that the campers who have been Nashamies this summer are closer to God after spending time at Camp because of the things that Travis has taught them and that they have seen in him.

When campers run the show

There are 9 Wednesday night worship services each summer of Camp. Each one is wonderful time of praise, but 3 Wednesday nights have a different feel from the other 6. One of those nights was tonight. For the second Wednesday worship during the 2 week sessions, the campers are in charge of the worship service. The boys in Men's 8, which is the oldest boys cabin, lead the singing, say the prayers, and usually 3 or 4 young men spend about 5 minutes each speaking from the Word. It is such a wonderful time to see the young men step out and take charge for a great time of fellowship. You can see that the guys are nervous, but to be able to hear them speak from the heart is such an encouragement for those who are there. Many times, the young men who take the lead for this worship service will apply to be on staff, and will be the next leaders for Camp. Many campers grow up going to Camp with the goal of being on staff someday, and nights like tonight, where the campers led the worship service, is a great way to help some of those aspiring to be on staff understand what it is to take a leadership role at Camp.

Camp is coming to a close, but isn't over yet. Continue to pray for the campers who are at Camp right now, and those who will be there next week. Right now is when the staff is searching for some extra energy to finish the summer. Pray that they are able to give the kids all that they have and finish the summer strong.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Cheuk Group Leader...Blake Hemphill

During my 5 years on staff, I had Blake Hemphill in my cabin 3 or 4 times, and we were in the same group several other times. During that time I got to know him pretty well, and I am proud to see the young man that he has become. Blake has been spending the past 2 summers as a group leader, and this year is the Cheuk Group Leader. This is such an important position because so many of the campers that Blake has in his group are first-time campers, and Blake has a big part in impressing the campers with what Camp is all about. He has been doing a great job.

When he was a young camper, maybe 11, Blake told me one day to call him "Steve the Stud." So for the past 10 or 11 years, I have called him some form of Steve or Stud. I imagine when people here me call him this, they become very confused. Here is a picture of Blake from 2003 when he was just a young camper.

I did asked Blake some questions about his thoughts on Camp, and he filled these out during some of his down time at Camp.

What years have you been at Camp?

Pee Wee – ’94-‘97

Camper – ’98-‘06

Staff – ’07-‘10

Why did you come to Camp in the first place?

All my family has been involved at CDR. My Grandpa was on the board of directors when Camp first started.

What is your favorite memory from your time as a camper?

One of my fondest memories was winning the Cheuk Basketball League championship in 1999. To me, this little cabin-activity-turned-Cheuk-free-day-night-activity was a huge deal!! Being able to share that memory with friends that were there that night and are still on staff with me now is an amazing bond.

Who had the biggest impact on you while you were a camper?

Chris Banks has been a big influence in my life since 1997. He was my counselor when I was a Pee Wee, and he was later my Nashamie group leader. He gave me his Indian Feather in 2003, and he has given me much more than that over the years. He showed me the love and care of Christ when I was a camper. Since I have grown up, Christ and I have become friends. He has given me much advice, and we have talked a lot about the mission of Camp Deer Run together.

What made you decide to be on staff?

I have so many memories from my years as a camper, and so many great experiences and friends that I will never forget. I want to be a part of the creating the incredibly fun and spiritual experiences that I had for the kids that still come today.

What do you think makes Camp so important for so many people?

Camp makes everyone the cool kid. Also, just the attention of a college-aged staff member to a young child, showing them that you care, means the world to them. There is an atmosphere of love that transcends differences among kids from all backgrounds and personalities. And most importantly, our emphasis on Bible study at different times throughout the day and focusing on a relationship with God has a huge influence on the lives of many campers.

What is your favorite part of the typical Camp Day?

I think the part of every day that I love the most is the group activity. The things that we all associate with the theme of each day, many of the things we all think of when we think about camp, are the activities done during this time. The Hawaiian slip-n-slide, Killi olympics, capture the flag, Sadie Hawkins Day, and chasing the Indian are all memories from group activity.

Talk about the responsibility of being a Group Leader.

I think the responsibility of a Group Leader goes past taking care of campers. It involves being a director and a servant for a group of 12 or so counselors on top of about 40 kids. One of the most important responsibilities is being a spiritual leader for the group and for the camp. It takes a lot of work, dedication, focus, and discipline, but it also brings a lot of joy to fulfill your duties.

If there is one thing that you hope the campers take away from their time at Camp, what do you want it to be?

I want campers to learn how to live life to the full (John 10:10). Camp demonstrates the fulfillment of that passage perfectly, showing campers that they can have a BLAST being a Christian. I hope that they realize that when they leave the gates at the end of a session, that they don’t just leave having had a great time for a week or two weeks, but that they leave with a message and a mission to tell the world about the story of Jesus Christ and what He did for us on the cross.

What is your least favorite part of Camp?

A part of the daily schedule of Camp that I always found hard to fill with fun was cabin activity. It gets difficult to come up with something different to do every day for an hour and a half and have everyone enjoy the time without getting bored.

What is your proudest accomplishment from your time at Camp?

I think one of the memories that sticks out in my mind the most is winning Killi Kapers in 2005 with the Men’s 7 Boys Choir, which Ty Ford called one of the greatest Killi Kapers of all time in the Killi News Letter the following school year. With Ty Taylor as our counselor and Drayton Hoffman as our director, we changed the words to some old hymns to sing in our homemade tuxes.

Anything you would like to say to alumni?

I would just encourage the alumni to stay in touch not only with other alumni, but stay in touch and involved with Camp and the current staff. I know that I love to have y’all come back and talk about times that you had. I love sharing the things that are going on and the things that I am learning, and I love hearing about how things were when you were here. And I always enjoy getting advice from you who have been through the Camp experience before me.

You can tell that Blake is a great person to have leading young campers, and a wonderful example for all of the other staff members. He embodies what Camp has been about for over 50 years, and because of his leadership, future staff members will be able to help Camp continue to impact the spiritual development of campers for years to come.

Camp is winding down, only two weeks left. This Sunday is the final Middle Sunday of the summer. If you would like to worship at Camp, then please feel free to head out to Camp. Classes start at 10 world time and worship is at 11. It would be great to see as many people there as possible. Hope to see you there.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky