Jim Jordan

I am saddened to have to inform everyone that Jim Jordan passed away yesterday afternoon after a long battle with cancer. Mr. Jordan has been a long-time CDR board member and has done so many things to support Camp. He and his wife Margaret were members at Holly Lake Church of Christ, and did many things to have that church be involved with Camp. Please keep this family in your prayers as they go through this very difficult time. I will post funeral arrangements as they are made.

Sparky

Thursday Part I...Indian Day!

Thursdays at Camp are always a little bittersweet. Its the last full day of the session, but to many people it is the most exciting. Indian Day always brings some great fun for both the staff and the campers. Of course Thursdays (the second Thursday for two week sessions) have so much more going on than just Indian Day. On top of the normal Camp activities, you also have the Camp vs. Staff softball game, followed by everyone jumping in the pool, dinner in Cheuk Grove, and all of the end of Camp activities such as Cross Devo. Because of so many things that happen on that day, I am going to break up the day into two or three posts so that I can give each activity the attention it deserves. This one is going to be about all the fun that Indian Day brings.

Early in the morning, with all of Camp surrounded by the flag pole after the devo, the group leaders explain to the campers what will probably happen at some point during the day. There is a very good chance that each group leader will get very sick with the flumonia. In fact, there have been many times during this time that the group leaders are already starting to feel bad. For some reason this ailment seems to only affect the group leaders and only on Thursday. After all of the talk about the dreaded illnesses that will most likely hit the group leaders, its time for all the staff to march to the front to perform the Indian Day song/dance.

Each group leader will usually go into hiding mode because he is "sick" an hour or two before group activity. He will give his whistle to one of the his male staff members and go prepare for his big show. While he is doing this, the campers are competing in Indian Day competitions. These are the leg wrestling, arm wrestling, rock chunk, and the Indian Run. Once the competitions are over, its time to start talking about the Indian. One of the staff members will tell the campers what has happened to their group leader. The story usually explains that the group leader got sick and took a nap. When he wakes up, his face is painted and he isn't right in the mind. He starts to make his way down to his group during the telling of the story, and puts on a great show out on the ball field about how crazy he is. They story says that he thinks he is a mighty Killi Indian Chief. He then runs off into the woods with a primal scream.

The campers are told that they have to rescue their Chief. The only way that they can save him is to go out into the woods and hunt for him, call out his name, let him know that they are their to help him. The way to cure him of this horrible sickness is to cleanse him in the healing waters of Killi Creek. Off course the campers are also told that the Chief is not himself, and will not willingly get into the creek to be cleansed. The campers may have to capture the Chief and carry him to the creek.

Once the campers are able to capture the Chief and get him to the creek, they have to wash the paint off his face. When they are able to do this, then the fever will be gone and the beloved group leader will return.

Usually there is one camper in particular who had the biggest part of capturing the Chief, and he or she will be honored for their heroic efforts later that night during the telling of the Indian Day stories.

Indian Day is so much fun and provides many fond memories for the campers to take home with them. Next week I will cover the rest of the day that marks the ending of each session of Camp.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Alumni Spotlight...Kyla Diles Gentry

Time to get caught up with yet another CDR Alumni. This week we are going to learn all about Kyla Diles Gentry. Kyla was a camper from 1995-1999 and a staff member in 2000 and 2001. Many of you know David Ward, and I bet Kyla could give us some great stories about him since she is his sister-in-law. But we will have to save those for another post.

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

Kyla: David Ward married my sister, and I came to his crazy camp. The first summer, I went to both CDR and my camp in Arkansas. After one year, I gave up my camp in Arkansas to go to CDR. It was so great.

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

Kyla: There are so many fun and happy memories, from playing in the creek to outcamping. My favorite though would probably be at outcamping when we realized there was water flowing under a tree and made a tunnel. I "spelunked" my way through with a rope tied around my waste so Clint Spencer and Luke Dean could pull me out if I got stuck. I made it all the way through completely covered in mud.

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

Kyla: CDR impacted my spiritual life greatly. It was the first time, I ever really had a faith of my own. I think about it often, and bring up many memories to my husband. He thinks I'm crazy, but he just doesn't understand...he went to that camp in Arkansas. CDR also gave me friends that I care deeply for. I am not the best at keeping in contact, but blogs and facebook have allowed me to remain a part of their life or they a part of mine.

CDR Alumni: 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.

Kyla: I teach 7th grade science in Searcy, Arkansas. I am married to Ty Gentry. We got married in Dec. of 2003. We have two kids Gabe (Aug. 07) and Gracen (Feb. 09).

Thanks so much to Kyla for taking the time to answer our Alumni Survey. If you haven't done so yet, and would like to share part of your Camp Deer Run story and update many Deer Runners on your life, please take the time to fill out our Camp Deer Run Alumni Survey.

I would like to continue with our weekly prayer list that can be posted and updated on this blog every week. If you have any requests or praises that you would like to share with the Deer Run community, you can send those to cdralumni@gmail.com .

I was out at Camp today and the new pool is complete and looking great. Sod was going down this afternoon and should make the grounds around the pool look great. It is a true blessing for Camp to be able add such a great new pool. The pool dedication will be June 5th during the Pass the Torch festivities. Here is the invitation to this wonderful event.

The summer is right around the corner and I know both staff and campers are getting very excited about being back in the Piney Woods of East Texas. If you are reading this blog then you are aware of what lies ahead for this summer. Keep Camp in your prayers, and pray that God is working on the hearts of the young people who will be spending time at Camp this summer.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Capture the Flag!

Wednesdays at Camp during a one week session usually signal the halfway point of Camp. If its the second Wednesday of a two week session then it signals the end is near. Luckily Wednesday is the favorite day of the week for many campers, especially the younger groups...Capture the Flag Day.

If you can't tell from the picture above, I'll let you in on a little secret...the campers take their capture the flag games very seriously. Capture the Flag Day is a day of camouflage clothing, some serious strategic planning, and some super stealth sneaking around the woods. This day also gives the campers an excuse to paint their face so that they can't be seen playing in the woods.
Capture the flag is played on Wednesday's during each Group Activity. There are 2 teams and 2 sides for the game, and each team is tasked with guarding their flag on their side play. Your flag has to be visible, but depending on the strategy, you can still manage to make it difficult for the other team to find the flag. All of Camp is the playing field. If you are tagged by your opponent while on the wrong side, then you have to go to jail. The only way out of jail is to be tagged by one of your free teammates. The younger groups often play boy campers and girl staff vs. girl campers and boy staff. This tends to give the teams the a little more equality.

When the game starts, many of the boys tend to head off into the woods on as if they are on some sort of military mission. Often times, these campers will try to go so far out of the way, that they take themselves out of the game. Most of the true game play takes place on the ball fields where the jails and the flags are located. The way the game ends is by "Capturing the Flag". If one team captures the other teams flag and safely brings it back to their side, then the game is over.
When Group Activity is over, and the Capture the Flag victor has been crowned, stories about the game are told and retold for the rest of the day. There is usually some claims of cheating thrown around by the losers, but no claims are ever proven. Every once in a while a couple of campers who went out into the woods on the military style mission tend to get lost in the woods and don't make it back to the group after the games are over. Some members of the staff will have to go out into the woods to "rescue" the lost campers. Their stories are always great to hear. They tend to think that they walked miles away from Camp, when in all actuality they just got turned around and were only 100 yards away from the fields.
One of the best parts about Wednesdays at Camp is evening Worship. There are usually several visitors that come out to Camp to worship, and it is just another reminder of how awesome it is to worship God at Camp. No matter how worn out the campers and staff get during the day at Camp, there always seems to be excitement on Wednesday nights to come together to worship the Lord. It is a wonderful way to start winding down and finish up another day of Camp.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Pass The Torch

We have a very special invitation for all former CDR Staff Members. For the past 5 or 6 years former staff members have come out to Camp on the Saturday before Camp starts and have spent time giving encouragement and words of wisdom to the current staff. This has been titled "Pass the Torch!". It is a great way to help the current staff understand the responsibility that they have this summer, but that they also have support and prayers from many people who have done the same before them. "Pass the Torch" has quickly become a great way to kick-start the summer. On top of the time spent in worship and fellowship, this year is a special occasion because the new pool will also be dedicated. This will be a great day of fellowship for all who attend. Take a look at the invitation and if you think it is something that you would like to participate in, please email Ty Ford at ty-cdr@peoplescom.net.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky

Alumni Spotlight...Karol Kennedy Edwards

Time to get to learn something about another former Deer Runner. This weeks Alumni Spotlight is on Karol Kennedy Edwards. Karol was out at Camp from 1966-1975 and also 1979.



CDR Alumni: What brought you to Camp Deer Run as a camper or staff member? How did you find out about camp?
Karol: My sister Jan Kennedy Nichols told me about Camp, and I wanted to do anything she got to do.

CDR Alumni: Share a favorite memory from your time at CDR.
Karol: Stars in the sky. Savior Breathe an Evening Blessing. Hymn Time. The feeling of being surrounded by people who loved Jesus.

CDR Alumni: How did your time at CDR impact your life?
Karol: I came to know God through his creation and the love of his children. I made life long friends like Cathy Watts Burson and "The Spencers".

CDR Alumni: 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.
Karol: I married Phil Edwards. We have two children. Bethany is 24 and is teaching ESL kindergarten in Cairo, Egypt. Matt is 22 and lives at home working part time and planning to go back to school next year. We live in Longview and worship at Alpine Church of Christ working in the missions and counseling ministries. I have retired from 29 years of teaching elementary school.

CDR Alumni: Please tell us more about your family, names, ages, anything you would like to share.
Karol: Both of our children were baptized at Camp Deer Run. That was a very special blessing for me.

Thank you so much Karol for sharing with us about your life. It is such a blessing to be able to hear how Camp has impacted the lives of so many people over the years. If you are a CDR Alumni and have not filled out an Alumni Spotlight Survey you should do so now by clicking right here.

Check back in the next day or two to see about an announcement that will be made regarding a chance to get together with old friends out at Camp.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,
Sparky

Sadie Hawkins Day!

Sadie Hawkins Day. Those three words either bring joy and excitement to the campers, or cause fear and trembling. Each Tuesday of Camp is Sadie Hawkins Day(2nd Tuesday for 2 week sessions). And Sadie Hawkins is always a day that brings about lots of discussion amongst the campers. No matter what how the campers feel about Sadie Hawkins Day, there is no doubt that it is always one of the highlights of the session.

Sadie Hawkins Day gets started early on Tuesday morning. After Flag Devo is over, the staff introduces the day by singing the Sadie Hawkins Day Song. It goes something like this...

"Its Sadie Hawkins Day, its Sadie Hawkins Day, its Sadie Hawkins Day, its Sadie Hawkins Day,

So all you girls and guys, will run fast if your wise,

Its Sadie Hawkins Day, Its Sadie Hawkins Day, HEY!!!"

When Group Activity rolls around, Sadie Hawkins Day is in full swing. It starts with telling the true story of Sadie Hawkins. She was a beauty challenged young lady who chased young men around trying to capture their affection. So we recreate this story our own Camp Deer Run way. The boys line, and are allowed to run and hide. The girls are then allowed to chase after the boys. After a short time, all boys have to come out of hiding and be chased by the girls. After all boys are caught, its time to get married. The boys kneel in front of their date and grab an ankle while the girls gently grab a lock of hair. After reciting the marriage vows, the couples are married in holy macaroni, a marriage that lasts only through night canteen.
Once the marriages are complete, its time to head to the creek to make the marriages complete. The boys have to "gently" dip their date into the creek.
As you can tell from the picture below, sometimes the "gently" dipping part is forgotten.

After the dipping of dates is done, a huge creek battle generally breaks out. The girls often team up to try and exact revenge on the boys, the boys try to start wrestling in the water, and there may be some mud bombs thrown around the creek. The best part of spending time at the creek is showing the campers how much fun playing in a small little creek in the middle of the woods can be. This is something that most campers never get the chance to do, and once they are able to give in and have fun, all have a wonderful time.

Each Tuesday night is cookout night, which is tons of fun. Each group goes off on its own to one of the cookout spots and spends a few hours under the stars by a fire. This is always a great time to play fun games around the fire. Lots of great memories are made during this time. This is another example of an activity that the campers rarely get a chance to do.

Once the games are over and the fire is ready, its time to cook some hot dogs. For Sadie Hawkins, the girls are asked to cook for their dates. The boys are told to promise to eat the dogs made for them no matter what may have happened to the dog during the cooking process. After everyone eats there are some stories told, and then Night Devo.

There are several other things that go on during this day that I left out, but this is a short rundown of a typical Sadie Hawkins Day. Sadie Hawkins Day is one of those days that always stands out in former Deer Runners memories. Its a day of fun gifts, fun stories, and fun activities. It is the perfect example of what Camp Deer Run offers to the campers...a Christ-centered experience that they won't get anywhere else.

Hail, Dear Ol' Deer Run,

Sparky