Be Like A Child

Children are born innocant and pure. It is nothing short of miraculous to witness the beautiful honesty and willingness of a child. Their faith and trust is so precious. Wouldn't it be nice to bottle it up in our youth and then release it as needed in our adult life?

But we can't. Sometimes it seems like growing up is this relentless process of losing our innocence. We gain experience, get crushed by the cruelty of the world, perhaps hand out some cruelty of or own - we become less of a person.

The thing about innocence is that once it is gone, it cannot be regained.

Or can it?

When Jesus died and was raised, He began a redemption process that is in effect to this day. A great reversal is in motion. Although our bodies have limited and diminishing strength, something special and regenerative is happening in our spirits. In our spirits we are actually growing young.

Boys just want to have fun

Boys like to have adventures. They like to take risks and figure things out by doing. Camp is great place for boys.

What is more adventurous than lakes and forests and critters?

We'd be fools to think that the things that lit up a boy's imagination 50 years ago are any different today. Boys will try so hard to tell us something that has always been true, but is novel and must be spoke in their voices. We must be there to listen.

An unheard boy is a danger to the world. We must listen to boys. A heard boy is a blessing to the world. It is our choice what will happen with boys.

The Bid is...

Jill Tarnowski, caught in the bidding craze, inadvertantly bids on half the cheese in Wisconsin.

Loyalty. Seriously, she's never going to eat all that cheese. Way to go Jill.

Magic Bartch

Magic Johnson worked wonders on the basketball court. He could do anything with the basketball.

Well, Flaming Pine Youth Camp has its own magic man. Our care taker, Don Bartch, manages the camp ground and loves to drive large equipment.

Need it fixed? Don's your man. Need to know where something is? Ask Don. Need something made out of plastic? Yep, Don can do it.

Smiles and Hope on the Horizon

If there is one thing camp has produced in great abundance over the years it is smiles. Happiness is contagious at camp.

I remember years I longed for camp. I lasted through the agony of middle school just for a taste of camp. There were times when I knew I could make it because camp was on the horizon.

Sometimes happiness on the horizon draws one through that which is unbearable. Hope out ahead makes life worth living.

The hope that camp is coming is a metaphor of the hope we have in Heaven. Knowing what's coming, ultimately, makes what's coming between now adn then worth the effort.

Arise, My Love

Baptism is such a beautiful thing.

When one arises from the waters, it is a person rising from the dead. It is becoming one with Jesus. It is a new beginning.

I have seen tons of baptisms in Mirror Lake. Every single one of them is beautiful, special, unique.

Anyone out there got a Mirror Lake baptism story?

Summer Beauty in December

Children Matter

At Flaming Pine Youth Camp, children matter. It is the reason for the very existence for camp.

Children add to the beauty of the world. Their innocence, their sense of wonder, their unawareness to how horrible this world can be is what brings grown ups hope when we look at them.

We are to become like childen. Though we become initiated into sin, and darkness, and doubt, we can reclaim, or at least get a small hint into that childness.

We must strive to be like children as we grow older.

All Camp Reunion

Flaming Pine Youth Camp
All- Camp Reunion
July 20-22, 2007

Join us for an unforgettable weekend! The first All - Camp Reunion is an opportunity to reconnect with people from around the country who have touched our lives through this “Northern Woods” location. There will be something for everyone; including singing, fellowship, campfire time, “skit” night and time to reconnect with friends and family.

As camp continues its 31 year of traditions, please take this opportunity to relax, reminisce, and celebrate all the good things God has done through this unique setting!

Visit the camp web site for more information!
www.fpyc.org

Friends are Friends Forever

Capturing the Old Lodge

Lisa Ford has created this wonderful blanket. Most are sold, but some remain. I believe they are now at camp. If you want one, you'd better hustle and make a contact to Don or Becky in order to get one or contact Lisa Ford.

LeRoy adn Lisa are modeling this wondeful work. They are also representing a multigenerational connection that is more than a symbolic pose - it shows that much is shared between generations.

The multigenerational aspect of family camp is wonderful. Although I personally believe that we cpould do even better at intergenerational contect at family camp, it is good how it is done right now.

Tradition

In this postmodern generation it might seem like all of the moorings have come loose and we are floating freely into who knows where?

Now, as one who is friendly to postmodern philosphy, I am not afraid of change. I like it. At the same time, losing a sense of history is a serious mistake. We must not neglect the past as we venture into the future.

This is what I love about FPYC. As we go forward, we look back as well. There are signs of the past all over camp, and yet there are signs of progress as well.

One of the best ways to connect to the past is to maintain traditions. There are some great traditions at camp. The hike, crazy campfire, appreciation dinner, skit night, morning devo etc. These things connect us to the past, keep us grounded as we live in a world the seems to be coming undone.

What is your favorite camp tradition?

Camp Is Conversation

If there is one great thing about being with camp people it is the conversations that happen. Now, certainly camp is nature and fun and getting away, and of course it is freedom from the technology that so binds us (like right now). Yes, it's all that, but what would camp be without the conversations?

Think about the best conversation you have ever had at camp. Maybe the conversation occurred while gazing at stars or the Northern Lights. Could be it happened on the hike, trying to pass the time. Maybe you went deep during a Bible class. Lots of conversations happen at meals or during late night games.

Camp, my friends, is conversations.

Camp Dinner

Here's LeRoy, taking joy in the annual camp dinner and auction. From one generation to the next generation, the joys of camp are recalled, reaffirmed, are retold as this late Fall tradition
has come to us once again.

I have word that over $11,000 were raised from donations made during this exciting annual event. The food was great, the auctioneer was hilarious as usual, and the people were generous.

Now we look forward to the holidays, to Snow Days, and then to something very special this summer. There will be an all camp reunion. More to come on this event.

The Legend of Grizzly Ogren

If you are familiar with Flaming Pine Youth Camp, the you know Al Ogren. He was instrumental in founding the camp back in the 1970's along with some other visionaries. What many people do not know is that Al has a twin. Yes, it is true. Here is a picture recently released from the super secret Flaming Pine vault. It looks like Al Ogren playng guitar. It is not.

Folks, this is one of only three known pictures of Grizzly Ogren. Grizzly, Al's twin, filled in for Al one year while Al had some emergency duties as a school principal he had to attend to over the summer. Back in those days there were not a pool of camp directors from which to choose like we have today, so Al had to call on his competent, yet reluctant brother, Grizzly.

Before they could come to an agreemnt, there was a debtate betwee Al and Grizzly. Al asked Grizzly to shave his beard and thin out his hair. Al figured that since they were twins, no one would even know Al was gone. Grizzly, being the more principled of the two (though he himself was not a principal), refused. "If I am going to direct camp," said Grizzly, "I am going to direct it as Grizzly, not my little brother." Grizzly did precede Al in birth by a mere 13 seconds, but just enough to give him big brother status. Al, sometimes a little embarrassed at his brother for all of his facial hair and eating habits John the Baptist, was afraid that the camp might crumlbe under Grizzly's leadership, but Al was in a bind, so he gave in and let Grizzly direct as Grizzly.

The family camp session in which Grizzly Ogren directed was wonderful. There were actually some people who did not believe Grizzly was Al's twin, but was Al playing a joke one everyone. In fact, to this day many will deny the existence of Grizzly Ogren. Those of usmwho were there, those of us who know - we believe.

If anyone remembers Grizzly Ogren, feel free to comment.

Camp Dinner in Paris

The annual camp dinner is round the corner. Saturday, to be exact. It is also an auction. Bring your fat wallet adn get ready to bid, bid, bid.

Word on the street is that the dinner will include this tasty dish, Chicken Cordon Bleu. The theme will be Paris. This gourmet dinner will get you in the buying mood.

I'll be taking pictures at the dinner for the blog.

At the name of Jesus...

At the name of Jesus, every tree will bow.

OK, that was a little twist on scripture. These trees are fallen giants near the assembly of the giants near Thistle Dew Lake on the hike. These enormous trees are amazing. I recall first seeing these trees as a child. I was awestruck. I remember looking up and wondering what it would be like to be up that high.

And then one time at teen camp, we did the night hike. We left at dusk with our flashlights and water canteens - and faith in our leader. When we arrived at the assembly of the giants, we made a campfire and had a devotional. It was one of those beautiful experiences. Exciting, moving, and a little dangerous. Well, it probably wasn't all that dangerous, but it did feel that way.

When the devo was over, we put out the fire, but hung around a while. As the fire went out, the darkness of the night closed in. Then someone got the idea to shoot the beam of their flashlight up into the giant trees. Then everyone with a flashlight did the same. The beams of light shooting up through the lingering campfire smoke into the trees was beautiful. Somehow, it took us.

Sometimes when God wants to be a God of wonders, it's next to impossible to resist.

I thank God for wonders.

Tuggy: The New Log

Back in the day, there was no Tuggy in the lake. Tuggy, in case you didn't know, is pictured here and is the joy of young children at FPYC swim periods. It's really fun to watch a bunch of kids riding on this sinking ship into the 3 foot depths of the swimming area.

Sometimes they make their way near the water basketball court, and then it gets really interesting. SPLASH! Someone goes down. And there is Tuggy, half submerged.

When camp first got going, back before Al Gore invented the internet, there was no Tuggy. There was in its place a floating log. It resembled the kind of log lumberjacks might compete on in a log rolling event. Untold fun was to be had on the log. The log made swimming so much fun, especially for young children who were not able to swim way out to the raft.

It was way back in thoses days. Look at this picture of Tuggy here and notice the tree helf submerged in the water. Back then that tree was alive and merely leaning over the water, not touching it. "No climbing on the tree," was the mantra. And there was always climbing on the tree.

Anyone else have memories of the log?

Lodge moves Right Along

Wow, what a wonderful sight. The lodge is moving right a long. The new Lodge is going to be a a great addition to the camp.

I am getting pretty excited about this new lodge.

And hey, if you are remembering your great camp experience and want to connect with camp people and yuk it up some more, then the annual capm dinner and auction is coming up and it is a great time to rejuvinate your spirit.

Let's all go to the camp dinner and auction and have a great time. As has been the tradition for the past several years, the dinner is a themed event. The theme this year is Paris. You are going to love it.

The Lodge is Coming

The lodge is coming. Well, the old one is going and the new one is on the way.

Thanks to Dale Ogren for this photo.