Moose Tracks Blog
Be sure to check in here regularly between July 11th and August 8th for camp updates every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday!
August 6th, 2010: The Last Day of Camp
I can hardly believe I’m writing this, but the last day of camp is here! Our sadness that camp has to end is mixed with excitement because of the nature of its finale: Today the entire camp is white water rafting! Conditions are perfect for a great run on the Kennebec River. The water is flowing at 5,000 cubic feet per second. For a reference point, imagine 5,000 basketballs bouncing by in one second. That is the kind of power that propels our rafts down the river.
By now, our able MRO boat crews have arrived at their lunch site and are probably still laughing/panting from their paddle through the upper Kennebec gorge. The upper gorge features two class two rapids, 5 class threes, and one class four in the space of less than 3 miles. Suffice it to say, it’s a great ride. Our skilled guides look forward to this day almost as much as the campers, and everyone’s enthusiasm was evident this morning before they embarked.
Once the group has returned from the water, even more great times await. Tonight, our closing camp ceremonies will begin with a banquet dinner and will continue on to include an awards ceremony and several side-splitting skits. After all of that is finished and the MRO skies once again fill with stars, we’ll pack our bags, say our goodbyes and get ready for bed.
The campers at MRO this session have been the most enthusiastic group I can ever recall hosting. Their joy was contagious, and I have no doubt that our memories of camp will still be making us smile long after fall and winter have replaced summer. Thank you everyone who has been keeping Moose River Outpost and our campers in your prayers this summer. Your prayers have been felt, and God’s Spirit has done a great work here again this summer. Remember to keep checking in on the Moose Tracks Blog for news throughout the rest of the year and for the occasional sneak peak at what summer 2011 will bring.
August 3rd, 2010: Perfect Weather; Even the Rain
Camp was blanketed by a timely rainstorm last night. Within minutes of finishing our evening games, the sky opened up and provided a dramatic backdrop of raindrops audibly striking the rooftop of Moose Hall as we worshiped and did our evening Bible study together. The rain was much needed. In fact, this past month has been the driest July here in Jackman since 1970.
Just as conveniently as it arrived, the rain has now moved on. We woke up this morning to a misty lake and soggy ground – a wet morning, but another beautiful day for camp activities. Even as I write, the lake is again active with kayaks out paddling, wakeboarders carving through the still water, and a group of campers fishing near the inlet.
We are at the point in the session now when all of our hike groups begin returning and, one by one, each set of campers returns to home base for their final days at camp. Today WILD 1 comes off the trail for the last time. They have canoed through white water and high winds, they have backpacked along that Appalachian Trail, and they have camped all around the area on their way. Tonight they return, tired but satisfied, to their base camp. We eagerly await their arrival and will greet them with lots of hot food – their first indoor meal in well over a week. Tomorrow all the rest of our trips will return. WILD 2 will paddle in from Flagstaff Lake. They too have been on the trail for over a week now.
Saco and Narraguagas will be returning tomorrow as well. Saco will be fresh off a trip around the Moose River Bow and will have had their first experience of white water during their 3-day journey. The ladies of Narraguagas will be coming back from the Bigelow mountain range and will no doubt be toting heavy packs and light hearts after their trip. The views from the Bigelow mountains are spectacular and feature views so far north as to reach into Canada and so far south as to reach into the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
By Wednesday night, all of our campers will be with us here in base camp. It’s amazing to think that by that time only our white water rafting trip will remain. In the mean time, there is so much more to experience right here in camp. We are all looking forward to the myriad activities still on the schedule. Beach night is still ahead, as well as the return of our annual “Polish Ping-Pong” tournament. Not all of our activities will be in the evening either. Thursday morning, we will all don our flannel and long underwear for a hearty, outdoor Lumberjack Breakfast! There is lots to do here at MRO, just like always.
A beautiful day on camp beckons, so this blogger has to get out from behind his desk and into the saddle of a mountain bike to lead a quick, on-site ride. Camp is going great, and nothing but 5 days of fun stands between us and our return trips home on Saturday.
August 1st, 2010: Guest Blogger, Mark Connor
This Sunday, Mark Connor, our camp program director, took the wheel of the blog and shared about camp from his perspective. Mark is a 3rd year staff member and is an Resident Assistant at Gordon College.
Hello from Moose River! My name is Mark “Cuatro” Connor and I am serving as the head counselor and program director. This summer has been awesome so far and it seems crazy to think that we only have a little over a week left of camp.
Camp has been busy with all sorts of activities. The Penobscot cabin just returned from their Sally Mountain trip and had a blast. The rest of the camp was busy playing a new game called Wells Fargo and enjoying Cabin Night with their respective cabins. Last night was the infamous Mission Impossible and I know that I’m thankful that today was Lazy-Day Sunday to catch up on some much needed sleep and time with our Lord.
Tonight’s evening activity is split between boys and girls. The girls will be spending time in our beloved coffee shop eating the coveted flatbread wraps, which are prepared by our very own Linn Bond. The girls will also be doing a “spa” night where they will be treated to a massage from a real massage therapist as well as manicures and pedicures. I know that the ladies of camp will certainly enjoy their time tonight.
The men of the camp will be participating in what we call “Man Night.” They will be grilling their own steaks over a fire pit, playing greased watermelon football and enjoying fellowship with all of the men on camp. This all takes place over at the WILD beach while both WILD groups are out on their trips.
WILD II just finished up their apprenticeship week and I know that all of the WILD guys and girls thoroughly enjoyed being on this side of the lake. They built a ton of great relationships with the campers and were a huge help around camp. WILD II recently went out on their Bigelow trip that consists of breath-taking views and lots of great flat water paddling. WILD I is working on their big trip too. They finished up paddling from Jackman to Moosehead Lake by way of the Moose River. After paddling across Moosehead and doing their solos, they jumped onto the Appalachian Trail to hike through the last part of their trip.
Back at camp, we still have tons of great activities planned that I’m sure will be filled with memories and fun. We have one more week of camp and the entire staff will be trying to make it the best week of the summer.
July 29th, 2010: Summer Bible Study Series - The Long Walk
In our summer Bible study series here at Moose River Outpost, we have been studying the story of Moses and the Israelites as they walked through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. The story describes hardships, victories, tragic losses, and triumphant moments of joy. In so many ways, it is like our own long walk as followers of Christ. At times, everything is clear and following God is easy – almost as if we were following a pillar of cloud or of fire. At other times, things are not so clear, and God feels distant, as if he were away on a mountaintop somewhere. The objective of this Bible study is to prepare for both of those times, and for every time in between. A relationship with God is not just a momentary decision, but rather a long walk – wherein each step confirms that we trust the one we are following.
Tonight the boys from Penobscot will be doing some walking of their own, as they hike Sally Mountain. The view from the top of Sally affords a perfect perspective for staring west and watching as the sun dips below the ridgeline in the distance. We hope that amidst all of the action; and, indeed, because of some of the adventures, that each of our campers is able to learn something about themselves or about their relationship with God while they are here at camp. Perhaps it will be the result of our Bible study, or perhaps it will just be the lasting impact of a summer spent beneath a canopy of stars and surrounded by a chorus of shady trees and towering mountains.
MRO is a place for fun, but it’s also a place to learn and grow. I am pleased to report that all of these things are happening for our campers this session – one step at a time.
July 27th, 2010: Session Two is Under Way!
It’s Tuesday of session two, and again the weather is absolutely gorgeous. Even without all the amazing games, thrilling activities, and budding friendships of a new session, the bright full moon glistening off the lake last night would have been enough to create a memory all on its own. Today is no different. The sky is bright blue, the lake is still, and the mountain looks resplendent in the unaltered sunlight.
The Kennebec cabin has already led the way with trips this session by kicking off their trip on the Appalachian Trail today. Each of them learned how to pack a backpack last night, and applied those skills today when they hit the trail. With the clear sky mentioned above and a slight coolness in the air today, they couldn’t ask for better hiking weather.
There is another way in which this week is special: Its apprenticeship week for WILD 2! Its exciting for them because they get to spend the week applying the leadership principles they’ve been learning. It’s exciting for everyone in main camp because of the energy and joy they bring to everything they do. They are a welcome addition to an already exuberant group of campers.
Meanwhile WILD 1 is climbing on Mount Kineo. The rock trip is the finale of their week-long canoe trip. They will now climb, get fresh supplies, and trade out their canoes for backpacks as they prepare for their trip in the Bigelow mountains. What began as a group of novice paddlers who struggled to keep a canoe straight even in flat water has transitioned into a group of seasoned veterans who are not phased by white water, tight turns, or loaded boats. They have learned quickly, and we are proud of their growth.
Tonight’s events in main camp will be a double feature: First we will be playing Trench Dodge Ball (for a description of Trench Dodge Ball, see my earlier post, dated July 13th). Once the sun goes down though, we will be playing Dark Side Ultimate Frisbee. Every camper will don glowing wrist bands, we will line the field with torches, and we will toss around a Frisbee laced with LED lights. Its quite a sight, and is always a camper favorite among our games.
The session is in full swing, and it is such a joy to see the campers enjoying the place. MRO is a place that is meant to be full of action, and today it is fulfilling its purpose.
July 22nd, 2010: The Final Days of Session 1
Even as I write, preparations are being made for one of our most memorable games: Mission Impossible. It is well after dark, and our staff have quietly gone over the entire camp lawn and marked every tree, every rock, every stump, and every building with glow sticks. The property is dark, but outlined in all different neon colors. Shortly, campers will come down from the cabins and take on the challenge of sneaking across camp without being “tagged” by a counselor with a flashlight. The game is simple, but exhilarating, and it has been a camp favorite for years.
As if that were not enough, we have even more to look forward to. Tomorrow brings the arrival of raft day – when all of main camp hits the Kennebec River together for a day of white water! Upon return, we will hold our normal camp closing ceremonies, but with a special twist. The Christian band, Unspoken will be playing for us tomorrow night. Suffice it to say, the next 24 hours are packed with amazing events.
WILD will be joining main camp for the Unspoken concert tomorrow night, but WILD I and WILD II will be headed in two different directions after that. WILD II will be beginning their apprenticeship week on Sunday and will be working alongside MRO staff members in main camp to put the principles of servant leadership into practice. WILD I will be taking to the river for their week-long canoe trip. They have trained extensively in white water, and now its time for their trip. The dry-bags are packed, the maps are marked, and the vans are ready.
July 20th, 2010: Warm Weather Continues at MRO!
We are now almost midway through our second week in camp. WILD II has now returned with amazing pictures and incredible stories from their sea kayaking trip. They now know how to read charts, use compasses, paddle in ocean currents, and camp on ocean islands.
WILD I is brushing up on their whitewater canoeing skills one last time before they embark on Saturday for a week long canoe trip. They will be rock climbing this week as well.
Here in main camp, everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather. No one on staff can recall a time in the last three years when we had weather this consistently warm here at camp. Gone are the days of arriving at 7:30 staff meeting wearing fleeces and wool caps.
Instead, campers are constantly in the water. The diving board has been a popular new addition to the waterfront this year. Similarly, the boat has hardly ever stopped pulling campers since the day camp began.
Tomorrow we anticipate the happy return of our last two hike groups of the session. Narraguagas and Saco are finishing up their trip on the Moose River Bow. Once they return we will all be together again with only one trip remaining: Our white water rafting trip on the Kennebec River!
July 18th, 2010: Week 1 is in the Books!
It’s hard to believe, but Sunday is here and the first week of camp is finished! Camp has already sent out 3 trips this session! The campers from Kennebec have returned from a successful canoe trip on beautiful Lobster Lake. The girls from Androscoggin went on a canoe trip and hiked up to watch the sunset from the top of Attean Mountain. Meanwhile, the Penobscott boys set out to conquer a section of the Appalachian trail. They did so, and returned dirty, happy, and proud of what they had accomplished. Next week the boys from Saco and the girls from Narraguagas will hit the trail to develop stories of their own.
With a full week of camp under their belts our campers are learning lots of new skills in their instructional areas. Some of begun learning how to Eskimo roll a kayak. Others have learned to climb and belay for the first time at the climbing wall. Still others have had the thrill of getting up behind the boat on skis for the first time.
The WILD program continues to be both challenging and exciting. The campers from WILD 1 are beginning their white water canoe training this week, while the campers from WILD 2 begin their costal sea kayaking trip. Wild 1 spent time last week serving the community of Jackman. They worked for a local church, and visited shut-ins at a local nursing home. Some of the boys from WILD were so greatly impacted by the experience that they returned to the nursing home another time by choice to check in on their new friends and to follow up on their first visit. Simply put, the seeds of servant leadership are taking root in the WILD program.
Tonight brings the return of our annual Polish Ping Pong Tournament. Each cabin fields a team: Some will show up in costume, others will simply put on their game faces for the event. The tournament features an official referee, two announcers, lots of popcorn “vendors,” and an atmosphere befitting any pro sports team. No word yet on whether the crowd will be equipped with Vuvuzelas to aid in their cheering (World Cup fans, you know what I am talking about here).
It’s amazing to think that a week has already passed. At the same time though, when we sum up everything we have done in the last 7 days, its equally amazing to think that we fit it all in. God has blessed us with beautiful weather, and we look forward to more great times in week 2.
July 13th, 2010: Trips Begin, and its GAME Time!