The year of 2016 was filled with many blessings and stories! If only we had time to tell them all. Thank you to those of you who have been following Camp’s story through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and/or Camp’s monthly e-newsletters. For those of you haven’t had the chance to follow us, the following story will help you get caught up.
Camp Lebanon’s Story of 2016 as Captured by Instagram:
The year began in the middle of winter, just as it does for everyone who lives in Minnesota. God didn’t hesitate to show off his beauty and splendor! We made it our aim to walk in His steps and follow His lead for the year.
It may have been cold, but that didn’t stop our photographer, Becky Boo, from smiling.
The kids at Mega Fun kicked off the year with style, overcoming extremely cold temperatures.
The weathered warmed just as ladies arrived at Camp for the Women’s Winter Warm Up Retreat. The year was still young and we were ready for s’more fun!
Arctic Blast was a smashing success.
The adventurous Arctic Blast high schoolers even jumped in the lake. Crazy!
And then the temps rose to uncharacteristically warm levels, to the point where broomball was played in 54 degree sunshine!!
As you know, ice isn’t sustainable with temps around 50 degrees…so, naturally, it disappeared.
All these weather extremes made for a perfect introduction into the spring quilt retreats, appropriately themed “Cloudy with a Chance of Manna.” One of the favorite phrases was “weather is an attitude.”
Meanwhile, the summer staff team was forming…
And Bill (“Bobber Bill”) & Lisa Abeler (“Woohoo Momma”) celebrated 30 years of ministry at Camp Lebanon! WOO-HOO!
The beavers celebrated the 30 year anniversary by adding on to their home. As you’ll soon see, we responded to that by creating a boardwalk trail to see their remodeling project up close and personal 🙂
The men from MN Adult & Teen Challenge – Brainerd blessed a record-setting size of Men’s Advance! attendees by sharing powerful testimony and song. “Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find!”
The Gould Brothers hit the target perfectly at Dads ‘N Lads (& Grandpas). Their marksmanship and ministry were inspiring.
And then moms, daughters, and grandmas filled the place!
The girls melted our hearts as always. Just look at this photo of the year candidate of these fourth generation Camp Lebanon campers.
The brand new Young Adult Retreat (YAR) launched and we dove all in!
Senior Day was an exceptionally special day! Not only was it a taste of heaven, it also marked the official dedication of Camp’s new building, the Eagle’s Nest. Praise God!
By this point, summer camp was only 15 days away!
That was a reason for getting excited, as was a great game of carpetball at Memorial Weekend Family Camp.
Staff training was on point and we made sure to emphasize the lifejacket rule…no exceptions!
One day until summer camp…the fun-loving, God-honoring staff is ready!
Turns out the kids were ready, too!
We had the “funnest fun” in so many ways. One kid favorite (and staff favorite) was a game where the campers ran around and the staff hosed them down.
Some campers just liked to hang out.
Pies flew. A fun memory verse tradition.
There was much splashing.
Buddy Check! Someone should really write a song about swimming buddies… 🙂
Bobber Bill was back at it, helping kids have the time of their lives through fishing.
Don’t tell Bobber Bill, but the fish aren’t hard to find or catch…
#SwimmingGrandma made the news, while surrounded by family and friends during the mid-summer Family Camp. Sandy is living out her favorite verse: “She did what she could” (Mark 14:8), raising $29,000+ so far for Camp Scholarships. In her words, she wants “kids to hear about my sweet Jesus.”
Phase 1 of the Beaver Point Boardwalk is complete! The next phase will extend to the end of the reeds and include observation stations.
The families at Labor Day brought the summer to a fantastic finish.
And then fall arrived…
Daughters savored time with their fathers at Dads N Daughters Retreat.
Fall Senior Day reminded us where our hope holds fast!
Men’s Retreat was perfect to a tee and definitely up to par.
Women “Connected” at two weekends of Women’s Retreat.
The flame was fanned at the first-ever Fall Fire Youth Retreat! Build it. Light it. Feel it. Feed it.
We took a quick break to take some new staff pictures since we’ve added a few teammates this year. Our staff has zero personality.
Hard to believe the docks were coming out already…
But we “leaf” fall behind to prepare for Camp to be taken over by quilters.
But first, the Trading Post got a facelift and our new Camp Lebanon Deneen mugs arrived!
The quilters enjoyed the royal treatment at Camp Lebanon this fall. Seriously, the best food of the year and a “Royal Tea” dinner theater, too! (thanks to the Theater for the Thirsty)
While quilt was going on at Camp, Monte and Rich were passing out newly invented “S’more Packs” at the FUEL Conference, hosted by the University of Northwestern – Saint Paul.
That was also the day winter decided to arrive…
Meanwhile at the December Quilt Retreat, moms, daughters, and grandmas stitched up some memories.
Nearing the end of the year, the staff team celebrated by holding their own event…a 50’s Christmas Diner. These two showed up…we still don’t know who they are!
Last but not least, the young adults celebrated Christmas together at the Icebreaker Retreat.
And here we are as December comes to a close. We are so thankful for everything 2016 held and all the Lord has done! Thank You God for a really great year!!
