Retreat Season Underway

The retreat season has gotten off to a wonderful start with Cabin John Chinese American UMC visiting over Labor Day weekend. They were followed by Mclean Presbyterian Church who used camp as a staging point for doing mission work in the area. Both of those groups were coming to Manidokan for the first time. We hope to see them in the future. Limited space still remains for your group to experience Manidokan yet this fall. Contact the camping office for availability at 800-922-6795.

School has just started, but at camp planning is already underway for next summer. Summer 2008 at Manidokan promises to have exciting new camp opportunities for campers of all ages. Some of the ideas being kicked around include: girls only and boys only 3/4 and 5/6 adventure camps, Wet and Wild camp involving all things water, Appalachian Trail hiking, Treasure Hunting camp, Late Night Adventure camp, Eco-camp, A girls empowerment camp, Christian Friendship camp for those with special needs, and many many more! Be sure to check back here to find out what camps make the cut and ways you can get involved.

If you would like to get involved with Manidokan on a volunteer or financial basis please contact the camp we can talk about options for you. Thank you and God bless.

Chris Schlieckert
Director

Summer's End

The summer camping season officially ends today. It has been an amazing summer at Manidokan, one full of transition, of laughter and tears, with many challenges and praises. Summer camp gives us the unique opportunity to work with kids for an entire week with no distractions from the secular and material world in which we live. No other experience is quite the same. As a result, with the last campers leaving and the remaining summer staff packing, the most conflicting combination of emotions overwhelms me. On one hand, after 12 weeks of non-stop work, a slower pace is welcomed and needed. On the other hand, camp will soon be eerily quiet and it will be 9 long months before the energy and excitement of summer returns. I want to thank everyone who helped make this summer such a success: volunteers, staff, campers, and parents. I hope to see you at Manidokan next summer, if not before!

Manidokan Rap

One of our senior high campers wrote and performed this rap about camp at last night's talent show.

M-A-N-I-D-O-K-A-N
Mani-Mani-Mani-Dokan

Together we practice being grateful, hope and love
Praying to God in the heavens above
Away from the city I know God is with me.
I have peace to share, the woods I can bare.
Cause my God, my Lord and Savior mine
Doesn’t give me the spirit of fear
But of love and of joy and of sound mind
So I kick back relax, unroll my sleeping bag
I know that he is there, and I am in His care
Wit’ out Him I wouldn’t be here
Jesus, Hosanna, Jehovah, God
Holy Spirit – Great Spirit
King of all Kings
Maker of all things
The bugs and the deer and the trees
The air we breath
At Manidokan we laugh, play, mess up
Do good deeds and all thanks and praise go to the King!

M-A-N-I-D-O-K-A-N
Mani-Mani-Mani-Dokan

By Diamond Powell

Thank you Diamond for using your talents to glorify God. If anyone else out there has a literary or artistic work that is about camp or inspired by camp please contact Manidokan so we can share it on the blog.

Open Year-Round!

Many of you have had the joy of spending beautiful summer days at Manidokan, but have not expereinced camp during the retreat season. The beauty of God's creation is evident at Manidokan all year and we invite you to visit Manidokan for a retreat, meeting, sabbatical, family reunion, wedding, or other special occasion. Please consider us when planning your next event. We will work with you to meet your group's needs and expectations. For information please contact the camp at 301-834-7244 and to book a retreat call the camping office at 800-922-6795.

Camp Photo Gallery!

Manidokan now has an online photo gallery at http://picasaweb.google.com/CampManidokan check it out for cool pictures from camp. Who knows, you may even see yourself.

There's Still Time

It’s not too late to be a part of this summer at Manidokan. We still have space for campers throughout August. If you would like to experience all Manidokan has to offer please visit www.bwcumc.org/camping to register for and adventure or specialty camp. Too old to go to camp? Never! We also have some camps that are still looking for more volunteers to serve as counselors for a week. Please contact Manidokan if you are interested in using your abilities at camp.

Welcome!

You have just found your way to, or stumbled upon, the brand new Camp Manidokan blog. The intent of this blog is to keep you connected to camp throughout the year. I plan to include stories and pictures from camp and let you know about upcoming events. This will also be a place where you can check out what needs the camp has and how you can help meet them.

God bless, and see you at camp!