Sunday, August 19, 2007

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!

Friday, August 10, 2007

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.

Friday, August 3, 2007

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.