Open to Growth

Matt Salvatierra here, the camp director. I haven't gotten a chance to post yet because of the busyness of the first few days at camp. But I am hoping to share my thoughts here throughout the summer as much as I am able.

We have been having a fantastic summer so far up here. In my mind our biggest blessing has been good weather, which allows us to fill our days with lots of outdoor activities in this beautiful setting. So if you are one of the people who has been praying for good weather, please keep it up!

As Chris mentioned before, our first week at camp focuses around one of our "Grad at Grad" values - Open To Growth. It is the perfect theme to start our summer with. As the boys deal with the challenges of being away from home (sometimes for the first time), sleeping in cabins, learning how to swim, trying new foods, etc., they are challenged to show that they are open to growth and open to new ways of doing things. For a lot of the guys that come up here, camp is quite a change from life back in the city. And it is understandable that they would struggle.

But it is an amazing sight to see as the students (especially our "rookies") gradually begin to embrace this place. Here are just a few ways that our students have already been showing that they are open to growth:

1. After just three days in the swimming pool, almost every single one of our 6th graders can make it half way across the pool swimming freestyle.

2. The cabins have been cleaner each day we inspect them showing that the boys are getting better at neatly making their beds, folding their clothes, and sweeping the floor.

3. Most of the food at each table is getting finished, demonstrating that the boys are trying new foods (and sometimes struggling through eating foods that they don't like) .

4. Students are taking responsibility for this place. I have seen many students walk by a full trash can and, without being asked, take the trash bag out to the dumpster and put a new bag in. When I pull up to camp with 20 gallons of milk for meals, I have 10 campers lining up at the car to help me carry them in. And when the bell rings for a change of activity, I barely ever find toys or balls left out--they are almost always neatly put back where they belong.

5. Students are taking care of each other. As is to be expected, we have some guys that are homesick. But many times I have seen our camp veterans (the 7th and 8th graders) put their arm around them and assure them that they struggled too and it will be okay.

I am proud of the boys so far. Thank you all for continuing to post your comments on the website. It is great to know that you are reading!

And remember to click on the link on the side to see lots of photos of camp! We are trying to keep them as up to date as possible!