The wind chimes around my house and camp office continue to ring with the gentle autumn winds. The cooler temperature and relatively recent rains have encouraged the fall growing season including fall flowering. Temperature changes, aging nectar, and the earth’s tilting axis all play a role in migration patterns within wildlife. This year, the butterfly…
I was privileged to join a mid-week, online gathering to discuss Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s presentation on the “Dangers of a Single Story.” Adichie is a female, Nigerian author who encourages people to see beyond single stories or narratives of individuals or groups so that we do not misunderstand or relegate them to a narrow existence. The days that followed the Ted Talk…
This has been a summer to remember! Looking back to the beginning of summer, I had many sleepless nights on whether offering summer camps was the right decision for our children and youth and their families. With so many questions and unknown variables, the amount of research was immense and changed daily. Camps across the country were shutting down for a variety…
Having a two-year full of energy is a joy. Discovering the world again through his eyes has been a blessing, but more importantly, it has helped me renew my awareness of the wonderful world of creation. From lizards and butterflies to fossils and shooting stars, the universe is alive and moving. The fingerprints of God are limitless. Before Benjamin came into our…
It is surreal to walk on the property at Slumber Falls Camp. With our staff working remotely and groups following recommendations to stay home and slow the spread of the coronavirus, the camp has entered a period of rest and restoration. The grass is growing and the wildflowers and cacti are blooming. We have shut down many of the non-essential buildings that…
I think Jimmy Buffet has the right idea when it comes to living in terms of being happy. His song An Attitude of Gratitude repeatedly talks about how being grateful changes our perception and outlook on life. Two verses are “An attitude of gratitude, Hooray for what’s okay, Say thank you with emphatitude, And it’s a brand new day. An attitude of…
For me, the start of a new year brings about excitement, hope, and possibilities. It is also a time of reflection on what I achieved last year and my trajectory based on the last few years. The new year serves as a touchstone to gather my thoughts, dreams, and set goals for the upcoming year. While some of these goals are school…
A few weeks ago, I was able to attend a Board Game Conference designed to bring gamers together to play games, meet board game vendors, and learn about the hottest new games on the market or soon to be on the market. I have appreciated the gaming community in their humility and acceptance of diversity and differences. While the stereotypes persist of…
I am sitting in the airport in Ashville, North Carolina after attending The Great Gathering, which is the first ecumenical gathering of outdoor ministry professionals from across the United States and Canada. My head is spinning with the myriad of possibilities of how Slumber Falls Camp can continue to improve the programs, amenities/facilities, and most importantly the impacts of our relationships in…
I did it again. I was so busy getting things checked off my list before vacation, that I started to cut corners and skip steps and practices that help me be more effective. Eric and I are finally taking a vacation this year and decided to reconnect with nature. Yes, I know that we live at a campground with nature around us,…