News From The Crest

Saturday June 5, our summer staff moved into their new digs, formerly known as Eastview, and began their weeklong training by getting the property and facilities ready for campers who will be arriving next week. Because of the economy and other factors, the staff has been reduced from 75 to 54, with many responsibilities being shared. We are redesigning the program so that it will be done effectively with the current staff. We have been amazed by the quality and willingness of these women and men to be a part of a new thing and creating what may be the program for the next 40 years.

This past week, Bill Dodge, Director of Calvin Crest Outdoor Education, and Joel Gist, Assistant Director CCOE, spent 4 days in classes learning the ropes, if you will, of recreational tree climbing.
We will begin offering this new program early next year.

We are having to suffer under beautiful blue skies and delightful weather today. Another storm expected for tomorrow and a winter storm watch was just issued.

We count it all joy as we are thankful for the snow today, because tomorrow the streams will be running and then the canals and then the irrigation ditches and then the farmers can water their crops and the hard working people will be picking, packing, trucking, and selling produce to us in the markets.

What a great cycle…

This week brings another storm to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and could drop as much as 27 inches of new snow on Calvin Crest. Although we are delighted with the amount of much needed water this will bring we are still concerned with our office which had some problem holding the weight of the 42 inches of snow from the previous storm.

The damages range from minor to significant to the ropes course, some cabins in Mt. View, Eastview, and Westview, bathrooms, and the office will cause some to be repaired and others to be demolished. We are in the process with our insurance company to make the repairs so that there will not be any inconvenience to our guest groups or to the summer program.

Many things are beginning to point that summer is near: Cleaning up winter snow damage, registrations coming up, camps filling up, curriculum writing is finishing up, t-shirts being designed and ordered, application process for staff wrapping up (Staff Selections will take place February 27), and we begin the Season of Lent. This is a marvelous time to hear the Word from the Spirit of God and watch our hearts ripen from the Love of Jesus Christ. We are truly excited to see the summer of Faith 2010.

Next week, Tony travels to the Great Northwest, primarily Seattle and Spokane, Washington to recruit and interview prospect summer staff members. The process will end at the end of February with selections being made by February 27. If you are still interested in applying, go here: