August 2020 Newsletter

Aug 1, 2020 | 2020, Newsletters

Pictured: Camp For Families join together for worship just outside the Chapel

CAMP FOR FAMILIES

For many years, Family Camp at RMMC has offered a space to engage in community and retreat for families from a variety of places. This year in response to COVID-19, camp was determined to offer the opportunity while meeting Colorado State and CDC guidelines. Some of these guidelines included masks worn at all times in communal areas, family units maintaining six-foot distance, non-physical contact games, disinfecting facilities three times daily, and holding worship outdoors or at a safe distance indoors. Along with the structural changes to Family Camp, the title this year to “Camp for Families” to reflect the difference of what has been done in the past from the new changes for this year. The main goal for Camp for Families this year was to offer the camp experience of retreat and community for individual families working through the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

Given the circumstances, twenty-five individuals (five families) attended Camp for Families I and twenty-eight individuals (six families) attended Camp for Families II. Although camp looked different then it has in previous years, activities such as hikes, rock climbing and rappelling, arts and crafts, frisbee golf, the boat race, and family group games were able to be offered with some amendments. The Rheinheimer family (Don, Jan, Ben, Julie, Kate, and Hannah) provided daily worship resources that were used for both weeks of Camp for Families and included scripture, meditations, hands-on activities, and a closing prayer. Worship was held in a variety of places outdoors and indoors. Gathering outdoors for worship allowed us to sing at a safe distance with masks on.

As a staff, it was refreshing to have families bring energy to camp during this unusual summer and efforts to keep each other safe while engaging in this community. We also equally appreciate the enthusiasm for this place with messages of support, financial gifts, online engagement, and prayers as a way to support this place in the absence of physical presence. Camp could not be what it is without all aspects of support. 

Please join us for our “Paying the Legacy Forward” campaign to help Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp weather this coronavirus storm.

DONATE

Pictured: Camp For Families hiking group on their way to Pinnacle

Camp for families quotes:

  • “Appreciate the attention to precautions for COVID-19. Felt safe and appreciated all the planning and work that went into it.”
  • “Thank you for having camp despite all the complications due to COVID”
  • “Being able to spend good quantity and quality time with family in a beautiful outdoor camp setting. Also, great staff – patient, kind, joyful.”
  • “The overall feeling – everything from the people to the facilities to the scenery”
  • “The food was very good. I enjoyed the food and I always looked forward to it.”
  • I enjoyed singing with everyone. It was 
  • “Unplugging from a crazy world”
  • “Thank you to everyone who made us feel welcomed. We look forward to returning and continuing to build new friendships.”
  • Things appreciated? “The food! Was so thankful not to have to worry about meals.”

Pictured: Members of the Huber family work together on their tie-dye projects during Camp For Families week

Staff/Summer Staff 2020

Rocky Mountain has been blessed by wonderful summer staff through the years and this year was no exception. The staff were prepared and ready to go up until the day the State officially closed overnight youth camps for the month of June. Despite the disappointment by all to not have resident and wilderness youth camps this summer, camp was blessed to have the summer staff stay on with the help of the paycheck protection program (PPP) requiring the same number of employees as the previous year.

Despite the impacts of the coronavirus “storm”, staff and summer staff carried the ministry forward by creating care packages for campers in exchange for moving registration deposits to next year and/or making a donation. Additionally, videos of camp activities (i.e. hikes, games, crafts, duck race, “The Clyde Mystery” etc.) and live stream worships were offered online. Camp For Families offered a two week chance to provide and join in a good week experience for all who came. 

Behind the scenes of a very unusual summer, presented opportunities to work on camp projects and to facilitate new program activities offered including but not limited to:

  • Livestream technology/logistics
  • Staff participating in video productions
  • Eiger Bathhouse painting
  • Quonset (Rustic Cabins) floor painting
  • Quonset (Rustic Cabins) new curtain rod & curtain installation
  • Emmental painting
  • Park Ridge cabin floors and “Onley” (outdoor privy)
  • Increased cleaning & disinfecting for housekeeping
  • New protocols for Camp For Families
  • Abundance of guest group cancellations / new reservations
  • Directors Residence painting
  • New serving method for foodservice
  • Ballcourt lines for foursquare & basketball
  • Challenge course improvements
  • Porch swing circle constructed
  • Edelweiss interior renovation complete

Pictured: 2020 Summer Staff (from left to right, front to back):

Kat Amstutz (Indianapolis, IN);
Emma Zuercher (Apple Creek, OH);
Maddie Alderman (Alma, KS);

Jenae Stutzman (Centennial, CO);
Emma Graber (Divide, CO);
Elaina Youngberg (Goshen, IN);
Anna Wiens (North Newton, KS);

Trevor Stutzman (Centennial, CO);
Axel Brown (Goshen, IN);
Lindsey White (Broadway, VA);
Samuel Stoner-Eby (Lititz PA);

Jenelle Roynon (Divide, CO);
Mary Yoder (Divide, CO);
Hannah Schrag (Kansas City, MO);
Anna Osborne (North Manchester, IN);

Andrew Graber (Divide, CO);
Natalie Graber (Divide, CO);
Martin Gerig (Mishawaka, IN);
Ethan Spicher (Colorado Springs, CO);

Diego Torres (Goshen, IN);
Mandy Koch (Green Mountain Falls, CO);
Ana Fiz (Denver, CO);
Caleb Gingerich (Kalona, IA);

Corbin Graber (Divide, CO);
Caleb Bay (Fort Collins, CO);
David Hiebert (Hillsboro, KS);
Tom Unruh (Woodland Park, CO);

Not Pictured: Natalie Graber (Wellman, IA);
Sam Reichley (Sumney Town, PA)

Pictured: Ed Shirk and Sam Reichley replaced the steps in front of Chickadee on the path to Edelweiss that now cover the new septic line that made it possible to add a 1/2 bathroom as part of the Edelweiss renovation.

who’s been helping

Thank you to the volunteers who we could allow to come given the coronavirus restrictions for the month of July 

  • Hillcrest Academy Cross County Tearm (Coach Marty Gingerich)
  • Cindy Headings
  • Ed Shirk
  • Bill Unruh

 

Come volunteer

RMMC relies a lot on the help of volunteers to keep the ministry going. Your help with any of camp tasks would be greatly appreciated! If you have interest in volunteering, call (719-687-9506) or email ([email protected]) RMMC. Given the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, we may or may not be able to accommodate specific requests.

 

    • Long term volunteer: help in Food Service, Maintenance, and Housekeeping. Service term can be for up to a year if so desired.
Volunteer Sign-Up

You’ve been spotted

We spotted Ethan Spicher and Andrew Graber in the kitchen with a pan of pizza as they cover for Mary while away for a week. No strangers to the job, Andrew and Ethan have experience working in the kitchen for over 5 summers in serving campers, guests and staff.

Share your “spotted” photo with us. Email it to [email protected].

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Please visit our MAKE A RESERVATION page which lists the dates of available nights for ridge cabin accommodations. Please call to verify availability.

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