Retreat and Training Centers

��Ƶ Camps in Transition

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 14:18:45 +0000

March 26, 2019

��Ƶ Camps in Transition

For Immediate Release

(Madison, WI) – We are focused on reaching every corner of every campus in the U.S. by the year 2030. And we want those chapters to be communities that study Scripture and experience deep discipleship. ��Ƶ believes that getting off campus for special experiences like retreats, leadership training camps, and Global and Urban Programs are critical for students.

Over the past three years, ��Ƶ chapters brought students to 105 camps across the country. We believe we can increase the number of students who go to camps by removing barriers like long travel times and allowing chapters to use camps proximate to their campus.

As a result, over the next several years ��Ƶ will transition ownership of our three retreat and training centers: Cedar Campus in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Toah Nipi in New Hampshire, and Campus by the Sea on Catalina Island off the coast of California.

“Many of us on staff with ��Ƶ have stories about how God met us and grew our faith while at camp, so this is a difficult decision,” said ��Ƶ President Tom Lin. “But our value for camping ministry is as high as ever. We know the Lord uses time away at camp to powerfully transform students and whole chapters.”

Ninety-five percent of ��Ƶ chapters who do camping ministry currently use camps that are not owned by ��Ƶ, choosing camps that are more accessible to their campuses. For the chapters that have continued to use our camps, high travel times and costs have meant many students are simply unable to go, which has led to significant attendance declines in recent years at our camps.

��Ƶ has begun a process of seeking ministries willing to take over ownership of each camp, starting with Cedar Campus. Programming at all three camps will continue as scheduled for all of 2019. More information on the transition is posted in this Q&A.

Questions? Contact us.

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Camps

Retreat and Training Centers

Bible Study

Discipleship

CBS Damaged by Storms

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Sun, 04 Jan 2015 01:23:34 +0000

News

January 3, 2015

Gordon Govier

CBS Damaged by Storms

��Ƶ’s Campus by the Sea, on Catalina Island, suffered significant damage from high surf and wind as an extreme cold front brought unusually harsh weather across southern California at the end of 2014.

Half of the landing float, the swim float, and many boats had been pulled out of the water for annual maintenance during the off season. However, during the storm, the three remaining boats broke loose from their moorings and washed ashore. All were damaged and it appears as though two are damaged beyond repair.

Further damage to the pier is described on the CBS Facebook page. Photos of the damage have also been posted.

“Even with the severity of the storm the staff at camp did as much as possible to prevent damages and thank the Lord they are safe,” said CBS Camp Director Dave Noble. “We appreciate your concern and prayers, this event will cause a significant financial burden as we do clean up and repair.”

The first campers of 2015 will arrive at CBS on the last weekend in February. “We have a lot to accomplish between now and then,” Dave said. “We ask that you would also remember in prayer the community of Avalon as it also recovers from much damage and grief over the loss of two lives in Avalon Harbor.”

UPDATE: On January 9, 2014, another post was added to the CBS Facebook page, with video, along with a more detailed report on the CBS website.

UPDATE: February 9, 2014

An outpouring of concerned family and friends have offered to pray and do whatever they can to help. This has been so encouraging and uplifting to our spirits as we have been evaluating and planning how to move forward.

We have insurance coverage for some damages but not all. As we have told our story to companies and contractors that will be part of the repair process, they have been sympathetic to our situation. They have been willing to discount prices and in some cases donate time and materials.

Total of Insurance and Donations of Time/Materials - $233,142

The cost to repair the Pier and A-frame is not covered by insurance or time and material donations. We need to raise $180,858 to pay for these repairs. We are trusting the Lord for this funding. We must move forward in the process of ordering materials and scheduling workers to complete the repairs and be ready to serve our guests coming in February. We are committed to being open for our first group of the season on Feb. 27^th.

We need your help! Will you prayerfully consider how you can help us meet this financial challenge? You can donate now by going to our donate page.

News Keywords

Retreat and Training Centers

California

Chapter Camp Changes Lives

gordon.govier@intervarsity.org — Wed, 14 May 2014 16:12:51 +0000

News

May 14, 2014

Gordon Govier

Chapter Camp Changes Lives

May is the month when a whole year of campus ministry may finally bear fruit in the life of a student. The change often happens at chapter camp, a week away from distractions after classes end and final tests are completed.

Chapter camp is held at about 17 different locations around the country. Sometimes several regions converge on one camp, such as ��Ƶ’s historic Cedar Campus, on the shore of Lake Huron in Upper Michigan. More than 1800 students will stay at Cedar Campus and two overflow locations over a period of six weeks for what’s called Chapter Focus Week.

Toah Nipi, another ��Ƶ Retreat and Training Center in New Hampshire, is busy with chapter camps for students from New England schools for two weeks in May, and two additional weeks in August, before the start of the fall semester. A total of 340 students have registered.

Names for Chapter Camp

The New York/New Jersey region is sending 850 students to camp in upstate New York over a three week period this month. Chapter camp in New York/New Jersey is called Basilea, which means God’s Kingdom. Other regions also have unique names for chapter camp, such as Focus Week in Florida—held on the campus of Southeastern University—and Rec Week in the Red River Region of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas.

The three regions along the west coast divide up chapter camp type activities differently with less emphasis on the week at the end of the school year. One of the constants across the country though is intensive Bible study, typically an ��Ƶ-style in-depth, inductive investigation of the gospel of Mark called Mark Manuscript. A number of additional tracks are offered to help students grow in their spiritual development and leadership skills.

Five Change Perspectives

What do ��Ƶ staff observe in their students during chapter camp? Andy Liimatta, a Campus Staff Member at Northern Michigan University listed what he appreciates about Chapter Focus Week at Cedar Campus:

1. Although students now have smart phones, there are relatively few distractions: no outside jobs and no outside classes. So students are able to more freely practice spiritual disciplines (particularly in prayer and community).
2. The curriculum (tracks) centers around witnessing communities and the Four Loves, which is part of ��Ƶ’s Purpose Statement. I feel that no matter which track a student takes they will come away with more of an understanding and a passion for our mission on campus.
3. Through living arrangements, chapter prayer, and meal times, the students in a chapter spend a lot of quality time together.
4. Students see proper use of Scripture modeled. There is great exposition of Scripture passages by the speakers (expositors meet earlier in the spring to prepare together). A student in a track such as Mark’s Gospel or SGLT (Small Group Leadership Training) gets to practice Bible study skills. And each track intentionally uses Scripture and engaging teaching styles (not just lecture).
5. Chapters with a leadership team at chapter camp have a great opportunity to spend significant time together to think about the ��Ƶ vision for their campus, plan for the next year together, pray together for the campus and the chapter, and engage in other team building activities.

Last year more than seven thousand students attended an ��Ƶ camp, almost one fifth of all ��Ƶ students. ��Ƶ’s presence on campus is a key to our ministry, but time away from campus can also be life changing. Like commencement, another important May event, chapter camp opens the door to a new stage in life.

Southeast Region Chapter Camp 2014 slide show

News Keywords

Retreat and Training Centers

Chapter Camp

Retreat and Training Centers

������Ƶ Camps in Transition

������Ƶ Camps in Transition

Questions? Contact us.

CBS Damaged by Storms

CBS Damaged by Storms

Chapter Camp Changes Lives

Chapter Camp Changes Lives

Names for Chapter Camp

Five Change Perspectives

��Ƶ Camps in Transition

��Ƶ Camps in Transition