EYMC2016: August 2016

Monday, August 8, 2016

2016 Camp Photos

Circle of camp

Marissa was a camper in Juli's EYMC cabin in 2002.
They are co counselors in 2016.

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Decorating

Decorating for Friday's formal dinner.
Another example of excellent teamwork.

It looks like Alphabet (Google) discontinued Picasa while we were at camp so the Old Photos link on the right (for the desktop version of the site, may not be visible in the mobile version, click View web version) is not working correctly to get to the photo archive. The pictures have not been lost but it may take me a little while to figure out a better solution.

I am continuing to upload the photos of this camp session, links also at the right, but separated by day.

- J

Thanks

Thanks to our official photographer Lauren and for the submissions of photos from Alison, Jessica, Kathleen, Annie, Sydney, Jessica, and Maxine.

Lauren Elise Photography & Design
facebook.com/laurenelisephotographyanddesign

Sydney Foster Photography

flickr.com/photos/sudsbubblepop

sydneyfosterphoto.tumblr.com

facebook.com/sydneyfosterphotography

The Deans

A picture of the Deans late Saturday after everything was packed.

Performance ready

Here we see the Leadership Team in their tee shirt of the day.

Each represents a day of camp during the performance so that the audience gets to know what the day was about.

Ready for the performance

Cabin 2 wins White Sock!

Friday, August 5, 2016

Thoughts from Spencer

For most of the people in my life, I think a trip out to Minnesota to volunteer at a camp -- even a church camp -- likely seemed a bit out of left field. What's an unmistakable urbanite like you, Spencer, doing heading off from General Seminary in New York, into the woods to play in drum circles and sing around a campfire, being regularly eaten alive by mosquitos and whatever else lives out there?

Well, here's t`he thing: camp is great. Like, really great. Great in a way that is actually hard to explain -- which is something I've heard friends who were formed by their own camp experiences say for years, but I think I now understand what they meant.

For those of us who have been lucky enough in our lifetimes to experience real, deep community -- in whatever shape it may have taken when it found us -- we know that it is something that can scarcely be described, but rather tasted and seen. EYMC is like that. It is a place where God's boundless, unconditional love is proclaimed, and where joy and possibility in the Spirit permeate the air that you breathe. It is a place for both youth and adults, if only just for a week, to practice living in the world that we long for, and for which God longs for us.

At EYMC, through our music, through our stories, through our prayers, we are gifts to one another, to the glory of our Creator. I am grateful to have stumbled into the party.

-Spencer

Some pictures from Jess

Cabin 2's faith formation: discussing their worries, gratitudes, and creating prayers.

WI Badgers in the house! Counselors Marissa and Jess

Gorgeous morning at EYMC

Drama class designers!

Drama class designers!
Set, makeup, and stage ideas for Sussical the Musical

Saturday is almost here!

As the week is coming to an end, the pace of the schedule picks up!

There are more things to post and more pictures to convert and get on-line, but there are a lot of things to do now that take time away from sitting in front of the computer (after all, this is music camp!)

We will be posting and updating as time permits, even after camp has come to an end and everyone is back with friends and family doing other things.

(By the way, last night was a great night for sleeping! The combination of exhaustion and the cool dry air made for a very comfortable night.)

A note from Lexi G. from cabin 1

The week is almost over and we are ready to see our parents but also don't want to leave.

Lexi G.
Cabin 1

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Dancing Through Life

Dancing for the musical has been going so well! I'm having a blast working with Jennifer, Clark, Jessica and Nick, creating a musical that will challenge both the older and younger campers. At any point in time, during the day, I can see my older campers practicing my choreography and trying to pick up my "jig step." I'm so pleased with progress we are making and the fact that we have made 10th grade boys dance successfully!!!! :)

God's blessing to you all. I'm so proud to be on staff this year at EYMC.

Riley

Goats, Goats, Goats

On Wednesday, we went to see the goats. We got to feed and brush the goats, then we herded them over the field and played with them. We learned that goats are very smart. They are coordinated. They can walk on logs! They have great night vision because of their square tyes.

Goats are cool.

Agnes and Arna

Rain in and around cabin 3

Yes, it did rain last night.

About 4 in the morning the sky was lit up with flashes from distant lightning. The wind picked up and blew through the cabin and some things fell with a crash. After closing the front door and windows so the rain would stop coming in, the storm did its thing without bothering us. Most people didn't even notice, and if they did they went right back to sleep.

It was all done in time for chapel so we were able to have chapel at the stage as normal.

Now off to the rest of the day!

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Exploring Faith

During Exploring Faith campers wrote some prayers they can use when they feel frustrated.

Some of the campers wanted to share their prayers...

Points of Interest (aka PoI) at lunch just before the White Sock Awards were given.

[We don't use the word 'announcements' as that leads to singing the (long) Announcement Song... not a good thing when we are trying to move along]

The White Sock Award (three given yesterday) goes to the cabin(s) that are the cleanest and tidiest as judged by our official and well experienced judge.

It was a tough competition as everyone's cabins were in excellent condition. The judge had to consider the councilor's area as well in order to determine winners.

Things

Camp blog-hers

Creative writing blog style guided by Sarah.

Look forward to some entries written by campers when Sara gets a chance in her busy schedule to transcribe them.

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Cabin 1

Cabin 1 houses the youngest girls.

We are exited to be on the stage tonight to perform our skit.

Yesterday and today many of us started the day with yoga.

We were kept busy with our music and drama classes.

We had fun dressing up as 'something red' for dinner last night.

We are learning about ordinary people who God called (so far Moses and Samuel) and how we might respond to God's call in the world today.

Thanks for the emails and care packages sent by our loving families, friends, and church communities.

Senior Year at Music Camp by Anja Henne

My name is Anja Henne and this is my last year at camp as a camper. I've gone to Episcopal Youth Music Camp for every year I could except for 1 year. That year was a very hard year for me, but it taught me things I needed to know. This is my 9th year at camp and by this time I've figured out how most things go as a camper.

This camp is all about building your relationship with God. Nobody judges you here so you can be yourself. God wants you to be yourself and not be scared to show it. God knows the true you; and he wants his people to know the true you, too. This week is all about getting to know you and getting to know others just the same as God knows us all.

Don't be scared to let it out. Who are you? People here want to know. The people of Episcopal Youth Music Camp care. I came to camp not knowing, almost, anyone; but by the time I left I could call everyone by name. The Episcopal Church created this camp in the hopes to get more kids like me into the church and into a relationship with God, himself.

I, personally, feel God everywhere with me here. I feel him in everyone here. God's presence is with all of us here. If I hadn't come here in 2008 and all the following years, I wouldn't be who I am today.

I'm leaving as a camper at the end of the week, but I'll be back. I promise.

-Anja Henne

GOATS!

Camp Hartland keeps goats. Activity time is snack time for the goats.

Monday, August 1, 2016

Wake up!

Here is a little sample of a wake-up song with actions that we do just before morning chapel and breakfast....

EYMC 2016 staff photo with the Bishop

First day of camp!

Welcome to EYMC 2016. We're so glad you shared your family with us for a week; AND glad that you're following along.

The weather report: Highs of 82 degrees with an overnight of 66 (perfect for sleeping). It's gonna be a lovely day, lovely day, lovely day -- lovely day (albeit sticky and mosquitoey).

The first AM skit was AWEsome. It was appropriate that our burning bush used jazz hands for flames.

It's mid-morning, but I must admit, after being confined by a cast during camp last year, I'm SO excited about canteen. Not only is EVERY snack 50 cents, but there is SOOOO MUCH AWESOME new camp gear this year. I've scoped out a hoodie and a cap, already. That isn't to say, I won't decide to score a blanket, a T, or a carabiner later in the week. OMG!

The afternoon is packed with ARTS, CRAFTS, and EXPLORING INSTRUMENTS, among other things. You'll find me downstairs making a (Rudolph the) RED-nose (Reindeer) for dinner. It's all about the burn tonight.

I can't wait to see ALL the costumes. What will we see? Cardinals? Ladybugs? Tomatoes? Candy canes?

It's all about "Something Red". In honor of our theme, I'll leave you a quote from the Irish writer John Boyle O'Reilly:

The red rose whispers of passion,
And the white rose breathes of love;
O, the red rose is a falcon,
And the white rose is a dove.

EYMC2016