June 19, 2015 – Wilderness Week Finishing Off Strong
After a great long week of experiencing God in His creation Wilderness Week is going out with a bang!
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June 16, 2015 – Wilderness Weekers in Nature Rotations
Wilderness 4/5/6
The past two days have been filled with trips to the bog, rock climbing and lots of God.
[fsg_gallery id=”120″]June 15, 2015 – Camp has begun!
Mainland Wilderness 4/5/6 is off to a great start!
Porcupine Mountains 7/8/9 Backpack trippers have the trail!
We’ll be posting mainland photos on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The entire photo slideshow of each camp will be posted on Saturday!
June 13, 2015 – Staff Training
With our two week staff training finished, CPBC’s summer staff is trained and ready for campers. Bring on the summer!
[fsg_gallery id=”119″]Ropes Course with Eagle River 5th Grade – May 21, 2105
Thursday, May 21, 2015, we were joined by 56 5th grade students from Eagle River Elementary School for a day on our ropes course and low elements. It was a great day spent outside!
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Rockin’ Robins #3 – May 15, 2015
[fsg_gallery id=”117″]It was the last meeting of Rockin for this year and what a full adventure it was for all. The big project was constructing a bug box. Not only did the sound of hammering fill the air, but the look of deep concentration on the faces of the little buddies was intense. Of course, the next event was looking for bugs. Dissecting of owl pellets was also an interactive time and many bones, skulls, feathers, and such were identified. Steve Creech, from Purdue University, gave a great demonstration of how owl pellets are formed and then regurgitated. His imitation of an owl call was also very amazing. Dustin showed his turtle and discussed the development of the salamander eggs and Linnea Johnson read two stories which were enjoyed by all. Twenty-five little buddies and twenty-five big buddies were in attendance. What a great way to end. A special thanks goes to each big buddy, CPBC staff, and John Menucci for his wonderful work in preparing all the bug box pieces for easy construction.
We look forward to seeing the kindergartners again next May, and many of the 1st graders for our 2-day intro camp this summer (http://www.cpbc.com/summer/mainland/2-5/)!
Rockin’ Robins #2 – May 8, 2015
[fsg_gallery id=”116″]The second Rockin Robins time was filled to the brim with activity and discovery. After a snack of soft pretzels and milk, a bird wheel was made, binoculars were passed out, with big and little buddies going into the woods in search of birds. The project was making a bird feeder with seeds out of toilet paper rolls and a yarn nest pine cone display so birds could gather materials for their spring nests. Both were taken home to adorn trees and carefully watched for bird activity. A story read by Erik Strom and a brief play time concluded the time. Dustin was able to gather salamander eggs which can be seen in the aquarium in the nature building.
May 10, 2015: Purdue University’s Forestry and Natural Resources Department begins their 24th year of Summer Practicum at CPBC
Purdue University’s Forestry and Natural Resources Department began their 24th year of their summer practicum experience at Covenant Point today. We look forward to hosting them for the next five weeks. What a beautiful time of year to be in the woods! Welcome faculty and students!
Men’s Retreat: 3/1/15
Or final winter retreat of the season was last weekend with the Men’s Retreat. With 114 men, we enjoyed good food, fellowship, and worship together. Saturday’s activities included a music jam session, broomball tournament (congratulations Ravenswood Covenant Church for winning the trophy this year!), cross country skiing, snowshoeing, trap shoot, foosball, ping-pong, and air hockey tournaments, card games and plenty of relaxing in the Dining Hall. The chapel messages were delivered by speaker Michael Vrooman on the topic of conversation with God. Thanks to all who participated! See you next year!
[fsg_gallery id=”110″]One Life Retreat #3 – 2/22/15
Our third and final One Life Retreat of the season wraps up tonight for some and tomorrow morning for others. Youth groups came from Illinois, Wisconsin, and the UP to ski, play broomball, sauna and polar bear dip, tube, snowshoe, dance, eat good food, worship together, and hear the chapel messages delivered from Chicago youth worker Teal Short. This year’s chapel theme has been “Hello My Name is __________,” and has focused on Biblical stories of God renaming his people.
[fsg_gallery id=”108″]New Snowplow + Truck
Through the efforts of some U.P. churches, and individuals, camp has gotten a Ford F-350 truck, and a Boss V-plow. This is such a wonderful fulfillment of a need at camp, our main plowing vehicle is camp’s John Deere tractor, which requires whoever is using it to sit out in the elements for a long stretch of time, . With the new truck, whoever snowplows now has a heated cab, and a hydraulic snow plow that can go to any angle at the push of a button. This new plow is also wider and taller, which allows you to push more snow at once and take more out of a bank with a single pass, all of this to say that plowing is much faster now. We at camp are so thankful for those who helped get this donation fulfilled.
[fsg_gallery id=”106″]2015 MLK One Life Retreat
What a fun weekend this first One Life was! Churches from all across Chicagoland, and the U.P. came to be here. We played a big game of brave heart, went tubing at caspian ski hill, and skied at Ski Brule. Our sessions were led by a great worship team and Tim Ciccone, who was our speaker for the weekend. Thanks to all who helped make this weekend great!
[fsg_gallery id=”105″]Family Camp 4
This week we had our second annual family camp dedicated to families with children on the autism spectrum. Throughout this week we served 6 families and had so much fun playing big games, climbing the Track n’ Trail, taking a trip to the Island and spending time together. See you next year!
[fsg_gallery id=”86″]Wind River Range: Westward Trip, July 20 – August 2
[fsg_gallery id=”88″]Venture Out, Aug. 4 – 7, Pictured Rocks National Shoreline
It was an intrepid group of women, 11 and 1/2 in all, who took to the trails and waters of Lake Superior for this summer’s adventure. The group gelled together and thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company. It was awesome to have times of laughter and stories but also moments of deep discussion and sharing about faith issues. Devotions were led by Megan (our mother to be) as well as any member who wanted to tell what God was doing in her life. Each person dedicated this trip to people in their lives who needed prayer. New to this year was a kayaking experience along the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks. Using tandem kayaks, fortunately the day was calm and waves were minimal. Paddling through rock arches and along magnificent cliffs was a unique activity for all. A total of 12 miles was hiked and one thrilling sunset over Superior was witnessed. Thanks to all who came. It was quite the trip!
[fsg_gallery id=”90″]Week 8: Island, August 3-9
The 6th and final week on the Island is off to a wonderful start. Campers engaged in the ropes courses, low elements, and quiet time.
[fsg_gallery id=”84″]Family Camp 3, July 27 – August 2
We welcomed 11 families for our third week of family camp this summer! Our speakers this week were Phil Staurseth, the Senior Pastor at Ravenswood Covenant, and Trevor Nicholas who together incorporated very funny skits and engaging stories to help us learn more about what it means to be in community and live more like Jesus! We had a wonderful week of excursions, Braveheart & Narnia, a trip to the Island, sleepovers in Yurts and even some time sharing families talents in our Open Mic night!
[fsg_gallery id=”82″]Week 7: Island Camp, July 27 – August 2
[fsg_gallery id=”83″]Westward Backpackers are back!
The westward backpack trip campers have returned from Wyoming’s Wind River Range. Great times were had by all, God’s creation was seen, and more photos are to come next week!
