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″]Early Registration Discount – Sign up by March 15
Sign up now for your summer at Covenant Point!
The Early Registration Discount deadline is fast approaching. Register and pay in full by March 15 to save $35!
Blessed with a Committed Summer Staff
This summer, we have a staff of 32 fantastic young leaders on board to serve at Covenant Point. Many of these counselors, program directors, waterfront staff, and trips guides are choosing to say “no” to internships or more income at a job back home in order to lead and grow at camp. The value of serving in a camp setting is something that generations of staff members have known for a long time, and it was affirming to read more about this benefit over “summer internships” in the New York Times:
“[In encouraging my daughter to seek a summer internship] I forced myself to parrot conventional wisdom because there was at least a chance that it was true. But the clinching argument came from my daughter’s impassioned defense of camp counselors, and her outrage that someone glancing at résumés would believe that a 20-year-old [intern] who fetches coffee at Google is more impressive than one who spends days and nights nurturing, teaching, organizing, comforting and inspiring.”
– Dan Flescher, New York Times Blog Find the Full Article Here
To be entrusted with the lives of children, to learn how to function as part of a dynamic and complex community, and to improvise as a leader carrying out our mission as each day unfolds: these are experiences that foster immeasurable growth of all kinds! If you’ve chosen to work at camp at some point in your life, I bet you know what I mean. Thank you for prayerfully supporting this summer’s team of staff members, and their choice to participate in the vital work at Covenant Point.
-Erik Strom,
Camp Director
Covenant Point and Autism Awareness Day
The sixth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2, 2013. Every year, autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events.
At Covenant Point we want to celebrate by announcing our very first ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) Family Camp Week a Covenant Point family camp week designed to build community and support among families who have children with autism.
The week will take place August 6-10, 2013, and will cost only $150 per family. The remaining funding is raised through our Annual Triathlon Fundraiser, which brings in annual funds to enable ministry to campers with special needs.
Help us spread the word about this exciting new opportunity! Click Here for More Details on A.S.D. Family Camp
Summer 2013 Trailers
Check out our new promotional videos for this summer, made by our Outreach and I.T Director, Colby Mecher.
Learn more about Summer Camp Here
Learn more about Wilderness Trips and Island Camps
Yurt Construction is Finished!
Here is a video of our recent construction of our back forty Yurts. We are still working on fully winterizing them with wood stoves, and building bunk beds to accomodate guests, and this construction marks an exciting step forward in our Wilderness Ministry.
The yurts will resource our trips program by providing new housing for briefing and debriefing with groups before and after a trip. Having additional space like this will allow us to: 1) serve new groups in a set-apart area while other housing at camp is full (ie, while Purdue University is here), 2) run simultaneous trips during the summer, whereas in the past we’ve run one trip at a time, and 3) provide a new experience of camp for interested groups – like family campers, scouts, youth groups, etc. To learn more about what a Yurt is, visit www.yurts.com
We have many opportunities to get out into God’s Creation through our Trips program. Learn more about Trips here.
Yurt Building Timelapse from covenant point bible camp on Vimeo.
Triathlon and Campaign 5K/Half Marathon Were Successes!
Athletic fund raising is in the air at Covenant Point with two exciting events in the past two months: our 13th annual triathlon fundraiser, and our first -ever partnership with the Chicago Half Marathon/5K. Together, they have raised over $15,000 to benefit the mission and ministry of Covenant Point!
On Sunday, September 9, 2012 we held our first fundraising effort in conjunction with the Chicago Half Marathon/5K. The runners woke up early and headed down to the start line and tent area at Chicago’s Jackson Park to get ready for the event. The day was an exciting reunion of staff, families, and campers as we raced to raise funds for the final stretch of the Chuck Frasier Memorial Campaign. The funds raised have built an onsite director’s home, and are building an endowment that invests in young leaders through our internship program. We were able to get a tent from the race in the main race area, which was nice to have a place to relax and catch up pre-race, as well as post-race. We had about 38 people race in total–10 running the half-marathon– and funds are still rolling in for the remaining 18% of the Chuck Frasier Memorial Campaign.
Our tent, and many of the participants/spectators.
Pete Nelson, Tyler Nelson, and Joanna Vetter
Caitrin Nordstrom cheers at the finish line.
Half marathoner, Lynn Mecher nears the finish line.
Johanna Sparrman, Dustin Johnson, and Natalie Swanson at the start of the 5K.
We also had our 13th Annual Triathlon on August 5, 2012. This year’s athletes raised over $10,000, designated toward special needs ministries at CPBC – allowing us to hire specialized staff, additional staff, make structural improvements for handicap access, and create new programs to minister to children and families with special needs. More Triathlon Pictures Here
Former NOLS Field Guide Trains Point Staff
Kevin Bergstrom, staff alum (crew, counselor, trips director) and former National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) field guide and a NOLS Rocky Mountain Assistant Director, spent two days with us this past weekend providing supplemental trips training for our trips staff who will be leading Canoe, and Backpacking Trips this summer. Covering a range of topics like wilderness risk management, outdoor leadership, orienteering, river crossing, basic mountaineering techniques, and outdoor cooking, Kevin’s expertise is an enormous gift to our trips program and its ongoing development. A huge thank you to Kevin for his willingness to come back to serve Covenant Point with the many skills developed over the years since his time here!
Trips camps are filling up for this summer, Check Availability now and Register Online before it’s too late!
BE: Summer 2013
Thank you for looking into summer camp at Covenant Point!
For over 86 years, campers of all ages have been encouraged in their next step of faith through an experience at Covenant Point. In a world that is often plugged-in, we seek to foster environments where campers can fully BE: present with God, with one another and our staff of Christ-centered young adults, and with the surrounding natural creation.
Located on beautiful Hagerman Lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, our accredited program and facility is fully integrated into the surrounding northwoods environment. We offer a rare experience of Christian camping that incorporates simplicity and wilderness, along with comfortable lodging or trail accommodations, purposeful and fun activities, homemade meals, and a small, safe, and nurturing community in which to know and be known.
Come join us and BE renewed, adventurous, present, challenged, still, and much more at Covenant Point this summer!
Rev. Erik Strom
Executive Director
Covenant Womens Retreat 2011
September 23-25, 2011
What happens when a 150 women gather for a weekend? They draw closer to God and grow in their faith. They share in building relationships. They are serious, lively, active, and joyful. They encourage each other and enjoy each other. They talk about personal and life issues. They enjoy good food, laughter, and discussion at meals. They spend time in quiet and reflection, observing the change and beauty of autumn. They see the Creator’s touch in nature and in each other. They take delight in family moments with daughters and moms. They pray to a God who hears, a Savior who loves them, and a Spirit who sustains them. They listen and process the meaning of shalom. They appreciate Judy Howard Peterson and the powerful message and challenge she presented in her talks. They go away changed, renewed, encouraged, loved, and ready to once more take on the many joys and demands of their lives in the U.P. of Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Vermont.
Download Judy’s Sermons by clicking on the links below
Friday Night Download
Saturday Morning Download
Saturday Evening Download
Sunday Morning Download
