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From the Executive Director:
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As my wife, Ally and I make our way through our first winter living on Swanzey Lake, we are embracing the opportunity to slow the overall pace of life down. We are appreciating the simplicity and beauty of God's creation. We are growing as individuals, and as a couple, because we have had more time to.....well.....LIVE! Every component part of life seems bigger here. Every meal, every conversation seems more important. The sound of the wind is louder. The sunlight is brighter. We are LIVING in a new way and we are grateful.
As I make my way through my first winter at Pilgrim Pines, I have a similar outlook on what is happening here. While I've always highly valued our winter programs, I have a new appreciation for the blessing they are to so many. As for our staff, I see how the Holy Spirit is at work in each and every one of them. Their commitment to personifying and bringing people to Christ is tangible. It defines who they are. What a blessing to be part of something so special.
In December, I watched Pilgrim Pines go to sleep. December is the one month each year when camp literally shuts down and the staff gets a well-deserved break. Now that January is upon us, camp is coming back to life. In addition to hosting a few guest groups, we have hosted two amazing youth retreats, those being Winterfest (Jan 6-8) and Winterblast I (Jan 20-22). By all accounts, both were hugely successful. I am really looking forward to seeing things ramp up further as we make our way toward Spring. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing you all at camp this summer!!
As for recent developments, we are in the process of installing two new convection ovens in our Mayflower kitchen. Our old pizza ovens were no longer up for the challenge. Similarly, we are also moving forward with the purchase of a replacement tractor for our facilities team. Like our pizza ovens, our old tractor had reached the end of the line. These infrastructure investments are critically important as we seek to position ourselves for the future. As for our Mayflower Air Conditioning Project, installation is just about complete. We are extremely grateful for the generous donors who made these upgrades possible.
Looking back on 2016 one last time, let us celebrate the amazing, life-changing ministry work that took place at Pilgrim Pines. We hosted a total of 9,100 guests across the ministry platform. Specifically, 2,300 summer campers were blessed by the Christ centered programs of Camp Squanto and Mayflower Family Camp. 1,400 guests attended other Pilgrim Pines retreats. We hosted 4,900 guests from outside church groups and another 500 from Road Scholars. Caring for all these people is no easy task. We are grateful for the opportunity to do so.
We look forward to seeing you all soon. Until then, God's blessings upon you.
Yours in Christ,
Scott Lee
Executive Director
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Ministry Moment
Caroline Love, Summer Staff
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While reflecting of the times spent around the lake, I can hardly think of just one moment where I am reminded of the ministry of Pilgrim Pines. Instead, I am flooded with flashbacks of cannonballs off the dock, listening to Jesus' miracles under the Jr. High tent, songs around the campfire on Fridays, and walks around the lake under tall pine trees. It is simply impossible to pinpoint a specific memory that has left me in awe of our Creator because there are SO many! Story after story, I am brought back to the same conclusion: Christ is indeed a part of this place.
I remember the first summer I stepped foot on the dock. It was a couple weeks before the first campers arrived and the lake was calm, motionless. I had no idea what the next eight weeks would hold. But God did. I was led to the Pines through the word of close friends but I stayed because of the lasting work that God was doing in and through me at this place.
Connecting to campers is what the Pines does best. Walking across the beach you see the older crew lounging on the benches catching up with dear friends. As you continue, kids of all ages compete in sand castle competitions and frog jumping contests. It engages campers at every age.
Over the three summers I spent on staff, there have been many meaningful friendships I've made with campers I've met. One night, a few other staff members and I thought it would be fun to host a "girls night" with lower el, upper el, and junior high girls. We shared a lot of laughs while dancing, painting nails, and of course, being interrupted by the boys who had found out about the event. Amidst the lightheartedness of the night, it was a time to remind these kids that they were special and incredible just the way they were made.
In the end, it's all about relationships. It always has been, hasn't it? You don't have to look too close into Jesus' life to see that is exactly how he lived. He met people where they were at not the place he wanted them to be. He led by loving, by listening, by serving others.
I believe this is what the Pines does SO well. This is why people keep coming back.
Pilgrim Pines has blessed me as well as countless others in incredible ways, and because of this I will continue to support its mission and ministry.
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During the second weekend in January, over 430 senior high students and youth leaders from many of our East Coast churches gathered
together for the annual Winterfest Weekend. It was an amazing time filled with games, challenging teaching, a terrific student-lead talent show, giant inflatables and growing friendship for our conference youth. Worship was lead by Stephen Kelly and the worship team from North Park University and Hector Saucedo from Los Angeles, CA lead the times of teaching. Together the students and leaders discovered what it meant to "Belong", belonging to each other in community, the church and to God. It was truly a weekend our ECC student won't soon forget. Many thanks to all the youth and youth leaders to helped make it an amazing time for all.
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Be on the look out for the 2017 Camp Squanto Brochure for all things Squanto.
Registration is now open! Camp Squanto is a great opportunity for grades 2-12. It makes a great Christmas present too!
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Many families say that their week at Mayflower Family Camp is a hybrid between a traditional New England summer camp and a fun filled, memory making family vacation. Mayflower Family Camp creates a unique oasis for adults and children alike. Parents can choose to participate in morning Christian education time with outstanding speakers from across the country while their kids learn new skills, discover Biblical lessons and share new experiences with their new friends. Everyone has the chance to develop an appreciation for new friendships and God's creation.
There are also campsites available. Call the office for availability.
603.352.0443
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Camping at Pilgrim Pines provides a fantastic environment for families needing a place to get away in God's creation. Our campground is full of wonderful families who create real community while enjoying a safe and caring environment. Open Memorial Weekend-Columbus Day Weekend, camping families are encouraged to participate in the 7 weeks of Mayflower Family Christian programming.
- RV or Tent campsites with electric and water hookups
- Bath Houses with hot showers
- Laundry facilities
- Swimming and Recreation areas
- Picnic Pavilion
You are invited to join us in the Campground for the entire season, for just a week, or simply for a night.
Call us today to make a reservation!
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Mayflower Family Ministry and Camp Squanto hire over 70 young adults and college students each summer. Applications are being accepted now. Information can be found on our
website.
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We are now three months into our 2016-2017 fiscal year. Overall, we have GOOD NEWS to share on the fund raising front. Financial support for our ministry was markedly stronger during the first fiscal quarter than it was last year. PRAISE GOD!! Here are the details:
OCTOBER - DECEMBER
2015 Actual: $75,788
2016 Actual: $100,683 (+32.8%)
2016 Budget: $130,980 (-23.2%)
While overall the news is good, we continue to prayerfully encourage our family members to remain focused on and committed to meeting our $350,000 fund raising goal for 2016-2017. Our operational commitments depend on meeting this goal. You will note that while giving is up approximately $25,000 compared to this time last year, we are still approximately $30,000 behind where we need to be. We are encouraged by the increasing number of family members that are better informed and more robustly engaged as concerns the financial challenges facing Pilgrim Pines. More and more folks are stepping up and becoming part of our donor family. The same can be said for our member churches across the conference. We are seeing more churches committing to financially supporting Pilgrim Pines. The engagement with and support from our churches is absolutely critical to the long term health of our camp ministry.
Many of us have powerful Pilgrim Pines stories and memories. Some of us have seen our children come to Christ during a camp experience. Some of us will admit to having our own lives changed at camp or at a retreat. Most of us recognize and appreciate the importance of the Christian formation that takes place at camp. All of us are grateful for the blessing of Pilgrim Pines in our lives, for being able to call Pilgrim Pines our own.
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Product and Service Donation
Imagine owning a home with hundreds of beds, 96 toilets, multiple electronics, multiple wifi locations, a fleet of vehicles, power equipment, etc.
As you can imagine it takes lots to keep the place going.
Pilgrim Pines is always looking for more partners in its ministry. If you are interested in partnering with us, there are several ways you can contribute. Take a look at our
product & services page for ways you can help. Or feel free to make a direct donation by clicking the DONATE button below.
Our hope is that you will continue to faithfully walk with us, as you have in the past. So, we are asking you to please consider joining us on this journey with your gifts of talent, time, and treasure.
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Pilgrim Pines welcomes volunteers all year long
Whether you come by yourself, with your family or through a church group. We are blessed by volunteers who help in the kitchen, serve as weekend hosts, assist in the Mayflower office and work on maintenance projects.
We can really use some volunteer help now and into the fall as we are clearing some areas of overgrowth in the camping area.
Your church may even be interested in our "
Adopt-a-Cabin" program. When a church adopts a cabin they commit to an annual donation toward its maintenance and often send a volunteer group to specifically tend to their cabin's needs. Contact
Jim Condap
if your church is interested in volunteering or the Adopt-a-Cabin program.
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