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Summer Camp Update
Camp registration is underway and we are gearing up in preparations to great campers on site in July! New this year, camps end on FRIDAY evenings instead of SATURDAY mornings.
Please share information about camp with your friends, family, and neighbors!
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT ENDS SOON - $25 EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT available through April 1st.
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ACCEPTING SUMMER STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS APPLICATIONS NOW | |
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Applications are OPEN for Summer Staff and Volunteers.
We are always looking for volunteers to counsel during a week of summer camp. Counseling is a wonderful way to share your faith story and connect with the younger generation by giving of your time to provide guidance and support. Counselors stay in lodges or cabins with campers, help facilitate bible study, and generally supervise campers. Counselors must be at least 17 years old.
Are you a licensed nurse and want to volunteer time this summer at camp? Contact Carol Klein, our head nurse at cakmott@gmail.com.
If you have questions, reach out to director@poconoplateau.org.
| | We have summer staff opportunities for programs, kitchen, and maintenance roles. Summer staffers live and eat at camp for the 5 weeks of camp and the week prior for training. This is a wonderful opportunity for young adults to share the joy and magic of camp with others, while also growing in their own faith! Staff can be 17-25 years old depending on the role. | | |
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Winter Blast & Jamboree
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We thank the many hands that came our on March 4th for our Work Day, or other days in February and March! John had several projects happening including Gate House floor replacement and painting, Spring bathroom painting, building 2 new carpet ball games, and painting in Birch Room. We have so many wonderful volunteers with such love for our spaces and ministry. We greatly appreciate the support.
Our next Work Day is Saturday May 13th
If you are handy and like to roll up your sleeves, John will have weather appropriate projects ready for you! If you prefer less physical activities, we can hook you up with some office work, organizing, or binding curriculum books.
Please contact camp@poconoplateau.org or call the camp office 570-676-3665 to RSVP. We'd like to have a headcount to plan for lunch and projects. This is a great opportunity for church groups or families!
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Lent - The Pocono Mountain UMC cluster of churches will host a Lenten series on Wednesday evenings. Pocono Plateau will host the service on March 22nd. All are welcome!
Family Retreat - Prepare your hearts for the start of Holy Week at our family retreat. We will have an Easter egg hunt, crafts, family friendly stations of the cross nature walk, and a Palm Sunday worship. And my favorite...s'mores made with marshmallow peeps!
Easter Sunrise Service - We are bringing back the Easter Sunrise Service at the Plateau! The service will be in Springer Dining Hall at 6:30am. After the service, we will serve a hot breakfast.
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FATHER/SON AND MOTHER/DAUGHTER RETREATS | |
We have two exciting opportunities for family bonding while focusing on | |
Led by Jesse Skaggs, the Dangerous Retreat is a unique opportunity for fathers and sons to make memories together spending time doing exciting activities and experiments, eating together both indoors and out, hearing from God's word, and enjoying God's creation at camp. This is a great opportunity to bond together away from the daily routine! | |  |
Led by Megan Logan, LCSW and best selling author of the Self Love Workbook for Women and Be Kind To Yourself, this retreat helps girls embrace and celebrate their beautiful selves. We will talk about the challenges our girls face today that keep them from seeing themselves as wonderfully made in the image of God. | | |
Park at the top of the hill at Springer Dining Hall and meet us in the Lake Room (Red building, facing the basket ball court) | |
FREE YOUTH SOCIALS
March 19th & April 16th
2pm - 4pm
4th grade - 12th grade
Based on ages so far for these events, we decided to lower the grades to include 4th and 5th graders! We will divide up by grade groups for devotions if needed.
Groups need a chaperone for every 8-10 youth.
The events are free, but please encourage youth to bring a non-perishables for Mt Pocono UMC's food pantry.
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Calling Senior High Students and Youth Groups!
We are excited to offer a new missions based camp this summer led by Sarah Billings and Robin Allen! Sarah and Robin bring years of combined experience with mission trips, camp, and working with youth.
THE WHAT?
This camp brings together missional experiences with Habitat for Humanity of Monroe Country combined with awesome camp experiences like team building, high ropes, boating, campfires, and bible study. Mon - Thu will be spent on the Habitat Site morning and afternoon with evenings spent on camp activities and bible study. Friday will be an all camp day filled with adventure programming and a closing worship.
THE WHO?
This camp is for youth who have completed grades 9th through 12th. We welcome individual campers to register, or church youth groups and youth leaders.
We have 2 program directors and 4 volunteer staff handling camp leadership and logistics.
The cost for youth leaders wanting to attend from a church group will be $200 to cover food and basic activities.
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Staff Spotlight - Danny Kuhn
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Back in January we started doing "Free Youth Socials" for the youth in the local churches/community. This last month at the "social" we talked about love and the holiday of love.
The New Testament was originally written in Greek. In the Greek language, there are four different words that describe different types or levels of love. All of which we see used throughout the New Testament.
EROS - The first type of love we talked about is "Eros". Eros is described as the romantic type of love. This is the kind of love that we think of when we think of Valentine’s Day. For those that are married, this is probably how you feel for your spouse (most of the time).
STORGE - The next type of love is "Storge". Storge is described as a familiar love. It’s the kind if love that we see between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, between cousins and siblings. Romans 12:10 says “love one another with mutual affection”. Storge is a type of love that is a mutual affection, a mutual understanding. If you have someone in your family that you rely on for everything, you probably feel this type of love towards them.
PHILIOS - If you don’t have that kind of relationship with a family member, well there’s another type of love that is called "Philia" or "Philios". What is Philadelphia the city of? "Philia" means brotherly love. Now it doesn’t necessarily have to be the love between two brothers, it can also be the love between two best friends, two sisters. The best definition I found to describe this type of love is “a trusted confidant held dear in a close bond of personal affection”.
Now, all these types of love are great and necessary for our relationships with each other.
AGAPE - However, the most important type of love that is mentioned in the Bible is "Agape love". This love is the love of God. It is unconditional love that is immeasurable and incomparable. It is a sacrificial kind of love. And Jesus shows us this ultimate kind of love by dying on the cross. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
We are in the season of Lent, the start of the Easter season. Easter, to me, is the real holiday of love. It’s where God demonstrates His ultimate love for humanity. So, my challenge for all of you this season of Lent, let's try to love others the way that God loves us. There’s too much division in this world, too much senseless violence. I wonder what the world would look like if we saw everyone the way God sees us.
| ~ Danny Kuhn, Program Manager | | | |
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See below for the 2023's Calendar of Pocono Plateau Sponsored Events!
REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR ALL OF THESE RETREATS
RESERVE YOUR SPACE NOW!
Easter Family Retreat - Mar 30th - Apr 1st
- Gather with us for the weekend to experience a stations of the cross, egg hunt, crafts, games, and a Palm Sunday worship. Prepare your hearts for holy week in the peace and sacredness of the mountaintop. This retreat is open to families of all ages.
"Dangerous Retreat for Boys" Father/Son Retreat- Apr 21st - 23rd
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This weekend never disappoints. Come experience the wild and dangerous side of boyhood! The weekend will include fun experiments and adventure programming. This retreat is for 3rd - 8th grade boys and their father/father figures. (Reach out if you have an older boy interested - camp@poconoplateau.org)
"Love Your Selfie" Mother/Daughter Retreat - Apr 21st - 23rd ***NEW: expanded to 5th grade***
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Teen girls (5th - 12th grade) and their moms or mother figures will gather to discuss body image and social media. Megan Logan, LCSW will lead sessions on releasing self doubt, building self compassion, and embracing who we are in the image of God. The weekend will also include crafts and adventure programming.
Confirmation Retreat - Apr 28th - Apr 30th ***We are almost to capacity, register soon!**
- Pocono Plateau will offer a confirmation retreat for current confirmands or those interested in learning more about confirmation. Youth will explore their identity in Christ, discuss how they fit into the body of Christ, and learn about John Wesley's teaching to "Do no harm, do good, and stay in love with God."
Summer Camp Open House - May 20th 10am-2pm
- Come see what camp has to offer and get a preview of lodging and facilities!
Pocono Plateau Puppy Party - Jun 2nd - Jun 4th
- Camp for dogs? Absolutely! Bring your furry friend to Pocono Plateau's Adventure Site for the weekend. This retreat is open to dog owners and dog lovers alike! We will have lots of family and dog friendly activities for folks to enjoy our 750 acres with their pups!
July 4th Family Camp Bonanza - Sun Jul 2nd - Wed Jul 5th
- Spend your 4th of July holiday with us at the Plateau. Week 1 of our summer this year will include a 3 night family camp option that will include all the fun of regular summer camp. July 4th will also include a bounce house, live music, BBQ, and awesome water games!
10th Annual Hero Dash & Homecoming Weekend - Sep 15th - Sep 17th
- Come for just the Hero Dash 5K/15K on Sat Sep 16th, or come for the whole weekend! We will have activities, programming, campfires, meals, and worship for the weekend guests.
Knitting & Crocheting Retreat - Sep 22nd - Sep 24th
- Open to all levels for a weekend of relaxing by the campfire in community with fellow crafters. Each year, a new project is selected.
Men's Retreat - Sep 29th - Oct 1st
- Experience fall in the Poconos in community with other Christian men looking to explore their faith and learn together through conversation and recreation. Meals, worship, music, and programming will not disappoint for this fabulous weekend!
Sr. Adult Retreat - Oct 3rd - Oct 6th
- Calling all adults ages 55 and up for a time of fellowship, bible study, games, conversation, and worship. Each year we host an offsite outing at a local attraction and offer worship and communion on the final day.
Fall Wellness Retreat - Oct 13th - Oct 15th
- Join us for a weekend of spiritual and mental renewal with yoga, meditation, workshops, hiking, and health eating. This retreat is open to all ages 18 and above and all genders.
Youth Fall Fellowship - Oct 20th - Oct 22th
- Experience the fun of fall in the Poconos for 6th through 12th grade! Activities include archery, climbing tower, hayride, and hiking along with a devotional scripture based theme for the weekend.
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