By Ashley Cameron Campers and counselors are some of the many characters that make up Shrine Mont Camps every summer. These camps wouldn’t function without any one of them. We’ve asked them to #ShoutIt from the mountain what they love about Shrine Mont Camps, what causes them joy, what brings them back year after year, and where they see God on the mountain. These are the characters of camp.
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By Virginia Lee There are certain places that everyone at Shrine Mont knows and loves: The Shrine, the pool, the pond, the pavilion, and countless others. But there are a few special places where the structures are unique and the locations are meaningful. Below are five of the best spots on the Mountain: 1. OOCC Platform/Cabin Zero
2. Nellie's GardenOn the pond side of Maryland House there’s an unassuming door with a pretty painted sign that says “Nellie’s Garden.” Walking through that door, there’s a short hallway and then, all of a sudden, you’re in a beautiful little courtyard, complete with trees, shrubbery, and flowers. A statue of St. Francis lurks in the greenery, and the ground is lined with moss and cobblestone- sometimes birds even stop by. It’s picturesque to say the least. The garden was built in memory of the beloved Nellie Moomaw, the wife of Shrine Mont's long-time Director Wilmer Moomaw. It’s a beautiful spot to sit, relax, or hide (in the case of scavenger hunts or Walkie-Talkie tag). 3. Bathtub Graveyard
This spot has some lore attached to it. There are many stories told at camps regarding the bathtub graveyard (many of which are created by campers and counselors). Some say the ghost of a little girl, Emily Floods, haunts the bathtub graveyard. St. George’s counselors claim that Emily creeps up to St. George’s on a regular basis. If you see her, she’ll haunt you indefinitely. She is described as having blonde hair that lies over her face, a white dress, and the affinity to dance around and make spooky noises, so keep an eye out! 4. Dead Sea
However, you might rather call it the dying sea; apparently the pond has been slowly draining for a while due to a leak in the retaining wall. There are also some rumors (again, mostly made up by campers and counselors) surrounding the Dead Sea. Some say that there’s a train sitting at the bottom of the sea. Others say there’s a nine-foot long frog that sits at the bottom of the pond, making those ridiculously loud croaking sounds you hear at night. Be sure that you don’t fall out while canoeing, lest the giant frog eat you! 5. The LabyrinthIn Shrine Mont years the labyrinth is a rather new feature, having only been constructed in 2009. It’s located just off the path to the Cross, a little ways down from the Shrine. Some fun facts you may not know about the Labyrinth:
By Timothy Nixon Family Camp spent six fun-filled days embracing the mountain air and each other. Mornings for many of the adults were filled with powerful storytelling, led by keynote speaker Terry Dolson, while most of the children spent that time exploring the Parables of Jesus in a program based on Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Afternoons were fun and flexible, with hikes to Seven Springs and North Mountain and a quick bus trip to a local Covered Bridge. Evenings were filled with campfires and hayrides, pool parties and dancing – plenty of time for fun and conversation alike. Parting for a year is always challenging, but Family Camp looks forward to rejoicing together next year for our 65th Anniversary!
By Virginia Lee St. George’s Session I had a fun-filled week of exploring, adventuring, playing, and worshiping. They had the choice of thrilling electives like “Sugar and Explosions,” “Nature Extreme,” and “Pool Time” available, all of which always had new and exciting activities to engage in. Campers learned all of the classic camp songs, the most popular being “King Jesus is All” and “The Hammer Song.” Every night campers had an evening program to attend, some of the favorites being Kangaroo Court, Carnival Night, and Christmas. All in all, it was an incredible session full of God, love, and community. A special shout out to the multi-talented session chaplain Sue Cromer, who took many of the wonderful photographs in this journal.
By Ashley Cameron Campers and counselors are some of the many characters that make up Shrine Mont Camps every summer. These camps wouldn’t function without any one of them. We’ve asked them to #ShoutIt from the mountain what they love about Shrine Mont Camps, what causes them joy, what brings them back year after year, and where they see God on the mountain. These are the characters of camp.
By Virginia Lee Music and Drama (MAD) II spent their week at camp working on their show, Malice in the Palace, the story of Esther and how she saved God’s people with courage and faith. MAD Camp didn’t spend their entire session of camp just rehearsing, though! In addition to director's time (during which the camp rehearsed), the campers hiked to Seven Springs and completed a "Polar Bear Challenge" (sitting in the freezing cold waters at Seven Springs!), had a camp dance with St. Sebastian’s Sports Camp, and roasted s’mores around a campfire! The fourth of July was an especially wonderful time, when MAD Camp hung out with all the other camps on the mountain for a patriotic celebration.
By Virginia Lee This summer, Session II of St. Sebastian's Sports Camp played all of the classic sports, like soccer, basketball, and Frisbee but they also added exciting, non-traditional activities like quidditch and yoga to the mix! However, Sports Camp wasn’t just about sports this session. Campers had a Skit Night for one of their evening programs, and even did an overnight camping trip to Seven Springs! The highlight of Sports Camp was the baptism we had at Lake Laura. It was a formative spiritual experience for everyone, and is something the whole camp will remember for a long time.
By Virginia Lee St. George’s Session IV spent their time doing an amazing array of activities from time at the pool to in-depth chaplain’s times with the session chaplain, Susan Daughtry. St. George’s oldest campers built up the body of God. Some great highlights were a three-day overnight camping trip, some Harry Potter themed festivities, and a camp dance, complete with hilarious costumes! The session ended with a beautiful closing service, and a loving goodbye to their oldest campers.
Before or after every meal each camp has Announcement Time, and for many camps that includes a song that the Program Director has rewritten to fit the occasion. Each year’s is different, and many are so memorable that they stay in your head for a lifetime. This summer three Program Directors have already shared their announcement songs with campers, and are excited to share them with you as well. St. Sebastian's Sports CampMatt Poell, or Captain Matthew Poell as he is often referred to as, drew his song from a popular theme song that many of the campers (and staff members) know and love: the Spongebob Squarepants theme song. The campers love singing the song, and often times they speed it up because they are so excited. Matt: Are you ready kids? Campers: Aye aye Captain Matt: I can’t hear you Campers: Aye aye Captain!! All: Oooooooooooooh Where do you go to play ratball with friends? Sebastian’s Sports Camp! To be loud and obnoxious and crazy as me? Sebastian’s Sports Camp! If crazy sports games be something you wish, Sebastian’s Sports Camp! Then take a knee down and hold up the chief! Sebastian’s Sports Camp! Sebastian’s Sports Camp, Sebastian’s Sports Camp, Sebastian’s Sports Camp Sebastiaaaaaan’s Sports Caaaaamp! Da da da do, da do, da do Music and Drama CampOver at MAD Camp, the Program Director this year comes all the way from Camp Christ the King (a camp like ours located in the Diocese of Christ the King!) in South Africa. Chris chose to re-write a song he knows by heart (eg, the Camp Christ the King song) to fit into his new role at Shrine Mont. Because the song itself is so short, Chris will often have everyone sing it twice through while doing all the motions to the song. MAD Camp, we are the best (clapping) We sing in the East or West (point to one side, and then the other) We have great campers, we have great counselors, (point at campers, then at counselors) And we’re great at everything- ALMOST! And when the sun begins to shine (wave arms back and forth) We’ll rise and never whine (raise and lower arms, then make a whining motion) Then we’ll go OUT and have the time of our lives! (point out of the circle, then clap again) St. George's CampUp the hill at St. George’s Camp, Alex Martinez has taken an old classic and made it her own. There was a moment of tension during staff week when Alex and Paris Ball (the Director of Shrine Mont Camps) were talking about announcement songs and discovered they had both chosen classic songs to re-make instead of popular songs from that year (which is what is most often done). Luckily Paris had chosen “Build Me Up, Buttercup,” while Alex had chosen good ‘ole “Sweet Caroline”. Bu da dah, ba da da da dah, Bu da dah, ba da da da duh Duh Duh, duh duh Here it begins, Alex has got announcements That’s how we know we’re back at camp I’m ready for games, I’m sure gonna sweat this summer, Who would've thought I’d climb that hill? Tacoooos every Tuesday Can I have more? Eating three, eating four… Sweet St. G’s Butt butt buns Summer’s never felt so good So good! So good! So good! I’ve been inclined Butt butt buns To believe it never woooooooooould Now we Open our ears, Alex has got announcements I wonder what we’ll do Is it a dance or maybe a pool party? I guess all will be revealed… Tacoooos every Tuesday Can I have more? Eating three, eating four… Sweet St. G’s Butt butt buns Summer’s never felt so good So good! So good! So good! Bonus!Every year at staff week the amazing Paris Ball writes her own announcement song; this year’s tune (as we already discovered) was “Build Me Up Buttercup.” The classic song was easy to learn and the staff even made it their own by adding lines with jokes from throughout the week. But don’t let me tell you about it, let me show you. (Note: unfortunately this video cut off the first few lines of the song, but the enthusiasm of the staff more than makes up for it!) The summer’s finally come
I’ve been impatient and glum For so long Been counting down the days But now there’s trips to the pool And planning worship is cool The best part? I made new friends today Hiking, singing, it’s all so fun We run around, then eat butt buns Go to sleep, get up so early and do it again Ooooo oh, ooooo oh, What will we do today? Paris please tell us what’s on the way ‘Cause I gotta know will it be a dance? A scavenger hunt or kingball perchance? Maybe Moomaws will show I love camp! The best part of my summer I can’t wait for campers to come So Paris please Tell us now what’s going on Over the course of the past eight years, I’ve had the privilege of baptizing God’s beloved in some pretty amazing places. A pond, a river, over a kitchen sink, and yes, in the church, but it wasn’t until Sunday, July 3rd that I experienced this holy sacrament at one of my favorite places on earth. On that Sunday night, 200 Shrine Mont campers, staff, and alumni gathered together in the rec hall for a worship service I’ll never forget. All camp worship is one of the highlights at Shrine Mont. The entire mountain gathers together for prayer, song, and the breaking of the bread. The energy is always high, the singing joyful, and the spirit present. This week, however, all camp worship looked a little different. This week, we had the joy of participating in the baptism of future camper, Luca. One of my favorite parts of the baptismal service, which is often overlooked, is the vow made by the congregation to support the newly baptized. It reads, Leader Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support this person in their life in Christ? People We will. Never in my life, have I heard such an energetic, hopeful, and committed response than I did from the campers and staff on that Sunday night. The community of faith gathered here in this holy place took their vow to support Luca wholeheartedly. During the service, they remembered their own baptisms, proclaimed the kingdom of heaven has come near, and promised to live into a perpetual state of grace by loving themselves and their neighbors. To say the world felt a little less broken that evening would be an understatement. Luca will grow up in a more loving and a more reconciled world because of the community which surrounded him that night.
And all God’s people said, “AMEN!”
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The view from the mountainSpreading the good news of Shrine Mont Camps into the Valley of the World.
AuthorsThe View from the Mountain is written by a rotating cast of staff writers and contributors. Archives
September 2018
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