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Introducing the 2012-2013 Interns!!
posted in Blog | Friday, February 15th, 2013
In January we added to our intern family, so we figured now would be a good time to introduce you to all of our interns! Drum roll please…
Returning for her second year working with Jessica out at the ranch, Kaitlyn “Kershaw” Adrian is this year’s Ranch Intern. Before coming to camp during the summer of 2011 to be a wrangler at Sunrise Ranch, Kaitlyn was living with her family in Elk, Washington – north of Spokane, training horses, showing beef cattle and market lambs, working as a handywoman, and helping out with her youth group. This past summer Kaitlyn worked as the Ranch Hand and enjoyed watching the Wranglers and S.A.L.T.s grow in their faith, commitment, responsibility, and friendship. When asked why she wanted to serve at Cascades again, she replied “I feel at peace here and I know that the staff can teach me a lot. I can grow more in God and what he has planned for me.” Her goal for this year is to learn all she can. Some fun facts about Kaitlyn include, she has never known an animal she couldn’t get along with, and since being at camp she has cleaned approximately 1273 toilets.
Jonathan “Ciabatta” Goheen is working alongside Cean this year as the Operations Team Intern! Jon hails from the desert land of Southern Arizona, but prior to coming out to camp this summer he was living with his older brother in Medford, Oregon and taking a couple classes at a local community college. This past summer Jon served as one half of the Brightwood S.A.L.T leadership team and enjoyed spending quality time with some quality high school students and staff. Jonathan wanted to serve this year at Cascades because, “I love the idea of spending a year at Cascades doing an internship! I look forward to learning new things and hanging out with my fellow interns!” Jonathan’s goal for this year is to figure out what is the next step in his life. Something most people don’t know about Jon is that apparently reds and browns compliment his skin tone, or at least that is what he has been told…
Working in food service with Mike as this year’s Kitchen Intern is Tim “Gracioso” Chase. This past summer Tim served as one third of the kitchen leadership team and enjoyed it so much he didn’t want to leave! This summer he enjoyed watching the kitchen team grow into a group of friends and enjoyed the enriching community throughout the summer. Tim is originally from Gresham, Oregon and recently graduated from Mt. Hood Community College with an Associates of Arts. When asked why he wanted to serve at Cascades for the year he replied, “I am serving at Cascades because Jesus called us to be servants. At camp, I wake up and every day is not about myself. Camp has always felt like a home to me, and I’m just really glad to be a part of the community here.” One of Tim’s goals this year is to grow in the Lord, grow in friendship, grow into the man God is making him to be, and to grow a mustache. Some interesting facts about Tim are that he is legally blind in his left eye and he once fit 33 baby carrots into his mouth!
Samantha “Mushu” Trestik is working with Claudia as one of this year’s Program Interns. This past summer Sammie served as the Program Assistant and enjoyed the challenges and knowledge that comes with a new job as well as working in a community that was supportive and a BLAST! Sammie is from Tigard, Oregon and graduated this past May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Whitworth University. When asked why she wanted to serve at Cascades she replied “God has continuously called me back to this place, I’ve always wanted to intern out here. I’m excited for the opportunity to work with Claudia and challenge myself with the planning, promotion, and execution of everything program!” This year she hopes to apply her marketing knowledge into the camping industry, and choose to serve with joy each day while working with the rest of the interns and staff. Some unique things about Sammie include are that she competed in jump rope club as a kid, her life is just a little bit better when she has her 32″ care bear by her side, and she has worked for at least two weeks in every department at camp.
Jessica “Lambchop” Martin is working with Claudia as the other half of the Program Intern Team. This past summer Jessica served as the Program Leader at Camp Timber Rock and loved being able to create a space and facilitate an experience for God to move in the hearts and lives of both campers and staff! Jessica is originally from Selah, Washington and graduated this past December with a Bachelor’s Degree in Global Development Studies from Seattle Pacific University. When asked why she wants to serve at Cascades she replied “Camping ministry is a perfect blend of my passions, and because I want to take part in the ministry that has so profoundly impacted my own faith journey.” One of Jessica’s goals is to grow in her knowledge and love for both Christ and camping ministry… and get the best Chaco sandal tan on summer staff. Some fun facts about Jessica are that she plays the oboe, drinks a tall Americano with light room for cream, and makes a lot of sound effects in everyday conversation.
If you were thinking of sending us a care package (HINT HINT) feel free to include fun board games, delicious homemade cookies, gift certificates to places like Dairy Queen or Starbucks and most importantly encouraging notes!
Peace and Blessings,
Sammie “Mushu” Trestik
...readmore
2012 Thunder Reflections
posted in Blog | Sunday, November 4th, 2012
Cascades’ was recently transformed into a tropical paradise for our Island themed Thunder Retreat and invaded by 300 middle school students and their youth leaders on Friday night! During the sessions, a team from North Park University led the students in worship and Tom Dierenfeld of DeerGrove Covenant in Illinois shared a word with the students. Tom’s messages were filled with God’s presence always being with us, and how we can live a life that is full and pleasing to Him by not wasting our lives, taking one day, one person, one act of love at a time.
During the day youth groups participated in everything camp has to offer starting with “The Island Games” where youth groups competed against each other in big games like, “blind volleyball”, “over-take”, “musical tennis balls”, etc… After lunch students had the opportunity to choose from other camp activities like zip line, paintball, trail rides, and tie dye along with other fun camp activities. And of course, who could forget a common highlight year to year, the “Thunder’s Got Talent” talent show! This year’s winning act was from Mercier Island with a Harry Potter Puppet Pals act!
Overall students and leaders had time to make new friends, grow closer as a group and spend a weekend making memories as they were challenged in their walk with God!
- Samantha “Mushu” Trestik
Program Intern
...readmorePastors, Staff, Spouse Retreat Audio
posted in Blog | Saturday, October 20th, 2012
For those of you who were at the 2012 North Pacific Conference “Pastor, Staff, and Spouse Retreat” – here is the audio from the messages.
Every sermon is available for free download or direct streaming via the Cascades Podcast on iTunes.
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Ruth Haley Barton |
Ruth Haley Barton |
Ruth Haley Barton |
Don Robinson |
LD Family Camp 2012 Audio Online!
posted in Blog | Thursday, September 13th, 2012
Did you enjoy the messages from Labor Day Family Camp this year? Well now you can have a listen to these fantastic sermons shared by Pastor Paul Duppenthaler of Countryside Community Church at our Labor Day Family Camp worship sessions.
Every sermon is available for free download or direct streaming via the Cascades Podcast on iTunes.
Enjoy!
...readmoreID4 Family Camp 2012 Podcast – Up Now!
posted in Blog | Tuesday, July 24th, 2012
If you enjoyed the speakers at Independence Day Family Camp this summer, or you couldn’t make it this year and want to hear these great sermons, the sessions are now available online! With the exception of Wednesday night (due to technical difficulties), each sermon is available to download for free via the Cascades Podcast on iTunes.
Enjoy!
...readmoreMeet this Summer’s Leadership Staff!
posted in Blog | Monday, June 25th, 2012
2012 Leadership (workout) Video from Cascades Camp on Vimeo.
...readmoreposted in Blog | Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
My Three Homes
My first home is the one I’ve always known.
Its the one I’ve grown up in, the one where I
played with friends, in sun and in snow,
the one I’ve always come back to.
I don’t ever want to leave this home for good.
It holds sweet memories, of times well
spent with family, and my parents’ tasty food.
My second home is a ranch, where I go
every chance I get. There’s horses there,
and friends I make and friends I know.
It’s a special place for me to be, where
I can help others, and also be closer to
the One who made me. I love it there,
there’s so much to see and do.
My last home I’ve never seen, but I love
it anyway. It’s my true home, where I’ll
go to stay. It’s the home far above,
where waiting for me, is my Savior, my
God, the One who made me. I’ve waited
seventeen years for Him to appear in the sky,
calling all who had faith to be with Him, in our
one true home.
- Poem By Naphtali “Regit” Wagner
...readmore“100 Years of Friendship”
posted in Blog | Saturday, February 18th, 2012
This is a very touching story that outlines the history behind a picture of “Two Boys in a Boat” that we have come to love here at Cascades and use in many of our publications. This story was shared with us courtesy of Marilyn Peterson and family. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
This is the story of ”Two Young Boys on a Little Yellow Boat”
The “Two Young Boys” have a story to tell.
Isaac Dotson, 10, and Isaac Gettis, 10, found themselves in this “boat” at Cascades Camp and Conference Center in the year 2005, as friendly cabin mates.
Little did they know that their story began as early as the 1920′s. How can this be? Well, we will tell you.
Alfreda”Dolly”Lofquist was born in 1903 in LeRoy, Michigan and travelled to Detroit, Michigan to find a job, a church and friends. The Mission Covenant Church of Detroit, became her church and her special friend in that church was Gladys Lindberg. Later, each married men from Swedish Covenant backgrounds; Dolly married Paul LeRoy Olson, who became a Covenant pastor, and Gladys married her Sunday School friend, Benny Johnson who became a mechanical engineer.
In 1937, Gladys had a daughter, Donna Jean, in Detroit and in 1938 Dolly became the mother of Marilyn. It was a pleasant surprise when, many years later in the 1950′s, Donna Jean, from Traverse City, Michigan, attended North Park College (now University) and for the first time, met and became friends with Marilyn, from Portland, Oregon.
By way of North Park, Donna met and married Rev. Burdette (Bud) Palmberg in 1957, and in the same way, Marilyn met Rev. Gary Peterson and married him in 1961.
By the mid 1970s both families had moved from other parts of the country to the Seattle area. Gary was now pastor of Midway Covenant Church in Des Moines and Bud was pastor of Mercer Island Covenant Church.
It was at Covenant Beach Family Camp where their girls first met as children. Every year they were at Bible camp together, either at Covenant Beach or at Circle C Ranch in Leavenworth.
Chrisi married Michael Dotson in 1988 and Shari married Rick Gettis in 1990. After having other children, both girls gave birth to sons named Isaac. Isaac Dotson was born June 30, 1995 and Isaac Gettis was born September 13, 1994.
The two Isaacs began their friendship while attending Cascades Camp and Conference Center, continuing the legacy of friendship to four generations.
This could also be called, “The story of 100 years of friendships”.
MUD and ICE
posted in Blog | Sunday, February 5th, 2012
We recently hosted the annual M.U.D. Retreat for high school youth groups in the North Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Though the snow was falling, the retreat was “ABLAZE” (which was also our theme this year) with fun activities, good food, close friends, and the impacting presence of Jesus.During the daily sessions a talented group of musicians from North Park University led the students in worship through music and Kris Causton of Excelsior Covenant in Minnesota shared about God’s fire within their hearts. Throughout the day youth groups participated in fun camp activities – they even got a chance to play ultimate cow tongue (ultimate Frisbee with a cow tongue). A highlight of the weekend for many was ‘Sacred Spaces’ – an experiential worship time held on Sunday night. Stations were set up all around the Rainier Center, encouraging students to think, pray, and reflect on God and His relationship with them. Many students expressed how much they enjoyed this time to grow in their relationship with our Lord and Savior.
Despite the snow, all of the youth groups were able to safely return to their homes just in time, as the snow continued to fall. We ended up with a total of 10 inches on Wednesday. That night we had freezing rain and woke up Thursday morning to no power and many down trees. It is amazing how heavy ice can be and its ability to tear trees in half!! We spent part of the day Thursday and most of the day Friday cleaning up the major roads around camp. Our forests have definitely been thinned out a bit and there is still a lot of cleanup to do. Never the less God was good and none of our buildings were damaged. The power outage brought about a cool opportunity to share in community as a staff. We gathered around the generators spending meals together, playing games, and keeping warm. It was an awesome time bonding around fires and candle light, but we were all glad to have the power returned after four days on Sunday afternoon.
All in all, it is safe to say that things have been pretty exciting around Cascades!
- Darek “Delta” Hollis
Program Intern