August 26, 2009

Wow, did the 2009 Summer season fly by!  Seems like just yesterday I was packing up my bags and headed up to Horton Center.  And so much happened this summer.  I saw my first bear and moose wild in New England (although I did just move back here in October, I did spend about 22 years in New England before moving away).  I got to try rock climbing for the first time, made it to the top of Storybook.  But most of all I got to meet some really great people.  The 2009 staff were great, the volunteers really impressed me, and all the campers were great!  We had some really small weeks, some really large weeks, but each week brought new people, with new ideas and new energy.

During the shoulder months we rent the site to groups.  Different churches will usually rent a weekend (or even a long weekend) to come up and enjoy the site.  In October, when it starts to get cold, and the leaves are the most beutiful, a group will go to Horton Center to close up for the winter.  Of course, you are invited to join us for that weekend (fall work weekend).  All I need to know is who you are, and what meals you will eat.  Of course if you have any special skills you might want to share (such as yurt disassembly, painting, cleaning, power washer expert, or anything else), it would be great to know that.  Even if you do not consider yourself an expert yet, come up to camp and we will teach you how to run a pressure washer, or even how to disassemble a yurt. 

If you were a camper this summer, I would love to hear your story.  What did you like, what didn't you like, and what would you like to see next summer.  As we start to think about 2010, I would like to hear what camps you want to see offered, what activities you want to see, and things like that.  Also, if you want to share any great quotes (like a breakthrough you had), I might even use it in a brochure or on the website.  If you had a great time, let me know (and if you have anything you didn't like, let me know that also, we need the good and the bad to make the camp even better). 

I hope you all have a great start to the school year.  Work hard, I would hate to have you in summer school rather then at camp, and keep posted for some possible exciting things this winter! 

Rev. Robert W. Vodra
Director of Outdoor and Education Ministries
NH Conference United Church of Christ
140 Sheep Davis Road
Pembroke, NH 03275
603-225-6647 ext 112
rvodra@nhcucc.org