Director’s Blog

Friday, July 24, 2026: 7:00pm

We just finished dinner (spaghetti, garlic bread, Caesar salad, and cookies). We are getting ready for our final program of the week which will be followed by our special bonfire Vespers service at our beach. Campers who are here for their 4th summer will receive the special 4-year cross this evening. We will also present the “I’m Third” Award this evening to 1 male and 1 female camper. To all of you who took the time to read these updates, I send my appreciation. Please know how deeply meaningful this week has been for our staff and what a great age group this is to end our summer with. Our theme this summer has been, “Seen and Known” which was inspired by the entire Chapter of Psalm 139. We have unpacked the entire Chapter with the campers this week during our morning Anchor services. Feel free to ask your campers how we unpacked this very powerful chapter. To all parents who took the time to read these updates, I send my thanks-this has been a great week. We will see each of you at 8:30am.

Friday, July 24, 2026: 4:30pm

During our fishing clinic today, the campers caught 18 total fish which is a record for one day. We think this was due to a recent hatch in the lake. Check the photo page later this evening for some pictures.

As you prepare to pick up your camper tomorrow morning, I wanted to offer some tips and suggestions:

1. Consider taking your camper to lunch right after pick-up to allow them to share about their week. My wife and I have done this in the past, and it has been fun to hear all of the stories. For our kids, it usually took several days for us to hear about everything.

2. As good as #1 can be, some kids are not ready to share about their week and will need time to process. It is likely that your child will be very tired when they see you and the “camp adrenaline” wears off. If this happens, consider allowing your child to take a long nap when they get home before they share anything. I have also seen some of our kids in the past get emotional after Saturday pick-up because they did not want to leave camp or their cabin-mates.

3. If your child shows an interest in spiritual things such as reading the Bible or attending church, I would encourage you to allow them to pursue these things. We do encourage our campers to read the Bible every day, and we talk about how important weekly church attendance is. If your family does not attend church, consider allow them to attend with a friend or relative. Also consider attending church together. You are always welcome to attend First Presbyterian Church.

4. If you child shows an interest in new activities that they tried at camp, consider allowing them to pursue those interests. Examples can be archery, water skiing, kayaking, angle ball (email me with details), water polo, paddleboarding, etc.

5. Research has shown that camp can impact a high percentage of campers for as much as 6-months after the experience. One of our goals is for campers to “take camp home” with them so that the experience doesn’t fade quickly. Consider having your camper journal about their camp experience so you can continue to listen and encourage them in all they experienced.

6. Research has shown that kids can oftentimes seem happier, more respectful, and more helpful around the house when they return from camp. If you notice these changes in your child, make sure to encourage them with what you are seeing. I have talked to several parents over the years who have told me that their child is “nicer” when they come home from camp and some have even said that the experience was transformational. This does not happen with every camper, but the research is compelling.

7. Since we have been phone and screen free all week long, consider reducing your child’s overall screen exposure for the duration of the summer.

8. Some campers experience a downer after returning home from camp due to the experience, their friends, and the feeling of belonging. Don’t be surprised if they are moody, emotional, and saying that they didn’t want to come home. Not all campers will feel this way, but try and give your child room and space to acclimate back to camp.

9. Some campers experience the “mountaintop experience” or “summit fever” during their week of camp. I spoke this morning about how awesome the mountaintop experiences are in our life, but we are not meant to remain there forever. I encouraged them to try and “take camp home with them” when they return to the midlands and even lowlands of their lives.

Friday, July 24, 2026: 1:00pm

Parents, I know your kids are young, but we just released a new podcast episode this morning that features a cabin of 10th graders on their last day of camp last week. If you get a chance, check this out—it will bless you.

Camp Is In Session – A Conversation with a 10th Grade Cabin - Stories from the Point | Podcast on Spotify

Friday, July 24, 2026: 12:00pm

Parents, two books that I want to recommend to you are, “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt and “Wild Things” by James Thomas. If you are looking for books that will challenge you as a parent, I highly recommend these two. “Anxious Generation” discusses the switch from the play-based childhood to the phone-based childhood. This book has revolutionized our families view of technology and healthy boundaries with our kids. My wife and I are living in a constant state of “FOMO” with our oldest two with this issue and we have found it to be very tricky to navigate. The other book I mentioned is the best one I have read on raising boys. Do yourself a favor and check these out. I mention these two because they have also helped me as a camp director.

Friday, July 24, 2026: 10:45am

On this last day of camp, we are doing great. We just finished a hearty breakfast of cheddar biscuits, baked eggs, and sausage. Morning Anchor (worship service) was powerful and sweet. It is especially meaningful to see kids this age worshipping the Lord by singing at the top of their lungs. Our staff is extra sentimental today with this being our last day of the regular summer camp schedule. We are going to make the most of it on this beautiful day.

Thursday, July 23, 2026: 9:15pm

Cabins are heading back from the field/evening activity to get ready for bed. We had a great time on the field playing games like Angle Ball (it’s a mix between football, soccer, rugby, and ultimate frisbee), limbo, frisbee throwing, and listening to music all evening. Tomorrow is our last regular day of camp for Summer 2026 and we are going to make the most of it. I am looking forward to sharing some end of week research with you tomorrow including some recent books I have read which have changed the way I think as a parent. Our Head of Media should be posting some updated photos here shortly.

Thursday, July 23, 2026: 5:00pm

Even though we have a steady drizzle, we haven’t missed much on this very cool day. Free time is currently winding down and we are preparing for dinner (sweet and sour chicken with rice and desert). The evening activity tonight is called, “Hawaiian Luau” and is a staff favorite this summer. We will play various games on the field while our program DJ’s play a great selection of music which provides a party feeling to the evening.

Thursday, July 23, 2026: 2:30pm

We have received a lot of rain today, but it hasn’t impacted our plans. We changed around our schedule so the campers are under a roof during heavy rain and outside during dry slots. It is 77 degrees which is unheard of for July 23rd. We do not mind doing outdoor activities in the light rain as long as thunder is not involved. I will try to post a longer post later today.

Thursday, July 23, 2026: 7:15am

We enjoyed some steady rain overnight which is always welcome here. The rain seems to be moving out this morning, and the high temp is forecast to be near 80 today. The campers had a great time at our hoedown last night (see the pics). Did you know that we have one of the best hoedown callers in the city who also happens to be my wife! Breakfast this morning includes a French toast bake with sausage and yogurt.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026: 5:45pm

Quick update for this evening: We are having our famous hamburger cookout for dinner and will then head to our hoedown after Vespers and Flag. The forecast tonight is calling for a good bit of rain which will unfortunately not allow us to hold our campouts at our new backcountry sites, but the rain hitting the tin roofs will serve as natures best sound machine for all of us. Did you know that all of our boy cabins are brand new with 2 porches, huge bathrooms, and AC. Our girl cabins are not as new but we added AC in all of them last summer.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026: 4:00pm

We have had a lot of adventure today parents. Here are a few examples:

1. Our outdoorsman clinic learned how to bait and set a humane animal trap yesterday. We have identified a groundhog den on the property, and we set the traps with cantaloupe to see if we could catch one (side note, I set the traps and no animals are ever harmed). Instead of a groundhog, we unfortunately caught a racoon. We allowed the kids to look at the trap from far away and we discussed some facts about racoons. With the campers standing a far distance away, me and one of our eagle scout staff members released the coon and watched it climb a tree. After this, the clinic leaders took the class to build campfires which they are extinguishing now.

2. Our river kayak clinic learned how to wet exit today. Anytime we wet exit, we always have 2 instructors with the camper’s and I also supervise this personally. We also got out our tandem twin yak today which is super-duper cool.

3. Our arts and crafts clinic built and flew kites yesterday on our field.

4. Our fishing clinic used real worms today and caught several fish. We are also allowing some of the campers to try their hand in supervised fly fishing.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026: 2:00pm

I am going to brag here for a moment on your kids: We have some VERY young campers here and I have been impressed with how well they have done for being so young. Being at camp for a week at this age can be life changing for a kid. Camp can teach a kid how to be away from mom and dad for a short amount of time which leads to more independence. Here is an equation that I like to think about in terms of my own kids:

1 Week of Camp = 30-40 regular days away from camp. I really do believe that this is true due to how specialized and concentrated the camp experience is. Here is another equation:

Time At Camp ———->More Independence——> More Confidence——>New Skill Acquisition——->Meeting new friends——->Solidified worldview——->Increased empathy (to name a few).

We are so proud of how the campers are doing this week in all aspects. I hope that this encourages you on this Wednesday.

Wednesday, July 22, 2026: 9:00am

We are already at the mid-week mark and we continue to be doing great. Breakfast this morning consisted of breakfast taquitos, baked eggs, yogurt, and OJ. The taquitos contained hashbrowns and sausage. I thought you would all enjoy seeing what your campers cabin activities are this morning:

G1: Tubing B1: Tubing G1: Low Ropes Course B1: Ultimate Frisbee G2: Swim & Water Inf. B2: Home Run Derby G2: Drama B2: Mountain Biking G3: Kayaks, etc. B3: Swim & Water Inf. G3: Porch Games B3: Ultimate Frisbee G4: Pickleball B4: Banana Boat G4: Volleyball B4: Kickball G5: Battle Ball B5: Tubing G5: Drama B5: Battle Ball G6: Kickball B6: Putt Putt Golf G6: Bouldering Gym B6: Battle Ball G7: Swim & Water Inf. B7: BB Guns G7: 4 Sqaure B7: Angle Ball G8: Kayaks, etc. B8: Porch Games G8: BB Guns B8: Putt Putt Golf G9: Bouldering Gym B9: Home Run Derby G9: Archery B9: Kickball G10: Gaga Ball G10: PickleballG11: Kickball G11: Low Ropes Course

Tuesday, July 21, 2026: 7:00pm

I wanted to share what we had for dinner tonight: honey-glazed chicken drumsticks, green beans, drop-biscuits, baked potatoes, and chocolate mousse. This is one of our cook’s signature dishes which the campers loved. We are getting ready to head to Vespers (our evening worship service) and then evening flag, followed by our evening activity called the Gnome Hunt. The Gnome Hunt is robust game that involves cabins running around camp trying to hit staff with water balloons for points. This game is a perfect game for kids this age.

Tuesday, July 21, 2026: 3:00pm

Things have heated up a good bit this afternoon, but temps should trend down a bit as we progress into the week. We just finished sugar shack (snow cones) and are heading to Clinics. Clinics are skills-based classes that campers sign up for. With clinics, we are seeking to teach campers a skill that they have either never learned before or something that they can improve in. For our outdoorsman clinic, I am spending 15 minutes showing the class how to set an animal trap. We frequently trap groundhogs up here so we can relocate them away from camper cabins. Don’t worry, in the event that we actually do catch something, campers will not be near it and we will not harm the animal. Other clinics include water skiing/wake-boarding/surfing/knee-boarding, river kayaks, crafts, field sports, pavilion sports, normal kayaks/paddleboards, swimming/blobbing/water polo, adventure sampler, drama, and more.

First days at camp can be hard at this age and I wanted to set all of your minds at ease as to what I am seeing. Where I saw some stress and anxiety last night with first day jitters has been replaced by smiles and confidence. We keep a close eye on this.

Tuesday, July 21, 2026: 9:15am

Good morning from camp. This is a quick note before we head into our morning worship service that we are doing great and all is well. We are looking forward to our first full day of camp which will include lots of activity, fun, cabin time, and being on the lake. We just got out of breakfast which included pancakes, bacon, eggs, and OJ. More updates later…..

Monday, July 20, 2026: 10:15pm

Campers are in bed with lights out now and I am just now getting to my computer to wrap up the day. Did you know that our leadership team goes to each cabin (girls with girls and guys with guys) to check on each cabin and the counselors to make sure all is well. We look for things like pillows, bedding, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc and to make sure that each camper is settled and good.

Tonight, after dinner and before our evening vespers service, something remarkable happened. A light rain began to fall but there was nothing on the radar. We decided to head down to Vesper Point for the service when it started to pour rain. What was interesting is that the sun was out in full force, but it was pouring like cats and dogs. We rushed the kids back up the trail and into our meeting room for Vespers. All of a sudden, a stunning rainbow appeared over our dining hall and into the lake channel. What was so impressive is that the rainbow’s starting point was right in the woods next to our dining hall’s back porch. I have never seen anything like it in terms of the interesting refraction angle of the actual bow. I am guessing that the storm formed right over camp and hit the sun at just the right angle to produce this feature. It was so amazing to look at, and I think the campers thought it was cool. I will try to post some pictures of the rainbow in the morning.

Monday, July 20, 2026: 6:15pm

It would be hard to ask for a better start to this day. We just got back from Free Time at the waterfront and the lake felt wonderful. At any given time at the waterfront, we have the following things going on: blobbing, jumping on the aqua tramp, jumping on the rocket, swimming, jumping off the high dive, tubing or riding the banana boat on our ski boats (with cabins), canoeing, kayaking, riding on paddleboards, hanging out on the SUP Islands, etc. We have an incredible waterfront facility that we try to take advantage of each day. Kids need to be on the water as much as possible so they can just be a kid, soak up the sun, and play. Here is our schedule for the rest of the day:

6:15: Dinner

7:10: Vespers (The word Vespers means “evening worship” which is where our camp got its name. We have been having evening vespers services at this camp since 1954).

7:45: Evening Flag

8:00: Evening Activity (Guys Night/Girls Night-The guys will be playing battleball, kickball on our new baseball field, tug-of-war, and basketball. Our girls will be playing a capture the flag style game on our athletic field

9:00: Back to cabins, showers, lights out by 9:45

At this age, we are BIG on these kids getting plenty of sleep given how much energy they burn during the day. We also are really pushing hydration, sunscreen, and ensuring that they brush their teeth. We also check to make sure that they are taking care of their feet given how rough our terrain is.

More updates later…..

Monday, July 20, 2026: 12:15pm

We are off and running with Week #7. This is our last regular week of camp for the summer, and we love ending the summer with this age group. I wanted to thank each of you for making this morning very smooth and helpful. All of the campers did great during the swim test on this gorgeous day. The lake temperature is over 80 degrees and feels incredible. Add a cool breeze to his and you have a picture-perfect day up here. Did you know that we have over 30 certified lifeguards on staff who are skilled in water rescue, CPR, and AED rescue. If this is your child’s first time at an overnight summer camp, my wife and I understand fully how hard it can be to drop them off. It is not easy to drop your camper off knowing that you won’t see them until Saturday. It is our goal here to keep you well-informed at what we are doing with these updates and on our picture page. Feel free to check here for updates all throughout the day. We are about to eat lunch (homemade pizza) which will be followed by cabin move in time!

Friday, July 17, 2026: 11:15pm

Apologies for the late post. We had to pivot and have our Friday night bonfire service inside due to the storms that got very close to us. I did not feel right about having the kids outside with lightning and thunder so close by. It never really did storm here, but I know it stormed hard in town. We had a very powerful and meaningful last night with the campers. After the Vespers service, most of the campers remained and continued to worship with our worship band. Parents, please be encouraged by what we are seeing this week here at camp. As you prepare for morning pick-up, I want to encourage each of you to carve out time this weekend to unpack your child’s camp experience with them. This can be done over a meal, on a long walk, or a series of multiple walks! We will see you all bring and early in the morning.

Friday, July 17, 2026: 4:00pm

One of the things that is really important to us is the concept of ceremony. We are planning our end of week bonfire Vespers service this evening which summarizes and celebrates the week. The service includes worship, final staff testimonies, a special cheer, a presentation of the 4-year camper cross, 8-year camper Bible, the I’m Third Award, and an opportunity for campers to share in front of the entire camp voluntarily. You would be surprised at how many campers choose to share with is always a big encouragement to our staff. Another special thing that we did today was record a podcast with a 10th grade cabin on their last full day as a camper. This episode focused on them discussing what camp has meant to them over the years and favorite memories or stories. This episode will likely be released on our podcast platform, “Stories from the Point” sometime next week. The episode was very organic, raw, and completely unrehearsed because we wanted it to be authentic.

At the moment, we are dodging some thunder and hoping to be in the lake by 4:15 fingers crossed.

Friday, July 17, 2026: 10:00am

Happy Friday parents. We have made it to the last full day of camp and we have a full day of special plans and activities. We had a delicious breakfast this morning: cheddar biscuits, baked eggs, OJ, etc. After morning worship, we will head into our two cabin activity periods including those cabins that won the coveted dock party. The dock party includes extra time at the dock (swimming, blobbing, etc) and ice cream…what kid doesn’t like ice cream before lunch?!

Below are some additional quotes that I want to share with you from the books that I mentioned yesterday. As you prepare to pick your camper up tomorrow, I will post some additional thoughts later today on how you can unpack this week with them.

“It is not surprising when we want to linger and savor mountaintop experiences. We are called to savor the mountain top experience, but we are also called away to our normal lives and sent forth on a mission. Kids need help to process their mountain top experience and someone who can accompany them back into the normal messiness of life.”

“After the camp experience, many parents report that their kids are nicer, wanting to help around the house more, being more polite, and nicer to other people. Parents also reported less of a dependance of electronics, an increased interest in worship services and attending church, and an increase in faith conversations.”

“What happens at camp should not stay at camp. It should infuse every home and congregation with new life.”

“The ride home from camp is the transition point when a camper has left camp but not yet returned home. This is a prime chance for the parent to ask about: their counselors, friends they made, their favorite part, a new skill they learned, the hardest part of camp, etc.” Director’s Note: While some kids will want to unpack everything with you, some may want the ride home to be silent so they can process everything. Some kids may even fall asleep on the ride back home. Whatever your child does, I would encourage each of you eventually unpack the week with your child.

Thursday, July 16, 2026: 5:00pm

Our leadership team met this morning and discussed how there was close to a 0% chance of rain this morning, so of course it poured for over an hour! The good news is that the rain did not interrupt any of our plans and every drop was welcome and needed. Hydrology and the water table are big deals up here. We are finishing up free time at the moment and getting ready for our evening activities. Two additional cabins will be camping out this evening at our new backcountry camp sites. Our activity this evening is our Hawaiian Luau on our athletic field. To get ready for this party, we are having sweet and sour chicken this evening for dinner.

Thursday, July 16, 2026: 10:00am

All is well as we are enjoying this beautiful Thursday morning. We just finished breakfast (French Toast + Sausage) and are in cabin devotionals as I type this. The campers enjoyed a World Cup update this morning when they found out that Argentina stunned England in the game yesterday. We played them the key highlights which brought a lot of screams (the only screens they have seen this week).

I had the chance to read two books this past Spring that revolutionized my thoughts on parenting and on Christian camping. I want to recommend, “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt and, “Sacred Playgrounds” by Jacon Sorenson. I also want to recommend, “Wild Things” by Stephen James and David Thomas for anyone who is looking for a book on raising boys. For someone who struggles with the desire to read, these 3 books are among the best I have read in years. I want to share some thoughts and quotes with you from these books as they relate to the topic of Christian camping.

Out of our comfort zones is where we grow. Even the strongest of trees requires frequent stiff winds to ensure proper growth and root strength.” Translation: It is so good for kids to learn how to be away from mom and dad for a short period of time. It can create large scale growth, confidence, and responsibility.

“Once you actually get away from your life, you can see a whole different angle. One of the greatest benefits of the camp experience is providing the chance to see life from a different perspective. This new perspective and the act of stepping outside their comfort zones prime the campers for growth.” Translation: Kids can oftentimes see life from a different perspective when they come to camp.

“Camp is closely related to the practice of Christian pilgrimage. The value of a pilgrimage includes community and the ability to get outside of God’s creation (away from screens!—added by me). Translation: Coming to camp may be one of the most important journeys that your kids take.

“It is critical that our kids do not suffer from a “nature deficit disorder”..get them outside as much as you can.” Translation: Kids need to be outside as much as possible given how tempting it is to stay inside all day long in front of a screen or video game. Being outside is needed, necessary, and healing.

“Campers leave camp with an increased understanding that they can accomplish things on their own and that they enjoy going outside their comfort zones, and these impacts can last months after camp is over.” Translation: Can can instill a huge amount of confidence in kids that can last for a long time.

“Many campers have never experienced two days in a row without exposure to screened devices. This is a gift that camp can give them.” Translation: We see campers and staff who struggle with tech withdrawal but later show signs of healing from this the longer they are in the woods.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026: 10:00pm

Today has been a full and fun day. We finished up the hoedown earlier this evening before heading back to cabins for bed. This age group of campers really gets into the line dances which creates a lot of energy. We also just dropped Cabins B1 off at our backcountry camp site for a campout. Girl Cabin G4 is camping out at our new girl campsite as well. We provide the ground pads and sleeping bags and tents. These cabins will enjoy a nice campfire with smores and hammocks to hang out in. As we approach the end of this week, I will be sharing some research-based information tomorrow related to summer camps. I hope that you find the information that I share helpful. All is well here as we head to bed.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026: 12:00pm

Not to harp on the weather, but we are pinching ourselves that it is 78 degrees at noon on July 15! I wanted to share that we just opened up a new horseshoe (the game) cabin activity this morning. Cabin B1 was the first to play and they loved it. The activity is located at our old pavilion and will be available for campers to play whenever they have free time or even time at night before bed. We are always brainstorming to add mission appropriate activities to perk curiosity and to keep campers busy during the day. Did you know that we have loaded up our porch with porch activities to keep campers active before and after meals. The goal in every activity is to create talking, relationships, trust, curiosity, and interest. We want these activities to serve as springboards for counselors to be able to talk with campers.

Wednesday, July 15, 2026: 8:15am

We are waking up to a cloudy and comfortable morning here on the midpoint of our week. Wednesday is always a day to look forward to since we have 2 cabin activity periods this morning and our hamburger cookout for dinner. Our evening activity this evening is our hoe-down which is a high-energy set of individual and group line dances.

Our theme for the summer is, “Seen and Known” which was inspired by Psalm 139. We are unpacking the entire chapter this week during our morning anchor worship services by taking 6 verses each day. During today’s anchor service, we will focus on verses 7-13. For now, we are headed to breakfast (breakfast taquitos, eggs), morning flag, anchor, and then our 2 cabin activity periods.

Tuesday, July 14, 2026: 5:45pm

I am happy to report that we may it through the entire day without any thunder or lightning which has enabled us to have our normal schedule. During Free Time, a tropical downpour came but it added a really fun dynamic to being in the lake and on the boats. The wind whipped up and created a wave pool which the campers LOVED. As long as our lifeguards can see, we are good to go in normal rain. I would pay serious money to have a high temp of 80 on July 14th. Our lifeguards were so chilly, we had to get them some windbreakers.

We are prepping for dinner now (honey drumsticks, baked potatoes, green beans, drop biscuits, and desert) which will be followed by evening Vespers, flag, and our evening activity called Gnome Hunt. Gnome Hunt is a like a strange combination of counselor hunt, batman, Disney, and several other interesting characters. Cabins run around the entire camp trying to hit “gnomes” who are dressed up counselors for points.

Tuesday, July 13, 2026: 7:30am

Good morning from a quiet and peaceful CVP. We are about to start our first full day of camp which is always an exciting thing. Our schedule this morning includes morning flag, breakfast, morning anchor (worship), cabin devotions, cabin activities, cvp games, and lunch. Here is a list of what each cabin will be doing this morning for cabin activities. Don’t you wish you could join in on these fun activities?

B1: Tubing B2: Kayaks B3: Kayaks B4: Vdome Sports B5: Basketball B6: Swim & Water Inf. B7: Touch Football B8: Basketball B9: Touch Football

G1: Swim & Water Inf. G2: Volleyball G3: Pickleball G4: Putt Putt Golf G5: Swim & Water Inf. G6: Archery G7: Banana Boat G8: Tubing G9: Tubing G10: BB Guns G11: Low Ropes Course

Monday, July 13, 2026: 9:30pm

Our first day at camp is coming to an end and it has been a great day. We had a strange storm which churned over us for over an hour with some persistent thunder and lightning. It never did rain but we could not get the thunder to move out which caused us to miss most of free time. At about 4:40pm, poof….the skies cleared and it turned into a beautiful day….such is life on the lake. At the last minute, we were able to run all of our 4:45pm cabins on the boats which they greatly enjoyed. Each cabin is guaranteed 2 boats per week where we take them out on double tubes or the banana boat. After dinner (macaroni and cheese, smoked sausage, and chocolate pudding), we headed to our evening worship service called Vespers. The name “Vespers” means, “evening worship” and the name of our camp (Vesper Point) was coined in the early 60’s by campers themselves. We hold Vespers at a special outdoor amphitheater which overlooks the lake which provides a stunning view. After 3 songs of worship, I stood there in awe this evening as I listened to two of our counselors share their faith testimony. The testimonies tonight were especially meaningful, real, and genuine. Hearing young college-aged students talk about their faith in the Lord never gets old and it is captivating. Watching campers lean into these testimonies so they can hear their counselors testifying to how serious they are about their faith is incredibly powerful. Over the last 2-3 years, I have seen the Lord raising up a generation of young people who are taking their faith very seriously.

After Vespers, we headed to evening flag and then our evening activity. The guys played a spirited game of kickball on our new baseball field, battleball, and tug of war. Our ladies met in our worship room and played a game called, “lip sync battle”…from what I heard, the girls loved it. We are now getting ready for bed while enjoyed a VERY cool and comfortable night.

Monday, July 13, 2026: 3:15pm

For one of the first times all summer, we are pivoting into our rain plan due to some nasty thunder and lightning. Due to our topography, we never take a chance with storms and campers. Our program team and campers are at our pavilion doing some rainy-day activities. Some of my favorite memories of camp involved hanging out during storms. There is something about the summer rain that causes us to slow down and ponder the power of storms. I find it fascinating that storms are an essential part of our atmosphere and how they actually benefit the forest and ground (minus a strike or fire of course). Another benefit that I wanted to mention is the fact that we are a screen and phone free environment during the summer. If you are anything like us, we are in a constant battle over the balance with screens and technology. Here at camp, we want to provide a week where we do not have to experience the normal presence of texting, the Internet, or social media. We believe that kids can greatly benefit and detox from the normal invasion of these things. Our staff members also turn their phones in on Monday morning to ensure that we can fully focus on campers and be free from distractions.

Monday, July 13, 2026: 12:30pm

Welcome to Week #6 at Vesper Point. Thanks to every parent for making this morning a smooth drop-off. Before we head into lunch, I wanted to pass along how excited we are to have each of your campers here this week. This is our last “big camper” week as we have a lot of things planned. The swim test was a great success and a lot of fun. We have over 25 certified lifeguards up here to ensure safety at the waterfront even though all campers must have a life jacket on at all times. Check back to this page for frequent updates throughout each day. I will normally post anywhere from 2-4 updates each day depending on my schedule. Thank you for trusting us as a summer camp destination—we do not take that lightly!

Friday, July 10, 2026: 7:15pm

After an afternoon storm, the day ended up picture perfect and VERY cool and comfortable. We had the campers out on the water ALL afternoon and it was wonderful. We just finished dinner (spaghetti, bread, salad, and snickerdoodle brownies) and will head to our special Vespers service at our beach which is lakeside. I have always believed that the concept of ceremony is very important at camp when you wrap up the week. During our beach Vespers service, we sing some special songs at worship, hear two staff testimonies, and we give the campers a chance to share what they have learned during the week (optional). While this is going on, we set a large bonfire which is beautiful.

Friday, July 10, 2026: 3:00pm

We had a nice storm roll in during rest period. We are now heading to clinics and then free time since the storm has pushed out. Since tomorrow is pick-up day, I want to offer a few suggestions on how you can unpack your child’s week at camp. I hope that you find the following helpful.

Consider taking your camper to lunch right after pick-up to allow them to share about their week. My wife and I have done this in the past, and it has been fun to hear all of the stories. For our kids, it usually took several days for us to hear about everything.

1. As good as #1 can be, some kids are not ready to share about their week and will need time to process. It is likely that your child will be very tired when they see you and the “camp adrenaline” wears off. If this happens, consider allowing your child to take a long nap when they get home before they share anything. I have also seen some of our kids in the past get emotional after Saturday pick-up because they did not want to leave camp or their cabin-mates.

2. If your child shows an interest in spiritual things such as reading the Bible or attending church, I would encourage you to allow them to pursue these things. We do encourage our campers to read the Bible every day, and we talk about how important weekly church attendance is. If your family does not attend church, consider allow them to attend with a friend or relative. Also consider attending church together. You are always welcome to attend First Presbyterian Church.

3. If you child shows an interest in new activities that they tried at camp, consider allowing them to pursue those interests. Examples can be archery, water skiing, kayaking, angle ball (email me with details), water polo, paddleboarding, etc.

4. Research has shown that camp can impact a high percentage of campers for as much as 6-months after the experience. One of our goals is for campers to “take camp home” with them so that the experience doesn’t fade quickly. Consider having your camper journal about their camp experience so you can continue to listen and encourage them in all they experienced.

5. Research has shown that kids can oftentimes seem happier, more respectful, and more helpful around the house when they return from camp. If you notice these changes in your child, make sure to encourage them with what you are seeing. I have talked to several parents over the years who have told me that their child is “nicer” when they come home from camp and some have even said that the experience was transformational. This does not happen with every camper, but the research is compelling.

6. Since we have been phone and screen free all week long, consider reducing your child’s overall screen exposure for the duration of the summer.

7. Some campers experience a downer after returning home from camp due to the experience, their friends, and the feeling of belonging. Don’t be surprised if they are moody, emotional, and saying that they didn’t want to come home. Not all campers will feel this way, but try and give your child room and space to acclimate back to camp.

8. Some campers experience the “mountaintop experience” or “summit fever” during their week of camp. I spoke this morning about how awesome the mountaintop experiences are in our life, but we are not meant to remain there forever. I encouraged them to try and “take camp home with them” when they return to the midlands and even lowlands of their lives.

Friday, July 10, 2026: 1:35pm

We are enjoying a very pleasant and coolish afternoon. Let me brag on your kids for a second—they are so fun to be around, are so well behaved, and are a pleasure to have here. I wanted to share a few more reasons why camp is so important for kids from my personal list. I hope the following are helpful:

Reason #5 that camp is important for kids: We believe that it is important for kids to be in a safe environment where they can take controlled risks. At camp, these risks can be trying something for the first time such as a mountain bike, shooting a BB gun, riding on the banana boat, trying a ropes course element out, trying to get up on skis, or being vulnerable with people in their cabins with life struggles. We believe that controlled risk taking can instill confidence and grit in kids. As a Camp Director, one of my goals for each camper is that they take a safe risk in at least one area during the week.

Friday, July 10, 2026: 9:00am

Quick Friday morning update-We are doing great this morning. Two of our cabins camped out at our backcountry campsites and had a great time. We are currently in breakfast (baked eggs, cheddar biscuits, sausage, yogurt, oj—YUM) and about to head to morning Anchor. It looks like we are going to be dodging rain drops all day but we have a solid rain plan. We really don’t mind rain up here because it cools things off and adds valuable water to the water table/lake levels. Friday’s are always very full and busy as we begin to wrap up the week. More updates later….

Thursday, July 9, 2026: 12:15pm

After a quick shower this morning, things are clear and sunny as we get close to lunch. Over the course of the next 2 days, I want to share a few reasons why camp is so valuable and important for kids in their growing up years. The inspiration for this list came from two books that I recently read, “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt and “Sacred Playgrounds” by Jacob Sorenson. If you are looking for two incredible books to read, I highly recommend both to you-especially “Anxious Generation”. This book by Haidt has revolutionized some of our parenting approaches and have been helpful as a camp director and educator. I hope that you find the following helpful and interesting. I will post more of these later today.

Reason #1 that camp is important for kids: It provides campers with a screen/phone/tech free environment. Research has shown strong evidence that an overexposure to phones, social media, and screens has caused a sharp increase in anxiety, depression, and other symptoms in kids. While technology is great in and of itself, we believe that it is important for campers to take a break from the constancy of these things while they are at camp. We want campers to be able to notice things like pine trees in the woods, birds chirping, the quiet of the night, crickets singing, and eagles flying around. We believe that a week without phones is healthy and allows campers to focus on things that they may not be able to otherwise. On Monday morning, our summer staff members turn their phones in so we can ensure that distractions are not constantly going off in our pockets and so we can focus on campers instead of text messages and news alerts. We also want staff and campers to be in an environment where they can be still enough to hear the Lord speaking to them. Being in a space where real conversations can take place between campers and counselors is sacred to us and we hope that you value this as a parent.

Reason #2 that camp is important for kids: It introduces them to new skills and allows them to try things for the first time. While I was on lifeguard duty today, one of our girl campers came up to me and shared with me: “Mr. Forrest, I tried knee boarding today and I got up!” We had another cabin who signed up for our BB shooting range and shot a BB gun at targets for the first time (with eye protection of course). Trying new things increases confidence in kids which can lead to growth and more independence. We also want campers to leave camp with skill exposure that they can use in the future. We want kids to be able to say in the future, “Hey, I have done this skill before and I can do it again with confidence around this group of people.” Introducing kids to new skills and activities is a daily goal of our camp.

Reason #3 that camp is important for kids: Learning independence and being away from mom and dad. As hard as it is to admit it as parents, our kids need to learn how to be away from us for a period of time. When we dropped our oldest daughter off at camp 5 years ago, it was hard on my wife and I. We struggled with wondering if she would miss us too much or if she was going to be able to sleep at night. After we worked through those emotions, picking her up on that Saturday morning taught us a great lesson. Not only did she do great, but she didn’t want to leave. In reflection, my wife and I realized that we also needed to learn how to gradually let her be away from us. When she turns 18 in 4 short years, all of her camp experiences will no doubt prepare her for that day when she will leave our home to launch out on her own. Camp is not the only signpost moment that prepares our kids for this moment, but we have found that it is a big part of that equation. Thank you for trusting us as a summer camp destination for our kids so they can learn these valuable lessons.

Thursday, July 9, 2026: 7:30am

Our hoedown last night was a lot of fun and a great way to burn off some energy. We had two cabins camping out last night at our backcountry camping sites before an unexpected line of rain and storms approached the area at 10:00pm. We quickly picked these campers up and brought them back to their cabins for the night. It was a bummer, but I don’t want kids camping out in storms—we will try again tonight. I am thankful for the ability to have a good radar read up here so we can track unexpected weather. I wanted to give everyone a list of cabin activities today so you can know what your camper is doing this morning.

B1: Kickball B2: Ultimate Frisbee B3: Swim & Water Inf B4: Putt Putt Golf B5: Kickball B6: Swim & Water Inf B7: BB Guns B8: Swim & Water B9: Battleball

G1: Banana Boat G2: Drama G3: Porch Games G4: Porch Games G5: Drama G6: Archery G7: Bouldering G8: Soccer G9: Tubing G10: Tubing G11: Soccer

As an activity-based camp, we seek to offer a wide variety of cabin activities that campers can enjoy playing with their counselors. We want campers to be introduced to new activities that can increase their skill and interest level for the future. We want campers to leave camp with a new sense of curiosity and confidence. We also want campers to be willing to try things that they have never tried before. All of these things are important for kids at this age as they grow and develop.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026: 6:15pm

We are at dinner time as I write this getting ready for hamburgers, chips, watermelon, and then ice cream at the hoedown. We have had a busy yet great day up here at camp. I don’t often write about our clinics (skilled based classes) but some really cool things happened today that I wanted to share. Our swim and water inflatable clinic enjoyed a game of water polo on our newly installed water polo goals. Our adventure sampler clinic learned how to trap animals in our humane animal traps (don’t worry, no animals will be harmed if we catch one), and our outdoorsman clinic learned how to boil water(our leaders were the only ones to use the equipment) on a camping stove and enjoyed some nice hot cocoa. After this, they enjoyed a 30-minute archery class. Clinics are our skilled-based classes where we seek to have fun but teach some skills. We have everything from arts and crafts to waterskiing and all things in between.

Today is the first day that we have not had any rain. Temps have been warm but nothing oppressive. I will try to send a late night PM update if I have the time.

Wednesday, July 8, 2026: 9:15am

Good morning from Vesper Point. We were greeted by a bright and clear morning after a good night of sleep. Breakfast this morning consisted of eggs, breakfast burritos(yum), peaches, and OJ. Our new Term 2 menu has been a big hit which is always a good thing. We recently built a roof over our back porch which allows 3 cabins to eat here. The outside view from this porch towards the lake is beautiful. The previous porch did not contain a roof which made it way too hot for eating. We have a lot of activities planned for today including two morning cabin activities, our classic hamburger cookout, and our hoe-down tonight. Two cabins will also be camping out tonight at our new backcountry campsites.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026: 8:15pm

After an amazing dinner (honey chicken legs, green beans, baked potatoes, drop biscuits, and desert), we are heading to play a camp wide game called the gnome hunt. After the game, we will head to bed as soon as we can. After such a robust day of playing, we need to get as much sleep as we can. One of the things that we value here at camp is the fact that we are a phone and screen free environment. We feel that kids can greatly benefit from a screen free environment for the period of a week. We want campers to enjoy walking through the woods, having conversations with their friends and counselors, noticing a bald eagle flying by, smelling the sap leaking from a pine tree, and having a blast on the boats. My wife and I are currently fighting the great tech battle in our home with our kids in terms of what a healthy balance looks like. Here at camp, it is a joy to not here the constant ping of text messages or to be constantly exposed to the news. If I am being honest, I try to not read the news so I can take a break myself. We also require our staff to turn their phones on so we can fully focus on campers!

Tuesday, July 7, 2026: 3:15pm

Parents, we keep having these pop-up summer showers that are dumping rain on us for 10-15 minutes without any thunder or lightning. Even though you get wet, the campers have loved it and have enjoyed the brief cool down. Thank goodness we do not have the triple digit heat from last week.

We are also enjoying a new menu this week which has so far been a hit! We had ham and swiss sliders for lunch with potato wedges and pears. Loading up on protein is important to us due to how much energy campers and staff burn up here.

Tuesday, July 7, 2026: 9:15am

Good morning from a beautiful Tuesday morning here at camp. We are just now getting through with breakfast (eggs, chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, etc) and are about to head into our morning worship service called Anchor. We have two worship services each day which are called, “Morning Anchor” and “Evening Vespers”. Anchor is the service where our worship band leads us in some worship songs and we have our morning summer theme talks. The theme this summer is, “Seen and Known” which comes from Psalm 139. We are unpacking 6 verses each morning from this amazing Chapter. Our evening worship service is called, “Vespers” which literally means, “evening worship”. We continue to sing worship songs at Vespers and two of our staff members share their testimonies with the campers. It is a powerful service. Back in the early 1960’s, the camp director changed the name of this camp from, “First Presbyterian Church Camp”, to “Vesper Point” which means “evening worship at the point”. We have been holding evening worship services at an actual point on the property which overlooks the lake. If you have never seen this point, I would encourage you to check it out on Saturday after camper pick-up.

Monday, July 6, 2026: 9:30pm

We had an epic moment tonight during guy and girl night that I wanted to share. Towards the end of the games, a rainstorm hit camp (no thunder) with GIANT rain drops. The drops were so fat and heavy, it felt like someone was dumping a bucket of water on your head. It was one of those classic southern summer showers that feels incredible, so we just kept on playing. It was coming down so hard, that the campers loved it. Sometimes during the summer, it is okay to get soaked! I am sure that it will be a memory that these kinds won’t soon forget. Everyone is getting dried off now in their cabins and ready for bed.

Monday, July 6, 2026: 8:00pm

We have had a great first day of camp. We are now heading to our evening activity which is called, “Guy and Girl Night”. The girls play a capture the flag style game on our field and the guys will be playing a mixture of games from Gotcha, Kickball on our new baseball field and battleball. We were able to dodge the rain and storms today which was a blessing. All is well on our first evening.

Monday, July 6, 2026: 2:30pm

Campers are currently at sugar shack (midday snack) at our pavilion. Our program heads are dividing the campers up into teams now which will allow for some friendly competition during the week. Teams can win points all throughout the week in a variety of ways from cabin inspection (cleaning) to winning certain games, etc. At the end of the week, the team with the most points wins a special dock party on Friday that involves ice cream and some bonus waterfront time. It is a lot of fun to see the campers compete with each other and to see who can win the coveted dock party.

We are off to a great start so far this afternoon. We will be in the water by 4:00 pending any storms which may roll into the late afternoon.

Monday, July 6, 2026: 11:00am

Parents, welcome to Week #5. My wife Alex and I enjoyed meeting most of you this morning during camper drop-off. Thank you for making this morning smooth and easy for us all. After having last week off, our staff was eager to start camp this morning. Starting off our July Term II with this age group is ideal. What is also ideal is the much cooler temps that we are all looking forward to- last week was borderline unbearable. I will be updating this blog several times a day to hopefully give you a snap-shot as to what we are doing and how things are going. I am happy to report that everyone did great on the swim test just a few minutes ago. We had 7-8 lifeguards on duty (including me and my wife) to ensure that campers complete the test successfully. 100% of campers are required to wear a life jacket at all times but the swim test still gives our lifeguards a good idea as to who needs extra supervision while swimming. Our lifeguards are trained in water life-saving, CPR, and AED rescue. We have a team of over 25 guards this summer which is a big deal to us.

Campers are heading to their cabins now to get unpacked, go over some basic rules, and to acclimate. After cabin activites, we will enjoy lunch at 12:30. From all of here at CVP, thank you for trusting us with your kiddos this week. If this is your child’s first time at an overnight summer camp, we understand how hard it can be to drop them off that first time (or anytime). My wife and I are right there with you with our 3 kids and we understand the emotions that come with this. Thank you for giving your kids the valuable opportunity to learn how to be away from mom and dad for a short period of time—it is so good for not only them, but for us parents as well.

Friday, June 26, 2026: 6:15pm

We are heading into dinner after an electric day on the lake. Dinner tonight will consist of spaghetti, garlic bread, and a sweet desert. I tend to post this each week for parents, but the following are some suggestions on how to unpack camp with your child this weekend and into next week. I hope that you find the following helpful.

Consider taking your camper to lunch right after pick-up to allow them to share about their week. My wife and I have done this in the past, and it has been fun to hear all of the stories. For our kids, it usually took several days for us to hear about everything.

1. As good as #1 can be, some kids are not ready to share about their week and will need time to process. It is likely that your child will be very tired when they see you and the “camp adrenaline” wears off. If this happens, consider allowing your child to take a long nap when they get home before they share anything. I have also seen some of our kids in the past get emotional after Saturday pick-up because they did not want to leave camp or their cabin-mates.

2. If your child shows an interest in spiritual things such as reading the Bible or attending church, I would encourage you to allow them to pursue these things. We do encourage our campers to read the Bible every day, and we talk about how important weekly church attendance is. If your family does not attend church, consider allow them to attend with a friend or relative. Also consider attending church together. You are always welcome to attend First Presbyterian Church.

3. Research has shown that camp can impact a high percentage of campers for as much as 6-months after the experience. One of our goals is for campers to “take camp home” with them so that the experience doesn’t fade quickly. Consider having your camper journal about their camp experience so you can continue to listen and encourage them in all they experienced.

4. Research has shown that kids can oftentimes seem happier, more respectful, and more helpful around the house when they return from camp. If you notice these changes in your child, make sure to encourage them with what you are seeing. I have talked to several parents over the years who have told me that their child is “nicer” when they come home from camp and some have even said that the experience was transformational. This does not happen with every camper, but the research is compelling.

5. Since we have been phone and screen free all week long, consider reducing your child’s overall screen exposure for the duration of the summer.

6. Some campers experience a downer after returning home from camp due to the experience, their friends, and the feeling of belonging. Don’t be surprised if they are moody, emotional, and saying that they didn’t want to come home. Not all campers will feel this way, but try and give your child room and space to acclimate back to camp.

7. Some campers experience the “mountaintop experience” or “summit fever” during their week of camp. I spoke this morning about how awesome the mountaintop experiences are in our life, but we are not meant to remain there forever. I encouraged them to try and “take camp home with them” when they return to the midlands and even lowlands of their lives.

Friday, June 26, 2026: 12:30pm

We have made it to the final full day of camp and it is hot. We are currently eating lunch (chicken sandwiches) and will transition into our final day activities. Friday evening includes our end of week Vespers service at the beach. The beach presents a special setting for a bonfire, awards ceremony, and an opportunity for campers to stand up and share about their week. We are thrilled to present campers with the following awards: 4-year cross (for any camper who attends camp for 4 summers), the 8-year Bible Award (presented to any camper who attends 8 summers), and the I’m Third Award (presented to 1 male and 1 female camper).

Thursday, June 25, 2026: 10:00pm

We continue to be doing well. Let me brag on all of these campers for a minute. For the most part, they have been fantastic and so easy to work with. They have been eager to jump in and have fun and their attitudes have been refreshing. We love having this age group because they are hungry to learn and to talk about life and spiritual things. Did you know that one of our core values is for our counselors to have a one-on-one-one conversation with every camper before Saturday morning. The purpose of these talks is for our counselors to check in with the campers to see if they have any questions and to see how their week went. Our counselors also ask the campers about their faith to see where they are. Our goal with these talks is to never be pushy or intrusive, but we do want to give the campers a chance to talk about important life things should they choose to. I have found that most campers love this time and most want to talk to their counselors. We have been holding one-on-one conversations since 1973.

Thursday, June 25, 2026: 6:15pm

After another awesome day on the lake, we are headed to dinner to enjoy our cook’s signature dish: Orange Chicken! After dinner, we will head to Vespers, Evening Flag, and our special Luau Party on the field.

Thursday, June 25, 2026: 2:30pm

We are coming out of rest period now and heading to sugar shack. Before lunch, campers participated in a camp wide activity called, “The Potato Pageant” where groups of campers dress up actual Idaho potatoes with props. Each potato is judged and points are awarded…only at camp! You would not believe some of the creative decorations and potato names that the groups came up with. More updates later in the day….

Thursday, June 25, 2026: 7:30am

Another beautiful morning greets us here at camp. Apologies for the lack of PM updates yesterday-there are days where I cannot get to my computer. The hoe-down was a big success last night. I know I am biased, but we have one of the best hoe-down callers in the entire southeast (my wife :) ). During our morning Anchor worship time this week, we have been talking about our camp theme, “Seen and Known” which was inspired by Psalm 139. I shared with the campers that all of us are born with a deep need to be seen and known. Through the lens of Psalm 139, we have talked about what it means to be seen and known by the Lord. I talked to them about how it is sometimes difficult to discern what is real and what is not real in our world today. These kids are constantly having to navigate various forms of AI which is something that we never had to deal with in our decades of growing up. They are also dealing with the realities of social media which comes with its own mixed bag of anxiety and comparison. As a girl dad, I think that the realities of social media are especially hard on girls ever since the introduction of the selfie. My wife and I are currently navigating these tricky waters with our girls.

We are heading to morning flag now followed by a full day of activities.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026: 2:15pm

Things are heating up this afternoon. Wednesdays are always fun at camp due to our hamburger dinner cookout and hoe-down. Our hoe-down’s are a ton of fun with kids this age and contain a lot of fun line dances. Our dances range from solo, partner, and group as we try to get everyone involved. We also eat our ice cream dessert half-way through the hoe-down which is always a hit. We are heading to sugar shack now (soft pretzels today) and then free time.

Wednesday, June 24, 2026: 8:00am

We are waking up to another gorgeous morning here at camp with temps near 60 degrees. As we have reached the midpoint of the week, I have been reflecting on the age of these campers and on how they are bombarded by phones, screens, apps, and social media. One of the great things about camp is that our schedule and existence allow us to unplug from the constancy of these things. Summer camps may be one of the few remaining places where kids can get a break from the constant stream of technology. Research has shown that exposure to social media before the age of 16 can have an adverse impact on kids. Overuse of technology and social media has been shown to cause increases in anxiety, depression, and a shift to not being outdoors. Here at camp, we want to provide a week where campers can focus on relationships, conversations, walking, playing, and listening. There are so many things that compete with our kids to grab their attention and focus. My wife and I are smack dab in the middle of managing these things with our own kids. If you struggle with this as a parent, know that you are not alone. I am thankful that campers can experience a week where they receive a much-needed break from technology. If you are interested in reading more about this topic, I would highly recommend the excellent book by Jonathan Haidt called, “The Anxious Generation”. This book has been a gamechanger for me and my wife. Haidt does a masterful job in explaining a shift from the “play based childhood” to the “phone based childhood.” He cites copious amounts of research and gives practical suggestions which we found very helpful.

We are getting ready for morning flag which will be followed by breakfast and then morning anchor. We are having a great time.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026: 8:00pm

This evening has turned out to be picture perfect. We just finished our evening vespers worship service and are headed to our iconic evening activity called, “gnome hunt”. Our evening vespers service involves our worship band playing 2 songs and then 2 of our staff members sharing their faith testimony. We have been holding vespers services at this camp since 1954. Gnome Hunt is a lot like the classic counselor hunt with a lot of interesting twists and turns. The game involves cabins traveling around trying to hit “gnomes” with water balloons which will earn them point tokens. The cabin with the most points wins and earns points towards the end of the week dock party. The gnomes are dressed up as all kind of interesting and far out characters.

Parents, these campers have been nothing but a delight so far this week. Cabin G-6 is going camping tonight in our brand-new girl campsite area. Campers will stay in tents and will enjoy our hammock stands, a fire ring, and smores. We will also have a female leadership team member staying along with both counselors. With an incredible low temperature tonight of 59 degrees (which is unheard of), these girls will be very comfortable.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026: 2:15pm

On this Tuesday afternoon, we are enjoying unheard of weather with temps in the 70’s. It was so chilly this morning on the lake, most of our boat drivers were in long sleeves (including me). It is a blessing to enjoy cool breezes and cloudy skies. All of the campers are doing well and we are already enjoying their presence on the property. Our theme for the summer is, “Seen and Known” which was inspired by Psalm 139. We are unpacking this theme during our morning Anchor talks. I will share more about the theme in later posts.

Tuesday, June 23, 2026: 7:15am

We are waking up to a calm and beautiful morning here at camp. We had a steady rain that fell from 11:00-2am which puts most people to sleep quickly. We are fortunate to have missed the worst parts of the storm last evening. For our first full day of camp, I wanted to share our schedule so you could get a sense as to what a typical day looks like:

7:15: Rise and Shine + Honor Cabin (cleaning cabin)

8:15: Morning Flag

8:30: Breakfast (pancakes and sausage today)

9:15: Morning Anchor (morning worship)

10:15: Cabin Activity

11:15: CVP Games (camp wide game)

12:30: Lunch (Tacos today)

1:15: FOB (flat on back-aka rest time) + Cabin Mail

2:15: Sugar Shack (midday snack)

2:50: Clinics (skilled based classes)

4:00: Free Time (swimming, kayaking, blobbing, tubing, paddleboards, etc)

6:15: Dinner (BBQ pork tonight)

7:15: Vespers (evening worship)

8:15: Evening Activity (gnome hunt tonight)

9:15: Head back to cabin + showers + bedtime

As you can see, days are long, full, and fun up here. Some of my favorite times of the day are between the hours of 6:30-7:30 where everything is so quiet and we anticipate the day ahead.

Monday, June 22, 2026: 6:45pm

Quick Storm Update: We are currently at dinner and are keeping a very close eye on the storms rolling through the Chattanooga area. The most intense parts of the storm are thankfully south of our location. Based on radar trends, I do not expect the worst parts of the storm system to reach our area-but we are still going to remain in the Dining Hall until the storms pass just to be safe. All is well here.

Monday, June 22, 2026: 5:15pm

Round #1 of the storms was not bad at all, but we did pivot to our pavilion due to the thunder. It is not safe to allow campers to swim and boat when storms are nearby due to lakes being super conductors. The campers were having a great time playing various games when I left them a few minutes ago. Our schedule for the rest of today will be the following:

Dinner, Vespers, Evening Flag, Evening Activity, Bedtime

Did you know that the word Vespers means, “Evening Worship”. In 1963, the name of our camp was changed from, “First Presbyterian Church Camp” to “Vesper Point”. Evening Vespers has been held up here since 1954 at a location just north of our Dining Hall. The topography of this part of the camp forms a point and includes natural formed rock seats which presents the perfect spot for meeting. If you have never seen this part of our camp, you need to check it out on Saturday. The campers in 1963 suggested the name change to “Vesper Point” which was quickly and wisely adopted by Camp Director Rocky Young. Our camp’s literal name is “Evening Worship [at] the Point”. For our evening activity, the girls will meet on our field for a “capture the flag” style game while the guys will be playing a mixture of battle ball (dodgeball), basketball, and kickball on our brand new baseball field.

Monday, June 22, 2026: 3:00pm

We are off to a great start parents. We just left sugar shack and are headed to Clinic classes which are skilled base classes. Clinics are the only time during the day when campers are not with their individual cabins. We are also keeping an eye on the storms that are approaching. Did you know that we have a team of 29 certified lifeguards that perform this duty as a part of their employment. Vesper Point covers the cost of their lifeguarding class which allows to serve as a lifeguard for 2 years. Our lifeguards are certified in water rescues, CPR, AED usage, and back boarding. During free time, we always have 5 lifeguards on duty to ensure proper supervision.

Monday, June 22, 2026: 12:15 pm

We are off and running with Week #4. Thank you to all parents for a very smooth morning drop-off. We have 199 campers here this week which is full capacity for us. This is also by far our oldest week in terms of camper age. So far this summer, we have trended on the younger side in terms of age (including Week #2) but we are excited to spend a week with some older campers. During our staff meeting last night, I told the staff that we will go a bit deeper this week during our morning worship times. We are getting ready for lunch (pizza + salad) and then we will move into our normal camp schedule this afternoon. We will be dodging some rain and storms today, but we always have a rain plan when we need to pivot. I plan to update this blog 2-3 times per day-so feel free to check back throughout the day. Just know how excited we are to have all of these campers with us this week. We have some big plans, and it is going to be a great week!

Friday, June 19, 2026: 6:15pm

It has been a busy day at camp parents. This is the first time that I have had a chance to sit down and type. We are heading into dinner this evening (spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, cinnamon churros, etc). After a full day of activities, including our much-coveted dock party. We are also looking forward to our special bonfire Vespers service which will take place later this evening. Our theme this summer is, “Seen and Known” which comes from Psalm 139. I would encourage you to ask your child about this theme and have them share with you what we talked about during the week. I know that each of you are excited to see your child tomorrow. Below are some suggestions on things you can do to unpack your child’s camp experience with them. This is a re-post of a former blog post from a week ago.

Consider taking your camper to lunch right after pick-up to allow them to share about their week. My wife and I have done this in the past, and it has been fun to hear all of the stories. For our kids, it usually took several days for us to hear about everything.

1. As good as #1 can be, some kids are not ready to share about their week and will need time to process. It is likely that your child will be very tired when they see you and the “camp adrenaline” wears off. If this happens, consider allowing your child to take a long nap when they get home before they share anything. I have also seen some of our kids in the past get emotional after Saturday pick-up because they did not want to leave camp or their cabin-mates.

2. If your child shows an interest in spiritual things such as reading the Bible or attending church, I would encourage you to allow them to pursue these things. We do encourage our campers to read the Bible every day, and we talk about how important weekly church attendance is. If your family does not attend church, consider allow them to attend with a friend or relative. Also consider attending church together. You are always welcome to attend First Presbyterian Church.

3. Research has shown that camp can impact a high percentage of campers for as much as 6-months after the experience. One of our goals is for campers to “take camp home” with them so that the experience doesn’t fade quickly. Consider having your camper journal about their camp experience so you can continue to listen and encourage them in all they experienced.

4. Research has shown that kids can oftentimes seem happier, more respectful, and more helpful around the house when they return from camp. If you notice these changes in your child, make sure to encourage them with what you are seeing. I have talked to several parents over the years who have told me that their child is “nicer” when they come home from camp and some have even said that the experience was transformational. This does not happen with every camper, but the research is compelling.

5. Since we have been phone and screen free all week long, consider reducing your child’s overall screen exposure for the duration of the summer.

Friday, June 19, 2026: 7:50am

How is it already Friday? We are waking up to yet another beautiful morning here at Vesper Point. We were able to dodge the rain showers again last evening which allowed us to hold our luau party on the field. Our program team did a great job last night with this party as I watched the campers have a blast with dancing, limbo, angle ball, and several other games. Our last day at camp is always special and unique. As time allows, I will share our plans as we wrap up this week. We are now headed for morning flag and breakfast (french toast, eggs, yogurt, etc).

Thursday, June 18, 2026: 6:00pm

We have dealt with some off and on rain this afternoon which hasn’t impacted too many of our plans. After a heavy downpour at lunch, we were able to have Clinics and most of Free Time. The thunder moved out just in time for us to get an hour at the lake which was wonderful. I had a lot of fun taking the Fishing Clinic out on the lake for a quick fishing trip. We will try again tomorrow by going across the slough so we can fly fish. We never take a chance with storms and campers in the lake and have to be 100% sure that we are safe to enter the water. Our cook is fixing our signature dish this evening which includes orange chicken, rice, egg rolls, and desert. Following Vespers and Flag, we will hold our Luau party on the field before heading back to cabins. Due to the wet forecast, we have cancelled all campouts this evening (tent camping).

Thursday, June 18, 2026: 12:00pm

Parents, at the noon hour, we are getting ready for our hot dog and chicken egg roll lunch. I wanted to share some additional quotes from the book, “Sacred Playgrounds” that have meant a lot to me over the past 6 months. These thoughts not only have blessed me as a camp director, but as a parent as well.

“Out of our comfort zones is where we grow. Even the strongest of trees requires frequent stiff winds to ensure proper growth and root strength.”

“Once you actually get away from your life, you can see a whole different angle. One of the greatest benefits of the camp experience is providing the chance to see life from a different perspective. This new perspective and the act of stepping outside their comfort zones prime the campers for growth.”

“Camp is closely related to the practice of Christian pilgrimage. The value of a pilgrimage includes community and the ability to get outside of God’s creation (away from screens!—added by me).

“It is critical that our kids do not suffer from a “nature deficit disorder”…get them outside as much as you can.”

“Campers leave camp with an increased understanding that they can accomplish things on their own and that they enjoy going outside their comfort zones, and these impacts can last months after camp is over.”

“Many campers have never experienced two days in a row without exposure to screened devices. This is a gift that camp can give them.”

There are hundreds of other quotes that I could share, but I hope that these give you a small sense as to what your child may have experienced this week.

Thursday, June 18, 2026: 6:45am

The sun is rising here at Vesper Point and another new day of adventure awaits. The weather continues to be wonderful, but we are watching for the chance of rain later this afternoon. In the event of rain, we do not miss a beat thanks to our program team who will quickly pivot to our rain plan programming. I want to share two of my favorite things about camp that have been on my mind lately:

1. We recently added a new low ropes course which provides campers with experiential learning opportunities. These low ropes elements are designed to present campers with a problem or challenge which they must solve by using teamwork and critical thinking skills. At the conclusion of each element, a member of our ropes course staff will debrief the experience with the campers which provides a moment of both self and team reflection. In these discussions, campers will oftentimes make spiritual connections which the counselors can take back to the cabin for further discussion.

2. We have found that a screen and technology free environment is healthy and helpful for both campers and staff. We are committed to providing an outdoor camping experience that does not include screens, cell phones, the Internet, or gaming. I am not saying that any of those things are bad, but we want to give campers a break from being saturated with what those devices offer. We want campers to enjoy a break from the distractions of screens so they can have conversations, notice birds singing, enjoy trees swaying in the wind, and being able to listen to their counselors and cabinmates. Did you know that our staff is also committed to being screen free as much as possible during the duration of the summer? The majority of our staff members are required to turn their phones in on Monday morning to ensure that we can focus solely on campers. We do not want outside distractions such as phone calls or text messages to interfere with any of these efforts. While it is hard to do this, most of our staff enjoy being away from their phones for the period of a week.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026: 10:15pm

As we head for bed, today has been a full day. Our hoe-down was a lot of fun to watch from my vantage point. I saw tons of kids dancing to a wide variety of line dancing led by our hoe-down caller. Apologies for my lack of time to provide more updates this evening.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026: 1:30pm

What a beautiful and electric morning we had here at camp. As we head into the afternoon, I wanted to share some thoughts from a book that I recently read called, “Sacred Playgrounds” by Jacob Sorenson. The book unpacks the history of the Christian summer camp movement and offers several compelling research-based reasons why summer camps are so valuable for kids. At the end of the book, Sorenson talks about how important it is for kids to connect with parents when they, “Leave the Mountaintop” of their camp experience. Mountaintop experiences are an important part of a kids normal growing up experience. Most of us can think back to our own childhood and remember those MTE’s with fondness and a sense of wonder. The truth is that we are not meant to stay at the mountaintop forever as we eventually return to the midlands and lowlands of normal life. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from Sorenson that I hope help you think through how to help your child process their camp experience after they return.

1. “It is not surprising when we want to linger and savor mountaintop experiences. We are called to savor the mountain top experience, but we are also called away to our normal lives and sent forth on a mission. Kids need help to process their mountain top experience and someone who can accompany them back into the normal messiness of life.”

2. “After the camp experience, many parents report that their kids are nicer, wanting to help around the house more, being more polite, and nicer to other people. Parents also reported less of a dependance of electronics, an increased interest in worship services and attending church, and an increase in faith conversations.”

3. “What happens at camp should not stay at camp. It should infuse every home and congregation with new life.”

4. “The ride home from camp is the transition point when a camper has left camp but not yet returned home. This is a prime chance for the parent to ask about: their counselors, friends they made, their favorite part, a new skill they learned, the hardest part of camp, etc.” Director’s Note: While some kids will want to unpack everything with you, some may want the ride home to be silent so they can process everything. Some kids may even fall asleep on the ride back home. Whatever your child does, I would encourage each of you eventually unpack the week with your child.

I will share more ideas later.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026: 7:00am

We are waking up to a quiet and still morning her at Vesper Point. Wednesday’s are always a favorite day for campers as we have our hamburger cookout this evening followed by our classic hoe-down. We have been doing hoe-downs here at camp since the mid 1980’s. We teach the kids all kinds of dances and it never gets old. To give you a window as to what cabins will be doing today activity wise, here is a list of the cabin activities for this morning (after morning worship). Cabins get a chance to rank their desires cabin activities on Monday and we schedule them all throughout the week.

G1: Kayaks G2: Swim & Water G3: Kickball G4: Putt Putt Golf G5: Low Ropes Course G6: Swim & Water G7: Tubing G8: Swim & Water G9: Bouldering Gym G10: Kayaks G11: Kickball

B1: Touch Football B2: BB Guns B3: Touch Football B4: Tubing B5: Banana Boat B6: Swim & Water B7: Basketball B8: Archery B9: Mountain Biking

G1: Gaga Ball G2: 4 Square G3: Gaga Ball G4: Low Ropes Course G5: Archery G6: Low Ropes Course G7: Putt Putt Golf G8: Bouldering Gym G9: Drama G10: Drama G11: Volleyball

B1: BB Guns B2: Ultimate Frisbee B3: Vdome Sports B4: Mountain Biking B5: Touch Football B6: Home Run Derby B7: Touch Football B8: Kickball B9: Home Run Derby

Tuesday, June 16, 2026: 9:45pm

It has been a really good day parents. The Gnome Hunt was a ton of fun and is always a blast with campers of this age. Campers are getting ready for bed now as light’s out approaches. Now that we have a full day under our belt, everyone should sleep really well tonight given how hard we have gone all day. Cabins B4 and G11 are camping out in our newly designed camp sites. I pontooned Cabin B4 over to their site this evening with their counselors and with one of our Eagle Scout leadership members. As I type this, they are enjoying a nice campfire and a special treat of Smores (don’t worry-we will brush teeth extra good in the morning). We have thick ground pads and sleeping bags for everyone to ensure warmth and safety. We had so many cabins sign up for the campouts that we had to hold a special lottery this morning at breakfast. You can’t ask for better sleeping weather up here with an expected low of 63 degrees-we will gladly take it because it can be as hot as a turkish bath this time of year. Look for an update first thing in the morning as I will be sharing some research-based data on the power of summer camps and I will give some normal mid-week updates.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026: 4:00pm

Apologies for the lack of updates from today. I have been out and about all over the place and have had limited time in the office. We are doing well on this Tuesday afternoon. Campers are acclimating well to their first full day. We are now heading to Free Time where we will be in the water for the next 90 minutes. Our evening activity today is the epic game known as Gnome Hunt. The Gnome Hunt is a camp wide game where cabins will travel together armed with water balloons. The goal is to hit dressed up “gnomes” with the balloons so they can collect as many points for their cabin as possible. This game is a lot of fun to watch and to be a part of.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026: 7:15am

We are waking up to a beautiful and very cool morning here at camp. Monday was a great day all the way around with campers getting adjusted to being here. For our first full day of camp, we have all kinds of activities planned from morning flag, breakfast, morning Anchor which is our morning worship service, cabin devotional time, cabin activities, and CVP Games which is a camp wide activity that all cabins play. We tend to see campers begin to shift by the end of this day to being a bit hesitant to gaining comfort in being here with a full day under their belt. Learning to be away from home for a short period of time is a huge milestone for kids at this age. Attending a summer camp can build confidence skills in learning independence but also in learning new skills. One of the most important things that we talk about up here with our staff is our desire to build “hope skills” in each camper. Everything we do up here is centered around being a part of a small group (aka cabins), teamwork, and hope. Later today, I will share more about this in terms of our new low ropes course and why we focus so much on activity based/experiential learning. I will also share more about our camp theme which is, “Seen and Known”-inspired by Psalm 139.

Monday, June 15, 2026: 10:30pm

Parents-all is well as everyone is in bed at this hour. Guy and Girl night was a huge success and a lot of fun. I attended the guy night and I can assure you that it was a blast. Look for an update early on Tuesday.

Monday, June 15, 2026: 6:15pm

We have had a picture-perfect day on the lake this afternoon. While the lake feels great, the outdoor temps and breeze actually make you feel cold when you got out—a far cry from what we are used to. After dinner this evening (chicken with marinera, green beans, bread, and banana pudding), we will head to Vespers, Evening Flag, and then our evening program. Our guys will be playing a rotation of kickball on our new baseball field, battleball in our pavilion, and a gotcha battleball tournament. Our girls will be playing a version of capture the flag on our field. After the campers burn off some energy, everyone should be extra tired and ready for bed after our activities. With kids this young, our goal is to get them in bed earlier compared to older campers to ensure that they get the proper sleep.

Did you know that our camp was named “Vesper Point” in 1963 by the campers that summer. Vespers means, “evening worship” which was a staple of the camp during those early summers. We hold Vespers at a special point that overlooks the lake which is located just north of the dining hall. At that time, the campers suggested the name, “Vesper Point” instead of, “First Presbyterian Church Camp”. The name stuck and for 72 years, we have been meeting at this point. Our camp name literally means, “Evening Worship Point”.

Monday, June 15, 2026: 3:00pm

Parents-at the 3:00 hour, we are being spoiled by this cool weather. Last week, we were in the thick of the humidity but that is long gone this week. We just left sugar shack and are headed to Clinics which are our skilled based classes. More updates later……

Monday, June 15, 2026: 12:00pm

We are off and running for Week #3 here at camp and we are excited. I am happy to report that everyone passed the swim test and did great. We triple up on lifeguards (including me and my wife Alex) to make sure that everyone is supervised like a hawk. From this point forth, all campers are required to wear lifejackets anytime they are at the waterfront. The reason we do the swim test is our lifeguarding team will wants to know who may struggle with their swimming in the event that a lifejacket falls off. The swim test is also a great way to get kids introduced to camp and to just cool off—the water feels great! Over the past month, our lake hydrology has been MUCH better with the recent rains.

Thank you to all parents for a smooth camper drop-off this morning. I fully understand how hard it can be to drop off your camper if this is their first overnight summer camp experience. My wife and I have been there, and we understand those emotions and even doubts. With this age group, we take extra care to ensure that campers are comfortable and acclimate as quickly as possible. Our counselor team are fantastic, and they are gifted in making campers feel comfortable and welcome. We are getting ready to have lunch at 12:30 (pizza, salad, etc). Here is our schedule for the rest of today and I am posting the cabin activities that each cabin is currently in. I will do my best to post 2-3 times per day so everyone can get a taste as to what we do each day!!

B1: Disc GolfB2: Home Run DerbyB3: Angle BallB4: Home Run DerbyB5: Basketball (Old Pav)B6: BB Guns (Matthew)B7: Archery (Foster)B8: Basketball (Old Pav)B9: Angle Ball

G1: BattleballG2: Low Ropes Course (Lauren)G3: BattleballG4: Porch GamesG5: Bouldering (Lily)G6: 4 SquareG7: 4 SquareG8: PickleballG9: Gaga BallG10: Gaga BallG11: Putt Putt Golf

Today’s Afternoon and Evening Schedule

12:30: Lunch

1:00-2:00: Cabin Move In Time

2:10-2:40: Sigar Shack

2:45-3:50: Clinics

4:00-5:30: Free Time + Cabin Boats

6:15: Dinner

7:15: Evening Vespers (Worship Service)

7:45: Evening Flag

8:00: Evening Activity (Guys Night Out/ Girls Night Out)

9:00: Cabin Time/Showers/Bedtime/Lights Out

Friday, June 12, 2026: 6:30pm

Quick update: We had a storm roll in which cancelled Clinics-but we gave the campers an extended rest period which I think everyone needed. We never take a chance with kids and lightening/thunder. We had a full Free-Time at the dock which included some fishing from our fishing clinic (made-up due to the rainout). We are now heading to dinner (spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread, and cinnamon churros). The following is a re-post that I sent to parents last week about how to debrief the week with your child—I hope that you find the following helpful.

As you make plans for Saturday morning pick-up, I wanted to offer some thoughts on how you can debrief with your child about their camp experience. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but I hope that it is helpful:

1. Consider taking your camper to lunch right after pick-up to allow them to share about their week. My wife and I have done this in the past, and it has been fun to hear all of the stories. For our kids, it usually took several days for us to hear about everything.

2. As good as #1 can be, some kids are not ready to share about their week and will need time to process. It is likely that your child will be very tired when they see you and the “camp adrenaline” wears off. If this happens, consider allowing your child to take a long nap when they get home before they share anything. I have also seen some of our kids in the past get emotional after Saturday pick-up because they did not want to leave camp or their cabin-mates.

3. If your child shows an interest in spiritual things such as reading the Bible or attending church, I would encourage you to allow them to pursue these things. We do encourage our campers to read the Bible every day, and we talk about how important weekly church attendance is. If your family does not attend church, consider allow them to attend with a friend or relative. Also consider attending church together. You are always welcome to attend First Presbyterian Church.

4. Research has shown that camp can impact a high percentage of campers for as much as 6-months after the experience. One of our goals is for campers to “take camp home” with them so that the experience doesn’t fade quickly. Consider having your camper journal about their camp experience so you can continue to listen and encourage them in all they experienced.

5. Research has shown that kids can oftentimes seem happier, more respectful, and more helpful around the house when they return from camp. If you notice these changes in your child, make sure to encourage them with what you are seeing. I have talked to several parents over the years who have told me that their child is “nicer” when they come home from camp and some have even said that the experience was transformational. This does not happen with every camper, but the research is compelling.

6. Since we have been phone and screen free all week long, consider reducing your child’s overall screen exposure for the duration of the summer.

Friday, June 12, 2026: 12:30pm

We are coming out of our cabin activity periods this morning and are about to head to lunch (chicken sandwiches, fries, etc). I had the chance to lead an archery activity this morning which included an epic shoot-off contest on one of our big targets. Friday’s are special because we end the week with our special Friday night bonfire Vespers service. We present special awards called the 4-year cross and the 8-year Bible awards. The 4-year cross is an award we give for any camper who attends camp for 4 summers. The 8-year Bible award is given to any camper who completes 8 full summers at camp. The Bible is a leather-bound ESV CVP engraved Bible that is beautiful. We also present an award called the “I’m Third Award” which is given to 1 male and 1 female camper who the counselors vote on. The I’m Third lifestyle stands for: God First, Others Second, and Ourselves Third. The counselors nominate 1 camper each and we present this as well. We end the night by giving campers a chance to share around the campfire about how the Lord has worked in their lives this week. It is always so meaningful to hear campers share what they have learned. Oftentimes, campers will mention their counselors or cabinmates during this share time.

Friday, June 12, 2026: 8:30am

Friday morning is here and it has arrived so fast. We are getting ready for morning flag and will enjoy a French toast and bacon breakfast. Friday’s are always special here at camp because of our end of week activities and programs. As the day progresses, I will post details about these activities. We are also releasing a special podcast episode on our podcast platform called, “Stories From the Point”. The episode is called, “Camp is in Session-Meet Our Staff”. This episode will feature several of our summer staff members-check it out here: Camp Is In Session - Meet Our Staff Part I - Stories from the Point | Podcast on Spotify

Thursday, June 11, 2026: 7:15pm

Reason #5 that camp is important for kids: We believe that it is important for kids to be in a safe environment where they can take controlled risks. At camp, these risks can be trying something for the first time such as a mountain bike, shooting a BB gun, riding on the banana boat, trying a ropes course element out, trying to get up on skis, or being vulnerable with people in their cabins with life struggles. We believe that controlled risk taking can instill confidence and grit in kids. As a Camp Director, one of my goals for each camper is that they take a safe risk in at least one area during the week.

Thursday, June 11, 2026: 6:00pm

Hot is the word for this afternoon. We have been pushing hydration, sunscreen, and cooling off today. I jumped in the lake myself today (which is rare since I am always lifeguarding) and it felt great. We are getting ready for dinner which is followed by Vespers-Flag, and then our luau on the field. Cabins B7 and G10 are camping out tonight at our new camp sites.

Thursday, June 11, 2026: 12:15pm

Reason #4 that camp is important for kids: Camp is a place where kids can make lifelong relationships and connections. When I was a camper from 1990-1992 (1990-Camp Ocoee, 1991-1992 CVP), I made many lifelong friends that are still going strong today. There is something about being in a cabin with your fellow cabinmates that is powerful. Some might call it a rite of passage or a once in a lifetime experience, but most campers never forget their camp experience or the people that they shared it with. If I could somehow reunite with all of my camper buddies from these years, I have no doubt that we could all pick up where we left off conversation wise. I am also a big believer that it is important for campers to be in a cabin with people that they do not know. Making new friends and connections is so important in life and some of these connections can end up being lifelong. Our camp administrator and I talk all the time about how the Lord has a very intentional way of putting cabins together up here. Going back to 1990, I developed a strong relationship with one of my cabinmates that I will never forget. He was a young man who was recently diagnosed with cancer and for some reason, we did not share our contact information at the end of the week which has always been a regret if mine. I have not seen or spoken with this friend since we left that Saturday morning, but I will never forget the bond we forged that week.

Thursday, June 11, 2026: 7:00am

We are waking up to another beautiful yet humid day here at camp. We had a lot of fun at our hoe-down last night. Our hoe'-downs include classic line-dance songs mixed in with some new dances. It is a great way to have fun and to burn up some energy so campers can sleep well at night. I wanted to give you a glimpse at the activities that cabins will be doing later this morning:

Cabin Activity:

G1: Drama G2: Swim & Water Inf. G3: Swim & Water Inf. G4: Banana Boat G5: Swim & Water Inf. G6: Putt-Putt Golf G7: V-dome Sports G8: Pickleball G9: Bouldering (Martha) G10: Low Ropes Course (Lauren) G11: Kayaks, etc.

B1: Tubing B2: Home Run Derby/Blitzball B3: Tubing B4: Kayaks, etc. (Matthew) B5: BB Guns (Foster) B6: Swim & Water Inf. B7: Home Run Derby/Blitzball B8: Ultimate Frisbee B9: Ultimate Frisbee

After cabin activities, all cabins will gather for a camp-wide game known as the “Potato Pageant”. Cabins will be given an uncooked potato and props and will name their potato. After this, campers will dress up the potato in creative ways with the props that were passed out. At the end of the game, each cabin must present their potato for judging.

Our staff always looks forward to Thursday dinner which includes Orange Chicken, Rice, Veggies, and a special desert. Stay tuned for more posts later today.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026: 3:00pm

At the 3:00pm hour, things are heating up here at camp. We are about to head to Sugar Shack where we will debut our brand new warm soft pretzel bites which were a big hit with the campers last week. After sugar shack, we will be on the lake for the next 90 minutes swimming, blobbing, canoeing, yaking, paddleboarding, etc. The lake is at a good temperature now to cool off in the hot sun. Our staff is not yet acclimated to these temperatures as we were spoiled last week in the 50’s-70’s. Did you know that our boat camps run all day long with cabins. Boat camp is a chance for cabins to ride on our double-tubes and banana boat or to simply go “pontooning” on our pontoon boat. Cabins B4 and G6 will be camping out tonight at our new camp sites.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026: 10:15am

Reason #3 that camp is important for kids: Learning independence and being away from mom and dad. As hard as it is to admit it as parents, our kids need to learn how to be away from us for a period of time. When we dropped our oldest daughter off at camp 5 years ago, it was hard on my wife and I. We struggled with wondering if she would miss us too much or if she was going to be able to sleep at night. After we worked through those emotions, picking her up on that Saturday morning taught us a great lesson. Not only did she do great, but she didn’t want to leave. In reflection, my wife and I realized that we also needed to learn how to gradually let her be away from us. When she turns 18 in 4 short years, all of her camp experiences will no doubt prepare her for that day when she will leave our home to launch out on her own. Camp is not the only signpost moment that prepares our kids for this moment, but we have found that it is a big part of that equation. Thank you for trusting us as a summer camp destination for our kids so they can learn these valuable lessons.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026: 8:15am

Another good morning has greeted us here at camp parents. Campers are already buzzing around the Dining Hall as we await morning flag and breakfast. Temps will rise to near 90 today (ugh!) but we always benefit from our forest canopy and lake front breezes. I will post more about today after a while…..

Tuesday, June 9, 2026: 9:30pm

We were able to dodge the storms this evening which allowed us to finish our evening activity. Campers are headed to bed for a good night’s sleep to prepare for a full day tomorrow. Wednesday will feature our classic hamburger cookout and hoe-down. We will also be opening up our campsites for cabins to camp out in tomorrow night. These camp sites include tents, hammocks, a fire ring, and seats around the fire. Goodnight from CVP.

Tuesday, June 9, 2026: 6:15pm

Today has turned out to be a beautiful day after a dubious forecast this morning. A 60% chance of rain turned into a 30% chance with temps soaring into the 80’s. We took full advantage of the day and have been outside all day long. We are 10 minutes away from dinner (BBQ Chicken, Green Beans, Potato Wedges, Desert) and then Vespers, Evening Flag, and then our coveted evening activity known as Gnome Hunt. All of the campers have been great-super respectful, easy, and eager to be here. Gnome Hunt is a close cousin to the infamous counselor hunt with several interesting and unique twists.

Reason #2 that camp is important for kids: It introduces them to new skills and allows them to try things for the first time. While I was on lifeguard duty today, one of our girl campers came up to me and shared with me: “Mr. Forrest, I tried knee boarding today and I got up!” We had another cabin who signed up for our BB shooting range and shot a BB gun at targets for the first time (with eye protection of course). Trying new things increases confidence in kids which can lead to growth and more independence. We also want campers to leave camp with skill exposure that they can use in the future. We want kids to be able to say in the future, “Hey, I have done this skill before and I can do it again with confidence around this group of people.” Introducing kids to new skills and activities is a daily goal of our camp.

I will try to post more tonight…..

Tuesday, June 9, 2026: 11:30am

We are off and running on our first full day of camp and all is well. We had a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast of pancakes, breakfast nuggets, sausage, fruit parfait, and OJ. We also have our morning worship time called Anchor where we worship together in song (led by our worship team) and then we hold our daily Anchor talk. The morning anchor talk is geared around our camp theme which is, “Seen and Known” this summer. The theme was inspired by Psalm 139 which we are reading to the campers this week. Since there are 24 verses, we are focusing on 6 verses per day. Today, we read verses 1-6 and talked about how each of us have a deep desire to be seen and known. We will focus on verses 7-12 tomorrow. After anchor, we divide up into cabins for cabin devotional time which is followed by cabin activities. I had the privilege of helping out Cabin G-8 with their river kayaking activity. We learned how to put on kayak skirts, and we let the girls kayak in our shallow lake pool area for 30 minutes. Since none of the girls had ever done this before, it was really neat to see them try out a new skill!

Reason #1 that camp is important for kids: It provides campers with a screen/phone/tech free environment. Research has shown strong evidence that an overexposure to phones, social media, and screens has caused a sharp increase in anxiety, depression, and other symptoms in kids. While technology is great in and of itself, we believe that it is important for campers to take a break from the constancy of these things while they are at camp. We want campers to be able to notice things like pine trees in the woods, birds chirping, the quiet of the night, crickets singing, and eagles flying around. We believe that a week without phones is healthy and allows campers to focus on things that they may not be able to otherwise. On Monday morning, our summer staff members turn their phones in so we can ensure that distractions are not constantly going off in our pockets and so we can focus on campers instead of text messages and news alerts. We also want staff and campers to be in an environment where they can be still enough to hear the Lord speaking to them. Being in a space where real conversations can take place between campers and counselors is sacred to us and we hope that you value this as a parent.

Monday, June 8, 2026: 8:15pm

Quick update-We were able to dodge the rain most of the day which allowed us to have Clinics (skill-based classes) and Free Time without interruption. Right at dinner time, the skies opened up and we have been hammered with some much-needed rain. Our program team is always ready to pivot with a rain plan to keep our schedule moving. The storm dumped a good bit of rain which might bring our lake levels up to full pool which would be a blessing. Our ladies are currently in our meeting room for “girls night” while our boys are at our pavilion for “boys’ night”. For the boys, imagine a sea of boys playing battle ball and gotcha while music is blaring! Needless to say, the boys are having a blast right now. Quick note-I did not attend girls’ night, but I heard they had a great time. To be honest, I was not allowed to attend girl’s night…what is up with that? :)

Monday, June 8, 2026: 2:00pm

Parents, welcome to the Director’s Blog for Week #2 of camp. I want to extend a big thank you to each of you for your patience and flexibility as we pivoted to our rain luggage plan this morning. I didn’t want to take a chance on having camper luggage get doused this morning by the rain. We are off and running with Week #2 with 199 7th-10th graders. This week is a lot different for our staff having just come off of a week where we had 3rd-6th graders. Our staff enjoys the variety that each week brings and we are looking forward to having a blast with your camper(s) this week. This week is special for my wife and I as our two girls are are campers. I have always looked at coming to summer camp as a rite of passage for kids due to how much our they can learn and experience in an environment like this. Our son was a camper last week and it took all weekend for us to unpack all of the stories and experiences that he had. Today is Monday and he is still telling us stories and memories. My goal with this blog is to post 2-3 times per day so you can get a sneak peak into what we are doing. I plan to include activities, menu items, and what we are talking to the kids about during our worship times. We have a new podcast called, “Stories From The Point” that we released back in March. We just finished a series called, “The Case for Camp” on the podcast where we highlight reasons why camp is so beneficial to kids. I will share our Top 10 list on this blog throughout the week so you get a glimpse as to what we are trying to do with campers. We are getting ready to head to “Sugar Shack” now which is our mid-day snack time. After that, we will head to Clinics-Free-Time-Dinner-Vespers-Evening Flag-and our special evening activity called “Guy/Girls Night”. We have been able to dodge the rain so far and we are loving these cool temperatures. In case you are interested, here is the link to our new podcast:

Stories from the Point | Podcast on Spotify

-Forrest Walker-CVP Director

Friday, June 5, 2026: 1:15pm

We just completed lunch (chicken sandwiches, fries, etc) and are headed to Clinics for the final time this week. After rest period, we will head to Sugar Shack, Free, Time, and our special final dinner which will include spaghetti & meatballs, bread, and cinnamon churros.

Getting back from the discussion from earlier this morning, I wanted to share an excellent resource that I have been reading this year called, “Sacred Playgrounds” by Jacob Sorenson. If you have any kind of interest in the history of Christian summer camps and a research-based explanation as to the power of camps, I highly recommend this book. In the book, Sorenson refers to camps as “Sacred Playgrounds”. I wanted to share a few of my favorite quotes with you to help you prepare for pick-up tomorrow.

“Out of our comfort zones is where we grow. Even the strongest of trees requires frequent stiff winds to ensure proper growth and root strength.”

“Once you actually get away from your life, you can see a whole different angle. One of the greatest benefits of the camp experience is providing the chance to see life from a different perspective. This new perspective and the act of stepping outside their comfort zones prime the campers for growth.”

“Camp is closely related to the practice of Christian pilgrimage. The value of a pilgrimage includes community and the ability to get outside of God’s creation (away from screens!—added by me).

“It is critical that our kids do not suffer from a “nature deficit disorder”..get them outside as much as you can.”

“Campers leave camp with an incresed understanding that they can accomplish things on their own and that they enjoy going outside their comfort zones, and these impacts can last months after camp is over.”

“Many campers have never experienced two days in a row without exposure to screened devices. This is a gift that camp can give them.”

There are hundreds of other quotes that I could share, but I hope that these give you a small sense as to what your child may have experienced this week.

Friday, June 5, 2026: 7:45am

We have made it to Friday which is proving to be another gorgeous day here at camp. I keep telling the staff to not get used to this cool weather because the heat will eventually settle in. We have several fun end of week activities planned for today. Cabins are divided up into teams during the week and can earn points in various ways during our evening activities and through honor cabin which is our morning cabin cleaning. At the end of breakfast, we will announce which teams and individual cabins won the coveted dock party which occurs later this morning. The dock party is a party that involves being at the waterfront and ice cream. What kid does not enjoy ice cream? After our normal morning and afternoon activities, we will dismiss for our evening program which involves skits, the weekly video, and ultimately our end of week bonfire service. I will share more about all of this later today.

Thursday, June 4, 2026: 5:45pm

We are coming back from free time as I type this on another picture-perfect day on the lake. We received 8-9 brand-new SUPS (stand up paddleboards) in the mail this week to complete our paddle-board order. Every SUP was in use when I was lifeguarding in the slough earlier today. In addition to SUPS, we also have a fleet of canoes and yaks (kayaks) that are a ton of fun. We also purchased these cool “SUP Islands” which are inflatable platforms in the middle of the slough that campers can attach their SUPS to and hang out on.

I was recently looking at a photo of my son from last summer which was his first experience as a camper. I also did the same with my girls, and I could not believe the difference in the photos from just one year ago. The growth that our kids go through from year to year is amazing when you sit back and reflect. I have read that kids tend to grow the most during the summer months when they get more sleep, sun, play, and are in environments where there is less stress. Kids need to spend their summers playing, jumping off high-dives, tubing, and taking a break from the rigors of school.

As you make plans for Saturday morning pick-up, I wanted to offer some thoughts on how you can debrief with your child about their camp experience. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but I hope that it is helpful:

1. Consider taking your camper to lunch right after pick-up to allow them to share about their week. My wife and I have done this in the past, and it has been fun to hear all of the stories. For our kids, it usually took several days for us to hear about everything.

2. As good as #1 can be, some kids are not ready to share about their week and will need time to process. It is likely that your child will be very tired when they see you and the “camp adrenaline” wears off. If this happens, consider allowing your child to take a long nap when they get home before they share anything. I have also seen some of our kids in the past get emotional after Saturday pick-up because they did not want to leave camp or their cabin-mates.

3. If your child shows an interest in spiritual things such as reading the Bible or attending church, I would encourage you to allow them to pursue these things. We do encourage our campers to read the Bible every day, and we talk about how important weekly church attendance is. If your family does not attend church, consider allow them to attend with a friend or relative. Also consider attending church together. You are always welcome to attend First Presbyterian Church.

4. Research has shown that camp can impact a high percentage of campers for as much as 6-months after the experience. One of our goals is for campers to “take camp home” with them so that the experience doesn’t fade quickly. Consider having your camper journal about their camp experience so you can continue to listen and encourage them in all they experienced.

5. Research has shown that kids can oftentimes seem happier, more respectful, and more helpful around the house when they return from camp. If you notice these changes in your child, make sure to encourage them with what you are seeing. I have talked to several parents over the years who have told me that their child is “nicer” when they come home from camp and some have even said that the experience was transformational. This does not happen with every camper, but the research is compelling.

6. Since we have been phone and screen free all week long, consider reducing your child’s overall screen exposure for the duration of the summer.

I will share some additional thoughts and research in my next post. For now, we are getting ready to enjoy our signature dinner of orange chicken, rice, and egg rolls. Cabins G7 and B4 are camping out tonight! Cabin G-7 is the first girls’ cabin to use our new girl’s campground.

Thursday, June 4, 2026: 7:30am

We are waking up to another beautiful and chilly morning here at camp. Temps are once again near 57 degrees. It’s fun to see campers really begin to acclimate to camp now that we are in our 4th day together. We can literally see rapid growth in confidence, grittiness, and overall maturity in just a few days. It is not unusual for the tears and uneasiness that we saw on a Monday or a Tuesday to be replaced with smiles and comfort. We talk a lot about how camp is a “super concentrated” experience for kids where 5 days of camp can equal as much as 30-40 “normal” days at home. The other really interesting thing about camp is that kids frequently remember their camp experiences, their counselor, and core memories decades later. I have a dear friend whose son is here this week who I worked with at Vesper Back way back in 2005. When I saw him on Monday, we were able to pick up our conversations like it was 2005 all over again. There are not many life experiences quite like coming to camp.

Later today, I am planning on sharing some tips on how to debrief and process your child’s week with them when you pick them up on Saturday. I know that you are all eager to see them on Saturday and I have found it helpful to think through how we can best give our kids time to share and process their camp experience. Some kids will want to share everything with you as soon as they get into the car. Other kids may need some time to fully process their week in their minds and hearts before they will want to share. Here at Vesper Point, we refer to this as kids, “taking camp home with them” and how you can assist with their transition away from camp.

For those that are interested, we are releasing a brand-new podcast episode tomorrow morning (Friday, June 5) on our podcast platform called, “Stories From The Point”. This episode will conclude our current series which is called, “The Case for Camp”. I will post more later as time allows.

Wednesday, June 3, 2026: 3:00pm

Rest period is among us which gives the campers a chance to catch a quick nap or have some quiet cabin time together. After rest period, we will head to Sugar Shack which will include a brand-new soft pretzel snack which we think the campers will love. The schedule for the rest of today looks like this:

4:00-5:30: Free Time: Swimming, Blobbing, Kayaks/Canoes/Paddleboards, Boating, etc

6:15: Dinner: Hamburger cookout with chips and watermelon

7:15: Evening Vespers

7:45: Evening Flag

8:00: Hoe-Down!!!

*Cabin B-2 is camping out tonight in tents

Speaking of our hoe-down, this is a classic evening activity that we have been having since the mid-1980’s. My dear wife Alex is our hoe-down called and does a great job teaching the kids all kinds of dances.

Note: For all B-8 parents, they had a great time on their campout last night-make sure to ask about some cool stories about this when you pick them up on Saturday.

Wednesday, June 3, 2026: 7:15am

Another good morning is upon us here at camp. We are waking up to 58 degrees which is a gift. We have reached the mid-way point in our week and it has come upon us fast. Our theme for the summer is, “Seen and Known” which was inspired by Psalm 139. We are spending our morning worship time (which is called Anchor) talking to the campers about this theme. We read 6 verses each day from this Psalm to talk about what it is like to know the Lord and to be seen by Him. I shared with the campers yesterday about how everyone has a need to be seen and known by someone-we are wired in this way. This morning, we will be reading verses 7-11 if you want to follow along with us daily.

Another new addition to camp that we are excited about is our low ropes course. We have had a desire to add several experiential learning elements to our camping program and are thrilled that we were able to add Phase I this Winter. Experiential Learning is a concept in which campers are introduced to complex elements that they try to solve with teamwork. Most of these elements present challenges that campers have not faced before. Examples of this are a giant balance-beam like platform that the entire cabin has to balance, a trust fall element, and a wire-based obstacle course. After a cabin completes an element, our low ropes course leaders spend some time debriefing the element with a series of questions that are designed to get the campers thinking about teamwork. At the end of this debrief, our leaders seek to connect these elements to spiritual things in our lives. We currently have 8 low ropes elements. I am currently working on Phase II of this project which will involve some high ropes elements. I will post some additional updates later today.

Parents-my apologies for the lack of pictures from Tuesday. I am working to correct that today in terms of volume and quality.

Tuesday, June 2, 2026: 8:00pm

Apologies for the gap in posting today. I have been out working on the property and hanging out with campers all day. Today has been another fantastic day of camp. I cannot stress enough how incredible it feels out here-it is like late September. We just finished dinner (BBQ, Potato Wedges, Green Beanes, Rolls, Brownies), Vespers, Evening Flag, and we are now heading to our camp-wide game called the Gnome Hunt. The Gnome Hunt is a mix of the classic counselor hunt with a very interesting and unique twist. Various characters will be walking around the campus as either a “good” or “bad” character. Campers are trying to obtain as many “tokens” as possible, and they all armed with water balloons. The game has quickly become a camp classic and is a lot of fun. Cabin B-8 is getting ready to go on their overnight campout with their counselors and a member of our camp leadership team. We finished working on the campsite today and it includes tents, hammocks, a fire ring(Smores!), and a killer view of the lake. More later…..

Tuesday, June 2, 2026: 7:15am

Good morning from a calm and quiet Vesper Point. All is well as the sun comes up. We are looking forward to our first full day of camp this morning. Unseasonably cool weather continues as we expect lows in the upper 50’s/low 60’s and highs right at 77-80 all week. We allow our cabins to choose the cabin activities throughout the week by filling out a ranking sheet. To give you an idea of what cabins will be doing this morning-see below:

Cabin ActivityG1: Low Ropes Cours B1: Tubing G2: Putt-Putt Golf B2: BB Guns G4: Archery B3: Gaga Ball G5: Kayaks, etc. B4: Tubing G6: Kayaks B5: Swim & Water G7: Swim & Water B6: Mtn. Biking G9: 4 Square B7: Touch Football G10: Banana Boat B8: Touch Football G11: Bouldering B9: Gaga Ball

In addition to this, Cabin B8 will be camping out at our newly designed boys campground tonight! Some of our boy campers have begged me to allow them watch a bit of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night (Spurs vs. Knicks). Even though we are 100% screen free, I may let them catch a few moments! I will post more later……

Monday, June 1, 2026: 9:00pm

Parents, this has been an awesome first day of camp. Free Time was buzzing with swimming, blobbing, jumping off the high-dive, aqua-tramping, canoeing, kayaking, and SUPing(paddleboards). I even saw a few boys fishing. For dinner tonight, our cooks cooked up a killer dish of chicken, noodles, marinera sauce, broccoli, bread, and banana pudding. After dinner, we attended our evening worship service called, “Vespers” which is where our camp got its name. In 1963, the name of our camp changed from, “First Presbyterian Church Camp” to “Vesper Point” after the campers suggested the name change. Vespers means, “evening worship”, so our camp literally means, “Evening Worship at the Point”. We hold Vespers at a very special outdoor amphitheater which literally looks out over the lake. Vespers has been happening at this point since 1954. Vespers includes worship which is led by our worship team and two staff testimonies. I will share more about Vespers later in the week. After evening flag, we went to our evening activity which was girls night/boys night. The girls had a special game of musical capture the flag on our giant field which was a blast. The boys played in rotations that involved kickball on our new baseball field, and battle ball at our pavilion. Everyone is heading to bed now and we will have lights out shortly after showers. All is well tonight…..

Monday, June 1, 2026: 3:30pm

Quick note at 3:30. A big rain mass headed in but quickly dissipated which allowed us to have Clinics after our Sugar Shack (mid-day snack). We are getting ready to head to the waterfront for Free-Time. The following are new additions to camp this summer:

• New baseball field with real bases, fence, foul lines, and foul poles

• New fly-fishing class

• New roof over the back porch of the dining hall

• New girl’s campsite

• New low ropes course (I will share more about this later in the week)

• Several new paddleboards

• New BB Range for safe shooting

Monday, June 1, 2026: 11:50am

Good morning and happy first day of camp parents. This is Camp Director Forrest Walker and I want to welcome you to our daily Director’s Blog. I wanted to thank each of you for an excellent camper drop-off this morning. It is always a treat for my wife(Alex) and I to meet and greet each of you. We have a lot of new campers present this morning which makes us very excited. We also love seeing returning campers which makes us smile. The purpose of this page is to give parents an inside look at what is happening at camp daily in terms of activities, menu items, games, and what we are talking to the campers about. I will try to update this page 1-3 times per day-usually first thing in the morning (I am an early riser) and throughout the afternoon and evening. If you don’t see an update posted on a certain day, just know that I am more than likely busy and not able to make it to my computer. For our first update, I wanted to let you know that we just got back from the swim test and everyone did great! The water was a bit chilly this morning due to the cool temps (which is very rare) and the recent rains. We will gladly take temps in the low 70’s on June 1. The recent rains raised our lake levels dramatically and have allowed us to resume all normal water related activities. The recent drought brought some tricky hydrological challenges to our camp, but we are thankful to have those issues resolved. We are having pizza for lunch today and will be debuting a new food item called, “pizza cupcakes” which are quite delicious. After lunch, we have a full slate of fun activities and games planned until bedtime. In later updates, I will share some of the exciting new additions that we have added to the property for the summer.

On a personal note, I wanted to let each of you know that our son is also a camper this week. In addition to this, Alex and I have several family members present who are also campers for the first time. Please know that we understand how hard it can be to drop your child off for the first time at an overnight camp. It is so important for kids to experience things away from home and I applaud each of you for giving your camper this opportunity. We have an incredible group of camp counselors who are dynamite with the campers and will do a great job in taking care of your kiddos. Our counseling staff comes from Texas, Indiana, Wisconsin, and all of the typical southern states. I will try to post another update later this evening.