MC Summer Staff

Rory and I lived at Mount Carmel from April to September in 2007 when I worked as the Summer Staff Coordinator. This is the staff I got to work with. They were awesome.

The most important part of a great summer camp is a phenomenal summer staff.

I have recruited, interviewed, hired and trained four different camp staffs. I have spent a lot of time talking to college age students (and sometimes post college) telling them all the reasons why working at camp for the summer will likely be one of the best decisions of their life. And I mean it. And a lot of people decide to apply.

When Rory heard my stories after weeks of recruiting in  college student centers he would tell me I needed to go into sales. He said I was natural and could be very successful in this field.

I told him I am good at "selling" a summer of camp counseling because I believe in what I am selling with my whole heart. It's not hard to sell when you love your product. And I love summer camp. Every student has the same reasons why they shouldn't (need to make more money, a boyfriend at home, summer school classes to take) but in the end, I can't really think of one soul who would look back and regret having spent a summer working at camp.

If you know of someone looking for the best summer job in the whole wide world, encourage them to apply to work at Mount Carmel. They are looking to hire college age and older, men and women, in the following areas:

• nursery care
• preschool, elementary, middle and high school counselors
• maintenance
• a marketing assistant
• an office assistant
• hospitality and housekeeping 
• audio visual
• lifeguards
• musicians (guitar players!)

The application process and application is online here. Print it out, send it to them with a personal note. Send them to my blog to see pictures and to get a better feel. They'll thank you at the end of the summer! Promise.

**and yes, that is me singing in the video (with a bunch of kids at Mount Carmel in 2007). I believe this version of Jesus Loves Me was written by some counselors at FLBC a few summers before I worked there. Ivar has been singing this version lately :)

Mount Carmel Summer Schedule

My dad called tonight and said to be sure I make it very clear that Mount Carmel is for all ages. And that some come by themselves for the week. Some people bring their grandkids (this is a great idea if the parents can't get away from work. What a special week together!) Dad's exact quote was, "it's different from a kids camp..be sure people know it is multigenerational."

So there you have it. All ages. Welcome. At Mount Carmel.

Summer Schedule: 
Mount Carmel offers six weeks of Bible Camp during the summer, bookended by Elderversity weeks (Bible education geared toward retired men and women) Of the schedule below, I wish I could live at Mount Carmel the first four weeks.

Of special note, Wendy Berthelsen is one of the directors of Call Inc., a non-profit that helps men and women understand and live out God's call on their life. I have shared a few conversations with her and always walk away inspired and grateful for her work. A big part of me is hopeful to get to be there for part of this week...

Wendy also wrote the curriculum that all of the youth will be working through, centered on the unique and personal call that Christ has placed on each one of our lives.

June 22-28   “God’s Call in Scripture” (Fine Arts Week) with Rev. Steve Dornbusch

June 29-July 5  “Discover Your Call” with Rev. Wendy Berthelsen

July 6-12  “God’s Call to Faith Formation at Home and Church” with Tim Coltvet

July 13-19 Mini-Weeks for Families (Full week available also)
                   July 13-16  "Families Drawing Closer to God & Closer to Each other" with Peder Eide
                   July 16-19  "God’s Masterpiece In & Through You" with Sara Groves

July 20-26  “Genesis – Great Stories of Faith” with Steve Paulson and Chris Croghan

July 27- Aug 2   “God’s Call to Missions” speaker to be announced

we interrupt Mount Carmel Week to bring you...

...an adorable picture of Elsie!

And to touch base a bit. I think by now you have probably caught on that I have made this week Mount Carmel Week on my blog. I am doing this mostly to get all sorts of information out at once with the hopes that some may join in and vacation at this lovely place this summer.

If nothing else, I hope you are enjoying the little mini warm-weather cyber vacation, looking at pictures of summertime and dreaming of trips to the beach.

Anyway, just a heads up: Next week I have some fun hopes for this ol' blog. I want to do a farm home tour of our new place. I want to share a little piece I have written about why we moved to the country. And I want to show you the office Rory built for himself in the woods. Furniture goes in tomorrow. So much to tell.

So until Monday, enjoy some more summertime pictures of blue lakes and green grass...

A day at Mount Carmel

I've heard of some whispers of a few readers trying to get to Mount Carmel this summer. Some have emailed their sisters or close friends, forwarding on the post from yesterday, asking if they'd consider going. I'm so pleased! And I want to give you a better feel of what the day to day is like at family camp.

Daily Schedule
Now this is all based on what I've known from years past. But things can change from year to year, so here is my best from what I know:

7:00-8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Morning Praise (family devotion and worship time)
9:30-11:30 Age Group Time
Adults have their own study while the kids go for their own age-specific kids camp. Nursery and Preschool care is provided, and there is programming for elementary, middle and high school age kids.
12:00- Lunch
1:00- Quiet Time
2:00- Beach Opens: Swimming, Boating, Crafts...
4:30- Sometimes an adult discussion small group
5:30- Supper
Evening plans can differ from week to week. Some weeks there is evening worship. Some weeks are geared more towards an earlier bedtime for little kids, so the talent show, campfires, camp concerts, capture the flag etc are moved a bit earlier.
Every night has canteen and each evening the sauna is available for an evening swim, games are in the lodge and conversations are always plentiful.

Housing Options
I have these pictures from a few years back. They kind of give you a feel. But actually, no two cabins are really alike at Mount Carmel. These are some of the nicer ones. There are others that feel a bit more "campy" read: not remodeled yet :)

These are awesome remodeled housekeeping cabins:

inside: (2 bedrooms, living space with futon, bathroom and a small deck looking out at the lake.

This is what a typical Lodge Room looks like. Lodge rooms are the only living spaces air conditioned and feel a bit more like a hotel than a camp.

The Ridge Cabins are my favorite. Tiny and adorable, they feel campy and quaint.

This is the inside of one that has been remodeled. Not all have been remodeled.

There are six new colored cabins. Pretty awesome. And these are available too in the winter for family getaways!

I hope this helps continue to paint a picture for you :)

Childhood Summers

Both sets of my grandparents brought their children to Mount Carmel for a week each year. My parents brought us kids each summer. And now we're bringing our babies.

This song was another one of those songs that when I heard it, I saw these pictures with it. My dad helped me find a few through his slide collection and the rest I scanned this week. That's me in each one of the pictures...a bit self indulgent, but also a really cool way to see how this place has shaped me so. I love the pictures of us playing church in the prayer chapel.

And with me in nearly every picture are my cousins, Sarah and Kathy. Did you catch that our mom's (in their swimsuits) were holding Sarah and me when we were babies, and at the end, that was me and Sarah holding our own babies? I believe we call that full circle. :)


All pictures were taken at Mount Carmel Family Bible Camp in Alexandria, Minnesota 
Music: Childhood Summers by Sara Groves Yep...the same Sara Groves who is going to be teaching at Mount Carmel this summer! Join us!