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Posts in the ‘Youth’ Category
Friday, March 18th, 2011
The traditional approach to education is summed up best in this “Rules for Good Listening” poster. The message is straightforward: “Good students sit still, they don’t wiggle, they look forward and open up the 2 ears that God gave them, because God gave us two ears and one mouth so we would listen twice as much as we talk!”
I don’t want to refute the theology of this statement (I will save that for a later post) but I do want to point out the damaging nature of this methodology of teaching. This method of teaching assumes that all students learn the same way. The problem is that research proves students have different learning styles and not all students will benefit from these “Rules for Good Listening.” Not only that, but some students may actually be harmed by this method of teaching.
One of the most popular models for learning styles proposes that there are three main types of learners.
- Visual learners :: Visual learners learn through seeing. These students will watch the teacher’s facial expressions and body language. They tend to think in pictures and appreciate diagrams, images, maps and hand-outs. When they are able to represent concepts with images, they can better understand meaning.
- Auditory leaners :: Auditory learners learn through listening. These students are the ones for whom “The Rules for Good Listening” poster was created. They learn best from verbal lectures and written information often has little meaning until it can be heard.
- Kinesthetic learners :: Kinesthetic, or tactile learners, learn through moving, doing and touching. These are the students that are often misunderstood and can even be harmed by the concepts expressed in the “Rules for Good Listening” poster. They don’t learn from sitting still, looking forward and listening. This actually hinders their learning experience. These learners learn best through a hands-on approach as they actively explore the world around them.
The best teachers create lessons that are intentionally geared for all three types of learners. It is much more difficult because it takes more time and mental energy, but it is worth it because the impact is much greater.
Tags: camp, learning, program, teaching
Posted in Youth, Youth Pastors | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011
I often wonder if people are just as entertained by me as my sons and I were entertained by these mice. One of those little guys was hanging on for dear life as the wheel just kept spinning and spinning.
I’m not much different than that little guy. The wheel of life keeps spinning round and round–and sometimes it does it at break-neck speed. Oftentimes I feel so overwhelmed and dizzy from the todos on my list, the projects I’ve taken on, the expectations that others have of me, the endless events on my calendar, the emails/phone calls I have to return and the responsibilities I have. It just seems like I’m spinning out of control on the wheel of life with no end in sight.
There are a few actions that have been helping me slow the wheel down and gain some perspective. When I am disciplined enough to take these actions, life is much more manageable.
- Get a full night’s sleep :: Sleep is usually one of the first things to go when life is busy yet it is one of the most important things we do. I used to view a full night’s sleep as something that weak people needed. I am slowly realizing and embracing the healing, rejuvenating and refreshing discipline of getting at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Have realistic expectations :: I am a perfectionist and I want to do everything and I want to do it all at 100%. Because of this, I have struggled with an unrealistic todo list every day. I am learning to calendar 2-3 tasks that contribute to my overall goals each day and focus on doing those tasks before I do anything else. This provides me with focus and a reason to celebrate at the end of each day.
- Exercise :: We all know that exercise is good for us but finding the time is often the difficult part. I recently bought an inexpensive and portable exercise bike that I now ride while I’m watching TV. I don’t feel as guilty for watching TV and I get exercise at the same time. Not only that, but it often limits the amount of TV I do watch.
- Rest in God’s grace :: This is the hardest action for me to do but I continue to learn how vital it is to my life. It is so good for me to remember that God loves me in spite of myself and not because of anything I have done or anything I will do. This action step is simply stepping off the wheel of life and resting in God’s grace despite expectations, successes, failures and todos. God ran the world before I was born and He will continue running it when I am gone. He doesn’t need me. This is just further evidence of His grace!
Tags: busyness, freedom, ministry, youth ministry
Posted in Youth, Youth Pastors | No Comments »
Monday, March 14th, 2011
On the way back from a Mount Hermon staff retreat, we stopped at a well-known fast food restaurant in the central valley of California. One of the first things we noticed was this health-conscious sign about eating a balanced and nutritious diet. I was fascinated by it, because fast food is not known for its healthy qualities. However, what fascinated me most was the small print at the bottom of the sign. I took a picture of it because I was so shocked it was there in the first place.
This dampened any desire I had to eat there in the first place. All I got was a milkshake…and an epiphany.
Every choice we make in life has a small print warning underneath it. This is one of the many reasons we have been given God’s Word!
- When we are tempted to sacrifice our faith in Jesus to date and/or marry someone primarily because of their physical appearance, the warning is: “ A beautiful person who consistently makes bad decisions is a lot like a gold ring in a pig’s snout” (see Proverbs 11:22).
- When we find ourselves spending time with people who are leading us away from our faith in Jesus, we are warned: “You become like the people you hang out with” (see Proverbs 13:20).
- When we begin to think too much of ourselves and our own abilities, the warning is: “Continued pride is detestable to God and it takes us farther away from Him.” (See Proverbs 16:5).
- When we speak in anger trying to provoke an argument, the small print is: “The words of a fool lead to arguments and those arguments could very well lead to a well-deserved beating.” (see Proverbs 18:6).
It’s both funny and disappointing to me that I can often pay more attention to a small print warning at a fast food restaurant than one in the Word of God. My goal over the next few weeks is to approach each decision looking for the warning in small print.
Here’s the cool part–there is ALWAYS a positive side to these warnings. God warns us against certain actions so that we can experience His presence and His grace at a deeper level. Isn’t that the whole point of a warning–to protect us from harm and lead us to a healthier, more fulfilling life?
Tags: bible, discipleship, discipline, ministry, obedience
Posted in Youth, Youth Pastors | No Comments »
Monday, January 31st, 2011
Are you ready to be challenged and grown while watching God transform lives? Are you eager to live and share your life in community? We offer opportunities to college-aged individuals who want to make a difference in their world. In the summer, Mount Hermon is CAMP… 24/7. This is not just a job, this is an experience that will impact your life and the lives of those you encounter.
We have many different types of summer staff positions at our various locations. Redwood Camp, Conference Center, and Ponderosa Lodge take place in our Santa Cruz mountains facilities, approximately 75 miles South of San Francisco. ECHO will take place at Kidder Creek, which is our facility located in Northern California near the Oregon border.
Posted in Alumni, General, Kidder Creek, Youth | 1 Comment »
Sunday, January 30th, 2011
Moms & Daughters | April 29-May 1, 2011
A mother/daughter relationship is one of the most rewarding relationships one could ever ask for. No matter what stage you are at in the relationship, we all know that mothers and daughters start bonding at an early age.
Here is an opportunity to embrace your relationship, and take it to the next level! Come in April to stroll through the roads of Paris as Redwood Camp is transformed into the “City of Lights.” Walk with beauty and grace as we explore the mystery of our Savior Jesus Christ and the romance the Father gives us in His creation.
This trip is more than just an opportunity to dress up, eat, dance, and relax in Redwood’s “City of Lights…” It is a chance to build upon a beautiful bond that exists between a mother and daughter that will change your life. So, please take a risk and travel to Redwood as you uncover the glamour and beauty that already exists within you!
Suzy Clark, Director of the Mount Hermon Outdoor Science School, will be our main speaker at the retreat. Suzy is wife to Todd Clark and the mother of two children, Khenya (5) and Brady (3). She loves to share her knowledge of the science and beauty of God’s creation. Suzy has worked at Mount Hermon for 3 years, and we are honored to have her share her story with us.
Our worship leader for the weekend with be one of our own Mount Hermon Staff, Carissa Lemos. Carissa studied at Seattle Pacific University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Carissa currently works as a Naturalist at the Mount Hermon Outdoor Science School. She also has been involved with worship groups for the past ten years and is excited to share that gift with you!
Posted in General, Youth | No Comments »
Sunday, January 30th, 2011
Dads and Sons | April 15-17, 2011
So many times we find ourselves asking where the time has gone. It can be difficult to find time to step back and enjoy the camradarie between a dad and his son.
Join us this April as Redwood Camp offers a weekend like none other! At this years weekend getaway, dads and sons will get behind the wheel at Redwood Raceway as they embark on a journey of fun, excitement, and lasting memories! Come alongside as dad and son, engage in worship, outdoor activities, fellowship, and a Night at the Raceway! Here at Redwood Raceway each dad and son team will be creating their own Pinwood Derby Stock Car to compete in Mount Hermon’s first Pinewood Derby!
You do not want to miss out on this opportunity to enjoy life together in a beautiful setting, with a great speaker, worship, and most importantly, with your son!
We are excited to have John Jenks as our speaker for this weekend. John is the Lead Pastor of Cascade Covenant Church in North Bend, Washington. John started this church in 1989 and loves to encourage parents and their children in the adventure of growing together in their faith. John met his wife Ann when they were on Mount Hermon summer staff in 1977 and the have been married for 30 years. John and Ann have two sons and they have been coming to Mount Hermon together for more than 20 years.
Posted in General, Youth | 1 Comment »
Friday, January 28th, 2011
Ponderosa Lodge, Conference Center and Kidder Creek! Hike, bike, ride, play, sing, surf, skate, zip … and simply hang out with awesome counselors and friends.
Register Online
You can register for all youth camps online. Santa Cruz Mountains camps have new software that will ask you to create a family account. It’s easy, but call if you have questions.
Posted in General, Youth | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
Creativity can be enigmatic. Not only is it hard to define, but many people would not even consider themselves as creative. Yet, Scripture tells us that we have all been created in the image of a Creative God. Therefore, in one way or another, we are all creative. So, how can we actually BE creative?
Scott Belsky in his book “Making Ideas Happen” gives an example of the creative process of Walt Disney. Disney had a three-staged process in creating and developing feature-length films. He used three different rooms to create, nurture and evaluate ideas. Whether you use three actual rooms or not, these 3 stages can be helpful to the process of creating.
Room/phase 1: This is where true brainstorming occurs. In this room, the team members are allowed to throw out any and all ideas. There are no limits, no evaluation, no criticism–only ideas.
Room/Phase 2: Here, the crazy ideas from room 1 are collected and organized. The end result is a storyboard chronicling events and general sketches of characters.
Room/Phase 3: Room 3 was also known as the “sweat box.” This is where serious evaluation and assessment comes in. The entire creative team would critically analyze and review the project with no restraints. Because the end product of Room 2 was created in community, one person was never the focus of criticism.
Regardless of whether you are a youth worker creating a program, a parent planning a family vacation or a student working on a project, these 3 steps in the creative process are a great way to harness our God-given creative power.
Tags: creativity, disney, program, youthministry, youthworker
Posted in Youth, Youth Pastors | No Comments »
Monday, January 24th, 2011
 Ponderosa's 2010 Derosa Characters We are so thankful for what God did in 2010 in our Youth Programs at Mount Hermon. We witnessed students’ lives change as they encountered Jesus. We were blessed with new church partnerships. We continue to hear stories of God moving in students lives and families. We were blessed with resources to raise our programming to the next level. We were encouraged by students who committed to read their Bibles after camp in “the 21 Day Challenge.” It was a great year.
We are hoping and praying that 2011 will be even greater! We just finished setting our 2011 goals and we are excited to both share them with you and get your insights, thoughts, wisdom and advice as we move forward into the future God is calling us to. Here is a quick overview of our 2 primary goals for 2011:
1. We will increase the number of students we impact :: we have so many great youth programs at Mount Hermon (Ponderosa, Conference Center youth, Amata, Echo, CILT) that we don’t want to be content with our past successes. This isn’t just about having more students come to quality and effective programs. That’s only a portion of it. We also want to set students up to have “more than just a mountain top experience” by helping them plug into the Word of God and the people of God when they leave camp.
2. We will increase the number of churches we serve while improving our level of service to current churches :: I truly believe that the church is the vehicle through which God is going to bring about His Kingdom. This means that Mount Hermon youth programs exist to serve the church. This isn’t just about expecting churches to come to our programs. This is about us conversing with churches, seeing what the needs are and working to serve them in those needs if it is at all possible.
This is just a quick overview. If you have a moment, we would love to hear your thoughts and we would value your prayers.
Here’s to a God-glorifying, Kingdom-advancing, life-changing 2011!
Tags: ponderosa, program, Youth
Posted in Youth, Youth Pastors | 1 Comment »
Thursday, January 20th, 2011
 Charlie & Abbie on California Screamin In an effort to continue to increase the quality of our programming at our youth camps, the Mount Hermon Youth Team took a trip to Disneyland to learn more about excellent programming. Many critics poked fun at our “field trip” but it ended up being an amazing experience. After our day at Disneyland, we spent some time debriefing and we came up with the top 10 lessons we learned from our visit to Disneyland. This is the second installment of those lessons.
6. Darkness (and purposeful lighting) allows you to control where people look
We noticed that almost every ride was inside so that the lighting was under full control. Disney determines where you look with lighting. It could be colored lights, spot lights or even black lights but they had full control over the focus of each ride. The only inside ride we noticed that wasn’t dark was It’s a Small World which is so visually overwhelming that you don’t have time to look at anything else.
7. Waiting in line is an opportunity to build anticipation
In many amusement parks, waiting in line is a necessary evil that has to be tolerated. At Disneyland, waiting in line is part of the experience. Disney goes to great lengths to build anticipation for the experience to come as you wait in line. They do this by capitalizing on all 5 human senses. They are drawing you in and preparing you for the experience as you wait in line.
8. Getting into the park is 1 transaction
Disney makes it easy to get into the park. You may have to wait in line but it only takes 1 main transaction to get into the park. And once you are in, you are welcomed by bright colors, sounds (in our case it was a marching band) and smells. You really do feel like you have walked into a different world when you walk through the gates.
9. Transitions are important
There are so many transitions at Disneyland and I never really noticed this until I was intentionally looking. When you transition between lands/regions, you are very aware of it. You walk through something (like a castle) and enter into a region that is themed differently. This very clearly communicates that you are leaving one land and entering another. On rides, movable walls were often used to transition from one section to another.
10. If you can fool the senses, you can fool the mind
I didn’t realize the extent to which Disney capitalizes on the 5 human senses. There were recorded sounds such as jungle noises, fake radio broadcasts and thunder that added to the experience. Music tone and volume were also used to control the mood. The textures of the walls waiting in line for Indiana Jones made you feel like you were in a cave. Lighting, or lack there of it, was used to control mood. These are just a few of the numerous examples of this. Disney drew us into each experience by capitalizing on the 5 senses.
Tags: ponderosa, program, Youth
Posted in Youth, Youth Pastors | No Comments »
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