#camp allen

[aroundfortwayne]

MamaJo has reached Foster Park

New Post has been published on https://aroundfortwayne.com/news/2021/06/30/mamajo-has-reached-foster-park/

MamaJo has reached Foster Park

Today, after pounding through nearly five miles of bedrock over three years, MamaJo, the Tunnel Boring Machine, called it a day.

[stthomasepishou]

Thoughts on a Week at Camp Allen

Thoughts on a Week at Camp Allen

Guest column by Rob Scholl

Dear Camper,

It’s been a little over a week since we last saw one another, and in case you’ve forgotten I was one of the adult volunteers with David Browder, Kari Browder, Bob Fisher, and Jennifer Underwood. I hope you have recovered from camp life–the scrapes and bruises from Jungle Safari, the horse fly bites from the pool, and haphazard sleeping. I hope you’ve also…

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[raisingsupergirl]

Church Camp and the Artificial Age Gap

As I sat hunched over my breakfast taco on Sunday morning, bruised, battered, sunburned and sleep-deprived, I couldn't help wishing I'd done more. The past two days were a swirling fog of high school hormones, tropical heat, and "organized mass chaos," and I wasn't sure I'd made even the slightest positive impact on the six campers assigned to me, let alone the rest of the young men and women attending camp. I thought about the amazing counselors I'd growing up, how they answered the hard questions about God and how they'd opened up on an emotional level, allowing me to do the same. Then I thought about my time at the beautiful Camp Allen, and how I'd spent most of it swimming and playing in the gym. Had I truly done anything other than entertain myself and act like a 29-year-old high schooler?

About that time, a smiling staff member walked up to my table and said, "I didn't get a chance to know you, but you're a great leader. I'm an observer, and you've done a great job with the kids." I mumbled a thank you and she walked away, but her words echoed into an avalanche of emotion and realization. I remembered one camper who, after my casual comments on his fun-loving nature and spontaneity, said, "You just told me more than my father ever has." And then I realized I was surrounded by young men who had chosen to sit with me at breakfast. Several had asked for my phone number or social media information and promised to come hang out throughout the year. They had connected with me, an old guy, and saw me as their friend.

At that point, two conversations stood out to me that I had shared with other leaders. The gist of the first was that our job, as mentors, is to be ready to talk when they are ready, not the other way around, and that, even if we don't see real change in a student's life at the time, we have to take comfort that we helped plant a seed that would blossom over time. The second conversation was about the difference in teaching middle schoolers and high schoolers. The bottom line was this: Middle school students try to figure out who they are, and high school students try to find out how to be that person.

So as I reflected on my weekend, on how the young men in my group were distracted by girls, ego, and slip-n-slides, I realized that I had in no way done my job, but God had most certainly done His. I had acted like a complete idiot all weekend, being my light-hearted, immature self, and God put students in my path who needed exactly what I could provide. I gave them confidence through my stupidity, patience through my hyperactivity, and strength through my exhaustion. They saw my flaws and related to them. And somehow, they found God and growth despite my failings.

So what did I learn during my first tour as camp counselor? If I had to sum it up, it would sound something like this: be real. Relate on a human level, because no matter how much they seem like little green men at times, high schoolers are people too, and they only respond to genuine human interaction. Sure, they think they know everything, and most of the decisions they make are wrong, but how is that any different than anyone else?

Now, time to lather on some aloe vera, catch up on sleep, and start preparing for next year. Who's ready to watch a thirty-year-old go down a quarter-mile slip-n-slide?

[thefanboyseo]

I’ve been staving off writing about this because I have only a few photos to back up the event but let me just write down the experience at the very least. So yeah, sometime ago, I was invited to try out Camp Allen’s White Water Rafting experience down south in Laguna.

Call time was 5pm in Makati’s 6750, a favored meeting place/ pickup point for Manila based bloggers. Once the group had settled, we then proceeded to Magallanes Shell to meet up with the other bloggers who were invited including The Travelling Panda of mikelaagan.com, Stacy Liong of Tsinoyfoodies and Ian Bacungan of Roguewriter.net

After a quick and light bite, it was go time to Sta. Cruz, Laguna in beautiful Camp Allen. It’s roughly around 2-3 hours drive from Manila (really depends on the traffic). We got to the place and that’s when we had HEAVY BREAKFAST; and when I say, talagang heavy.

Clockwise steamed rice, cassava cake, suman, tuyo and longganisa; pinoy breakfast staples

Best after meals – yosi

of course we needed because we’ll have to paddle for a good three hours or so. And Camp Allen isn’t the starting point either, think of it as the staging site or home base.

To get to the actual start point our transport (care of Great Sights Travel & Tours Corp) brought us a kilometer or so to their garage where the jeepneys, the raft and the protective gear await.

That’s me… well my back anyway… Credits: Roguewriter.net

Credits: Roguewriter

yours truly all geared up

 So where was I? oh yeah, a few kilometers and an hour or so away we reach the staging site. Pero it’s not the end of the tough challenge because you’ll need to walk down a good fifteen minute walk towards the river. With your gear and the rafts behind you.

That’s me holding in front with the paddles. Credits: http://www.traveltripsters.com/

The excitement was killing me and I guess the other bloggers who were invited. It’s not everyday you get to do white water rafting just a stone’s throw away from Manila. Plus the thrill of actually paddling is a fun thought.

Credits: Roguewriter.net

Some of the sights along the river (credits: Roguewriter.net)

Be ready for some serious adrenaline rush because the rapids here come in different lengths, styles and difficulty. This’ll put some iron in your mettle and probably get you soaked in as little as 15 minutes. Paddling’s a bit tough especially if you’re a beginner but I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it; after all you’ve got 2 to 4 hours to practice and improve.

Somewhere there’s a dinosaur waiting to pop out

According to our guides, they practically landscaped the river to be “rafting friendly” so huge boulders have been removed and all that.

The experience was awesome and I can’t stress enough that you need to try this. We got off around 4 pm (or so) in Camp Allen 2 which is the last part…

Credit: Roguewriter.net

This was where lunch would be served…

  Adobo and itlog

Don’t worry, food’ll be part of the fee your paying, so relax lang and enjoy. Check out the sights in Camp Allen 2

Also here’s the video review/ reaction for the whole White Water Rafting experience.

  Camp Allen contact details [phone] / [phone] / [phone] Email [email protected] Website http://ph.shop.88db.com/campallen/ Camp Allen on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CampAllen

Great Sights Travel & Tours Corp Tel Nos.: [phone]-91 Fax: [phone] E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Website: http://www.greatsights.com.ph

Camp Allen Offers White Water Rafting in Laguna! I've been staving off writing about this because I have only a few photos to back up the event but let me just write down the experience at the very least.