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On a snowy evening in January, a small group of youth attending the 2012 Winter Camp gathered around the inaugural fire in Mingus Mountain Camp's new fire circle.

The youth and their adult leaders were grateful that the new benches in the concrete enclosure are portable, as they pulled them around a crackling fire to keep warm as they told "scary" stories and silly jokes to one another during a small group session.

Soon the entire camp had gathered around the fire, preparing for a beautiful night hike in the wintery wonderland of Mingus.

Our new fire circle is equipped with an electric outlet for future groups to utilize, as well as a water source to ensure fires are fully extinguished. The fire circle is now closer to the dining hall, with wide aisles that are not only paved, but descend gradually, allowing for easier access.

_Happy New Year!  After a very snowy and quiet December on Mingus Mountain we look forward to the coming year.  We are especially looking forward to January’s Winter Camp, held the 14th through the 16th on the Martin Luther King Holiday weekend.  We’re planning our trips to town for supplies and groceries, dusting out the cabins, and repairing the vent pipes sheared off by Decembers’ big winter snows.  By mid-December we had recorded 48” of snow for the season, with plenty still on the ground!

We’re thankful for those who will be leading the youth at Winter Camp.  Deans Nicholle Hansen and Cindy Von Bargen, who have led the camp together for three seasons, have recruited a wide variety of leaders from East and West Districts.  Pastors Ron Bartlow and David Rennick will be lending a hand, as will Mingus Mountain Advisory Committee Program Chairperson, Joshua Warner.  We will be welcoming these returning leaders and several new local leaders too. 

In addition to our great retreat festivities of great food, “family” time, and fellowship we’ll be challenged with some serious spiritual discussion and activities.  Our theme, The Least of These, delves into our role in taking care of the poor and needy.  We’ll share experiences and learn about our role in taking small steps to transform the world, through actions, prayer and through HOPE. 

Brandon and I are thankful to be in community with our youth and leaders and to share in the weekend’s spiritual journey.

Good Tidings,
Chris

_
When you see a snowman
Three snowballs round
He is reminding you
That in God Three in One are found

The bottom reminds us of God the Father
Our strong rock and foundation
The Creator of all living things,
People, tribes, and nations

The middle shows us God the Son
With His arms spread open wide
Who died on the cross for each of us
Our sins Jesus' blood did hide.

The head reminds us of God the Holy Spirit
Who is our counselor and friend,
He speaks to our hearts and minds
Transforming us in the likeness of Him.

So when you see a snowman
In the midst of all the wintertime fun,
Listen carefully and he'll tell you,
"Remember God is Three in One".

Copyright 2002 Maureen Spell

Has it really been a year?

This past weekend marked one year since David Ingraham constructed the Frisbee/Disc Golf Course at Mingus.  That November weekend the grounds were teaming with boy scouts, on task and mission-driven.  Under David’s direction, they cleared trees and brush, dug holes, set posts, and poured concrete. 

The Course was “broken-in” this summer as campers treaded pathways from hole to hole.  And a glance at the Frisbees in their storage box at the Dining Hall reveals that they’ve been played hard; battered and dusty!  At a camp session in July I asked veteran Cabin Leader/Hike Leader Gary Hale, “How’s it going?”  “Frisbee Golf, Frisbee Golf….that’s all the campers want to do,” he replied with a grin.  Then in September I couldn’t help but notice a young boy standing with his father at the trail entrance to the Course.  The boy was chanting FRISBEE GOLF, FRISBEE GOLF, FRISBEE GOLF.  Shortly his mother emerged from the Dining Hall with a bright red Frisbee in hand, all set to join them at play.

During the planning stages of the Course, Brandon and David considered areas of location.  The forested area in the Northwest corner of camp was chosen for its proximity to camp activity but also for the shade it would provide players.  We all envisioned a forested park-like setting for the Course and many hours of clearing and grooming were essential.  In May a work party felled, cut and moved logs and this October we worked with Duane to continue to fell and cut trees.  In late October, a local work party helped to gather the logs and clear brush while Duane lit a fire and burned what we could.

At year’s end we are proud of our popular Disc Golf Course in its park-like setting and we are proud of camp program staffer and Eagle Scout David Ingraham who has earned the highest honor in scouting.

Next year look for our new Hiking Trails display at the Dining Hall.  Camp staffers Jim and Frankie Swauger spent part of last summer hiking and re-hiking sections of trails on the mountain, developing four hike/trail guides.  Each guide contains a topographic map with trail demarcation, level of difficulty, time allowances and descriptions.  Our Dining Hall display includes a large framed topographic map of the mountaintop, individual trail maps and descriptions framed and hung, along with a rack containing individual guides for campers to carry on their hikes.  Brandon and I bustled to get materials finished and the display maps hung for last weekend’s groups to enjoy.  But to our dismay a very strong storm moved in bringing frigid temperatures and plenty of snow -- campers opted to stay cozy by the fireplace instead of venturing out on the trails!

Happy Camping,
Chris

Dear Friends:

We all have dreams and wishes, and sometimes some of you good folks want to help those wishes come true at Mingus Mountain Camp. So we have updated and posted our Wish List, with a variety of needed and wanted items to enhance the camp experience at Mingus Mountain. Please check it out, share it, and contact Brandon if you are able to help in any way. Thank you!

Hello Everyone.  I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on a couple of changes in the leadership team who comprise the Mingus Mtn Camp SAC.  Last night we held our 2011 Fall SAC meeting & there were many exciting  ideas discussed regarding ways for Mingus to continue trying new & different methods of increasing our summer youth camp & other conference sponsored youth camping programs.  As we move further into developing these you may be contacted by one or more of our SAC ministry team chairpersons for your thoughts & input on some of our new recruitment strategies.
 
Our new Mingus SAC Team Leaders are:
 
·         Mr. Garry Lozier – Mingus SAC Chairperson
·         Rev. Andrea Andress – Mingus Promotions Ministry Team Chair
·         Mr. Josh Warner – Mingus Program Ministry Team Chair
·         Rev. George Smoot – Mingus Facilities Ministry Team Chair
 
Your thoughts & ideas are always welcome & very much appreciated.
Thank you,
Brandon

Hello to our many Mingus Mtn Camp supporters!
 
I am very pleased to share the good news that Mr. Garry Lozier of PVUMC has graciously accepted a request that he become the Chairperson of the Mingus Site Advisory Committee (SAC).  Garry is a very dedicated member of our Facilities Ministry Team, and has spent many, many hours assisting with raising funds & donations for important items on our “Mingus Wish List,” not to mention his logging in some serious hours on working through the numerous details involved with the construction of our future pavilion.
 
I’m not going to embarrass Garry by itemizing the many ways he has been working behind the scenes to assist MMC but let’s just say that Chris & I are very grateful.  We welcome his life experiences, his good humor, his deep commitment to Mingus & his effervescent & contagious optimism! All that rolled into one package & it is Mingus Mtn Camp’s good fortune to have been able to attract him into our leadership team.
 
Now Garry, don’t sit back & glow too much from all these kind words ‘cause we have a lot of hard work ahead of us.  Keep your sleeves rolled up & keep sending us your good ideas & plans for the future.  See you in September at our next SAC meeting (time & date TBA soon).
 
Yours in Camping Ministry,
Brandon Hill