From the Wyoming Wilderness Camp program committee

A Word from HR Camp

from the Programming Committee:

Charlie DeWolf (chairman), the Revs. Tom Fiske, Doug Wasinger and Kay Flores

HR Camp has been buttoned up for winter - and now we are looking forward to 2011. The Program Committee will be planning our schedule of church camps for all ages soon. We want to provide time for congregations and regions to hold events, but already we are getting requests from other groups who want to bring campers to learn and grow in our beautiful camp.

Is your congregation or region planning an event at HR Camp? Please contact Pat Walsh during November (pat@wyomingdiocese.org or (307)351-7006 to reserve your preferred time.

A reminder: We are asking for input on the spirituality part of our program. How can we better meet the needs of campers from your congregation? You can read more at the diocese's website.

Good Shepherd, Sundance partners with local high school

On Monday, September 20^th 18 students and staff from Bear Lodge High School in Sundance arrived at the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming’s HR Camp located outside of Douglas. The group was looking to use their two-day trip as an opportunity to bond and come together as a community. Joining them on their journey were three members from Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Sundance.

Bear Lodge High School is Crook County’s alternative High School. Its mission is to provide a quality education, in a small classroom setting to students that are looking for a choice in their learning environment. The current enrollment is 16 students and because of the small student body the school is very much a community. And as students graduate and new students enroll the community is changing each year. To facilitate community the students and staff attended a team building camp at HR Camp this week.

During their two days at the camp, the group was able to use the ropes course, to hike, learn about stewardship and relax as a team. Joe Price, Math and Science teacher at Bear Lodge, came with few expectations. He explained” I’m looking for the children to get out of their comfort zone. Some will stumble and I’d like to see how they respond.”

Principal Dale Peterson hoped” to see how the students develop into leaders during this trip. This will not only serve them at Bear Lodge but outside the classroom as well.” When asked about the school’s relationship with Good Shepherd, Sundance he went on to say ” they’ve been there for us. They help provide food for our cantina, which allows our kids to have a meal when they may not get one on at home. And, they made this possible” referring to the experience at HR Camp.

As the camp came to an end, Pat Walsh, the director for HR Camp, said, “ this was an opportunity for children, teachers and Good Shepherd to come together and, regardless of their background, have a shared experience. This is an event they’ll be able to draw from the entire year.”

Good Shepherd became involved with Bear Lodge HS nearly two years ago during the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming’s Mustard Seed Project. During this project, each church within the diocese was given $12,000 to use for outreach. Bear Lodge HS was one of Good Shepherd’s recipients.

Over the past two years BLHS and GS have spent holidays preparing meals together, celebrating the seasons and end of the school year and have even restored a green house. This green house has given BLHS it’s own outreach program: allowing them to trade saplings for canned food items which in turn were donated to a local charity. The green house has also become a source of revenue for the school as they have sold the produce they have grown. Some of these proceeds were used to pay for their experience at HR camp.

To see photos click here.

Slideshow of Hank "the crank"

Mass on the Mountain: From the e-Spirit of the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming

This past Sunday, Region III celebrated Mass at HR Camp. The posed picture of the "cast of characters" - Jim Wilson, Glendo - Prayers of the People; Nancy Robinson, Wheatland - Lector; Bill Walker - Hartville - Celebrant, Bobbe Fitzhugh, Douglas- Worship Leader; Kay Flores - Casper St. Stephens - Preacher. Not pictured were Tom and Jennie Ketner from Douglas who provided the music ministry.

Approximately 75 worshippers attended. It was a marvelous day of Eucharistic celebration, potluck food and fellowship!

by Bobbe Fitzhugh

Hank the camp dog

From camp director Pat Walsh:

I have some sad news to report from camp. Today an old friend of the camp passed away. "Hank" the dog passed away in his sleep today in Laramie. For the past 11 years he spent at camp being a friend to all of the campers, and staff, and me. He was a good friend and a good companion. He will be missed by many.

As I sit here and think back over the years with Hank, I remember most fondly how he loved to hike with all the campers, and whenever it was time to hike he would get excited and wag his tail from side to side and jump up and turn in circles. I remember how he would wait patiently for Patty Perez (camp cook) to arrive and begin to cook breakfast. That always meant a treat or two from her.

He was loyal, patient, and most of all loving to all of the campers that knew him. In his early years, I traveled with Hank around Wyoming to youth events and churches. Although the camp was his main home, he did see the rest of the state.

Goodbye, old friend, may God be always with you.

Pat

News about Bear Lodge High School

Bear Lodge High School will be attending Wyoming Wilderness Camp in Encampment, Wy Sep. 20-21. Wyoming Wilderness Camp is affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming. The camp they will be attending is secular and focuses on team building, developing self-esteem and anti-bullying. This program has been recognized throughout the state and is also used by the schools of Wheatland, Douglas, Kayceee, Glendo among others.

Bear Lodge chose this program after working with Good Shepherd Church to develop their green house. They are using the proceeds from their sales to partially fund this trip.

WWC Report to the Board

“We Can With God’s Help”

As the summer nears its end, all of the campers and summer staff have left to begin getting ready to go back to school. This summer was a partial success, as the camp had 72 more campers than from the previous summer, with most of the camps at 50% full. Here is a breakdown of how the camps were attended:

Caregivers weekend – 2

Wyoming Boys and Girls Club Camp – 30

Middler Camp – 23

Family Camp – 39

Art/Music/Photography Camp – 19

Junior High Camp -18

Angel Camp – 25

Big Horn Blast V- 11

Wind River Mission Camp – 16

181 campers – 2010 109 campers – 2009

Note* Equestrian Camp was canceled due to low registrations. (below 10)

The camp has switched gears, getting ready for school programs for August and September. We anticipate the following groups:

Wheatland MS 8/27, 9/3, 9/9 230 youth

Cathedral Home for Children – 8/20 – 8/22 16 youth

Guernsey-Sunrise MS – 8/24, 8/25 – 60 youth

St. Pauls Newman Center – 8/27-29 13 young adults

Converse County School Dist. 9/14, 9/15, 9/29, 40 youth

Kaycee MS – 9/27-28 - 37 youth

Bear Lodge HS – 9/20-21 20 youth

Dist. 5440 Foreign Exchange Students – 924-26 25 youth

I am still working at filling other days with groups up to October 13, 2010. Overall, the summer was a good one, I look to improve are attendance next summer and surpass this year’s numbers.
The camp continues to be a cornerstone in the faith development of our young people. Some of the reasons for this are as follows: It is one of the most beautiful places in Wyoming, as the facility makes the most of it’s setting of natural features as it was given to the Diocese by Hank Raymond. The climbing routes are challenging, and safe, and the swimming hole is cold and dramatic, and the view of Laramie Peak is amazing. Although the dining hall is in need of repair or replacement, it continues to produce good healthy food for the campers. The staff works hard to pull the necessary parts of the program together: fun, safety, and spirituality. They encourage campers to challenge themselves, and to look for God in all that they do. God is always present at Wyoming Wilderness Camp. God is present in nature, and in the relationships between the campers, and in the relationships of the staff as they teach the campers throughout the week.,

Tristan English said in the e-spirit: The counselors are focused on providing these campers with the experience that many of us have had: sharing in the beauty of the setting, the self esteem one earns by completing the ropes course and the friendships and bonds that form between strangers after a week. When you watch the staff and the camp’s director, Pat Walsh, interact with the kids you sense the passion that they have for what they are doing. There’s a smile in their voice and a sense of grace . Even after one night, everyone knows that this will be a different week.

I encourage the board and others who read this report to also go to the camp blog (off the web site) and to read what the campers and staff have written about their experience this summer. Thank you for your unwavering support of the camp, the staff, and me as we all work together for ministry to young people.

- Pat Walsh (Director of Wyoming Wilderness Camp)