We have entered our second week of the trip, and it is quickly coming to a close.  The counselors are running their 4th and final day camp today.  It has been a huge success.  Because God redirected us to Costa Rica, hundred of kids were provided a chance to a camp that they would have never gotten otherwise.  We are staying at and working with Campamento Roblealto.  It is a strongly established Camp, and they have been a blessing to us.  They have treated us great, and we have worked together seamlessly.  Their counselors, who are being trained, along with our guys have given the kids some great days of camp!

We spent half a day cleaning and organizing their program sheds.  Wait till you see these pictures!  On Sunday we visited an active volcano, which was beautiful and mind-blowing.  We also had a chance to eat at a local restaurant and do some souvenir shopping.

Tomorrow is a big day for us.  The staff and counselors of Roblealto have issued a challenge to our team, and tomorrow at 9 AM (11 AM eastern) we will meet on the soccer field.  Pray for us!!!  We then followed suit and challenged them to frisbee.  So we will have quite the day of some competitive and hopefully friendly soccer and ultimate frisbee games.

We leave Costa Rica Wednesday, and return to New Hampshire on Thursday.  God has been good, and we all sense why we ended up here.  Although we are heartbroken that we cannot be with IPA in Panama, and we continue to keep them in our prayers.

Rookie's "State of the Camp" address, as delivered at our spring banquet, is now available here on our site. Read it to find out what's happening with renovations, expanstion, planning, camp needs, and more.

This April has been full of showers, which has caused the earth to explode with new growth. The flowers are beginning to bloom, and the trees are budding. An early hatching of May-flies has plagued the outside of the office building for the past week, the worst side-effect being the inevitable bug stuck in your hair. We'll take them any day over the black flies and mosquitoes that are soon to arrive!

The Girls Cabin nears completion, and we are working hard on getting "our ducks in a row" regarding our Chapel Building project. As in most small New Hampshire towns, the Planning Board meets around once a month. Once we submit our plans, the Board reviews them and comes back the next month with a "yes" or "no." If one item is out of place, or one aspect is not considered, we must wait till the calendar turns yet again before our plans can be approved. We know what needs to be done and trust that we will only have go through this process once. Please pray that this will go smoothly.

In other areas around Camp, we have a number of retreats over the next month, which we are really looking forward to. There are youth groups, women's groups, and even the chance of a motorcycle group coming through on a ride up through New Hampshire. We are also venturing off grounds to visit churches around the North East. Rookie, Dave and Dan are looking for opportunities, so please call us if you are interested in having one of them share with your church about Camp! Karen is going to a Home-school conference to tell others about our Home-schoolers Family Camp during the last week in June. Please call us if you are interested in hearing more about this fun time.

Elsewhere, our tent will go up in early May, and we are thankful for God's provision of it for one more season. By His grace, we will open the doors to our new building next spring! We will keep you updated as things develop!

Happy Easter! Camp Spofford exists to proclaim the words, "He is Risen!" which makes this holiday celebration the most important and special of the entire year for all of us who believe that this good news is true.

The staff here at Camp Spofford had the privilege of going to the New England/New York "Fireside Christian Camping Conference" at Camp Brookwoods in Alton, NH, from April 6-8. We were blessed by the generosity of those who specifically provided funds for us to attend, as it allowed us a time of fellowship and rest with each other and those staff from other Christian camps and conferences throughout the Northeast.

There is a special bond between Camp Spofford and the families who support the ministry and each other through it. Though not many know of it, there is a different but also very special bond between the Christian camps within our region. In most industries and even non-profits, when one entity suffers, its competition rejoices because it means more business or funds for the rest. Christian camping is a rare instance of the opposite, as none of us are truly in competition with each other. Instead, we all strive for the same purpose: the sharing of the good news of Jesus Christ through a camp setting. We rejoice in every circumstance that youth are introduced to and accept Jesus as their savior. For those who are sold on Camp Spofford, you need no convincing of the ways that hearts are freed and open to God when stripped of the cares of this world and placed within His creation. We also weep when one suffers due to an accident or a closing. In this economy, these instances are increasing.

Many were struck by how many ways there are to "do" Christian camping, and this conference is a means of "comparing notes." Some camps are purely retreat centers, youth camps, or family camps. Others are combinations of these, or something different entirely. Some have a number of year-round staff and multiple million dollar facilities throughout New England, while others have only tents and part-time directors who do everything themselves.

Through multiple seminars and over a weekend of delicious meals, the staffers of different departments throughout each camp chatted about trends we've seen and borrowed ideas from each other. Nationally renowned speakers were brought in to share on issues like marketing, though individuals from various camps conducted most of the sessions. Becky conducted a talk and round-table discussion on running a camp office. With his experiences in Panama over the past few years, Dan co-led a discussion on U.S. camps assisting in overseas camping ministries. Doug ran a "Serv-Safe" course for those seeking certification. We enjoyed seminars on everything from marketing to personal encouragement through studying the Bible.

Please keep one particular camp in your prayers this week. Alton Bay Christian Camping Conference, a short distance from Camp Brookwoods where we attended last week, had a fire on Easter Sunday. It destroyed over 50 buildings, including 40 cabins/summer homes, which is almost 1/3 of their camp. As in our own chapel fire, we are thankful that no one was in attendance at the camp during the blaze, though the loss is crushing.

Camp Spofford hosted our Annual Banquet this past weekend at Calvary EFC in Trumbull, CT. Over $25,000 was collected through this event, and a wonderful time was had by all. We had a choice of Beef Wellington or Chicken Cordon Bleu. The chefs finished off the evening with a wide selection of tasty treats to place under three Chocolate Fountains. If anyone went away hungry, it was their own fault!

Presentations were made by a number of individuals. Two shared how the story of Jesus' cross and resurrection changed their lives while here at Camp Spofford. Rookie shared the long-term vision and needs of our camp as we anticipate rebuilding the Chapel, Office, and then Dining Hall. The Chairman of our Building Committee presented the revised Chapel plans. He expressed thanks for people's patience as the Board of Directors and Building Committee, in conjunction with our Year-round Staff, have worked on making good decisions regarding the buildings themselves and where they are located on Camp. They now prepare to go before the Town of Spofford's Planning Board with their proposals for our new Chapel, and we look forward to breaking ground the week after Labor Day with the Lord's blessing.

The pace of life here around Camp is picking up. We have heard Dave and Bob working furiously on our Girls Cabin that we tore down in the fall. The windows are now on, and Chip Randall has arrived to begin building the bunks! Dave and Dan presented the progress they have made at the Annual Banquet, and there is much to be thankful for in this area as well.

As we begin our Spring Retreat Season, Dan also presented our progress in registration numbers during our Winter Retreat Season. This was the biggest winter we have ever had, with groups each weekend and community events throughout the week days. It has helped us tremendously in this down economy. We are not completely in the clear, as Family and Youth Camp numbers are down in certain sessions, but we see God's hand providing and we are grateful! Please invite your friends to join us this summer!

Here at Camp, those wise to New Hampshire seasons know that "Spring" does not immediately follow Winter. No, next comes "Mud Season," and then "Black Fly Season." We are now in the throes of Mud Season, and some are tempted to do some mud bogging in the parking lot on their way out. Not truly, though it is hard to avoid getting stuck in certain spots! The warmer weather far surpasses any begrudging of the mud, and it's common to see short-sleeves and shorts during our 55F degree days as one drives around town. With the warmer weather, we are now pumping out the water under our Office Building through a long hose out to the street. Since there is no foundation under the Office Building, this space fills with ice in the Winter months and must be pumped out each Spring. This also means that our septic pipes freeze each January. Our Office Staff were about to suggest that instead of a competition to guess the last day of ice on Lake Spofford, we should guess the last day of frozen septic pipes! Thankfully, they defrosted last week! There are many reasons to be thankful for a new office building on the way!

We here on year-round staff are thankful for everyone who partners with this ministry to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, whether it is through a summer of discipleship to young staffers, volunteering of a weekend to fix up our grounds, humbly waiting tables at our Annual Banquet, offering prayers for those who serve in this ministry and those who come here for rest and relaxation, or financial giving that allows us to build new doors and keep them open! This is just a sampling of how this ministry is supported by so many and in so many ways. We are grateful to God for you!

ATTENTION GOLFERS AND WANNABES...the Annual Camp Spofford Golf Classic which raises scholarships for campers is coming soon. MAY 18TH is the date and we need you there to help young people get to camp. This could be a most difficult year for families so please join us in this funfilled event. More information is available HERE!

We are sad to report the passing of Ivar Overgaard at age 65, a beloved pastor and professor of biblical and Jewish studies for 40 years. He was a visionary and prayer warrior in the Evangelical Free Church, eventally pastoring the Salem EFC on Staten Island before returning to Norway in 2001 to pastor Stavanger Metropolitican Community Church. He was known by many in the Camp Spofford community and around the world as a great servant of Christ.

We are into our very busy Winter Retreat season! MLK weekend drew in a packed out Senior High Ski Retreat that we kicked off with a great concert from the band, Out of Hiding. Around 200 people filled our gym, and we got great feedback from our teens and youth leaders! The weekend was filled with Ga-Ga, Gladiators, Glow-in-the-Dark Dodgeball, and (in spite of the frigid temps), ice skating and broomball on our very own rink, and lots of playing in the snow. The crowd that opted for Saturday night skiing at Pat's Peak had a great time as well.

While most of our activity is primarily focused around retreats, we continue to prepare for the summer. All of our youth camp sessions still have space available, but certain ones are filling up quickly. SO. DON'T DELAY!!! We also have Family Camp accommodations available throughout the summer. If you're a Youth Camp parent and have never been here yourself, consider a Family Camp vacation! If you're a Family Camper already, consider welcoming along some friends!!! We'd be happy to send along a brochure to anyone you have in mind.

To our Camp Spofford Family, we ask for your help in three areas:

• As we begin hiring summer staff for 2009, if there's someone you know who would accept the challenge and benefit from a summer of fun, hard work, and discipleship, consider encouraging them to apply. They should download an application here on our website without delay! Please PRAY that God would give us wisdom and insight to formulate the right team.
• Consider coming to our next work weekend. We must begin work on rebuilding a brand new unit to house two girls camper cabins. This project is slated to run February 13th through the 22nd. And PRAY that God would fill every bunk we have. Invite children you know. Call the office and we will send them a brochure!
• Finally, come to our Annual Banquet on March 28th. You can register by calling the office. Please PRAY for our Board of Directors, men and women who continue to work hard on multiple issues concerning the future of this ministry.

Monday, January 5th, was the first day of Youth Camp Registration! ALL sessions currently have spaces available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can register online, or by mail with Camp Spofford's 2009 brochure registration form and a non-refundable $125 deposit. Do you need a brochure sent to you? Be sure to sign up for our mailing list. You can also call the Camp Registrar at 603-363-4788, x21. We'll see you at Camp Spofford!!!

Have you attended one of our retreats, wondering what goes on here during the "busy months"? Maybe you've sent your children to a week of Youth Camp thinking, "Summer Camp is just for kids!" Perhaps you've had friends encourage you to join them for "the best week of the year!" Maybe you're looking at your budget in these hard economic times, wondering if a family vacation is even possible. CONSIDER CAMP SPOFFORD!!!

Our rates include accommodations, three meals a day, great speakers, full use of our facilities, swimming and water sports on our waterfront, games and tournaments of all kinds, outdoor basketball courts and tennis courts, age-appropriate kids programs, and more! Friends and families can enjoy each other's company. Your kids can run wild with supervised activities while you enjoy a good book on our sunny beach before an afternoon swim. All in TAX-FREE New Hampshire.

A week away for a family of four in our newest accommodation, Granite Lodge, comes out to around $215 a day for EVERYONE.* In one of our Tentels, it comes out to around $130 a day.* Matched up against a week in a hotel or at a camp ground, while eating out three meals each day AND taking advantage of the activities we have offer - our rates simply can't be beat!!! The best news is, WE STILL HAVE ROOM!!! Call us for the latest openings at 603-363-4788, x21. Single parent discounts of 20% apply during Week 8 (August 22-29) and Senior discounts of 10% apply during Week 9 (August 29-September 4).

*(Only an example. Two adults and two kids in our ages 8-12 range.)

The month of September was a busy one here at Camp Spofford, and a great one at that. We had two successful Women's Retreats followed by the Men's Retreat this past weekend. Over 210 guys packed the place out, in spite of the wet weather! We were blessed by all three of these weekends, and look forward to bringing in groups throughout the month of October.

You might wonder what we do here around Camp after everyone goes home. While the pace of life definitely quiets down, we are anything but idle! Rookie bristles at the idea of an "Off-Season," as we plan and run the several retreats scheduled throughout the fall, winter and spring. All the while, we continue to discuss changes for next year, considering the many comments and recommendations that our guests gave us throughout the summer. As we go through the process of registering everyone who has put a deposit down for 2009, we are also designing the next brochure (due out in a couple of weeks!), resolving accounts, negotiating new contracts with vendors, and more.

Outside of the office, Camp also bustles with energy. While Doug works hard in the kitchen, inventorying food supplies and planning menus for each weekend (not to mention cooking and directing food service each weekend!), Bob and Dave delve into new projects that improve on what Camp has to offer. There are a number of maintenance projects to repair the general wear and tear that Camp sees after a full summer of use! The Pisgah House (holding the Nurses' Quarters and Nursery during the summer months) is one of the biggest projects for this fall, as we complete its transformation into a four-season building. Namely, it needs a water supply that extends below the frost line. We also continue to renovate the Girls' Camper Cabins. The old D-2/D-3 is now gone! Some pictures of this project are available here and here. While the building was not in immediate danger, we are thankful for the opportunity to replace it with sturdy new materials, free from ant and termite damage. Bob and Dave will soon focus their attention on rebuilding this structure as well.

For those guests who joined us this past summer, please remember that a $200 deposit to reserve your space in 2009 is due by October 31st ($50 for tent/trailer sites). Please do not delay, or you might forget! When we open at 8:30AM on Monday morning, November 3rd, all units that do not have deposits down will be free for new reservations.

There once was this place that I found
on 17 acres of ground
'Twas near a lake
And served great cake
And people came from all around.

The camp began in '62
And God has blessed it thru and thru.
Families come for the fun
and to worship God's son
with croquet, bocce and horseshoe...z.

There is an incredible bunch
of people who serve dinner and lunch.
The food is delicious
and mostly nutricious
that you munch and you munch and you munch!

The camp is on breath-taking land.
There's music by a really fine band.
We shout and we sing
our praise to the King
while on the solid rock we stand.

I met a guy named Rookie
Who's like a chocolate chip cookie.
He's warm and he's sweet.
His humor is neat
and he make camp fun when it's mucky... and yucky.

The speaker was a guy named Gee.
He spoke about strengthening family.
Then the power went out
and he had to shout
in Knute's and the sanctuary.

Knute's is a very cool place.
Where I met many a new face.
They had games galore
and were never a bore.
But what's a Kanutes anywase?

Now I've spent the week at this camp
and it's been a weeee bit damp.
But really a joy
for any girl or a boy
and even better if you're a tournament champ.

It's at this place called Spofford
Where we're all of one accord.
We play and pray
and pass the day
All for the glory of the LORD.