HELPING YOUR FAMILY GET READY FOR CAMP (3 OF 4) | Hello again! This is the third of four emails designed to share the key info needed to "Blaze the Trail" for a safe, smooth, and successful camp experience. Previous emails covered "Between Now & Camp" and "Check-In Day". This email’s focus is on the time "During Camp". (Bonus Content: It also includes a link for camper parents like you to share website feedback as we design a new Glisson website for Summer 2025.) | | |
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To provide daily pictures from around camp and one-way emails to your camper, we use a service called Bunk1. This online tool offers a secure gateway for parents to view camp photos as well as an efficient way for us to process around 300 camper emails per day. Family members will be able to login via Bunk1's website and/or the Bunk1 mobile app. You'll receive Bunk1 login info in the email we send on your camper's check-in day. Viewing photos is free. The fees for purchasing photos and/or sending emails are set by Bunk1. Please know we offer these services as a convenience to you and without any expectation that you'll make purchases. Every camper receives a photo of their living group as a keepsake at the end of each session; and we offer standard mail service or drop-off mail service for letters (no packages please) if you'd rather not pay to send one-way emails (see "Check-In Day").
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PHOTOS: Our staff's primary goal is to create safe and fun faith-forming experiences for your camper. Knowing the value of getting to see a glimpse of camp life each day (chapel, living group activities, etc), we have a system in place for sharing daily visuals of that faith-forming fun in action. We also understand that many parents regularly check Bunk1 hoping to see their child's smiling face and that it can be disappointing when that face is absent from the daily batch of photos. Though our photographer and videographer aim to photograph as many campers as possible each day, with 300+ campers per week in small groups spread across 367 acres (and offsite Outpost trips) we cannot guarantee pictures of your camper. Even providing 3-4 daily images of each camper would require taking, organizing, and uploading 1,000-plus photos per day. Besides the logistical challenge, that level of camera presence would be a distraction for campers and detract from the many important moments it takes to build and maintain Christian community within a small group environment. Thank you for your understanding and for helping us provide your child with an experience full of meaningful connection and minimal distraction. (Outpost Parents: Due to the nature of the program, Outpost uploads are less frequent than Village and Sparrowwood.)
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EMAILS: Emails have a base price of 1 credit ($1) each. Borders, graphics, games, and other add-ons can be added by purchasing additional credits. Please note that we do not print emails in color - save your money! When you add up the cost of postage and the trouble of finding time to write and mail a letter (along with the possibility that the mail service will deliver after camp) you may find the convenience of the email service to be well worth the cost. Write cheerfully to your camper affirming the great experiences they must be having and that you're looking forward to hearing all about their camp experience.
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SUMMER THEME: "CONNECTED" | |
We put 99 years of experience into creating an environment where every moment -- whether in a worship service or out on the water, around the table or 30 feet off the ground -- is about practicing faith in Christian community. The framework for this faith formation each year is our summer theme, which is based on a professionally developed camp ministry curriculum that's age-appropriate, based on scripture, and respectful of God's creation. Counselors plan their living group's schedule with the theme of the day and week in mind. This summer's theme is "Connected", which will offer campers guided practice in living out their faith in ways that foster connection to God and to one another through love, acceptance, presence, and grace.
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MON: “Connected through Love” | We are all God’s beloved children and called to be kind, gentle, humble, and compassionate; campers will explore God’s love through relationships by thinking of themselves and others as beloved. | Colossians 3:12-14
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TUE: “Connected through Acceptance” | We are all called to be in relationship with God the best way we know how without judging others; campers will celebrate that everyone is welcome at camp. | Luke 10:38-42
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WED: “Connected through Presence” | God is always with us, and people who come and sit with us when we are in need are signs of God’s presence; campers will explore how God is with us when we are present with each other. | Job 2:11-13
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THU: “Connected by Grace” | God loves us and reaches out to us – no matter what – and invites us to forgive each other; campers will explore God’s grace as an ongoing gift for themselves and also to extend to others. | Luke 15:11-32
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FRI: “Connected to God” | Love is a gift from God and our love to others is also a gift of love back to God; campers will explore God’s love as an example of how to love others as they depart to serve. | 1 John 4:7-9; 19
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It's natural to wonder how your camper is doing at camp. Below is some helpful info in case you find yourself with a case of the mid-week worries:
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HOMESICKNESS: Even at Glisson we have a few campers each summer who feel homesick. We're adept at helping them successfully deal with their homesickness to succeed at camp. Parents may worry about these campers however, especially if they receive a "Monday Letter" or see a "Sad Face" in the daily online photos (see below).
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MONDAY LETTER: A "Monday Letter" is mail sent home (often written early in the camp week) when the camper has yet to fully adjust to being away from home. Sometimes the camper will pull out all the stops in writing these letters, leaving the parent receiving this letter on Wednesday frantic about their child's week at camp. Please know that it's just a "Monday Letter" and that we'll have already called you if your child is struggling with homesickness past Monday.
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SAD FACE: "Sad Face" is a photo of a camper on Bunk1 looking less than happy. While it's likely the camper was deep in thought or preoccupied at the exact moment the photo was snapped, parents sometimes interpret the lack of a smile as indication of their camper not having a good time. Know again that we want every single camper to enjoy Glisson and, if necessary, will call for parents' advice to create the best possible experience.
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CHILD-SICKNESS: If you're a parent immobilized by the anxiety of being away from your camper for a week, please let us help. We're glad to check on your camper and give you a call with feedback from your camper's counselor and from our observations of your camper in their living group. We want you to have a great Glisson experience too!
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HEALTHCARE TEAM: The health and well-being of our campers is our top priority. In addition to coordinating routine medications for campers that registered and checked-in medications (see: “Check-In Day”), members of our Healthcare Team will be on-site 24/7 ready to address any healthcare needs that may arise throughout the camp week.
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YOUR HELP WANTED: WEBSITE FEEDBACK | |
If you’re reading this email, you’ve used Glisson’s website to learn about and register for camp. We’re in the initial design phase of a new website for Summer 2025 and would love to hear about your recent experience: What was helpful? What could be improved? To gather this vital feedback, our communications partner (Station16) has put together a brief survey. Please note that all responses are confidential, that the estimated time for completion is under 10 minutes, and that the requested deadline is Tuesday, May 21st. To Take The Glisson Website Survey, click the button link below. Thank you in advance for considering sharing your feedback so that we can better serve camper families like yours!
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Thanks for reading! We hope it was helpful. In case you missed it, the previous two emails were "Between Now & Camp" and "Check-In Day". Our final email next week will cover "Checkout Day". If you have any questions, check our FAQs or contact our team by replying to this email or by calling (706) 864-6181. Our 2024 Summer Support Team and Outpost counselors arrived for staff training last week; Village and Sparrowwood counselors arrived earlier this week; and in just 9 days we'll kick off 9 weeks of faith-forming adventures in God's creation. We can't wait!
Grace and Peace,
The Glisson Team
We know how to have fun - our passion is forming faith in the process.
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