Meet Mandy Kimes - Program Director

Mandy Kimes has been serving as Camp Grow's Program Director for the past year. She's a very enthusiastic, young woman and is such a blessing to camp. Here's a short video to learn more about Mandy and her passion for Camp Grow:

If you're not already a part of Mandy's ministry, please consider becoming a prayer partner with her and/or contributing to her financial support page (http://www.campgrow.org/support%20for%20mandy%20kimes.html).

Meet Troy Weyenberg -- New Camp Grow Director

Troy Weyenberg is Camp Grow's newest director. If you haven't had a chance to meet him or his wife, Stacy, here's a video to learn more about how he ended up at camp and what his vision is for the future.

(Note: You may need to turn your volume up a bit to hear).

Camp Grow has a variety of financial needs, but as Troy says in the video, the best investment you can make is towards camp scholarships. There are a lot of kids that don't have the financial means to get to camp. Camper scholarships could be the one thing that determines whether or not a kid has the opportunity to learn more about Jesus and that's what camp is really about. If God has put it on your heart to donate to Camp Grow, please check out their giving page: http://www.campgrow.org/ministry.html.

Harvest Moon Weekend coming up!

To get us all excited about Harvest Moon Weekend, I asked Mandy Kimes to sum up what it's all about. It sounds like a good time and I can't wait to take my family there this weekend!! (Sept. 21-23)

From Mandy:

If you are considering joining us for the Harvest Moon family weekend let me tell you what Harvest Moon is like here at Camp Grow!

The weekend officially begins Saturday morning with breakfast in the Dining Hall followed by activity time. There are many options when it comes to activities including things like: carpetball, disc golf, sand volleyball, basketball, washers toss, field games, nature trails, board games, 9 square, human foosball, kayaks and canoes and much more.

After lunch there is an optional nature scavenger hunt on our nature trails that the whole family can enjoy followed by Pumpkin Carving along with hot apple cider!

 After dinner we have a big camp fire as we enjoy a time of sharing and song!

One of my favorite moments from Harvest Moon is lighting all the candles inside the pumpkins at night and seeing them glow!

 

I hope you will join us for a relaxing fall weekend

that you won’t forget! 

Let's Meet: Mark Kotte

Name: Mark J. Kotte

Nickname:

Current Occupation: Director of the Law and Justice Commission

Current Location: Hudson, IL

Family: Married to my beautiful wife, Theresa. I have two wonderful daughters: Michele who is 30 years old and lives in Printers Row in Chicago and Lynn who is 24 and a senior at Illinois State University. I have two brothers: John and Jim and four sisters: Linda, Barbara, Jan, and Diane. All seven of us Kotte kids attended Camp Grow, but I have the longest unbroken record: 43 years!

Interests/Hobbies:  I like to work out, camp, hike, scuba dive, read history and physics books. Oh yeah, I like coming up and putting the pier in every year with my crazy pier boys.
 
How did you learn about Camp Grow?: Well, back in the late 50's when the old Chicago Baptist Association was looking to buy a camp, my father, Frank Kotte, was on the search committee and assisted with the original purchase of Camp Tichora from the Boy Scouts, which then became Camp Grow. When my two older sisters, Linda and Barbara, were old enough, they attended Camp Grow. From their experiences, I couldn't wait to attend myself.

Camp Grow Position:  I have been a lifeguard, a maintenance worker, kitchen staff, counselor, and camp director.

What are your favorite camp memories?:  I have way too many to list here, but I will list a few. I always loved the campfires at Camp Grow. Huge fires, beautiful stars in the skies, and wonderful songs to sing. I especially enjoyed committment night. I also have great memories of being at the waterfront swimming, boating, skiing, etc. But my favorite Camp Grow memory is when I proposed to my future wife, Theresa, down at the waterfront on the old pier while sitting on the diving board. It was a beautiful night that I will never forget.

In what way(s) has camp impacted your life?:  I had already accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour before I attended Camp Grow, but through my experiences at camp, I developed a deeper relationship with Christ. Also, some of the most influential people in my life, I met at Camp Grow. I am so thankful for the men and women who had such a positive impact on my life.

How do you stay connected with Camp Grow?:  Currently, I serve on the board for Camp Grow Ministries. I also attend work weekends and usually the fall Harvest Moon weekend. And of course, there is always the annual pier weekend where my best friends and I put in the pier in the spring and then take it out in the fall.

Any last words?:  Over the years, I have seen Camp Grow change quite a bit: new buildings built, old buildings torn down, a 12 week summer program evolve into a year round program. But the one thing that stay the same are the mission of Camp Grow: Finding God's Purpose For My Life. I find this mission statement staying true in the people who attend and serve at Camp Grow -- whether they are looking for God's purpose in their own life or whether they are helping others find God's purpose in their lives.

Let's Meet: Largo Krouse

Name: Largo Krouse

Nickname: Largs

Current Occupation: Human Resources Manager

Current Location: Oak Park, IL

Family:  I am the youngest of three children (1 sister, 1 brother) and I’m a single gal with no children except for my handsome adopted cat Tigger Bartholomeow!

Interests/Hobbies:  Reading, watching movies, spending time with friends and family.  I enjoy visiting museums, attending concerts, sewing/quilting and taking my bike out on the trails near my home.  Most recently I started playing on a bocce league which is fun, particularly when my team wins!

How did you learn about Camp Grow:  I learned about Camp Grow by attending the First Baptist Church of Oak Park.

Camp Grow Position:  Camper!!  And I was a counselor one time as well.

What are your favorite camp memories:  I loved rowing boats on Spring Lake, canoeing and swimming in Green Lake and campfires with all of those wonderful camp songs!  One memory that stands out was a 50’s party during Senior High week that was held in the Green Lake boathouse.  Everyone dressed like they did back then and there were little bottles of Coca-Cola (like in the 50’s) for everyone.  So much fun!

In what way(s) has camp impacted your life?:  Camp Grow has been such a positive influence on my life.  It helped me to develop a sense of community and when you surround yourself with Christian folks with encouraging attitudes you can't go wrong!

How do you stay connected with Camp Grow?:  The Facebook Camp Grow page and the Camp Grow website.  Also, this year I attended the May Work Weekend!  Hard work, but a lot of fun!

Any last words?:  I'm thankful for Camp Grow.  I'm thankful for a place that can have such a positive influence on so many children (and adults) in a period of only a week.  I know that it helped mold me in my Christian faith and am confident that these young lives are being shaped for the better as well.

A fast from technology

Sorry for the lack of interesting Camp Grow updates and reading material. I (Michelle) have been out of state for the past two weeks. Our family was enjoying a lovely vacation in the mountains of Colorado while visiting family, hiking, and relaxing a bit. That left for little time (and access) to blogging while we were gone.

With limited access to Internet and television  along with intermittent cell phone service, I was reminded of my summer at Camp Grow. (Although, I think at the time I was the only one on staff that had US Cellular for a provider and actually got really decent phone service.) It was so refreshing to not worry about having the world at my fingertips and to just enjoy God's creations. I was able to focus on God and the things that matter to me most (my family!). There were fewer distractions from life. It was wonderful.


My challenge to you -- Exchange an hour of distractions for your full attention to God/nature/family. You can do it! It'll be worth it. I promise.

Cycling for Scholarships

Who is getting ready to cycle???

It's about a month away from Camp Grow's Cycling for Scholarships Family Festival.

Sunday - July 8, 2012 

Have you registered yet?

Registration and pledge forms can be downloaded from the camp website: www.campgrow.org.