Impact Report | North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries

OUTPOST
CAMPERS
Outdoor Living Skills
For Living Out In Creation
Each of our programs facilitates, to varying degrees, creative dislocation
– a form of experiential education that places people into settings,
relationships and dynamics intentionally different from the norm, in
order to enhance the potential for transformation. It’s a key concept
for camp and retreat ministry and it’s taken to our most extreme with
Outpost.
All of our campers are away from what’s normal to them – their house,
family, friends, activities, school, and screens. Outpost takes this a step
further by largely removing modern-day staples like electricity and
walls and replacing them with campfire-cooked meals and open-air
shelters.
2013 2014 2015
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outdoor experiences. Outdoor skills acquisition, communication and
creative problem solving, consensus-seeking and team building,
creative worship and faith conversation all contribute to growth in our
campers, which is progressive in design.
Pioneer (elementary) is an intro to outdoor living skills and adventure
activities; Frontier (middle school) offers opportunities to hone skills
and learn new ones on overnight trips for horse trail rides, kayaking,
backpacking, and rock climbing; Expedition (high school) builds on
skills learned and takes campers off-site for a week or more to hone
outdoor skills while expanding kayaking, backpacking, and climbing
knowledge. Outpost exists to pass along the skills necessary to stay in
love with God, with God’s people and with God’s creation for life.
Leigh’s
Outpost Story
After years of enjoying week-long camp experiences – once even
coming to camp twice in the same summer – Leigh jumped at the
opportunity to go on our new 10-day Cumberland Island Adventure.
“I had great counselors this summer. I always have. My first Outpost
group for rock climbing was so great. It was like a second family! On
the Cumberland trip, I was able to do things I have never done before.
Even things I might not love like kayaking. Being there was peaceful.
The beach was empty and it felt like we owned it. We got to see a lot of
beautiful things God created.”
Leigh’s mom, Renee, reflected on her daughter’s “amazing” experience
saying, “The trip was once in a lifetime. I think it would be hard to top
this experience. The night she got home she had me go out with her
and just lie on our backs and truly look at the sky and appreciate the
stars we often just ignore in our busy lives.”
When asked about the impact Outpost has had on Leigh and her family,
Renee shared that “Outpost has given Leigh a place to go to have major
life experiences. Neither of her parents are major outdoor types and
she craves some experiences that we cannot provide her with due to
lack of experience or skills. The timeout from electronics gives her time
to look inward and she comes back more grounded and filled with love
for God each time. She also becomes more and more self-assured and
confident because of all she experiences on these trips.”
GLISSON OUTPOST
“I have always been shown love and
acceptance at Glisson and always
felt like I was meant to be there.”
“I was a little worried for her first year but with the wonderful counselors
Leigh quickly found a new home to experience the love of God. I have
always been so amazed at the young people who are the leaders at
Glisson. They always are so excited, caring and enthused to share God.
Leigh had to do an introductory questionnaire at high school and was
asked, besides a family member, who does she most respect and want
to be like – and it was her Cumberland trip leader, ‘Fish’. I thought that
was pretty great.
“Thank you for this experience for my daughter. She comes back a
stronger person every time she comes to you. For that I am always in
Glisson’s debt. She has one more year of camper eligibility so we will
see you next summer!”
God’s creation is a bountiful source of understanding the Creator.
Outpost offers campers an experience of Christian community in
creation during which they learn skills needed to negotiate their own
Glisson Outpost 2016 Schedule
PIONEER
(elementary)
FRONTIER
(mid-high)
EXPEDITION
(senior high)
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9
May 29-
June 3
June 5-10 June 12-17 June 19-24 June 26-July 1 July 3-8 July 10-15 July 17-22 July 24-29
mini camp •W-F • Su-T
pioneer • • • • • • • • •
pioneer horse • • • • • • •
backpacking • •
climbing • • • •
horse • • • • •
kayaking • • • • • • • • •
frontier 10-day
• starts Wed
backpacking • •
climbing • •
kayaking • • • •
whitewater kayaking • • •
pack + paddle
cumberland island
• starts Wed
• ends Tue
Renee couldn’t say enough about the impact Leigh’s counselors have
had over the years.
Expanding to Make Room for more Explorers
Outpost has grown a ton since 2010 thanks to significant site
improvements and increased adventure trips. The Pioneer site received
new bathhouses in 2011 and has added capacity for multiple living
groups over the years. The Frontier site was built in 2012 specifically
for middle school campers complete with six sleeping shelters, three
cooking shelters, and a pond for kayak practice. We also developed
a climbing tree, low elements course, and archery range for Pioneer
and Frontier campers in 2013. Over the past few years, we’ve added
horseback riding, whitewater kayaking, a 10-day Pack & Paddle
trip, and the 10-day Cumberland Island Adventure to the existing
Expedition adventure trip options. Finally, in 2015 we added a week of
Sparrowwood @ Outpost and the option for youth groups to go on
adventure trips during the summer and retreat season. Looking ahead
to 2016 and beyond, we’re aiming to add space for another Pioneer
living group each week, to improve and expand the Frontier site, to
purchase another bus and gear for adventure trips, and to build a multipurpose
shelter with meeting and sleeping space and storage. All in all,
there’s more room for more explorers than ever before – and more on
the way.
North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries 9 IMPACT REPORT · 2015 IMPACT REPORT · 2015 10
North Georgia Camp & Retreat Ministries