Sunday: a Photo Review

Take a look at some of what went on yesterday!

CPC members assist arriving campers to their cabins

Checking in

Dianna, as the director of the day, gives directions, makes announcements, and keeps us on task

Introducing the students of the CPC (Central Planning Committee)

A moment of free time

Shooting video to share later

Bob is the "Wah" Master, and is rarely beaten at this game.

Students bow to the Wah Master

Steve wins, and becomes Wah Master!

Train-ing for fun

Listening intently

Checking the schedule

Workshop descriptions

CPC members describe their 'take' on the theme

hacky-sack

Cabin groups presented skits of bible stories "re-told" from a modern perspective. Usually involving humor!

Sunday, NOT a day like any other…

Wow. What a start. Today we mixed it up with some ice breakers (of course) and had a lot of fun being silly, playing games, solving puzzles, singing, enjoying a meal together, learning names, learning more about the campground and  laughing. That’s a pretty lame attempt at describing what’s going on, but it’s really too big for words. When we get some photos lined up, it might make more sense. Or not, but at least it will be more entertaining. Check back with us!

Under Construction

The CPC reveals the theme at one of the staff trainings

The theme around which all of our planning has been spinning? Under Construction, as in “God’s not finished with me, yet.” Hey, that means we get to play with tools!

Just for the fun of it, we’ll keep track of our small groups (The “DYMO Church Families”) with our tool bench. Trust me, it makes sense once we get started.

As the song goes, “O love of God, gather us. Amor de Dios haznos uno (Love of God, make us one.) That we may share the gifts we are given. Para construir la comunidad. (For building up the community.)”

Amen!

Under Construction!

Sing Praise!

The birds, at least, were up really early, singing their praise. Robins, red-winged blackbirds (Go Wings!) and doves sang in quite a chorus.The staff is excited, and our eyes are open, even if a little red from the late night.

The staff has a pow-wow starting at 10 AM. Very soon, we’ll be officially rolling. What time, specifically?

NOTICE: the check-in time was originally mis-printed. Check your watch! Check-in starts at 2:00 PM, and students should all be here by 3:00, when the first activity starts.

I believe our registrar said we have 109 students this year. Today’s activities are plentiful and varied. It’s gonna be a great day!

Sunday Morning at the Lake

Moving and Grooving

Many of the staff have arrived at Pinewood, hauling the various accoutrements, supplies, props, instruments, books, papers and whatnot that we will need during the week. Now we are unpacking, reviewing plans, preparing the name badges, organizing the area, and doing whatever else needs to be done to get ready. The students begin arriving about 2:00 Sunday! We have some construction to do before they arrive…

Former Campers, Join us at DYMO on Thursday evening!

Former campers are invited to share in this year’s experience in a special way. As Thursday’s theme revolves around community, we invite you to celebrate Mass with us on Thursday, June 11th.

All visitors, including former campers, must sign in and follow the procedures set up for camp visitors. These will be explained upon check-in. Arrive between 6:30pm and 6:45pm at the welcome area near the circle drive at the back of the lodge to join us for Mass. Mass will begin at 7:20pm and will conclude with a blessing and dismissal of past DYMO campers. Visitors must depart Camp Pinewood after Mass.

Community is an important part of daily life and an important role in continuing our work for God. We’re excited to have this new opportunity to further convey that message with your attendance. If you are unable to join us on Thursday, the ONLY other time we can allow visitors is during the final prayer service on Saturday morning, which begins at 11:30 AM.

Directions to Camp Pinewood:  http://www.camppinewood.com/directions.html

Please contact the DYMO Camp 2009 Directors if you have any questions:
Dianna Rottiers – dirottiers@gmail.com – 616-450-4478
Bob Bacik – rcbacik@gmail.com – 616-638-9890
Sally Sremba – sallyanne3@att.net – 616-437-1841

PLEASE keep DYMO Camp 2009 in your prayers this week!

What people are saying, Part I

What are people saying? What have we heard?

Alex (one of the volunteer staff) said:

I can’t believe that DYMO camp is here! I’ve tried so hard to get as many people to come as possible because I feel that it is such an amazing experience. If you have ever wondered “What would it be like if people around you were strong PRACTICING Christians?” THAT is what DYMO is.

I’m starting to make my final list to prepare for camp. There’s so much to do and so little time to do it. Having a break from all of my other responsibilities will be quite a blessing when I finally make it to camp.

Making Music

Students! Do you play an instrument? Can you bring it? We think you should. You see, there are opportunities for you to play (and sing, too) during Camp. There’s a student variety show, and you can show off what you can do. The participants of one of the workshops becomes the group that leads music for Masses. They need all the help they can get. Um, I mean to say, they can make use of all the help they can get!

What kind of instruments? Well, we can foresee opportunities to use woodwinds, strings, brass, keys and percussion, for starters. Specifically, we could have a great time with guitar, saxophone, trumpet, accordion, congas, viola, mandolin, flute, F horn, electric keyboard/piano, drum set, bass, oboe, trombone, bongos, cello, clarinet… I think you get the idea. The music workshop, for example, comes with music for instruments in C, Bb, Eb and F — in Treble, Alto and Bass clefs, often at various skill levels. (We’ve even witnessed music from kazoos, toasters, shoes and spoons, among other things.)

Got Questions? Send an email to dymoinfo@dymo.org and ask!

Okay. What if I sing, but don’t play an instrument? The same applies, of course! There’s even the potential for a 3- or 4-part choir to do some fun stuff, if students are willing. We need cantors. And then there’s the variety show, of course. Whether you think your voice is good enough for the big time, or prefer to stay away from microphones all together, we can have a good time singing.

We look forward to hearing you at Camp!

Time Keeps on Spinning

Wow! It’s June already. (Or, if you’ve been waiting for the end of the school year to arrive, perhaps you might think Wow. It’s June, finally.)

Either way, it’s just a few short days until Camp 2009 starts. The CPC has been finalizing their plans and collecting what they need. The staff is already beginning to pack their materials and check on their laundry. (Well, some of them, anyway.) The logistics of putting on this camp are significant. Except for the buildings and the main meals, we pretty much bring everything we will use during the week with us for the week. Office supplies. Music. Sound system. Liturgy supplies. Scripts. Handouts. Craft supplies. Props. Snacks. You can tell that the staff is excited because they are willing to do all of this as volunteers! (And the family members of the staff are such good sports about all of this.)

Director Highlight: Bob Bacik

Bob Bacik

Bob Bacik has the amazing ability to solve any problem with a rubber band, duct tape and a binder clip… really. He recently developed a fascination with Sudoku and speaks fluent Junior High. Bob will be leaving his job as Coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Anthony’s this summer to give seminary a try. (Yeah, Bob!) If Bob becomes Pope one day, he promises to come back and offer pope-mobile rides as a DYMO workshop.