Covenant Pines Day Camp is a ministry outreach that has existed since 2008. Over the years hundreds of children have been able to go to camp without ever leaving their zip code!
Day Camp is a great opportunity to give kids a camp experience without sending them up to Covenant Pines. It’s perfect for kids who aren’t quite ready to spend the night away from Mom and Dad. It’s also great for kids who have been to Covenant Pines, but are hungry for more!
Every summer we hire two Day Camp staff to plan and implement the Day Camp program at churches all over the Twin Cities. We are very excited to announce that Lina Swanson has been hired as the Day Camp Director and Katie Lunacek as the Day Camp Assistant.
The theme they have chosen is “Finding Fruit” and will focus on Galatians 5:22-23 and the Fruits of the Spirit. Learn more about our Day Camp team below!
On April 23rd, delegates from many of our Churches attended the Annual Meeting for Covenant Pines Ministries (CPM).
At the meeting, Director of Covenant Pines Bible Camp, Matt Braun, and Director of Adventurous Christians, Mike Nelson, both shared about this past year in ministry. Those in attendance enjoyed some Famous Dave’s while listening to testimonies of the power of these ministries from past campers and staff.
Board member, Geoff Woodbury, gave a brief overview of the financial reports for all of the ministries. When a delegate asked about the overall financial health of CPM, Geoff stated that all four ministries are in good health. Praise God for providing for these ministries year after year!
Mike Nelson, Director of Adventurous Christians (AC), shared what God has been doing this past year on the beautiful Gunflint Trail. The AC staff are very excited for the upcoming summer season. Mike encouraged member churches to take advantage of AC more often as either a retreat destination for relaxing in the winter, or a challenging canoe trip in the summer. To learn more about what’s going on at AC, read their most recent newsletter and follow them on Facebook.
Matt Braun, Director of Covenant Pines Bible Camp, also shared about the past year in ministry. Matt invited Marketing Director, Tate Randall, Program Director, Holly Larson, Guest Services Director, Angie Sampson, and Maintenance Director, Scott Shoemaker, to share with the group a prayer request and also what they’re excited about for the future of Covenant Pines. To keep in touch with Covenant Pines Bible Camp, sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Toward the end of the meeting we all had to say goodbye to two of our Board Members. Geoff Woodbury and Sarah Swanson have served their terms faithfully. We are sad to see them go, but we’re certain that they will continue to serve these ministries in a less formal fashion. Because of these two vacancies and another unfilled spot on the Board, three new members were unanimously voted to join the team. We’re happy to welcome Latoya Taris-James, Herman Saul, and Bill Cranford to the Board of Directors.
If you’ve ever been to Covenant Pines, you’re familiar with the drive in. You take a right on 245th Place and drive down that beautiful road past a few mysterious houses that you think belong to camp staff.
Your first real glimpse of camp comes when the road curves left and you turn to face the Retreat Center. Our prayer for everyone of you is that this first view fills you with a sense of warmth and belonging.
That first view has changed a bit since camp’s founding in 1954. Guests in the very early days would have just seen a grassy hill. Campers in the 60s and 70s would have seen the Rec Hall on their left and the Dining Hall straight ahead. Folks from the early 80s and on have gazed upon the Retreat Center. But one thing that has been constant over the years is that same patch of grass that was there in 1954; what we now call Fireside Lawn.
This simple patch of grass has been trampled by joyful and excited campers for over 60 years. It has served as a central meeting space to give rules, start games, and perform skits. It’s patio has hosted countless games of foursquare. It’s deck has held up the weight of thousands of campers, anxious to buy candy from the Canteen. This place that we call Fireside Lawn has given us so much over the past 60 years that we feel it’s time to give it an upgrade.
For the past few years, Covenant Pines leadership has been tossing around the idea of building a new patio on that spot. Overtime that idea turned into a solid plan. Now that plan is in progress. Below you’ll see some blueprints designed by Jim Sirilla for the new patio. We’ve already started the creation of the patio by cutting down the large Oak Tree that was in front of Fireside Lounge and mapping out the placement of the patio. It may be hard to picture now, but the patio will be raised off the ground and have stairs that lead up to it from the ground level. There will be ample space for foursquare, fire pits, skits, or simply basking in the sun.
This new patio will be completed by the start of our youth camps this summer. We’re eagerly anticipating the new view our guests will have as they make that left turn into this amazing place. We hope that this change of scenery will only enhance the feeling of warmth and belonging that our friends have known for so many years.
Want to donate to this project? Click here and select “other.” Just specify in the comments that the donation is for “Fireside Patio.”
Check out the gallery below to see historical pictures that catalog the evolution of “Fireside Lawn.”
Lars and Whitney will work with our Program Director, Holly Larson (who is a former SPD herself!) This team of three will lead the summer staff and oversee the implementation of the summer program.
Lars and Whitney are both seasoned staff members, and they will use their experience, leadership and creativity to provide a positive environment for both summer staff and campers. Lars and Whitney spend a good chunk of time on planning and coordinating each week’s schedule, but the majority of their responsibilities come down to relationships. The Summer Program Directors’ are encouragers, cheerleaders, counselors to the counselors, homesickness experts and wild morale boosters. A day never looks the same for these two University of Northwestern Seniors. God has prepared them well for this summer, and they will carry out his work!
Lars and Whitney have each written a little bit about themselves and their excitement for this upcoming summer.
Whitney Jenelle Sorensen is going into her fourth summer on staff at Covenant Pines, and her first summer as the Female Summer Program Director. She has served as a counselor for the last two summers and was in the kitchen her first summer on staff. Whitney grew up coming to CPBC as a camper and was involved in SWEAT and LIT. Camp is where she learned how to passionately serve and love God no matter where she is or what she’s doing. When she is not spending her summers running around with paint proudly on her face, she is studying Health Sciences at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul. One day she hopes to be a physical therapist, but until then she will have to continue sporting neon shorts, playing volleyball with her family, and choreographing dances with her best friend.
Lars Bradley Markson is going into his fourth summer on staff at CPBC, and second summer as the Male Summer Program Director. Lars has grown up going to camp every summer, and attributes his passion for the Lord and kids to all of his experiences in chapel, speakers, and devos from CPBC. When not at camp Lars is studying Youth and Family Studies at the University of Northwestern St. Paul, throwing a frisbee, eating Taco Bell or playing board games with his pals. And last, his favorite movie quote is: “Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart kid.”
Close your eyes and picture yourself this summer. Where are you? What are you doing? Who are you with? Are you working for God’s Kingdom? Is your summer extremely fulfilling and eternally significant? About 30 young men and women from all over the midwest know exactly where they’re going to be: working at Covenant Pines.
They will be working to change lives. They will be with their soon-to-be best friends. Their work days will be characterized by long hours and exhausting tasks. Every night they will go to bed with their tank at zero. Every muscle will be sore and every bone will ache. Their patience will be tested. Perhaps their sanity will be as well.
Why would anyone subject themselves to such arduous work? Despite everything that’s difficult about the job, our summer staff will mark these 12 weeks as the best summer of their lives. Why? Because it is Kingdom Work. Each and every one of our staff know that they are making a difference in the lives of everyone who comes onto our campgrounds. You can join them. You can complete our team. We promise you that your summer will be extremely fulfilling and eternally significant.
We’re looking for male counselors, people to work in the kitchen, and a Ropes Director. If you or anyone you know is interested, visit our Employment Page, fill out an application, and contact our Program Director, Holly Larson.