Calumet is one of those places where that little kid from Boys Cabin 4 can just be himself and that girl from Girls Cabin 7 can just be silly.  It's really the way it should be!  That sense of safety to be oneself is not an accident.  Calumet staff members, particular the awesome counselors, go through a whole process making sure they have what it takes to lead a group of campers.  It's starts with the interview way back in the fall.  Does the candidate possess the desire to have fun and keep kids safe?  Does the candidate live a life that is in line with the ideals set forth by the awesome camp?  Volunteer?  Put the other first?  Understand the sense of team?  Care about sharing faith stories and enjoy being in community?  Want to help young people grow in faith and in confidence? Calumet campers can be silly, have fun, try new things, and explore issues of faith because our staff ensures that they'll be safe, that they'll be supported when things don't work out, and that this community is about building one another up! Campers love Calumet!  Thanks to the entire staff for making it all possible!!

Some sweet pics from Calumet camper Donna Kerry from First in Malden, MA. Donna has been coming to Freedom, NH for years! She's as big a fan of Calumet year-round as she is of Calumet summertime. Thanks Donna for sending these great photos of your recent stay. Good work on the basket making during the afternoon at the beach! And the one of the girls at the ODC is AWESOME!

This morning at Calumet, we started the wonderful musical day in the Outdoor Chapel with more than 500 in attendance. Wonderful singing, superb preaching by Pr. Jon Niketh from First in Lynn in MA, a great choir anthem, and one heck of a cute puppy. All are welcome at Sunday worship at Calumet. Each Sunday we're in the Outdoor Chapel (unless the weather moves us indoors to Luther Hall). Not sure where the Outdoor Chapel is? No worries. Find a parking spot around camp at about 9:45 and follow the crowd.

This evening we closed the day with a campfire on the beach. We begin the singing while the sun is beginning to set, and close the evening when it's good and dark. Thanks to Unit Leader Steve Bagley who taught the crew the camp cheer. On certain nights, during certain songs, the Calumet enthusiasm reaches the far shores of Lake Ossipee! If you have any great campfire moments you want to share, send them along to knute@calumet.org and we can share them on this blog!

Calumet campers come from all over the place. A few interviewed today come from New Jersey (and there was a short debate as the the true "from status" of one camper with some really cool earrings. Interviewing campers allows for some great, honest answers. I'm a big fan of honest feedback. If campers aren't honest about what they like and don't like, Calumet can't get better! Leave it to one of the interviewees to say that the only thing he doesn't like about camp is ... CHURCH! Regardless of the awesome choir anthem, the great sermon, the lively singing of the hymns, and the more than 500 in attendance -- he just wasn't into it! But he loves everything else about Calumet. Maybe he'll come around to liking worship someday in the future. He seems like he'll be coming to camp for a loooooooooong time. Others love their counselors, their activities, their friends, singing songs -- awesome!

This morning just before worship, this story was told by a long-time family camper:

"I had a little "procedure" done this past week and went home to Massachusetts.  As I sat in my hospital room, in walks a familiar face -- a friend from years ago who we invited to camp with us in Family Camping.  She asked how things were up at Calumet and then told me told me that she would be my nurse.  'Wonderful,' I thought.  A few minutes later she asked me, 'Is Calumet in Ossipee?'

"Before I could answer, a voice from the corner of the room -- the doctor -- said, 'No, Calumet's in Freedom.'  I couldn't believe it.  There we were in this hospital room -- the patient, the nurse, and the doctor -- all connected to Calumet.  It turns out that his daughter is on the staff, and that he was at worship in the Outdoor Chapel last week -- and so was I.  Small world!"

UPDATE (July 24th) From Laurie Grandstrand: "Our event is old! In 2008 Erik & I traveled to Sweden as his college graduation present. He was wearing a Calumet shirt in the Amsterdam airport and, low & behold, there was another Calumet family. When you wear your shirt proudly you never know when you'll learn just how far the Calumet enthusiasm reaches."