Summer Activity Spotlight - Pine Springs - Week 7 (AKA John King Week).

NOTE:  Taylor St. actually attends 2 sessions of Pine Springs (one geared for younger kids and one geared for our older kids).  This post is about the latter.

Within two weeks of moving to Hobbs, NM in 2007 I was loaded in a church van with mapquest notes and a laptop computer running Microsoft Maps.  I had a small group of kids and much enthusiasm about my new ministry role.  Within a few hours of leaving Hobbs I had lost my wallet (I still have no clue where it ended up), Davon was puking on the side of the road and we were utterly and hopelessly lost without cell phone connectivity.  Miles of logging trails, cattle trails, and fallen trees later a Youth Minister, his wife, and four kids were kissing the ground of Pine Springs Summer Camp in the beautiful Sacramento Mountains.  Did I mention I was the Keynote speaker within minutes of stepping out of that van?

In spite of such an inauspicious beginning for myself, Pine Springs is deeply embedded in Taylor Street's history.  Our own D.A. Cochran is a very long time board member and countless Taylor St. Youth have attended Pine Springs.  They have sang around the campfire, been baptized, attended classes, and made countless memories.

Here are my Top 5 Reasons you Should Attend Pine Springs John King Week!

5)  No cell phones or internet.  You are disconnected from the world.  It is glorious!  Try it.

4)  The scenery.   Pine Springs sets in between two mountains.  Oh what you don't like that?  Let me take you to the waterfall or the crevice.

3)  The classes and Keynotes.  You attend Bible class twice per day and hear uplifting messages each evening.

2) Campfire and stories with Cliff.  Seriously.  It's a fire....  It's a fire at night.  We sing songs (some fun, some spiritual) and then Cliff tells stories.  It happens under the stars.  You've never seen so many stars!

1)  The singing.  I'm not a huge music guy, but the worship is humbling and inspiring.

Honorable Mention:  Canteen dance party.  No further comment.

What You Need to Know.

Location:
Pine Springs sets in the beautiful Sacramento Mountains near Weed, New Mexico in the Lincoln National Forest.

Date:
July 10th - 16th (on the schedule it is called Week 7, or Childress / Bell Avenue Week.  Historically it has been called John King week.).

Cost:
$275 (Scholarships are available for Taylor St. members following our established guidelines).

Spirituality:
Cabin devotionals, 2 daily Bible classes, evening keynotes and worship, and many many other opportunities to connect with God and others.

Age Range:
7th Grade through May graduates.  (Many of our 7th and 8th graders attend Week 10 - Oakridge Week).

How to Register:  Don't wait.  Last year some campers were turned away!
Click Here
                                                                                                                                                                                       

Summer Activity Spotlight - Gloreta Wilderness Hike

Every week I will be highlighting/reminiscing about one of our Taylor St. Church of Christ Youth activities.  This is to inform and inspire about these activities.  In the long run, I want you to choose to attend this summer.  Also, some of you can be reminded of where you have been and lessons you learned along the way.


I'm going to start this one off with one of my favorite summer activities - heading to higher elevations for the cooler weather and spending time outdoor in nature (o.k. I'll admit that this could be like 3 different things)...  I'm talking about the Glorieta Wilderness Hike!

Top 5 Reasons Glorieta Wilderness Trek is Spectacular

5) You never have to put the toilet seat down!  (OK that one is just for the guys and for the record Doug suggested this one).

4) You don't have to go outside to see the stars, trees, mountains, etc...  Because you are already there!

3) You will tone muscles you did not know you had.  Seriously!

2) Jesus and his disciples bonded while walking countless miles.   It's a chance for you to do the same with your friends.  Just full disclosure, you will all smell like a dirty gym sock stuffed into a drain pipe.  It won't matter to anyone.  All those sweaty kids bond anyway!

1) This is a chance to see, hear, feel, and experience God in a special way.  You are God's unique masterpiece while walking through a very special masterpiece also created by God.

OK...  Nuts and Bolts of what this trip actually is and when we go.

Location
Glorieta Camps is located in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range of the Southern Rockies in Northern New Mexico right off of Interstate 25.

Date
June 27th - July 1st

Cost
$150

Activities
We spend 4 days and 3 nights in the wilderness.  We hike and camp.  There are also excursions along the way such as repelling and exploring an abandoned mining town.  This is a time to bond and experience nature.

Spirituality
We have several daily devotions along the way.  The coolest part of the trip is "solo time" in which participants spend time alone in the wilderness with nothing but their Bibles and their journals outdoors in nature.  It's sublime!

Logistics and Equipment
Campers bring a few basic items (sleeping bags, clothes, etc...) Glorieta supplies a guide and most of the camping equipment and food.  Additionally Glorieta's flagship camp has many fun things to do that we typically participate in on the last day!

Who is this trip designed for?
All Youth Group Members that in the Fall of 2016 are in the 6th - 9th Grades.

How do I Sign Up?
Write down your name and email address on the proper sheet on Lance's office door.  Glorieta will email you the link for full registration.