Setting Summer Intentions: Get the Most out of Your Summer

Summer! The season for fun in the sun, family vacations and plenty of ice cream! Summer is the time to take advantage of extra hours of daylight and fewer hours of homework, but so often summer is over before we know it. Its hot, lazy days are fleeting and precious. This summer try a different approach. Take the time this spring to set some summer intentions for your family. Use these questions as a guide to plan your family's best summer yet.

Work Camp-Paving the Way

This week at Work Camp we have dedicated ourselves to deepening our relationships with the Lord through service. This has taken shape in a project to spruce up the Highlander Cabins as well as many other mini missions around camp.

Heartland's Year In Review [Infographic]

It is so hard for us to put this ministry into an infographic. So much of what we do is relationship based, you can't measure the depth of friendships built or the impact of belong to a Body of Christ for a week. That being said we are incredibly grateful for what the Lord has done at Heartland this last year. We are humbled that God chooses to work through our ministry, check out our summer by the numbers in the infographic below:

5 Ways Camp Changed My Life

I am sorry, I lied to you a bit when I said camp changes lives. It is God who changes lives, camp is just the place I first experienced that change. Summer camp gives a unique opportunity for God to work, one that the Lord is more than willing to take. I have now spent ten summers at Heartland Camp as a camper and then as a staff member. I can honestly say that without my time at camp I would not know the love of my Savior the way I do today. As I begin to work full-time for this ministry, I am encouraged to know that my experience is not unique. Many campers, volunteers, and staff have a similar list of ways God has changed their life through camp. Here are the top 5 ways God has changed my life at Heartland:

Can I have S'more?

Roasted marshmallow, crunchy graham cracker, and melty chocolate what could be better than a s'more? Well more s'mores of course. Enjoy some creative twists on your favorite camp treat! If you don't have access to a fire, never fear there is still plenty of goodness inside to keep you happy through the winter!

#campSERVES

The Holiday times are a great time to get the family together and reminisce over the blessings of the past year. It is also a great time to serve as a family. What better way to show your child that service, gratitude, and hard work are important than by serving together as a family. There are plenty of service opportunities for all ages, who knows it might just become the next family tradition.

#campPRAYS

There can be many worries when it comes to praying; am I saying the right words, am I focused enough, am I even allowed to ask for that? I know I have felt those worries and others that seem to make prayer into a duty and stressor in my life instead of it being a conversation with Jesus. I know I must try to grow in prayer, the opportunity to talk to the living God is too good to be missed! What better way to begin praying that beginning with your children? Together you can grow in knowing what a life with Jesus is about.

#campSTUDIES

This summer our theme was Love Never Fails. We learned about the amazing unceasing love of God through reading the Bible, prayer, worship and community. Our hope is that if anyone who came onto camp remembered nothing else, they would remember that “nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39. To help remember Gods unceasing love here is a devotional to share with your child.

#campSNACKS

As it starts to get colder it can get harder and harder to remember the good times of summer. To help we are updating a classic summer treat! We have taken the melty chocolate and gooey marshmallows from the campfire s’mores you love and put them in one easy to bake cookie!