A Message from the Camp Director
Delivered at the FNCA Annual Meeting, 8/7/10

© Nancy F. Little 2008    [As I write this,] our summer camp session is in full swing. For many of us, we wait all year for this special time with this special community of people who worship, study, learn, live, laugh, and eat together for two weeks. It is a special time to build community year after year, and it is so appropriate that the lecture theme first week was "Heavenly Community".

   We initiated two new program this year, and both have been successful. We created a new age group called the Senior Flames, or, as they sometimes call themselves: Super Flames! These are college-aged campers 18-22 who have adult privileges and housing but help the Flames with their dining hall and kitchen duties in exchange for the lower Flames rates. This will, hopefully, allow them to attend camp at an affordable price.

   The other new success was our Opening Weekend Program, presented by Anna Woofenden, who lead us through a Bible study process intensively examining a portion of the Elijah story. There were 11 adult who attended. This was a great chance to get camp started with a bonding intensive experience. There were three sessions over Saturday and Sunday. It was a special experience. This also helped with having a good reason to come to camp on Saturday, and to have something focussed to do during opening weekend.

   Lois Dole hase served as camp nurse for many years, and I want to thank her for all the care she has given to sick and injured campers. This year, Jason Greenwood got certified as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). As Flames Advisor, this training will be invaluable for the Flames, as well as for our whole community.

   Rev. Sage Currie has been promoting the Assembly programs at the Fryeburg New Church, and it has been delightful to have quite a few local people attending lectures and sometimes staying on for some of the other programs.

   Our attendance this year was better than last year, with a fairly healthy adult population but low numbers of Sparks and Flames the first week; and lots more attendees of all ages second week.
  
   We have been eating delicious food cooked by our new cook, Sonja. It is challenging learning the ways of camp, and she is learning some of our traditions. My dream is to find a great cook who will stay for 10 years!

   The weather and the river have cooperated this year. After having two years in a row with a flooded river, we are back to the delight of swimming in the Saco River! I wait all year for this experience. There is NOTHING to compare with a day like today in Fryeburg.

   Your camp Summer Session Committee consists of Susannah - religious programing; Trevor - activities director; Nancy - camp registrar; Jason - Flames advisor; as well as myself as camp director. This group works hard in many ways to make sure that camp is a rich and full experience, as well as one that works smoothly. They are also the group that hashes out problems by working on them together. I appreciate all these efforts whose goal is to make camp a great experience. Thank you Summer Session Committee!

   FNCA is a building and land, true enough. But anyone who has been here when no-one is around knows that the true essence of the Assembly is the gathering of like-minded people who assemble to nurture their spiritual life. This is a very unique and special place. 

   Thank you. 

Debbie Cook
FNCA Camp Director
dcook@bacs-gc.org
215-675-2220

© Nancy Newman 2009