Petkes on Sabbatical...

Being a camp director can take a toll on the life of a family. One of my best friends is the son of a former camp director and while camp is a great place to grow up and explore, summertime is often spent more apart as a family than together. Instead, life is shared with hundreds of other people all the time.

After 15 years of working, Jane and Daniel Petke and their two sons, Conner and Kellen, are finally taking a family vacation with one another. Really, its a two month sabbatical. They started their adventure Tuesday morning June 21 and plan to return to work August 21. During this time, they will be traveling to many National Parks and reaching as far north as Bowron Lakes in BC. We will surely send good thoughts their direction on their journey!

...and Phyllis Murray is Filling in So, what happens at Suttle Lake this summer while the Petkes are gone? Exploring the nationwide camp connection this past spring, executive director Jim Parkhurst found an excellent replacement: recently retired camp director Phyllis Murray. Phyllis has shared her gifts of hospitality and connection in camping and retreat ministry since 1994 at Potosi Pines in Las Vegas, and most recently at Blue Lake Assembly in Alabama. Since her retirement two years ago, much like our own Lisa Jean Hoefner, Phyllis has spent her time visiting family and friends, and volunteering in areas that hold her passion. Keep the staff of Suttle Lake Camp in prayer as they form new bonds with one another and offer themselves to the ministry of the camp. - Eric Conklin, eric@umoi.org

Camp leaders are always curious about the impact that camp has had on the youth who attend. Furthermore, in what tangible ways have the staff, the site, the food, the activities had a part in that impact? What ways could the experience have been improved? Where are the blind spots?

At the end of each session, camper parents will receive a brief e-mail questionnaire that will help to gauge the experience of the camper(s) in their family. We are trying this for the first time this summer. If you have a young person who has attended camp and do not receive a questionnaire, let us know and we will send you a link.

We thank you in advance for taking the opportunity to share the story of your week at camp! It will surely allow us to be more attentive to all campers as we continue to improve upon an already amazing camp program.

- Jim Parkhurst, jim@umoi.org