Important Notes:

First things first, only volunteers 18 years and older may stay overnight (Friday evening through Sunday). We welcome workers of all ages on Saturday, April 21st 2012 but do ask that our volunteer workers be old enough to work as directed with minimal supervision.

We will have electricity and some bathrooms up and running but the water will not be ready to drink.You will need to bring water and any other beverages from home!!!

We discourage anyone from driving up earlier in the week, there will not be anyone on property and the driveway should be blocked.

How’s this going to work?

We will divide the camp property and buildings into different task forces, each with a leader. That leader will have a list of all the tasks that need to be done in their particular area and will assign them to volunteers. Volunteers will be divided based on their skill set, making it very important to RSVP to info@camptalahi.org with your name, phone number, and skills set. A Facebook RSVP does not count.

What to Bring
· Rakes
· Work Gloves
· General Tools (hammers, screwdrivers, etc.)
· Power Drill
· Power Washer
· Leaf Blower
· Log Splitter
· Water
· Snacks for yourself.
· Overnight gear (if staying the weekend)
· Tarps
· Ladders

What to Donate
· Simple Green cleaning solution
· Cleaning Rags
· Bleach
· Sponges
· Laundry Soap
· Sea Weed Razor (please email info@camptalahi.org for specifics)
· Home Improvement store gift cards
· Gas gift cards
· Snacks

Food:

You’re responsible for providing your own food during work weekend! Bring snacks and easy-to-make food – remember the kitchen will be off-limits since it’ll be cleaned during the weekend. The women’s fellowship from Pinckney Community Congregational UCC is bringing lunch on Saturday, April 21. It will be something simple, probably sloppy joes (so if you’re a vegetarian you may want to bring veg burgers or something). There are also plenty of restaurants in Brighton and Pinckney if you want to eat out.

We also may not have a fridge and we’ve only got one microwave, so it would be best to bring a cooler and cold sandwiches or other readily-accessible and not-super-perishable foods.

Thanks!

Ashley Fink
info@camptalahi.org

The sunset over lake Chenago

With 180 acres of beautiful trails, forests and fields, Camp Talahi is the perfect place to escape from your hectic schedule and spend some time relaxing and enjoying the company of others.

Hippo Hill, a perfect picnic spot.

It was incredibly inspiring to see the outpouring of support from so many churches (18 in all), and from people in the pews who donated $1 at a time to help us make it possible for the UCC to have an outdoor ministry in Michigan!

As you can see from our last fundraising post, we thought we had raised a very respectable $9,300 and were so happy about it – and then we got a last minute message with this wonderful story:

When Terry Butz (a Talahi mom!), who was collecting all the donations at First Congregational UCC of Romeo added it up and saw that we were so close to our $10,000 goal, she and her husband decided to donate the remaining funds! She had to call him in India where he was working and they chose to top off the donation. THANK YOU Rob and Terry!

Again, we are so grateful to ALL the individuals and churches that have helped get Talahi to where we are! One year ago, reopening Talahi was just a dream – and now it’s really happening because of the faith and support of our church families!

Thanks to all the Matching Campaign donors:

Churches:

First Congregational in Charleviox
First Congregational Church, UCC of Romeo
St. James UCC in Casco
St. Paul UCC in Warren
First Congregational UCC in Birmingham
First Congregational UCC in Union City
Emanuel UCC in Manchester
St. Johns in Port Huron
Salem UCC
Pilgrim Lansing UCC
First Congregational New Baltimore
Woodside UCC in Flint
Hope UCC in Fraser
First Congregational UCC in Armada
Webster UCC in Dexter
St. Johns Brotherhood in Wyandotte
St. James in UCC Saline
St. Pauls UCC in Dexter

Individuals:

D. Stonebreaker
K. Stonebreaker
Margo Allen
Lucy Mendendorp
Rob and Terry Butz

And of course, thanks to our incredible anonymous donor from the First Congregational Church, UCC of Romeo – none of this would have been possible without you!

Thanks to every one for helping us pull through! It’s what Talahi is all about – people working together to make amazing things happen (just like these awesome mini campers)

To apply to be a counselor at Camp Talahi, please start by filling out the form below. We’ll put you in touch with the dean for your session to start making plans!

Please note that all volunteer counselors will need to undergo a background check. We’ll be asking you to complete a background check consent form and other paperwork once you’re assigned to a camp.

We received donations from countless people at 21 churches, plus more than 50 individuals, and we have 24 new members! We couldn’t be more thankful for all the incredible support!

The matching campaign was our biggest success! 18 churches donated a total of $9,382.10 – so with the match we’ve raised over $18,000! Thanks again to the First Congregational Church, UCC of Romeo and the private donor whose generosity made this possible.

Now, we’re only 17,300 away from our fundraising goal for 2012!!! We are SO CLOSE! Here’s how we’re going to make it happen:

1. 30 people will become members of Camp Talahi! You can donate online here! (30 more people will donate $25-$50 we love you too!)
2. 50 people will sign up for the Talahi 5k run! It’s only $20, and members get $5 off (see #1). PLUS there’s a delicious lunch and there will be an Open House afterward!
3. 200 people will buy tickets for the raffle put on by First Congregational Church, UCC of Rome0 (that’s right! They’re at it again!) The prize will be $5,000! More details coming soon.

Front of the lodge.. needs some clean up!

Work weekend to get camp ready for reopening. Cleaning, mowing, raking, painting, among other things. Reopening camp needs our commitment and help! We will be paying for all of our own food on this weekend as camp needs every dollar for opening expenses. More details will be forthcoming regarding what sort of supplies we need. Please save the date and we hope to see you there!

Please email Ashley at info@camptalahi.org if you’d like to come! or RSVP to the facebook event.

We’d also graciously accept donations of food for the volunteers if you don’t have time to come for the weekend. We can’t guarantee that the kitchen will be food-safe until at least Sunday though!

Start Date: 2012-04-21
Start Time: 10:00
End Date: 2012-04-22
End Time: 14:00

The event is free. Lunch will be served from 11:30am – 1:30pm for a small contribution to camp.

P.S. the open house is right after the Talahi 5k and fun run – why not make a day of it.

https://www.facebook.com/events/236440439778638/

Start Time: 13:00
Date: 2012/05/05
End Time: 16:00

Check-In starts at 10:30am. Late Registrations will be accepted on race day, but will not include a t-shirt.

The Spring Open House will follow this event. Join us to check out the facilities, learn more about Talahi, and sign up for summer camps.

Register for the 5k and fun run here:
http://www.active.com/running/howell-mi/camp-talahi-trail-run-5k-and-family-fun-run-2012

then tell us you’re coming on Facebook here!
https://www.facebook.com/events/236440439778638/
Start Time: 10:00
Date: 2012-05-05
End Time: 13:00

Campers perform a "Noah's Ark" play for Vespers, complete with a canoe Ark.

At Camp Talahi, we bring out the creativity of all our campers – and worship is no exception! Amid the excitement and fun of camp, we take time every day to reflect on the blessings we’ve been given.

Each morning at “Morning Watch,” campers are given a thought and a theme  for the day. For example, in 2012 our theme is “Rejoice in New Beginnings” so each day will focus on ways that we can be renewed and rejuvenated – ways that we’re forgiven and given new opportunities to grow as people.

In the evening, campers take turns planning our Vespers services with the help of the camp Chaplain, a volunteer pastor from one of our member churches. As you can see from the photo, Vespers can take many forms! We often hold services on Vesper Hill overlooking the lake, but have had Vespers on the beach, in the woods, around the campfire, indoors during thunderstorms, and anywhere else that fits what our campers have in mind.

Vespers and Morning Watch give us the chance to hear how campers interpret and interact with scripture, and it gives campers a chance to try new things, make presentations in front of their peers, and express themselves in a welcoming and open community!

Most of all, Vespers is a chance for our entire camp to step back and appreciate the gift of spending time together in a beautiful place.

Whether you’re a church liaison or just love camp, we’re working on creating materials for you to use in your church to get the buzz going about camp. Here are some ideas:

1. Testimonial bulletin insert. Download this file and print it as an insert for your church bulletin. Your church can print it one-sided without the pledge form if you prefer.

2. Postcards & bookmarks: These glossy postcards and thank-you bookmarks are available for you! Email gillian@camptalahi.org if you need them sent to you.

3. Text for bulletin announcements: If you just want to add an announcement about camp to your bulletin, here’s some suggested text:

Rejoice in a new beginning! Camp Talahi is reopening in 2012. Visit www.camptalahi.org for more information on signing up for camp and other ways to help out. Thank you for all your support and we hope to see you this summer!