A Few things for Your Calander

G'day friends!
I have a few things you will want to check out in the future here:

To download a brochure click here!

Operation BackPack - 

Let's break a record this year!! Details. More Details

Click here for a list of Winter Weekend dates

November Winter Weekend
November 25-27


Make sure you don't miss out on more CLTD fun! We need to know if you are coming by Nov. 23.
ALSO - PLEASE remember that CLTDs have the same dress code as staff do! If you don't remember what that means it is listed here: http://cltd.blogspot.com/2011/03/winter-weekend.html






Christmas Banquet - Decemebr 16

This is our annual Christmas Banquet open to CLTDs, Staff and Board members. The year-round team is a little swamped at the moment so we handed off the planning of this event this year to some of our creative staff team. I will let you know more as I do, BUT we are excited to have you there!

InFuze 2012 - January 14
Every year we have a one-day conference geared toward 16-25 year-olds. If you are in Mentorship you are welcome to come as a participant and if you are in Sojourn, we will be looking for some volunteers to help out for the day with set-up, dishes, etc.
This year's speaker will be Shannon Dean, who spoke at Teen's camp this year. I am in the process of finding our breakout session speakers and getting details nailed down but it is looking to be a good day! When I have it all together I will be getting the information out to you.


You CAN Make a Difference!! 
Two last things before I go:
#1 Spare Change - One way you can be working to help build the new lodge (which is the future of camp - YOUR camp!) is to get your family and friends to be collecting spare change to put in the jar that sits in the foyer of the (old) lodge. Get creative! Decorate your own jar/bin/strong box that your family to fill, get your friends, youth group or class involved!

Check out the ARK List

#2 The ARK List - This summer the Mentorship crew were issued a 'world-changing challenge'. The result? The ARK list! We would like to challenge ALL of you to jump on board! Check it out:
"We are a group of youth in a christian leadership training discipleship program. We decided to try and do something to make the world better, and our idea is the A.R.K list. A.R.K stands for Acts of Random Kindness. We have come up with a list of random things you can do everyday to make someones day better" All of those who have added me as a friend on facebook have been invited to check it out at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/153580014719609/.

I hope all are doing well! sending love and blessings to all!

It's Operation BackPack Time Again!

Let me share with you a little about a ministry that the CLTDs of Camp Chestermere serve: StreetLight Mobile Ministry. I am sure you've heard of it - we talk about it often, plus we managed to charm the coordinator enough to convince him to work in CLTD as a leader: Allan!

“StreetLight is a mobile drop-in centre in the form of a fifth-wheel trailer and it reaches out to the homeless youth in the downtown Calgary core.” 

It is a sad but true fact that there are kids who live on the streets in Calgary that are safer there than at home. It is a nightmare that few of us can even comprehend.


Every Christmas StreetLight runs Operation Backpack. “StreetLight has designed Operation BackPack as a way in which the community can get involved in meeting a survival need. We ask the community to buy backpacks and fill them with items in which homeless youth need in order to survive. At Christmas time, StreetLight goes out and hosts a big open-air party for all the homeless in Calgary and we hand out backpacks, a hot meal, coffee, and most importantly, HOPE for a better day.” 


Over the past three years CLTDs, staff and friends of Camp Chestermere collected over 80 backpacks for this cause. I am encouraging you to consider participating in this cause this year. Let's see if we can break the record on 53 backpacks collected!! It can cost a bit to collect everything for these backpacks so you might want to get family and friends involved. These packs can make a difference in the lives of young people in huge ways. It is easy for us to confuse need and want in our day-to-day lives. We might think we ‘need’ a new ipod but anyone who goes without the basic needs of food and shelter on a continuing basis would beg to differ.

I would be happy to help you get any packs you would like put together in! There are a few options: you can drop them off at the camp (1041 East Lakeview Rd, Chestermere) during office hours (Monday – Friday 9-4), if you are a CLTD or staff member of Camp Chestermere you can bring packs with you to the November Winter Weekend or get in touch with me to come and pick them up. For a brochure, drop me a line and I can email one to you.

We can make a difference in this world, friends. We just have to choose to do so!

Here are a few links for you:

Click here to see our facebook invite  

Click here for information on StreetLight

Click here for the Operation BackPack Blog

Click here to download a brochure

Click here for the Operation BackPack YouTube video