The following LLYC story from Summer 2012 is brought to you by our very own David “Tex” Grimes. A mass of multicolored blurs whizzes over the net like a swarm of angry wasps. The pound of music is nearly drowned out by voices yelling encouragements and chants. Shoes screech on the hard court as competitors dodge and dive [...]
Read more...The sun winks goodbye behind Circle Bluff and shadow slips over Blue Hole and the mass of Echo Valley campers and staff who crowd around it. Blue Hole is the best swimming spot on the Foundation property and the hike-n-swim experience it offers is a longstanding camp tradition. Every session there are new stories made [...]
Read more...Guys and girls line up on opposite sides of the Echo Valley Pavilion like opposing armies. Their counselors acting as generals out in front, they begin tonight’s battle. It’s Round Up again and that means the tradition of a chanting battle between girl’s and guy’s side is sure to be the first order of the [...]
Read more...It occurred to me this week as I was browsing through our summer blog posts that we have a demographic that’s been underrepresented in our blog-portrait of camp so far. We’ve talked a lot about the boys- grilling, sword fighting, tennis ball dodgeball playing, camping out. But what about the girls? This oversight is largely [...]
Read more...The sun makes its reluctant exit towards the horizon. Down in a narrow valley on the back side of the Foundation Property, the Singing Hills boys are hard at work. They have two daunting and equally vital tasks before them; build the mightiest fort and cook the tastiest chili. Every session, the boys’ side of [...]
Read more...So I’m writing by firework-light, which is just about as difficult as it sounds. I’m also sitting in the middle of the Echo Valley softball field amongst a crowd of Singing Hills and Echo Valley counselors, campers, and support staff. In fact, just about all of LLYC has turned out to see this once-a-summer spectacle. [...]
Read more...It’s a blazing summer day at Singing Hills as campers file back up to the Ranch House from their swim time. Even though the waters of the Frio River live up to its name, the dry heat has already stolen the moisture off of their bodies. Not to worry, though. The Singing Hills programmers and support [...]
Read more...“I’m going to make this for my stepsister,” proclaims one girl as she lays her brush in broad strokes across the canvas. “I’m making this one for my dad for his birthday,” replies another. Here I sit in the Arts and Crafts Pavilion at Singing Hills for the first day of activities. A fat Jerusalem [...]
Read more...No, it’s Super Hero Sports! I’m standing in the staff lounge on the second floor of the Echo Valley Ranch House laughing my head off. Central Staff members Meredith Woolsey, Nich Hearn, Brigette McCann, Steven Wallace, Angela Aadahl, and MacKenzie Gandy have dressed up in the most absurd costumes imaginable. Now they are climbing out [...]
Read more...Again, the sound of campers voices echo against Circle Bluff and down into the riverbed where the cool waters of Blue Hole beckon. But this time, it’s not the sound of talking or splashing or even dining. It’s the sound of worship. This summer, Echo Valley is trying something new with their customary Blue Hole [...]
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The renewal of society through the renewal of the Church; Church renewal through the renewal of the family; family renewal through renewed individuals.
