That Thing's Blog

2011 Final Schedule

Final 2011 Calendar, these are different from early tentative communications: June 19-23, June 26-30, July 3-8. Registration will open on Nov. 2 Election Day.

New Paintball Schedule

Here's the new schedules for Paintball.

Week 1 June 27 - July 2

   

Week 2 July 4-9

 
 

Week 3 July 11-16

 

Final Details For That Thing 2010

Can you believe it’s almost time for That Thing 2010?  We’re all getting excited here and we hope you are too!  As you are gearing up for your week here we thought we’d pass on some information that will be helpful to you in your planning & some that you might want to pass on to your students.


Questions
With summer here and the first week of That Thing just around the corner, Gern & Adam are pretty busy out and about on site.  If you have any questions or need any assistance please call Sarah Neel at 574.834.2212 and she will be glad to assist you. 

Check In & Check Out Times
Check In – 

• Group Lodge Check In - Sunday from 4:00pm-5:00pm
• Group Lodge 
Check Out – by Friday at 10:00am
• Campus House Check In - Sunday from 6:00pm-6:30pm
• Campus House Check Out - Friday 9:00am-9:30am



Packing List

• iTix if staying in Group Lodging
• Sleeping Bag/Bedding
• Pillow
• Modest & Weather Appropriate Clothing 
• Clothes for being outside at night and playing paintball (i.e. long pants, long-sleeve shirt, closed toed shoes)
• Fan
• Rain Gear
• Tennis Shoes
• Flip Flops for Showers
• Toiletries
• Towels (shower and beach)
• Swimsuit (one-piece required for Campus House; at the discretion of the church leaders in group lodging)
• Sunscreen
• Bug Repellant
• Flashlight
• Bible
• Pen & Paper
• Stamped Envelopes (to mail letters)
• Computer, iPod, phone if you would like
• Money for merchandise, snacks, etc.
• Please do not bring alcohol, tobacco, or drugs, weapons of any kind, fireworks or other explosives, or pets.


[small groups] 

Download curriculum for small groups and evening devotions at www.gotothatthing.com/smallgroups.html 
*Please note that this is just a outline and is provided as an option for your group.  It is not required material.

  

Meals


If you are planning on using our food service rather than providing your own here are few things you need to know/do:

• Contact Us...  If you are going to use our food service please let us know by Monday June 14th (for Week 1), Monday June 21st (for Week 2) or Monday June 28th (for Week 3).
• You can sign up for a complete meal package (3 meals per day) for $80 per person, lunches only for $33 per person, dinners only for $38 per person, or lunches & dinners for $65 per person.  If you would like to find out more information visithttp://www.gotothatthing.com/lodge-finder.html#mealplans
• If you would like to sign up for meals during your time at That Thing contact Sarah Neel at 574.834.2212.

Obstacle Course
Don’t forget about our awesome 



Daily Schedule

• 
8:30am – breakfast break

• 9:00am – building/activity block*
• 
9:45am – learning labs (30-45 minutes)
• 
10:45am – morning worship session
• 
12:15pm – lunch break
• 
1:00pm – one o’clock to five o’clock free block

• (1-2pm – [small groups] space
)
• (2-5:15pm – programmed events/activities**
)
• 5:30pm – dinner break
• 
7:30pm – evening worship session
• 
10:00pm – after hours
• 
11:00pm – in cabins
• 
* - paintball, waterfront & obstacle course open

• ** - programmed events, tourneys, paintball, waterfront, games & activities
• *** Schedule & Activity Offerings are subject to change but will be finalized by the time you arrive.



Free Block Schedule
Activities open every day:

• Aqua Rocker
• Banana Boat/Tubing
• Kayaking/Canoeing
• Swimming
• Water Volleyball
• Water Basketball
• Obstacle Course - (onsite registration for your group)
• Paintball
• Beach House Activities

Monday: 


• 1-2 PM [small groups]

• 2:00-2:20 PM Minute To Win It Kick Off

• 2:20-5:15 PM (Paintball, Waterfront Activities/Obstacle Course Open, Etc.)
• 
2:30-3:30 PM Sand Volleyball Tourney

• 2:30-3:15 PM Hobby Lobby Lab (Tie Dye 1)
• 
3:30-4:00 PM Learn Hearts & Euchre Basics 

• 3:00-3:45 PM Scary Brain Games

• 3:00-4:00 PM Sidewalk Artist 

• 4:00-5:00 PM Iron Man Triathlon 

• 4:15-5:15PM Epworth’s Got Talent Try Outs 

• 4:30-5:15 PM Llabkcik 

Tuesday:


• 1-2 PM  [small groups]
• 
2:00-2:15 PM Minute To Win It Kick Off 
• 
2:20-5:15 PM (Paintball, Waterfront Activities/Obstacle Course Open, Etc.)
• 
2:30- 3:15 PM The Geek Lab 
• 
2:30-3:15 PM Water Balloon Football 
• 
3:30-4:30 PM Epworth’s Got Talent Try Outs 
• 
3:00-4:00 PM Sidewalk Artist 

• 3:30-4:00 PM Blue Yacht Relay 
• 
4:30-5:15 PM Ultimate Frisbee 

• 4:00-5:15 PM Service Project (Crafty Cards to Camp Lakewood)

• 4:30-5:15 PM Hurried Hearts

Wednesday:


• 1-2 PM  [small groups]
• 
2:00-2:15 PM Minute To Win It Kick Off
• 
2:20-5:15 PM (Paintball, Waterfront Activities/Obstacle Course Open, Etc.)
• 2:30-3:15 Hobby Lobby Lab (Tie Dye 2) 
• 
2:30-3:30 PM Corn Hole Tourney 

• 2:30-3:15 PM Crazy Youth Group Games 

• 3:00-4:15 PM Driveway Basketball (21/42/Knockout/Hoop Challenge) 

• 3:00-4:00 PM Sidewalk Artist 
• 
3:30-4:00 PM Sandcastle Challenge 
• 
4:30-5:15 PM Street Dreams (Bed Race)

Thursday: 


• 1-2 PM  [small groups]

• 2:00-2:15 PM Minute To Win It Kick Off
• 
2:15-5:15 PM (Paintball, Waterfront Activities/Obstacle Course Open, Etc.)

• 2:30-3:15 Memory Makers 
• 
2:30-3:30 Dodgeball Tourney 

• 3:00-4:00 PM Speed Euchre

• 3:00-4:00 PM Sidewalk Artist
• 
3:30-4:00 PM Trash Can Game 

• 4:15-5:15PM Super Cool 4 Square 

• 4:30-5:15 PM Drama Games Workshop 

• 4:30-5:15 PM Worship Leader Chat 



After Hours Schedule

• 
Sunday – Epworth Idol (Rock Band)

• Monday – No Event

• Tuesday – Up Rock

• Wednesday – Epworth’s Got Talent (Talent Show)
• 
Thursday – No Event



Paintball Schedule

Week 1 

Monday 6/28

• 9am-1030am  - Whitefield-St. Matthews
• 2pm-330pm – Cartwright-Leo
• 330pm-5pm – Strawbridge-Sonrise 1

Tuesday 6/29

• 9am-1030am – Embury-Parkview Peru
• 2pm-330pm – McKendree-St. Joe
• 330pm-5pm – Barbara Heck-Monticello

Wednesday 6/30

• 9am-1030am – North Star/Forest-Elkhart Faith
• 2pm-330pm – Jubilee-Portage 1st
• 330-5pm – Nome-Good Shepherd

Thursday 7/1

• 9am-1030am – Strawbridge-Sonrise 2
• 2pm-330pm – Parkview-Mishawaka 1st
• 330-5pm – Sandy Kay/Cardinal-Campus House

Week 2 

Monday 7/5 

• 2pm-330pm – Cartwright-Campus House
• 330-5pm – Forest-Brook

Tuesday 7/6

• 9am-1030am – Parkview-Crosswind
• 2pm-330pm – Barbara Heck-Middlebury 1st
• 330pm-5pm – Embury-Anderson 1st

Wednesday 7/7 

• 9am-1030am – North Star-Woodmar
• 2pm-330pm – Jubilee-Dyer
• 330pm-5pm – Whitefield-Asbury

Thursday 7/8

• 2pm-330pm – McKendree-Mongo
• 330pm-5pm – Strawbridge-Gethsemane

Week 3 

Monday 7/12

• 2pm-330pm – Parkview-Galveston
• 330pm-5pm – Cartwright/Barbara Heck-Campus House 1

Tuesday 7/13

• 2pm-330pm – Sandy Kay-Lifeline
• 330pm-5pm – Strawbridge-Lowell

Wednesday 7/14

• 2pm-330pm – Cartwright/Barbara Heck-Campus House 2
• 330pm-5pm – Whitefield-Auburn 1st

Thursday 7/15 

• 2pm-330pm – Cardinal-Griffith 1st
• 330pm-5pm – McKendree-Marion 1st

We can’t wait to have you join us here this summer for That Thing 2010 – The Unstoppable Hope!

The That Thing Staff

It's Coming Real Fast!

Sorry we haven't been on here recently...we're prepping up all of the final details for That Thing 2010.

It's going to be an amazing summer! Really looking forward to seeing you all.  We'll be sending out a letter, email and facebook post in the next 48 hours that will provide the last details you need.  I'll post a link here as well when it is ready to go.

If you need anything, don't hesitate to contact us. Sarah at 574.834.2212 is the best person to call and she will be able to provide or find the answers you need in short order.

Gern

Curriculum for [small groups] and Evening Devotions

Download the guide to help you prepare for [small groups] and your evening devotions.

As always, I want to remind you.  That Thing is meant to be a customizable experience that you tailor to your group.  As you read through this, note that it is not required.  In the intercampus small groups, this is the curriculum all of the group leaders are expected to follow. But, if you are doing your own small groups with just your students, please feel free to do whatever you think your students need during this summer's camp experience. 

We are looking for leaders both student and adult to lead the groups. Two important points about that.

• Availability of the groups is solely based upon the number of volunteer leaders
• In order to be a volunteer leader, the individual must attend a training session, the last option for which is Saturday May 22, 2010 at Epworth Forest CC from 10-3

So, if you want your students to be a part of the intercampus groups, I highly recommend you also consider sending leadership. Please, have potential leaders fill out and return their application forms ASAP.

If you have any questions, contact Adam at adamhyndman@impact2818.com or 574.834.2212.

Have you figured out what you are doing for meals?

Bringing in volunteers from my church and helping prepare meals is one of my favorite memories I have of coming to camp and is something that makes your lodge experience unique. The ability to cook your own food is one of those things that makes an event at Epworth very cool. So, make the most of family style dining this summer.

-Unique contests that can make dinner fun

-Guests invite speaker/band/drama group/That Thing staff over for a meal

-Unusual…make it a picnic or even a sack lunch and go eat on the beach or back in the woods on your way to paintball

-Family Bonding…sure you aren’t related but you’re living like it and having chores and shared responsibilities can add a lot as different students have different responsibilities with clean-up and prep.

Whatever you do, we hope that you use meal times for an intended purpose and make it an added benefit for the students!

Small Group Training April 17

In case you haven't heard about the intercampus [small groups] that will be an option this year, be sure to check out this post from a while back.

Just a reminder, If you were planning on coming to the curriculum training to be a leader at the [small groups], you need to fill out an application form. Get the application and Learn more here.

If you are not planning on joining [small groups], but would still like to attend to see where the curriculum is going, you are welcome to...please RSVP to Gern so we can plan on you attending. 

• The curriculum for small group discussions and evening devotion times will be posted as soon as it is completed.

Small Groups

If you are thinking about doing the intercampus [small groups], don't forget to think about leaders.  The availability of the groups is based upon the number of volunteer leaders who are going to come to a pre-camp training session. 

Both student and adult leaders are needed.

The first training session is Saturday April 17 at Epworth Forest. Let me know if you'll be coming.

New Activity at That Thing

Street Dreams

We're constantly in search for something amazing...one of those things that everyone can do regardless of skills but that is a great challenge. 

Enter off-road camp bunk bed racing!

Yeah, it's going to be completely awesome. And don't worry, you don't have to build the bed.  We're currently engineering them and will have them available.  Your group is free to add a few decorations, any signage, racing uniforms, etc.

The competition is a camp wide event and will run in 4 time trial heats.  The winners of those heats will meet up to find their trophy in the winner's circle. The winning groups of each week will have their photographs put to a plaque for the first annual Epworth's Street Dreams Champions.

Small Group Volunteers & Training Dates

Some of you have already signed up for [small groups] this coming summer. If not, but you're planning on being a part of these intercampus discussion groups, please get your name on the list.  

A Clarification - So, while I tell you today we are doing them, the truth is that they will only happen as long as the volunteers to lead them 1) sign up 2) attend the training sessions. If we get past the training dates and week 2 has 5 groups signed up to participate but no volunteer leading...they will be cancelled for that week; this will return the small group discussion times back to last year when each cabin was creating their own groups internally or amongst their neighbor cabins.

Volunteer Leaders - We are looking for volunteers to lead these groups. Both students and adults can be leaders in these groups. Download the application, distribute it to your students that you think should be leaders. 

Volunteer Training - Those wishing to be volunteer leaders will need to attend one of the two training dates (April 17 10am-3pm or May 22 10am-3pm; both will be at Epworth Forest CC) 

[small groups] curriculum - In case you're wondering...we are currently in the development stage of writing out a full discussion guide for both an afternoon session and an evening group devotion time.  This will be available for group leaders whether you are leading That Thing's [small groups] or will be guiding your own small groups in your cabin group. It will be available by April 17.