It’s All About Expectations
On the same walk with Skylar that I received the offer to buy SpringHill from one of our campers (see my post of July 29th) we ended up on the topic of relationships. Skylar has worked for SpringHill the past four summers including this year as a TST counselor so we’ve known each other for some time.
We talked about what made successful, long – term relationships. We agreed that one key ingredient is having clear and understood expectations whether it is a marriage, work relationship or friendship.
We also agreed that most relationships we knew that end up broken were the result of unfulfilled expectations. And this was because expectations were not clearly understood and agreed upon by everyone in the relationship.
At this point in the conversation, I have to admit, I felt sage like in my dispensing of wisdom about relationships to Skylar.
Then Skylar proceeded to share with me that he and his co – counselor, Will, decided to create expectations with their TST campers. Expectations that they, as their counselors, had for the campers and expectations that the campers had for them.
They wrote these all down and posted them in their cabin. The counselors and the campers referred to the posted lists when it appeared that agreed upon expectations where not being met.
Skylar said this process has helped create a very positive culture in their team and helped everyone work through difficult moments.
I loved this initiative by Skylar and Will, referred to by their campers as “Skill” (combination of Skylar and Will), to create the best possible experience for their campers. “Skill’s” example drove home the importance of having clear expectations in every important, long – term relationship.
I was also reminded of two other things.
First, we have many sages at SpringHill you just need to go for a walk with some folks, ask and listen.
Second, the truth is everything I know about leadership I’ve learned at camp.
Agreed upon expectations for the "Skill Team" 
Expectations for the counselor team of "Skill" 
One blank sheet is posted just in case new expectations are needed. “I Want to Buy SpringHill!”
I love elementary age kids. I love watching them and interacting with them at camp. I love hearing the stories about the things they do and the things they say to our staff. I will share some of these stories with you next week but I have one to share with you from yesterday.
I was walking around our Michigan overnight camp with one of our long time summer staffers, Skylar, having a deep conversation as only you can have at camp, when I was stopped near the climbing wall by my nephew Mattson. He just finished climbing the wall with his cabin and came over to say hi and give me a hug.
Mattson in the red and the potential buyer of SpringHill in the olive. One of his cabin mates asked “Hey Mattson is that your uncle, the President of SpringHill?” I usually try to keep a low profile about my job title but Mattson answered before I could respond “yes he is.”
So this Copper Country boy came up to me and said:
“I want to buy SpringHill.”
I responded by asking him “How much are you willing to pay?”
He said “One dollar.”
I told him “You will need to add a few zeros to that number before we could talk further.”
He said, “How many zeros, I want to buy SpringHill?”
I asked him “How many fingers and toes do you have?”
He thought about it and first said “Ten” then after further thought answered “Twenty.”
I said “That’s how many zeros you have to add to the end of your number 1 before we talk about selling SpringHill.”
He was still trying to figure out what the number would be as Skylar and I walked on. Skylar laughed and said to me, “In other words SpringHill is not for sale.”
No it’s not, not when kids like this young man love SpringHill and have their lives impacted by what Christ does through it. There are not enough fingers and toes in the world to come up with a sale price.
Mattson's cabin all wanted a photo with his uncle the President of SpringHill. Reflecting on Detroit
Yesterday I spent the afternoon with our Detroit Day Camp team and we had a moment together reflecting on the highlights from their summer so far. As it often does for me their reflections turn to their incredible week of ministry in inner city Detroit.
One of the these memories we talked about were of all the abandoned homes around the school where we had Day Camp. Our staff remembered one morning as they were setting up the equipment for the day (climbing wall, euro bungee, etc) a wall from one of these homes fell in with a huge crash (now that creates a memory).
I have to admit I continue to be moved by all the abandon homes (and more importantly what they represent) that we saw around the school and when we toured the community with Eric and Keltie Nielsen of Mack Avenue Community Church. There are 40,00 abandon buildings in Detroit compared, for example, to only 1000 in Chicago. I keep asking myself how can a city be so abandoned?
I especially think of this Detroit as I have been reading Michael Wittmer’s book Heaven is a Place on Earth. Is it possible that Heaven could be a place like Detroit? Here is what Wittmer says
“Because we are human, we will continue to develop culture, but now, because we are Christian, we must also strive to redeem it. It is not enough to merely salvage a few souls from the wreckage of sin. The entire world (including Detroit) belongs to God, so it must be the entire world (including Detroit) that is redeemed. To paraphrase Abraham Kuyper, we must diligently labor to bring every square inch of human existence (including Detroit) beneath the Lordship of Jesus Christ who proclaims, “It’s mine (including Detroit)!” (italicized words are mine)
This is my prayer for Detroit and it’s people. It’s the only Hope there is and the only thing I know to pray.
See my posts “This is the Best Place Ever” and “48214” for more stories about this week in Detroit.
Ageless Proverbs!
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding – indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1-5
This past Sunday I had the opportunity to be “the son..” when we had our second annual former SpringHill board member reunion. We had a number of former board members and their spouses join us for staff worship (they got to sing, clap and dance with the SpringHill Gospel Choir), attend the weekly “staff meeting” and then have lunch together at our Founder’s House.
Because their board tenures spanned a number of decades, I asked them to share their SpringHill history with the group. We were blessed to not only hear their histories but also to hear many great SpringHill’s stories.
And, most importantly for me, I heard bits of wisdom and proverbs that each one has gleaned over the years, especially from their involvement with SpringHill.
Here is a sample of these proverbs and encouraging quotes that I took note of:
“Never let SpringHill lose its focus.”
“Always leave room for God to work.”
“Keep the first things first.”
“I am thankful that SpringHill continues to keep Christ first and foremost at its center.”
“This place will be something special.” stated by Janet Doctor our first camp cook in 1969
“Keep the main thing the main thing.”
“When Enoch Olson (our first Director) prayed for something you’d better get out-of-the-way.”
“Let’s go for 100%.”
“We put forth what we can do and then let God do the rest.”
“Thank you for keeping SpringHill focused on sharing Jesus Christ.”
“His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1:3
Former board members worshiping with our summer staff. This is the Way to Start the Week!
Staff worship at SpringHill’s overnight camps is one of the most significant parts of our summer staff’s experience. It’s an incredible opportunity to worship together with people from all over the country, from every walk of life and Christian tradition. Frankly, it’s how I envision Heaven will be.
In Michigan this week our summer staff, lead by Clarence Hogan, put together the “SpringHill Gospel Choir” in the tradition of African-American churches. I need to tell you it now ranks as one of my top highlights of the summer.
SpringHill Gospel Choir Lead by this choir of 20 people and a band of 4 we sang, danced and clapped (well most of us, I do not possess any rhythm so the dancing and clapping are a bit of a challenge) to songs such as “Bless the Lord”, “More than Anything”, “Revelation 19 – Hallelujah, Salvation & Glory” and “Lord You are Good.” I think the whole town of Evart, 3 miles away, heard our worship.
Staff worship is an opportunity to prepare ourselves for a new week of ministry to the arriving campers. What makes it such a significant experience is the shared mission we have together, the work we do together, the pain and trials we live out together and the joy we experience together as we serve 1000’s of campers.
Worship does not create a community of people committed to mission and to each other. Instead, I’m convinced after 13 summers at SpringHill, that a community of people committed to each other and to a shared mission are, as a result, blessed to share incredible worship together.
And that is what I and about 700 other people experienced today. This is the way to start the week.
A Letter to Mom
As a follow-up to my post yesterday about TST I thought I would share an email we received from a mom of one of our TSTers this summer. It provides a glimpse into the spiritual impact this program can have on a high school student.
“I just have to share with you a letter I received from Taylor after her first week of TST. It arrived on Sat. and I still had a week before I could give her a big hug. I asked her permission to share it. So enjoy!”
Dear Mom,
I want to thank you so much for you in my life.
Today a girl in my cabin, named Megan, told us how God has tested her because her mom died when she was in 5th grade and she struggled a lot this year. It was her first year at high school and she wanted to be able to talk to her mom about girl things like everyone else. I realized I take your presence in my life for granted and I just want to thank you for everything.
I love our relationship and how I can talk to you about everything including God. I love you! Thanks for everything you do for me and I thank God for you.
Love, Taylor
Thanks for being here for me for all the girl things :o)
“I shared this with my sister and she said ‘you know, that is like getting an award. No it is a trophy!’ Remember that this is the same daughter that 2 years prior couldn’t stand me. That stage lasted about 9 months. It is a blessing to see things come full circle.”
Our Indiana TST crew welcoming campers to SpringHill and taking care of their luggage. Where Friendship and Work Come Together to Make a Difference!
There is a group of people who are instrumental in making summer camp happen at SpringHill. These people come as volunteers to serve our campers and staff by washing dishes, serving food, cleaning bathrooms, landscaping and being trained as future staff. They are our TST campers.
Our TST landscape crew If you don’t know TST stands for Teen Service Teams and it is one of our most popular summer programs. It’s designed for high school students and has three unique components – service, community and spiritual growth. Each component creates one of the most unusual summer camp programs you will find. It is also truly life changing.
TST crew doing the dishes - think they are having fun? Yesterday I talked to a number of TST teams I bumped into on my walks around our Michigan overnight camp. I asked each team a couple of questions. Let me share some of the answers with you. They will provide a glimpse into who these students are and why they become TSTer’s.
When I asked TSTer’s how many times they have been to SpringHill the answers ranged from “this is my first time” to “this is my eighth summer” and everything in between with most students having been to SpringHill multiple times.
These students are from all over the world including China, Columbus, OH, Midland MI, Birmingham, MI, Indianapolis, IN, and Rochester Hills, MI.
When I asked what they like about TST their answers included “everything”, “my crew”, “the people we get to work with”, “being with friends”, “the staff”, “the work”.
Friends serving together TST is truly one of our more amazing ministries. A program where students literally come from all over the world, year after year to do the lowliest jobs at SpringHill. They do it because they love the people they serve with and because they become a part of a team that makes a signficant difference in the lives of others – the campers of SpringHill.
The 2010 TST dance performed for the diners at New Frontiers As Iron Sharpens Iron Part 2
Moving on from my time with my friend Mario I flew to Indianapolis on Tuesday evening to join up with the SpringHill leadership team.
In addition to our weekly conference calls, which focus on the business at hand, we meet face to face once a month. We have two objectives in our monthly meetings.
The first is team building and the second is to work on future/strategic planning topics.
So on Tuesday evening we attended an Indianapolis Indians Triple A baseball game. We had a relaxing evening together watching the field crew dry out the infield (which took nearly 2 hours because of a late afternoon rain storm) and 5 innings of the game.
On Wednesday we met in the offices of Baker Daniels in downtown Indianapolis for our monthly meeting. Our agenda was to discuss our 3 year financial plan, the 2011 ministry planning process and a legal review with our attorney.
As usual we had a productive and lively meeting together. Because we invest in our relationships with each other (for example going to minor league baseball games together) we can have very open and honest discussions. These dialogues are an “iron sharpening iron” process for us as a team, as individual leaders and ultimately as a ministry.
In this meeting we had more than our normal share of open and honest discussions. There was a lot of “iron sharpening”. Though some of it was hard it was also good because there were important things we needed to agree upon. Iron needed sharpening and it got sharpened.
I love these guys. I love them as people and as a team. They “sharpen” the ministry of SpringHill and they certainly “sharpen” me.
Left to right: Andy Westmaas, Michael Perry, Doug Nienhuis, Craig Soderdahl, Todd Leinberger, Bill Dinsmore As Iron Sharpens Iron Part 1
“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 I’m living this proverb this week. I just finished spending 24 hours with my good friend Mario Zandstra.
Mario Zandstra in front of Middleton Tavern in Annapolis, Maryland. We met together in Annapolis, Maryland, the home of our nation’s Naval Academy. An appropriate place to meet because, in many ways, it symbolizes our friendship and work together.
As we walked around the Naval Academy and through its Chapel we saw this book. The 2010 graduating class all signed it “dedicating their commissions to the Glory of God.” I think Mario has signed the same kind of book for his “commission.” This is why his “iron sharpens my iron” and why I love being him.
Mario is a committed husband and great father of 7 children. I know these things because Denise and I have spent time with he and his wife and Monday night Mario and I had dinner with one of his sons, Will. I believe that a man’s spouse and children are a reflection of who he is as a husband and father.
So being with him is to have his “commission” as a husband and father sharpen mine.
He is the CEO of Pine Cove Camps in Tyler, TX. http://www.pinecove.com/. Pine Cove is a camp ministry much like SpringHill. Mario has provide leadership that has led to an expanded reach, increase in effectiveness and improvement in the quality of their work.
So being with him is to have his “commission” as a leader sharpen mine.
Mario is a man who passionately wants to grow in his relationship with Christ and to live out that relationship for the “Glory of God.”
So being with him is to have his “commission” as a follower of Christ sharpen mine.
I’m thankful for my friendship with Mario. He has helped me become more faithful in my “commission.” My prayer is that I would do the same for him.
By the way does anyone know why we kept seeing this photo all around campus?
There’s No Bad Weather Just Bad Clothing!
Camp, by its nature, is spending lots of time outside. We design our camps and camp programs to maximize the beautiful settings we are blessed with. We believe being in the out-of-doors provides many physical, emotional and spiritual benefits to kids.
Matt Casburn our Copper Country Director welcoming campers and parents to camp in the rain. That’s why, unless the weather is dangerous, we do camp in the wind, rain or shine. We embrace all kinds of weather and believe it’s a gift from God. We just need to dressed appropriately for it and maybe adjust our perspectives.
Amanda Thompson, our Storybrook Director, prepared for any kind of weather on opening day. I love our staff’s attitudes and actions when others think the weather is less than ideal. They have fun, assure that campers have fun, and turn rain, cold or heat into something exciting.
They lead their campers in dancing and singing in the rain.
On cold Michigan mornings they turn blobbing into something manly called “polar bear” blobbing.
They take the heat and humidity of southern Indiana and use it as a chance to ceremoniously drink water together.
Weather is an opportunity to create a shared experience, not something that get’s in the way of it.
So when it rained a bit yesterday on opening day in Michigan, our team enthusiastically embraced it. So much so that arriving parents and campers were caught up in the “great weather” we were having.
Our summer staff providing a warm welcome on a rainy opening day. When you think about this approach to weather it applies to other things in life. It’s not always our circumstances that are bad it’s our attitude and actions towards them. We need to, instead, take those circumstances and turn them into an opportunity to “sing and dance in the rain.”
And as we say at SpringHill “there is no bad weather just bad clothing!”
Randy, one of our volunteers, dressed for the wet weather.
