First Time Campers: What To Bring

If you’re a first-time Camper you’re probably starting to think about what you need to bring with you. It’s pretty simple really, but here’s a quick list of things you need and things you don’t when you come to Camp:

Do Bring:

• clothes: suitable for Summer, but also something warm for the evenings
  • mainly shorts and t-shirts
  • trainers + spare old pair for muddy activities
  • waterproof jacket (you can never trust the British Summer)
  • enough socks/underwear for your stay (one clean pair per day!)
• sleeping bag:
  • pillow optional
  • we will provide blankets
• washing kit
  • bath towel for showering/swimming
  • hand towel for washing
  • toothbrush & toothpaste
  • facecloth
  • deodorant
• Bible: for use during devotions and Bible Studies
  • if you don’t have one, ask an Officer for advice about a good one to buy
• torch: handy for finding your way back to your tent at night
• cuddly toy: if you can’t live without it, and if you don’t mind people laughing at you
• Camp Uniform:
  • we will provide a coloured sweatshirt which will feature the Camp logo
  • you need to bring plain black/navy blue shorts to be worn on the journey down and back, and for Church

Don’t Bring:

• dressing table
• pets
• bikes
• relatives (unless it is unavoidable)
  • [you get the idea]

Remember that there is a limited amount of space in your tent and on the coach/train, and that you need to be able to carry your own luggage. If you can’t carry it all in one go then you’re bringing too much. Pack light – you should only need to bring one medium-sized suitcase or carryall and one small sports bag.

We hope that has answered some of your questions. If you’re still unsure about anything please ask and Officer from your Company or get in touch directly.

Staff Meeting: Sunday 1st July

Just a quick reminder that the next Camp Meeting is this Sunday, 1st July, 8pm at Water Eaton Church Centre, Bletchley – and is for all Staff and Asst. Staff. Please do your best to attend as we will be allocating the last few jobs and if you’re not there you may be volunteered! Even if you’re not attending for the full duration, please come along to the Camp Meeting and play your part.

See you on Sunday!

Epic Expedition

Although I’m sure you’re looking forward to Camp, I imagine that the journey is the thing that you’re looking forward to the least. Who wants to spend hours stuck on a train or coach simply trying to pass the time and waiting for your holiday to really begin. If you’re a staff member it could be even worse – you might have an 8 hour journey on a cramped minibus to enjoy. Wouldn’t it be nicer to be collected from your own back garden and taken directly to the Camp field by helicopter?

Well, as you’re contemplating how you’ll be getting to Camp, spare a thought for Simon Bradley. He’ll be setting off a full two weeks before everyone else in order to walk down to Camp in St. Ives. That’s right – walking all the way, unaided. I’m reliable informed that’s 240.81 miles as the crow flies, and 292 if you follow the route suggested by Google. Of course that leads to the question: why? Why would a normally very sensible guy decide to walk down to St. Ives when he has a perfectly good car (provided by his wonderful new employer)?

Last year Simon’s mum, Sally, was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer and after surgery was ruled out she received two unsuccessful courses of chemotherapy. Sadly, during Camp 2006 in Folkestone, Sally died in Willen Hospice. Simon and his family were at her bedside and remember the comfort and care both Sally and the family received from the amazing staff at the Hospice [more info]. To remember the first anniversary of his mum’s death, and to raise much-needed funds for Willen Hospice, Simon has resolved to undertake the long walk to Camp in St. Ives. You can read Simon’s explanation in his own words on the website he has set-up to support his walk: mkstives.org.

He set himself a target to raise £800 – and within three weeks through the generosity of family and friends he passed that target. Since then he has revised the target twice – now aiming to raise £1600.

So as you’re contemplating what it would be like to walk down to Camp this year, and as you realise that your journey by coach or train isn’t as bad as you thought, can I please ask you to do two of the following practical things to help Simon:

• sponsorship: make a donation, no matter how small, because it all adds up
• news: pass on details of Simon’s Epic Expedition to 5 of your friends
• support: send a message of encouragement as he prepares to leave on July 14th

In addition you can keep up to date with his progress on his website which he’s planning to update throughout the walk, and congratulate him in person when you arrive at Camp in St. Ives, as his schedule should mean he arrives before the Campers.

Thanks!

Photos from Previous Camps

As Camp approaches it’s a good time to look back at the photos from past years. We’ve been busy uploading and tagging photos and there are currently 274 online and available for you to view. They represent a wide range of situations and activities from the last three years at Camp.

Each of the pictures should be tagged to identify the people in the shot, the place it was taken, and the activity taking place at the time. So if you want to see all the photos of the Hawaiian beach party you can view the “Hawaiian Beach Party” tag, the same applies to “boating“. Or if you want to see all the photos of Michelle you can view the “Michelle” tag – and if you want to view all the photos from Camp 2006, you now know what to do.

Thanks to Simon St.Clare for adding his photos to the collection. If you have Camp photos that you’d like to add, sign up for an account at Flickr and apply to join the MK Camp group.

Camp Fee and Pocket Money

Just 40 days to go and this Sunday (24th June) is the last day to pay in the balance of your Camp Fee.  When you get to Camp you’ll need to have some pocket money to pay for activities and presents, etc.  We advise that you take approx. £50 and that the money is paid into your Camp Bank Account.  To do this all you need to do is continue to pay the money to your BB or GB Company, and they will transfer the extra money over to your Camp Account before you leave.  We’ll ensure the money arrives safely and you won’t have to worry about losing it on the long journey to St. Ives.  When you arrive we’ll let you know how to use your Camp Bank Account.

If you have any questions about Camp Fees, Pocket Money or anything else, please get in touch any time.

The Hub – postponed! :o(

Unfortunately The Hub will not be taking place this Sunday as planned.  I know that many of you will be devastated, and I apologise, but the original date proved to be too close to my University assignment deadlines and I haven’t been able to spend any time organising people, activities, food, etc. and don’t want the end of year session to be a let down.

But don’t despair, instead it will now take place sometime in July – keep your eyes peeled for the revised date soon.

The best way to stay informed with Camp-related news is to subscribe to the Website Update Notifications list and now it couldn’t be easier. If you would like to receive an email every time the website is updated send a message to this address to subscribe to the notifications: mkcamp-subscribe@googlegroups.com. You will then receive an email asking you to confirm that you want to join the list; simply click on the confirmation link in that email and you’re done!

If you have any questions please get in touch any time.

PS – congratulations to Yvonne Wilkinson who was the first person to comment on the new website, and thanks for the positive feedback.