Camp Wawona Receives New Chairs

For many years metal chairs were the norm for visiting groups at Camp Wawona. But as time kept up it's steady march, the chairs, though made of a seemingly indestructible materials, grew weary from constant service. Staff were constantly fixing them and storage on metal carts (mankind's worst invention next to the Atomic Bomb) became increasingly impractical.

Indeed, it was time for new chairs. After a disappointing first round with a local chair company, chairs were finally ordered elsewhere and the shipment arrived on Tuesday, March 16. It took five staff more than three hours to unwrap and stack the 160 new chairs. However, once completed, staff were pleased to see the new chairs could easily fit into the storage space alloted, making setup and take down much more practical. After months of waiting, the chairs are unpacked and ready for service. The old chairs will be sorted with the sturdiest remaining at camp for overflow use while the remainder will be permanently retired.

Staff unwrap the new chairs one by one.

A stack of new chairs waits to go inside.

Derek unwraps a chair while several more wait their turn.

Chairs stacked inside add on side room at the lodge.

Cart used to move stacks of chairs.

They fit!

Close up of a new chair.

Camp Wawona Leads Week of Prayer at Valley View Adventist Academy

On the last day of February, several CW staff hopped into a tan truck and drove the 4+ hours to Arroyo Grande, CA, with a portable rock climbing wall in tow. They were team 1 headed to Valley View Adventist Academy to start a Week of Prayer and recruit for summer camp. Team 1 was made up of Anthony Handal, Derek Wright, Jerrod Gabel and honorary staff Tiffany McMertty (please forgive the slaughtering of the last name...and possibly the first as well). The band of staff sang songs and shared stories with three different age groups each day, all pointing to the weeks theme "How Great is our God."

They were joined on Wednesday by Team 2 which consisted of Anthony White, Kristina Malarek (again...I apologize for the spelling), Donnie Keele, and two visiting summer camp staff, Chelsea Inglish, and Krista Turner. The combined teams led worship services together for one day and had high hopes for enthusing the youth about summer camp by way of the aforementioned portable rock wall. However, as the wall was being set up, a remnant of Noah's flood passed through, shutting down the operation. Team 1 headed for home while a portion of team 2 finished out the week with more songs and stories.

Team 2 departed VVAA with hopes that some seeds for God's kingdom had been planted and look forward to future opportunities to serve however and wherever God may call them.

CW staff lead songs

Jerrod imparts truth on young minds

Tiffany receives a warm welcome from the children

Kristina sits with the children and even participates in "Crazy Hair Day"

Anthony tells a spine-tingling story of God's protection