Christian Athletic Camp

🎉✨ Happy New Year

As we step into 2025, we’re excited for all the opportunities and fresh starts this new year brings. May your year be filled with joy, hope, and endless possibilities. A new year brings fresh opportunities to grow in faith, share His love, and live with purpose.

May your year be filled with hope, peace, and joy as we walk together in His grace. Here’s to a blessed and meaningful 2024!

Thank you to the GRADS for taking the time to share your favorite memories of Christmas and camp, as well as your words of wisdom about camp life. And thank you to our 6 staff members who shared what Christmas means to them. Your insights and reflections are inspiring and remind us of the magic that makes camp (and Christmas) so special.

As we head into the new year, we know it can feel like July is still a long way off. But remember that every day brings us one step closer to reuniting and creating even more unforgettable memories together. Let’s hold onto the lessons camp has taught us to push through these months. Use this time to set new goals, build on the strengths camp has instilled in you, and dream big for the summer ahead.

We are so grateful for each of you and the light you bring to our camp family. Here’s to a Happy New Year full of growth, excitement, and anticipation. We can’t wait to see you all in July!

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Autumn Thompson

Favorite Christmas Song: All I want for Christmas is you - Mariah Carey

Christmas Tradition: The candlelight Christmas Eve service that my church does

Favorite CAC Memory: Creating new friendships each year with people from my group and in my room

Words of Wisdom to Get to July: Just take life one day at a time and enjoy the people and the things God has put in your life

Words of Wisdom for New Campers: Don’t be intimidated by the older kids, we were all in your position once, and don’t be afraid to open up

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Jonathan Lumanga

Favorite Christmas Song: Last Christmas By Wham

Favorite Christmas Tradition: Watching Christmas movies

Favorite CAC Memory: Track running competition

Words of Wisdom to Get to July: You are always one decision away from a totally different life.

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: The best memories are made outside your comfort zone.

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Kennedy Goerge

Favorite Christmas Song: Last Christmas

Favorite Christmas Tradition: My family plays the 24 hour loop of A Christmas Story the entire day on Christmas.

Favorite CAC Memory: When we asked Dave for Goldfish (the crackers) and he brought us a bag of real goldfish.

Words of Wisdom to Get to July: Surround yourself with people you know will support you.

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Don’t be afraid to try new things!

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Ian Goodrich

Favorite Christmas Song: Run Rudolph Run by Chuck Berry

Favorite Christmas Tradition: Having Christmas Eve dinner at Ukai every year with my family

Favorite CAC Memory: Setting a new CAC record for the fastest time in the 5-mile relay last year.

Words of Wisdom to get to July: As the halfway point of school nears, we are all looking forward to CAC in the summer. But during that time in between, use the things we learned at camp to stay close to God, as well as creating positive relationships with the people around us.

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Christian Athletic Camp will be one of the best weeks of your entire life. You might be a little nervous, I know I was, but don’t be afraid to share in small groups and to get to know your team. People will be there for you no matter what. And make sure to take every moment in, because the week will fly by.

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Tessa Velting

Favorite Christmas Song: Mistletoe By Justin Bieber

Favorite Christmas Tradition: Getting my Christmas tree!

Favorite CAC Memory: Having a week with my friends and playing tennis!!

Words of Wisdom to get to July: Keep on working hard!

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Don’t forget your bathing suit!

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Angelo Rongos

Favorite Christmas Song: Holly Jolly Christmas

Favorite Christmas Tradition: White elephant

Favorite CAC Memory: Surviving Mock 2

Words of Wisdom to get to July: Believe in yourself

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Talk everyone and don’t be shy

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Anzlee Shoemake

Favorite Christmas Song: Christmas Tree Farm

Favorite Christmas Tradition: Drinking hot coco and going to see people’s christmas lights on Christmas Eve

Favorite CAC Memory: hiding mary’s bed on stage

Words of Wisdom to get to July: Stay patient and trust in God’s timing—He has something special waiting for you. Keep your heart open to growth, and be ready to love and serve others with Christ’s joy.

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Approach camp with an open heart, embracing each new experience as a chance to grow closer to God and build meaningful connections with those around you. Remember, everyone faces their own struggles, so practice patience, extend grace, stay true to yourself, and trust that God is guiding you every step of the way.

Your CAC Family wishes you a very Merry Christmas!🎄

Safe travels today if you are driving anywhere. And stay warm! ❄️☃️🧣

2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV)
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes: (Bonus post today)

Paloma Oropeza Burt

Favorite Christmas Song: Santa Baby

Favorite Christmas Tradition: Setting up the tree at my grandmas

Favorite CAC Memory: My team winning the 5mile and setting a new record

Words of Wisdom to get to July: Enjoy the cold because once it gets super hot we all want it to be cold again.

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Try your hardest at all the activities and challenges makes it more fun for you and your team :)

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Logan Faulkner

Christmas song: Last Christmas

Christmas Tradition: Opening presents while eating pancakes

Favorite Camp Memories: Playing Volley-grass with the team

Words of Wisdom to Get to July: It may seem far away, but your almost at the halfway point. Just keep looking forward to camp! stay close to god, and reach out to some of your past group members!

Words of Wisdom for New Campers: It may seem scary going into camp for the first time, but just be yourself and don’t be afraid to try new things. Some of the best friendships and memories can be made at camp that you will never forget.

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Molly Mitchell

Favorite Christmas Song: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Favorite Christmas Tradition: Going to my Grandparents on Christmas Eve to celebrate with my family.

Favorite CAC Memory: Winning the Decathlon!

Words of Wisdom to Get to July: We’re closer than you think.

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Let people know you’re grateful for them while you’re around them.

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Brendon Goerge

Favorite Christmas Song: Sleigh Ride by The Ronettes

Favorite Christmas Tradition: Decorating the village above the fireplace with my brother

Favorite CAC Memory: Meeting new friends (Angelo and Cole fellow grads)

Words of Wisdom to Get to July: Enjoy school and any extracurriculars and keep the Lord close to your heart

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Don’t be afraid to reach out and meet new people

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes: (Double post today)

Lauren Sorrell

Favorite Christmas Song: Last Christmas by Wham

Favorite Christmas Tradition: I love Christmas Eve. There is so much anticipation for Christmas and we always read from our advent calendar and get to open one present.

Favorite CAC Memory: My favorite memory was when we moved Mary’s mattress to the stage and then had to carry her around on top of it.

Words of Wisdom to Get to July: Keep growing in your relationship with God so that you can be more prepared for what he has to show to you at camp. A relationship with Him is worth investing time into.

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Talk to new people and open up during small group. You will be surprised how many great friends you will make from CAC.

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Rylan Bowman

Christmas song is: Last Christmas-Wham

Tradition: Christmas Eve cookie making

Fav CAC Memory: Spending time with my group sharing out stories

Words of Wisdom to Get to July: Remember the people you get to experience that week with and how much you love them. It keeps me going personally that I know I have so much love coming I get to enjoy when July hits.

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Camp is a great experience that is full of worship; and you can definitely feel the presence of God working among you. But when camp is over and you go home don’t stop reading the bible or worshiping God. You should be carrying over the things you learn in camp into everyday life. So that when July comes back around you’re even more familiar with God. That way you can spend the time at camp building on your relationship rather than reestablishing it.

Christmas means…

Tom Fifer

Growing up, we celebrated Christmas the way that many families do: Cutting down a tree, putting up lights, singing Christmas carols, eating great food, and so, so many Christmas cookies. Christmas was exciting, joyful, even magical.

I knew that Christmas was about Jesus, but it somewhat blended with the “magical” idea of Christmas. So, the Christmas season was about Jesus, but it was a season of joy joy joy, happy happy happy. Because that’s what it means to celebrate Jesus’ birth, right? That’s why we do all the lights, and the carols, and the food, and all those cookies, right? To feel happy?

As an adult, I’ve found that it’s been harder to “get into the Christmas Spirit” in the ways I used to. Some years, it just didn’t “feel” like Christmas. Other years, things in life felt really hard, and so it felt fake trying to get in that “happy happy happy” Christmas mode. As much as I wanted Christmas to bring a warm, fuzzy distraction from things that were hard, it didn’t help. Or, it did for a moment, but then as soon as January hit, all the good feelings were gone, and life just felt hard again.

Going back to the original Christmas story, I’ve come to see Christmas in a different way. It’s been less about distractions or escapes from what’s hard, or using presents or sugar to dull the pain of life. It’s about Jesus coming to be with us, experiencing human life for himself, stopping at nothing to be with us in every way. To quote author Meredith Miller, “Christmas is God saying, ‘Yes this pain is too much. Yes, it is too sad. Yes, the ache is too great. Hang on. I’ll come carry it with you.’”��We still put up a tree, we still love all the lights, sing carols, and eat so much food (omg, seriously way too much food). But none of those things define what Christmas means to me. It’s about Jesus, who is with me when things are hard, who carries my burdens with me, who gives me Hope that no matter what I’m going through now, better days will come.

And that’s a Hope that I can carry with me, even after we take the lights down.
(Usually sometime in late January, if I’m honest.)

Christmas/Camp Favorites & Wishes:

Madi Uyl

Christmas song is: White Christmas by Bing Crosby

Tradition: Reading Luke 2:8-14 or Christmas morning breakfast

Fav CAC Memory: Is junior year our whole room stayed up the last night and we just talked forever

Words of Wisdom to Get to July: Remember the people you get to experience that week with and how much you love them. It keeps me going personally that I know I have so much love coming I get to enjoy when July hits.

Words of Wisdom to New Campers: Everything comes in gods timing. God will bless with you with things you need in the time that you need them. If you’re in a lull period just continue to live through him and for him in your everyday actions.