It is the middle of winter.  Somehow the endless amounts of snow, the cold weather, and  the flu like symptoms  just won’t go away.  Parents, teachers, and even friends are about to drive you past the point of no return.  I bet you are longing for those warm summer days beside the cool sparkling lake.  Do you have the desire to share your thoughts about God; your hurts; dreams; and struggles; with people who will listen?  Does the thought of breaking a sweat while playing a stupid game bring those warm fuzzy feelings?  Ok so maybe not that scenario, but when it comes down to it you miss camp.  There has been 7 months since camp and it seems so long ago.  You are stuck in the winter rut and probably counting down the days until you can get together with your camp family.  Here are 10 ways to make it through the next few weeks of snow.

10. Tie a string on a ball and suspend in from the ceiling in your room.  Practice your tether-ball skills.

9.  Pull out the musical listening device of your choice and listen to some of the worship songs from camp.

8.  Grab your sleeping bag and plan an overnight on your bedroom floor.  Light a candle &  roast mini marshmallows on a toothpick (practice fire safety of course).

7.  Plaster your locker with camp pictures…when someone asks you who is in the picture, spend the whole time walking to your next class, telling them about camp.

6.  Go to the camp flickr site (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ctseniorteen) print off one of the scenic camp photos, blow it up really big, and tape it over your bedroom window.

5.  Start your camp 2010 fund.  Collect spare change, collect & return soda bottles for the refund $$ (if you live in NY that is), put on your bright green camp shirt & go shovel out your neighbors for cash, bake cookies & sell them, or organize a youth group fund raising event.  There are so many possibilities.

4.  Dig out & put on your summer clothes, grab a Frisbee, stand in front of the mirror and practice your Ultimate Frisbee dives.

3.  (Here is the shameless plug you knew would come) Visit the camp blog daily for great reminders of camp 2009 and new info for camp 2010.

2.  Send a message to your counselor (or any staff member for that matter).  Tell him/her you need to talk.  They will be more than happy to call you on their dime!

1.  Use all the social media sites, email, snail mail, or the phone to contact a camp friend.  They are probably feeling the same way you are and would love to catch up!

Hang in there.  Camp will be here in 5 months, the Retreat will be here in 3, and if we pray really hard warm weather will be here in 1!