Kanakuk Health Centers

K-Kountry Health Center

K-1 Health Center

Collectively, Kanakuk staff and Kampers spend more than 123,000 "days" at Kamp during the summer! Those days are packed with dozens of activities and fun adventures indoors and out. Tremendous importance is placed on safety and healthy spiritual and physical habits. But, with all the excitement comes regular health needs of Kampers, the normal scrapes and bruises, and the occasional activity related injury. Each Kanakuk Kamp maintains and staffs a health center with compensated RN's, volunteer nurse helper moms, and volunteer physicians. These health centers, their equipment, policies and staff are managed year-round by a Kanakuk employed Health Services Director. Kanakuk families help us keep their Kampers healthy and our Health Centers running efficiently by completing health information during the enrollment process and updating us on any changes. Our health center staff understand their care provides everyone a chance to enjoy Kamp to the fullest! We are all very thankful for their service and dedication.


- Living the dream at the happiest place on earth! - Ashley

2011 Kanakuk Summer Theme Announcement

Key Theme Verse: James 1:22 - “prove yourselves doers of the word”

Kanakuk Kamps Mission: Developing dynamic Christian leaders through life-changing experiences, Godly relationships, and spiritual training.

The goal of the 2011 summer theme: That all Kampers would take home spiritual principles from James and apply them to their spiritual walk.

Check out the Theme announcement video HERE.


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New Summer Camp Web Features

Two Great Ways to Learn What Summer Camp is Like

If you are looking for a way to learn more about summer camping for your child there are two new resources at www.kanakuk.com.

The first resource is a "Video Wall". In 18 minutes you can see a typical day at summer camp, see the counselors in action, see the positive impact summer camping can have on a child, see the touching story of one counselor and a camper, and here from one mother what camp was like for her child. In the next several days this video wall will also have links to comments about Kanakuk from Chuck Swindoll and Gary Smalley.



The second resource is a video from Joe White regarding the importance of making memories with your children. This is the first video edition of the popular "You and Your Child" series. There are three steps to making memories with your kids and stories from Joe's time growing up at Kanakuk. You can see the K-1 counsel ring teepee and fire in this video.




We hope you enjoy these new resources and can share them with a friend.


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Special Video for K-1 Kampers

Dream Airlines Flight Rules Video

During a summer at Kanakuk Kamps, Kampers experience so much that parents and friends never see and can never really understand. One of those things is all the crazy "programs stuff" that the leadership teams put together. This video was put together at K-1 with the help of Tim Oliphant and his crew. This video is to educate the Kampers on the rules while they are in the Gym for K-Life.

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Kanakuk's K-1 "K-Dome" Getting a Makeover #2

There's progress being made on the K-1 K-Dome makeover. As you can see in the photos the new wall structures are starting to take shape atop all new concrete footers. You might also notice the absence of the colorful murals that have been along the back wall of the K-Dome for many years. Those have been moved to storage with plans to put them back on display. The new location for those has not been determined, but they will maintain their place in the atmosphere of K-1!

Enjoy the day! Does this time of the year give you chills, like it does me? I just can't wait for summer to get here. There is just something about that first bus full of Kampers that rolls into the parking lot right outside my window. It's bigger than the start of football season, it's like 5000 men praising God at a Men at the Cross event. It just feels right. I don't see many of their faces (until I look through the 100,000+ photos) but I feel their hearts begin to beat long before I hear the grind of the bus engine up that last hill. It's electric!

To Kelley - I'm so glad you are going to be a part of it!

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New Employee Announcement - Jeff Wiskur

DATE: December 10, 2008

TO: Kanakuk Kamps

FROM: Human Resources Department


SUBJECT: New Employee Announcement

Please welcome Jeffrey (Jeff) Wiskur, CPA to the Accounting Department.

Jeff will be working as Manager of Finance.

Jeff and his family live in Springfield, MO. Jeff graduated from Missouri State University with a B.S. degree in accounting. Before joining Kanakuk, Jeff worked in public accounting, where he has more than 17 years of audit and consulting experience - mostly with KPM, Kanakuk’s accounting firm.

Jeff has been married to his wife (and high school sweetheart) Lisa for over 22 years and together they have 4 children: Julie (17), Katie (16), Eric (12), and Stephanie (4).

As a child, Jeff was a Kamper at Kanakuk Kamps and his children have attended Kanakuk. Jeff’s father created the stained-glass windows in the chapel and painted the mural at the K-1 K-Dome.


New Hire Announcement Written by: Julie Coxie, SPHR, Human Resources Director, Kanakuk Kamps

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K-1 "K-Dome" Getting a Makeover

This photo was taken during Tournament day in the 1940's on the "bottoms" at K-1. That location is just a stones throw from where the K-1 K-Dome is getting a makeover. Here are some photos of the current state of construction. Click to enlarge.

The project, which may be completed in 2 phases includes:

Phase 1 -

1. Adding air-conditioned men's and women's bathrooms
2. Adding an elevated stage between the bathrooms on the West end (closest to the Dining Hall)
3. Extending and enclosing the East side and adding bleachers for more seating

Phase 2 -

1. Enclosing the North and South walls, adding 6x8 ft roll-up doors along the walls
2. Installing sprinkler system
3. Installing Air-Conditioning to be used during closing ceremonies.

I don't know all the details on the funding for this project but with out complete funding Phase 2 will have to be done next year or later.

To make these changes to the K-Dome a special variance had to be granted because the building additions would be inside the 25 foot road set back. You might have seen the following in this Branson Daily News article.

On Wednesday, the Board of Adjustment also voted to approve a request for variance from Kanakuk Kamps. The camp owners are planning to build an addition to an existing structure that will encroach into the setback area. The variance request consisted of a 5 foot 6 inch encroachment into the setback area along Lakeshore Drive.

This project is being managed by Kanakuk Kamps' Dean Dewitt, Construction Maintenance Manager and Byron Joplin, Taney County Construction Superintendent. Those two are always making things better around here!

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Remembering Past Friends

"James “Jim” Harold McClary, of Branson, died Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, in Branson, at the age of 81....What he enjoyed most was his work he did at Kanakuk Kamp for more than 40 years. Jim took great enjoyment from being around young people and during the summers the children at the kamps."

With over 80 years of history right here in the Ozark Mountains, Kanakuk has some stories to tell. Not just glamorous accounts of high adventure camping, but tales of those who made it possible! Over the years it has taken many dedicated people to keep Kanakuk Kamps on it's feet and growing. Many of those people have been, and still are, natives of this very area. In fact their families farmed these lands and made a life here long before the first rustic cabin was put up. Once such friend of Kanakuk, Jim McClary, passed away last Friday at 81 years old and in his obituary his family remembered his fondness for this place, the work, and the summers full of children. Like many others, I'm sure Jim enjoyed his 40 years of service to Kanakuk because of the feeling of being a part of something that changed lives, something that made a difference for the Kingdom of God.

So I, honor Jim and all those who have poured blood and sweat into this place over the years so that our children can learn what it means to put God First, Others Second and themselves Third. It's a good life and well done.

History repeats itself. While I sit behind my desk, the work day is just beginning all over Kanakuk land. There are more of us working a way in the offices now then when you were here Jim. But all hands are on deck getting the buildings and grounds ready for what will be the greatest summer in Kanakuk history!

Thanks for your part in Kanakuk's history. What stories do you have to tell!

I'm going to go find one of today's Kanakuk stories and share tomorrow so check back.



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Should you send your child to Summer Camp or Seminary?

Best Friends at Kamp: The Camerons

At Kanakuk, campers have a blast doing all the fun stuff, hanging out with cool counselors, and making great friendships. This past summer the video staff at K-1 interviewed two boys, both named Cameron, both "lefties" and both sorting through deep theological issues.

When I was 8, I was still trying to figure out whether the chicken came before the egg. So I can appreciate the struggle that the Camerons had with the question "Would we be alive if Jesus didn't die on the Cross?" But they seemed to get to the bottom of it in a way that only a child could. Watching this video reminded me of Matthew 18:1-4. Cameron and Cameron gave me pause to wonder if I'm being child-like enough in my walk with Christ.

My daughter has a shirt that says "My Dad can fix anything!" Talk about pressure! She's about Cameron's age and still believes what's on her shirt. I do my best to live up to those expectations. I want her to know that when she comes to me with broken stuff that I'll at least give fixing it a try. The fun part is pointing her to the One who can fix it all. The older she get's the less it seems I can fix things :-)

If something is broken in your life, don't come running to me. God is waiting for you, waiting to give you life through the cross. So, yes, Cameron we become "alive" in Christ through His death on the cross. That's great news and I'm so glad you're already thinking about it.

When you came to Kanakuk during the summer how did it impact your life and your view of Christ?


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2009 Summer Camps at Kanakuk

Graphics for Display booth being used at Men at the Cross events

Next years terms are filling up faster than we thought they would. I'll post some of the stats below, but first a quick reflection on summer 2008.

It's crazy how time flies during the summer. I've been at Kanakuk Kamps for 8 years and every summer goes by faster than the last. Here in the marketing department we are in charge of making sure the photos get taken, posted to the web, and printed, video footage captured and edited, and collect new material for the upcoming year of telling the Kanakuk story.

This summer we had an intern, Adam McClure, from UGA. He was huge fun to have around and a great asset to our team. He had a hand in making sure that photos of kamper's were approved and posted to the website. He was also plugged in to the program at K-1. He stayed there and served in ways I'm sure I don't even know. Thanks Adam for hanging with us and making it a great summer.

My last Facebook message from Adam indicated that he was coming back next summer in some capacity. We love having staff back year after year. They come back, not because of the accomodations, not because of the huge paycheck :-), but because of the community of Christians that is created here. There is so much opportunity for Spiritual growth, for serving God through giving their time and hearts to the Kampers and other staff. In different ways those are some of the things that bring Kampers back too.

During the summer months, enrollment for the following summer usually hovers in the single digits and doesn't really take a big jump until people have had time to get home, get back into the school routines, and begin planning out the coming year. All of us are planning our lives in much shorter spurts and that means summer camp plans too. I know last year my wife and I waited until after Christmas to enroll our kids in Kamp and almost didn't get them in.

This year with some of the changes that Kanakuk has made the enrollment numbers are up considerably for this time of year. That means that some terms are full already. I know that heart of all our Director's yearns for the chance to see the same kids come back next summer. In many cases this is happening. Here are the numbers from today.

2008 Kampers enrolled for 2009: over all 18%, the highest Kamp is K-Kountry at 52%, then K-West at 21%, K-1 at 20%, etc.

Total enrollment is sitting at 23% of next year's available spots with more than 9 months to go!

We are headed towards a return rate of greater than 63%. That's going to make the Director's happy and a lot of kids too. I'm mainly sharing this information for our returning Kamp Families so that they can work now to get enrolled so they don't end up , not getting the spot they want.

More information about the other changes Kanakuk is making will be coming soon to your mail box.


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Jennifer Farley Sighted in the Director's Building

Jennifer Farley - Get's 'em ready to fly down the K-1 zipline.

Like the first flower of Spring, like the first frost of Winter, seeing a Kamp Director back in the main offices here at Kanakuk says, the end of summer is near. Jennifer Farley, K-1 Assistant Women's Director and her husband Lee brought a couple boxes back to her office this morning. She looked nice and rested, bright eyed and smiley. In some ways I wish that meant we'd have 2 more weeks of summer! I had my office windows open all day yesterday and I really enjoyed the sounds of ziplines, and kids laughing.

Here in the Marketing department we go from being busy to frantic in about 2 days. There is so much to do now that summer is over and Kanakuk Movie Tour begins.

I'll be traveling to Houston later this month (Aug 22) with Joe White to help with the Men at the Cross conference. I'll tell you more about that in the days to come. If you are in the Houston area and would like to get more information go to the Men at the Cross website.



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Promises

Rainbow over Kanakuk from the gate of Grant* Holcomb's Farm.

Yesterday I made a to do list, promises to myself that I couldn't keep. In contrast...

God said, Genesis 9:13-15 (New American Standard Bible)

13I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth.

14"It shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow will be seen in the cloud,

15and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Tomorrow is "change over" day at Kanakuk. The last term of 13-day Kampers are packing their trunks and fighting over which seat they get in the car on the way here. It's rained nearly every change over day and lots of days in between :-) It's been a wet summer.

On my way to work this morning as I pulled out of my driveway about 9 minutes from K-1 and K-Kountry I could see this rainbow (sorry for the bad picture, laptop cam). I thought about all I have to do today and the poor performance of yesterday. The overwhelming nature of the Fall months to come. About the "rain" that seemed seems to be flooding in at the moment.

It might have been a wet summer, but as I drove the windy road, getting my bearings, I could tell that rainbow sat right over the Branson Kamps including my office. I took it as a promise of a dry arrival for Kampers tomorrow and no more than I can handle today at work.

Are you struggling today, overwhelmed, wondering when the next rain is going to pummel you? Be encouraged, as I have been, that the promises of God control this Earth and all that is in it. That's you and me friends. Fear not the rain. Thanks for the prayers for Kanakuk. Pray today especially for the Staff, they are incredible, dedicated to service. They are relying on the promise too.

My "To Do" list for today:

1. Blog Post
2. Finish Cleaning My Desk
3. Meet with Kanakuk Ministries Board Member Tony C.
4. Fax the confidentiality agreement to BroadRamp
5. Finalize the concept for the Kanakuk Display booth
6. Write content for the "The Story", "The Kamps", "The People", and "The Impact" pages of the new website

Whew...that's enough. Just typing that list I think I felt a drop of rain in my office. I may not get it all done and guess what, it's OK. It's more important that I surrender it all to God. He knows what of that he wants done today, it's His work to do through me. What a relief.

I have two blog post ideas going for tomorrow. Talking about the new website. Or defining the word "connectersationalism". Which would you prefer talking about? Something else maybe?

Now Playing: Out Of The Woods by Nickel Creek

*Grant Holcomb lives a couple of miles from my house and runs a Bobcat, excavation service in addition to his farm work. He's pushed some dirt at my house.

Update: Meeting with Tony C. moved to K-Kauai (lose 30 minutes), not having to finish my desk (gain back 15 minutes). Coffee with JGM (gain back 15 minutes)

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Lake Shore Drive Bridge Update - It's Open!

This morning the bridge looked like this. More like a bridge but still clearly under construction. I had a meeting with Doug at Starbucks in downtown Branson, so at 11:00 I made what would turnout to be one last trek around the detour. By late this afternoon the bridge was open and looked like this.

County Commissioner, Danny Strahan, who oversees road issues came by the office to officially let us know that the bridge was open. He said it was a 90 day project that was completed in just 27 days! It obviously didn't just magically appear there. Some serious hard work and sweat went into getting it done. Many thanks to everyone involved throughout Taney County.

K-1 parents coming to closing ceremonies next week will get to enjoy the new bridge. We sure do thank all our parents who patiently and graciously came the "long way" around to pick up their children!

It's been a great summer already. So many Kampers have put down deep spiritual roots and left a legacy in the hearts of the Directors and counselors. What a privilege it is for us to share just a little time with your children.

Earlier I met with Collin Sparks, the K-Kountry Assistant Director. He's already planning for the winter and thinking about the best ways to stay connected with all his new friends. It's obvious he's pouring out every ounce of energy to make this summer life-changing for every Kamper. Thanks Collin for loving on our kids.

I just met with JGM about innovation, man I love working with that guy, he super creative! I've never met someone with his spreadsheet skills who loves to think big picture, and out of the box like he does. It's really fun and I'm blessed.



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Lake Shore Drive Bridge Update

The new culvert is in place for the new bridge! It shouldn't be too long now and we'll be back to normal. K-1 Parents the last few terms should be able to use the new bridge and we can all start saving some gas money! A big thanks to the Taney County crew for keeping this project moving.

Photo props to Lindsay. Thanx


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Scattered

It's Monday.

Over the weekend Joe White and his army of Men at the Cross(MATC) helpers put on the first MATC event in St. Louis, Missouri. I had family duties that kept me from this event but I hear it went well and that between 5 & 6 thousand men attended. Each of those men was given two One2Won Cross Training Devotional books so they can find another man to disciple and go through the book. Potential impact of that one event 10,000 - 12,000 men getting into God's word.

Jessica our Senior Graphic designer has moved to Pennsylvania and is sorely missed here in the office. They are just getting through the long moving process. She will be setting up a new business out there and guess who is going to be her best client? That's right, Kanakuk Kamps. You don't find and train someone like Jessica, so we'll be counting on her in the days to come to continue making all the great things that you see in your mailbox and beyond. Lindsay is the other graphic designer here and is extremely talented, often doing the heavy lifting for us. You might remember her performance in last year's big Kanakuk brochure and you sure want to be looking out for her magic on the new website due out in Sept. Speaking of scattered...Lindsay, poor Lindsay...she is out this morning on a boat taking pictures at K-2. I'm sure she's enjoying the lake and the opportunity to work on her Chaco tan!

Mollye our Marketing Specialist is taking a week's vacation with her family. I think the beach is involved.

Jeff our Marketing Manager is cranking away here on making the machine run and spending time thinking 3-5 years out as we look at ways to better serve the kids and families that come to Kanakuk. He sent me a spreadsheet over the weekend so I guess we'll have to have the "you work too much" talk again:-)

Adam our summer intern came in with a dramatically different hair cut. My guess is he did something drastic to entertain the kids down at K-1 where he plugs into the programs aspects at night and on the weekends.

I'm just getting back from G'ma and G'pa's house trading some of our kids out. It was good to see the family and the two new cousins. I also had an amazing service experience at Starbucks in Topeka. I'll have to tell you about it later, right now a pot of the black stuff is calling me.

So, we are or have been a bit scattered lately. We'll look forward to getting the gang all back together, even if it is long distance.

If you want to know something about the inner workings of Kanakuk leave a comment here. I'll do my best to answer or find the answer and we'll learn together.

Have a great week.

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Lake Taneycomo in the news

Kanakuk Kamps, K-1 and K-Kountry, and the K-Kauai Family Kamp are all situated on the banks of Lake Taneycomo across from downtown Branson, Missouri. News outlets in the region are reporting on Lake Taneycomo being flooded in the Branson area, describing evacuations, etc. This is all true and many of our friends on the other side of the lake are underwater again! Local emergency services including the American Red Cross are responding to their needs even as I write.

I thought I would describe for people, the best I can how our Branson Kamps are positioned on the Lake.

As you may know Lake Taneycomo was once the White River and downtown Branson sits on the inside of a big meander of that old river. As the White River cut it's way through this area it left tall cliffs on the outside of the meander. Our Kamps are on the cliff side of the Lake and take advantage of about a 300-400 foot wide "bottoms" area perfect for sports fields and lake activities. All Kamp buildings; cabins, pools, dining halls, chapels, etc. are perched some 75-150 feet above on the high ground.




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Washed out Bridge near K1 leaves Kamp activities up and running

After a long rainy season in 2008, and a steady rainy most of the night Branson is wet! Flash flooding occurred throughout the area over night and into the morning today. The county bridge on Lake Shore Drive that goes over the little arm of lake Taneycomo (The "Slew" if you are a Kamp person) between K-Kountry and K-1 was washed out. This is the washed out bridge on the hairpin turn in Branson, Missouri on Lake Shore Drive.


Kanakuk Kamps President, Joe White wrote a quick note to K-1 parents letting them know what happened and that Kamp activities are going on like normal. Here is that letter:

"The K1 summer continues to be blessed, joyful and literally filled with stories of happy Kampers and fulfilled lives that I am sure will be told for a lifetime. We had and interesting event last night when the Lake Shore Drive bridge between K1 and K-Kountry washed out. As you know, it is a small two lane bridge approximately 25 feet long. No one was on the bridge when it washed out. Normal Kamp activities are uninterrupted. The kids were all asleep and were not even aware of the bridge situation. There is no change in any Kamp activities or schedule. All of our facilities are unaffected. When we have a heavy rain, we are always thankful we live on a hill! By the grace of God in 83 years of operation Kamp has never had an interruption of any kind, due to inclement weather. The only inconvenience will be a 5 -8 minute traffic detour when you drive to K1 for closing ceremonies. K-Kountry and K-Kauai traffic will proceed as usual. As I write, I am at K1 and the kids are playing games and having the time of their life. Thank you for entrusting us with your precious children. Again, by God's grace, this has been and will always be the safest place for a child on earth."

Other Kamp staff I talked to were working with County officials to determine traffic rerouting needs and coordinating getting signs made, etc. We have a great team in place to make sure the Kampers are safe and having a great time. While the bridge is close to the Kamp the affect to daily operations is very minimal.

My daughter is at K-Kountry right now and I haven't talked to the Director. I'm sure he's creating a rainy day adventure for all the kids and it will be a day they never forget. It will be interesting to talk to her when she gets home to see if she even knows what happened.

Check back here often for updates. As I get details I will post them here.

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