Roll out the Red Carpets, Get your Cameras Ready!

Can you hear it?  There’s a buzz humming through the Kanakuk hills.  Kanakuk Kamps is rolling out a brand new look this week—online, that is.  We think you’re going to love the changes you see!  From easier-to-access parent information to a more streamlined registration process, our brand new website has turned out a lot like many of the people who work behind the scenes around here:  friendly and engaging.

We think you’re going to like our new look.

Let’s explore some of the exciting details about our new website from a couple of the people who helped develop it.

First, let’s hear from Jay Holden, Marketing Director of Kanakuk Ministries:

Rebuilding a website the size and complexity of kanakuk.com is a big undertaking. Why did Kanakuk choose to make this change?

Cleaner platform, easier interaction.  We rebuilt kanakuk.com to provide Kamp families a cleaner platform to learn about our ministries, and make improvements to the tools families use to interact with us. Web technology develops quickly, and the new site is more flexible and faster to develop on. We are excited about the features we have provided--and the ones being developed later this Spring.

Quicker registration, easier access to photos and email.  The new website also leans heavily on the latest version of CircuiTree 5.0, camp and conference software provided by CircuiTree Solutions, a division of Kanakuk Ministries. CircuiTree is a powerful database-driven registration and camp management solution that Kanakuk has relied on for 15 years. Kanakuk parents are thankful for the ability to quickly register their children, and have access to photos and Kamper emails while their child is a Kamp.

It’s all about logistics.  Providing an Exciting Adventure in Christian Athletics for over 9000 children each summer is a lesson in logistics. Many Kampers take advantage of Kanakuk charter buses and airport shuttles to get to Kamp. The new website provides ways to register for those transportation options and communicate special requests and changes directly to the transportation department. Sharon Smith, Transportation Manager at Kanakuk Kamps, knows that parents appreciate the transportation functions. "Kamp parents will find tons of information about transportation options, and the new web tools will make it even easier to provide us all the important information we need to make all those connections!"

Next, we’ll hear from Jeff Schneider, Executive Director/CTO of CircuiTree Solutions:

Why did the Kanakuk registration process need to upgrade to CircuiTree 5.0?

Deeper connections.  Kanakuk's upgrade to CircuiTree 5.0 will provide parents, families, and administrative staff the ability to provide better service and a deeper connection to their Kampers during the summer. Kanakuk is a great partner, helping us bring the best camping management practices to many of the biggest camping organizations in the country.

You, yes you.  The last group of people who helped develop Kanakuk’s new website…is YOU, our Kamp families.  YOU’VE played a huge role in this enormous undertaking.  We’ve listened to your suggestions, and have tried to make this new website better and easier to use for YOU. 

So, now we’d love to hear from you!  What are your favorite things about Kanakuk’s new website?

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

How old should your child be when they go to camp?

I recently had the following email exchange with a Kamp family. I thought many of our Kamp families might relate and be able to share their own stories of younger syblings yearning for Kamp!
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Dear Kanakuk,

Our children are at K-7 right now (max and libby) and we are just so grateful to Kanakuk for providing THE BEST summers of their lives. Our 6 year old Maddy is counting down until she gets to go next year. Thanks so much for your commitment to Christ and kids. Thanks too for all the updates on the flu issue. We never had any doubt that Kamp would be the safest place to be for our kids due to all of you. We sure appreciate all of you.

Thanks so much,
Ryan and Rochelle

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Dear Ryan and Rochelle,

When our Kamp families take the time to write us an encouraging email, our hearts melt! As a fellow Kamp parent I would like to take a few minutes to share a story with you about my daughter Hannah. She’s 8 and has now attended Kamp for two summers. Her two older brothers have attended for many years. When Hannah was 4 years old getting ready to turn 5, people would ask her how old she was going to be and she would answer “7”. One day I was able to convince her that “No sweetie, you are going to be 5.” She finally agreed and said “OK, but next year I’ll be 7!” All because 7 is that magic age when our kids get to go to Kamp! What a special opportunity that we can send our kids to be with people like Keith Chancey and these incredible college staffers. We give God all the praise! Thanks for pulling along side us. We want to do the same for your family. Have a great rest of the summer and school year!

Jay Holden
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Jay,

Thanks for writing us back. Great story and feel free to share our comment. Kanakuk is the greatest place on Earth--I just wish I was still a Kamper!! Of course, they had another great time as we picked up yesterday.

God bless you all,
Rochelle and Ryan

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Leave a comment below. We'd love to hear your story too!


Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

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.

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.