How Kanakuk Summer Camp Lasts All Year

A proud Kanakuk Kamper who served others in sacrificial ways this summer.
He received special recognition while at Kamp.

Arguably the most intense 75 days of summer camping just came to a close at Kanakuk Kamps. The surface of every pool may be glassy smooth, but summer 2010 will never be over. Summer camp moments experienced at Kanakuk will continue in the hearts of our Kampers and staff forever. How do I know this?

I know because Kanakuk Kampers and staff have taken something special from this place and they are spreading it all over the World! The final day of Kamp I talked to Terek a Kamper from Cairo Egypt who was headed home to tell his brother about Kanakuk. The word about Kanakuk is spreading even to Cairo. But more importantly the impact and message of Jesus Christ is being shared. And, that will last forever.

That same closing day, those seated near Kamper Cameron on a flight out of Springfield, Missouri heard a testimony they won’t soon forget. I received an e-mail from a man who was on that same flight. As the plane pulled skyward he heard a young boy behind him talking about Kanakuk Kamps. The boy happened to be seated next to a pastor who had never heard of Kanakuk and the young boy was eagerly sharing about his experience at Kamp and how he had never felt so close to Christ, or realized the importance of Jesus.

Cameron had no idea his excitement over his Kanakuk experience and new found passion for his relationship with Christ would be so contagious. By telling his story, he impacted the lives of those on the plane One Heart at a Time.

Stories like this are why we continue the work here at Kanakuk Ministries. Kanakuk is passionate about encouraging kids in their walk with the Lord, and shaping lives.

Throughout the coming months more stories from our Kampers and staff will be posted here. We have a great Kamp family, thousands who are impacting the lives of those around them One Heart at a Time.

Do you have a One Heart at a Time story to tell?

Between posts check out a few other One Heart at a Time stories at: www.kanakukoneheart.org.

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Pick up a copy of The Legacy of Kanakuk

Darnell White and Timothy Publishing proudly present the newest Kanakuk book...

The Legacy of Kanakuk by Darnell White

This book will be a walk through memory lane for thousands of Kamp families and for others a glimpse into what made Kanakuk great all these years. From the History of the Ponytail Parthenon to “Spike-isms” this book lovingly tells the tale of Kanakuk Kamps from the early days through the 1960’s. Much of The Legacy of Kanakuk comes from the heart of Darnell White, Spike’s wife and Joe’s mother. She is the best qualified to share the moments and memories that so many have been a part of. 100’s of photos and dozens of Kamper and staff “remembrances” make the years come alive in this 118 page, hardcover book with dust jacket.

Buy a copy today!

If you would like to connect with the author of this book please email:


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How do you pronounce "Hallelujah"?

Laura Lee and Callie share God's gift of laughter. See video below to accept the gift for yourself.

Wheww! It has been crazy-busy and to get a break from the hectic days and focus on my family I haven't taken my computer home for the past few weeks. That's cutting down on the posts. I so appreciate ALL my readers. Thanks for your candor and your encouragement. During the winter months you'll definitely get a mixed bag of posts here.

Here are the things that are coming up with Kanakuk from my vantage point:

The new kanakuk.com is coming! I know I've been saying that:-) It has turned out to be a real challenge to give you something radically different. We are getting closer to having it done and readers of this blog will be the first to know when it's ready for a test drive.

I'm collecting three amazing stories to share with you:

• A young Kamper who came to Kanakuk for the fun but left with so much more. We captured highlights from her whole term. I think she even figured out how to say "Hallelujah"! (See Video teaser)

• A mom made a flippant decision over 20 years ago to attend a Kanakuk Movie Night with a friend. That moment has changed her family forever and now she wants to share it all with you. (Hot of the phone lines last night!)

• Normally a fatal blow to a Kanakuk counselor's summer, an emergency appendectomy couldn't stop Jenny from following God's plan. The outcome surprised even her as she witnessed God's hand at work.(Video to come! Thanks BHill.)

During the summer months there will be much more specific about Kanakuk happenings here at Inside Kanakuk, but I'm looking out ahead at the horizon and there will be much to share between now and Summer 2009! Check out the blogs on the right for different little windows into the Kanakuk family.

Look at the heart.

Have a great day!

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Kanakuk Pools Inspire Dreams

Every day, at every activity, Kanakuk Kampers live faith-impacting moments that God uses to bring them closer to Him. Our counselors share those moments with great kids like Josh.

“Hi, I’m Josh. I’ve been going to Kanakuk for two years and when I grow up I want to be a professional blobber. This is my story…I got my start in blobbing when I was just seven-years-old. Yeah, I tried all that other stuff like water slide, water tramp, diving, trapeze, water polo, and even swimming. Anyway, my counselor K-Mart (Kenny Martin is his real name) says I have huge potential in the blobbing world. He says it takes bravery and courage to be a great blobber. You definitely need the bravery part because the first time is scary for no reason, but you don’t know that until you do it. K-Mart said when you jump off the tower the first time it’s like trusting God that he’ll always be there when you need Him. K-Mart should know ‘cause he likes trying new stuff like the triple leapfrog, and extreme apple eating, all of which are awesome! But for me, I could just blob all day at Kamp and some day I’m going to be on ESPN! K-Mart would think that was the blob (dot) com!”

Kanakuk offers children young and old new, exciting adventures that prep them for a life of challenge and success. Josh’s story is based on the experiences of thousands of young boys and girls who come to Kanakuk and share special moments with one of our hand-picked Christian counselors; leaders and role models who strive to live a life worthy of following. Sometimes it takes being called “K-Mart” and playing in the pool!

This is a compilation of Kamper and counselor stories that I have collected over the years. The name, etc have all been changed.

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Kanakuk Kamps Employee Benefit #136

After being without power at my house for over 24 hours, with 7th grade discipleship group, school and work all scheduled for early Monday morning my boys and I got up in the dark and made our way to the K-Kauai Staff building for some light and a warm shower!

Most importantly the long day without power taught our family a small amount of empathy for those in Texas, Louisiana, and the rest of the Gulf residents ravaged by Hurricane Ike and his friends. We live with so much in America and yet have so little margin in our lives. We did fine without power and water for a day. We have Wal-Mart, good friends, and a solid roof over our heads. But, what if we had been without for days, weeks, or even months?

As my wife and I lay in bed last night, listening to a neighbor's generator run, she commented about how people used to live like this all the time, many within the last 100 years. It was one of those reality check moments when priorities get jostled into a deeper, more meaningful order.

My new found empathies go out to all those effected by the storms in the Gulf and the World. To all those sleeping under the stars tonight, wondering where clean water will come from tomorrow, I hope you find shelter and hope. God has a plan, even for clean water.

As I drove to the first stop of the day my wife called and said the power had just been restored. While I'm glad I won't have to get ready for work at Kanakuk Family Kamp tomorrow, it was a nice employee perk (#136) this morning.

Have you been affected by the storms? Share your stories here so we can be praying for you.

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Best Friends Move Mountains

Night time activities at Kanakuk Kamps are packed with...Christmas?? [Not the friends listed below]

Friends. We have them and make them at Kanakuk. Our staff models building solid life-long friendships…real friendships, where we hold each other accountable, encourage each other, and stand next to each other during the hard times. Based on true stories, this one shows how friendships are made at Kanakuk:
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Like many of our Kampers, Polly and Rebecca started their friendship when they were just little ones in Barn 1. They bunked head to head and did lots of giggling the first year. Year two they conquered the zip line together, and year three they packed trunks together over the phone and shared clothes at Kamp. Each year they reconnected at Kamp and became fast e-mail and phone friends during the school year. In the 5th grade, they rang the bell together, committing to God and each other that they would seek after Him with all their hearts. As time went on, they developed different interests; Rebecca played the flute in junior high and Polly ran cross country. They had one thing in common though: together they developed a habit of having an almost daily quiet time with God’s Word.

Those daily quiet times would form a foundation that they both would rely on in the days to come. Polly began to have a pain in her back when she ran. In two weeks time, even warming up became a struggle. Tests showed a fast growing tumor on her spine. Friends and family rallied around Polly. She was strong and steady in her faith in the Lord but there were some tough times, scary times. In those times, she sought her friend Rebecca.

On the day of Polly’s surgery, Rebecca traveled to the hospital. They sang Kamp songs, shared favorite verses and prayed that God would bring her through the surgery healed and ready for a life of service to Him. What a blessing….


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Just That Little Bit Extra - Slolam ski camp

Slolam skiing at Kanakuk Kamps on Table Rock Lake. [Obviously not Kari]

Every child brings a special talent with him or her to Kamp. For some it’s a fantastic singing voice, for others it’s an encouraging spirit or a knack for soaking up sun! Many Kampers bring with them a desire to be great athletes. At Kanakuk, those Kampers can take their game to the next level. Kari’s story is a compilation of all their stories so you can go to the next level with them. [see further notes in previous post]

"My name is Kari. I’m sixteen-years-old and this summer at Kanakuk I took my slalom skiing to a whole new level. Before Kamp, during ski season I would get up at 5:00 almost every morning, warm-up and check my skis. I couldn’t wait to hit the smooth water at sunrise. I love competition and last year I took fourth at our State Championship, but I struggled with feeling good at the end of a run. I always felt like I had left something out there on the course. During one run in particular,


I missed a buoy and threw the rope in disgust.
I just wanted to give up. Kamp was two weeks later.
I didn’t ski for the first week I was at Kamp. It was great to have a break and I really liked my counselor, Lori. We had lots of great talks. She asked me one day if I was going to use the ski I brought. I kind of told her about what was going on and she said the same thing happened to her when she was running cross-country. The next morning during 'Backwoods' Director Ashley Robbins shared how we were each a princess of God the King and that it was our joy to serve the King and live a life pleasing to him. It really struck home with me that I wasn’t skiing for the King; I was skiing for me.

The next day my cabin went to K-Wet for two days of boating, skiing, and camping out. For the first time in weeks I wanted to ski! Lori and I got up early and hit the lake. It was beautiful-- smooth like glass. A short ride back to Paradise Cove and I was in the water. A quick nod and the boat pulled. As the driver centered the course, I prayed, 'King, this is for you.' As I lay into the first buoy I wasn’t worried about winning, how I looked, or who was watching my form. I just wanted God to know that I loved Him for loving me enough to straighten me out. Wow, it felt good! The buoys felt so close and the edge of my ski so firm in the water. Every missed buoy from here on out will be a glimpse of the King’s forgiving grace… now that’s the next level."

Personal moments with the King make the summer special for us at Kanakuk. If one Kamper takes his/her game to the next level, then all the praise goes to the Lord.

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The Heart of a Boy

One of the joys I have as Marketing Director at Kanakuk Kamps is the Parent and Kamper feedback that flows over my desk. When it was time to try and tell the story of Kanakuk, that part you can't explain unless you've lived through it, I turned to your letters. This story about Dakota is pulled from last year's Kanakuk Kamps brochure. I combined your stories into one cohesive story that I hope begins to do the job. The rest of this week's posts will be more of "your" stories. Many of you haven't seen these.

I'm going to be extremely busy this week and will be on a road trip with my oldest son part of the time. I'll be back to connect with you the following week. If something important comes up I'll be sure to keep you posted. Thanks for reading and sharing.

Summer fun at Kanakuk! [Not Dakota]

This story about Dakota represents every child at Kanakuk, even our own, who needs a loving role model:
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“I’m writing to thank you for doing it again! Last year my ten-year-old daughter had a life-changing summer at Kanakuk. I couldn’t wait for my seven-year-old son Dakota to go. The youngest in a house with two women, he really needed some guy time. I wasn’t sure he’d want to go, so we sat down together one evening and went through the “A Day at Kamp” virtual tour on the website. He thought the food looked good and asked if he could sleep on the top bunk. I was able to show him that Kanakuk has football, basketball, baseball, tennis, archery, wrestling, rollerblading…Dakota stopped me, “Mom, do they have soccer? I think I want to play soccer when I go.” I sighed with relief and tucked a memory away of a little boy on my lap.

A couple of months later, sleeping bag in tow, Dakota became the biggest fan of Kanakuk. His counselors, Bo and Jeff, made Dakota feel like the only boy in all of Kanakuk! They carried him and his trunk to Cabin 1. Bo helped Dakota unpack, pick a top bunk and meet some of the other boys. Bo patiently listened as I covered the first seven years of Dakota’s life in two minutes! The whole time, Dakota stood next to Bo, hat now turned around so they would match. Bo was the Soccer Specialty guy and it was obvious that he and Dakota would be fast friends. I left with a lump in my throat and warmth in my heart. I looked every day for photos of Dakota and saw some of him on the soccer field, with Bo, with his cabin mates, and at the pool. At the end of the term, I picked up a boy whose cup was overflowing. On the way home I asked him if he had a best friend at Kamp. Without looking up from his cheeseburger he said, 'Jesus.' I had to pull over! He whispered in my ear, 'Mom, why are you crying?' I said, 'Jesus is my best friend, too.'"
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The fun at Kanakuk is off the charts and we think we have the most fun summer staff in the world, but hiring a mentor for your child is serious business! For your sons and daughters we hire the strongest men and women who have hearts striving after Christ. For more about our staff hiring process please give us a call.

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