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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Tim Oliphant American Gladiators Winner Gives God the credit

After an exhausting week, Tim Oliphant is finishing his summer duties strong. Tim has a lot of video work to do to get ready for Kanakuk Kamps coming to your town later this Fall and Winter.

The media coverage of Tim has been pretty fun to watch, but it wasn't until this article in the Branson Daily News that Tim felt like "This is what it is all about, finally, a media outlet got it right!!!!"

Branson Daily News - Faith, family, friends fan the fire.


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Around the World

I'm on vacation today. Traveling with my son. I did think it was interesting that I have had readers from 29 Countries. Here's the list:

United States
Canada
Mexico
United Kingdom
Spain
Egypt
Bahamas
Argentina
Germany
Ukraine
Costa Rica
Rwanda
Austria
Hungary
Vietnam
Russia
Brazil
Indonesia
Chile
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Norway
Italy
Netherlands
Thailand
Belgium
France
Australia
Ireland

Thanks for checking in from all over the world!


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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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Tim Oliphant Wins the American Gladiators Competition!

I just got home from being at the American Gladiators watch party at the IMAX. Tim was a great host and an extremely gracious winner. He did awesome and took home the big prize. You could tell that he has just loved every minute of this thing. It seemed like a great big burden lifted when he won and was finally able talk about everything. How you saw Tim behave on TV, even a little of the over the top comments, is really Tim. He's a fun guy, and so positive about every area of his life. I'm so glad he got to do this.

I did blog from the party but am just now getting to post. See below. In the craziness of the after show festivities I forgot to get a picture of the inTimidator post win. Maybe something in the morning after his interviews??

Tim opened the Watch Party with a hilarious Conan O’Brian style “Welcome to the IMAX!” video that he created. I don’t know if it will ever go public.

The Theater was almost full as the 3rd semi-finals portion of the show started.

KY3 TV News out of Springfield, Missouri is here shooting some footage. It’s not 7:30 yet and just about every seat is full.

During one of the commercials Tim tested the I’m Third commercial on the audience and there was big applause at the end.

As the finals begin, there is only seating space available on the stairs. The theater is full.
As final contender introductions are made Tim encourages the crowd to cheer for female contender Ally. He later told us that she goes to Watermark Church in Dallas.

Tim took on the contenders in the Gauntlet. he dominated the Gladiators breaking through the wall in just over 20 seconds. At the end, Tim, out of breath and peeling off his protective neck brace he announced, “It’s like a car wreck everytime”

He announced at the next commercial break that when he took on Beast in the Gauntlet that when he was shoved against the wall he cut the palm of his hand open and ended up getting 5 stitches. First injury report of the night.

Shouts of encouragement ring out as Tim is announced for Side Swipe. Tim is out of control!! He gains a 7 point lead after Side Swipe and gets a large laceration on his left forearm. Injury report #2!

Between show segments, commercials for the Beijing Olympics are running. I look forward to watching the games, but it won’t be the same fun as being here for the inTimidator’s competition.

Tim took on Titan for the third time on the Pyramid. 3 attempts, 3 victories!! I overhead Tim talking behind me and he said he changed his strategy this time.

When Tim scrambled towards the button at the top the crowd just went absolutely nuts, jumping up and down, screaming, and pumping their fists. Tim announces there was no injury on that last event, but…

Tim takes the Wall, his eye still bloody from a previous events damage (Injury #3). The crowd is going crazy as the Tim 36, Mike 11 scores are displayed.

Tim announced that the cut on his eye took 6 stitches to close and that a plastic surgeon from Beverly Hills did the work. The Doctor had been on the show “Extreme Makeover”.

Before the Eliminator the best quote from Tim was: “I just can’t wait to get out there and pound that course!”

After the show was over Tim walked to the front of the theater, everyone cheering. Shared some things about the show and took questions.

Tim talked about the filming of the events and how compressed they were.

May 6th was the day that he actually won.

Tim will be on the Ozarks Today show in the morning. If you want to e-mail Tim Oliphant you can leave a comment and I will make sure he gets the message. He reads this blog too.

I'm hoping to sit down with Tim Oliphant now that this is all over and get his reaction to winning and find out what he plans to do with the money. What's left of it after the taxes. Like it's any of my business! If he wants to share you'll read it here. Tim we'll see you at coffee! Unless LA calls!


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Tim Oliphant American Gladiators Finals Watch Party is minutes away

Thank you IMAX theater! We are having a big watch party with Tim Oliphant from American Gladiators to finally find out if he won. It all starts at 7:00 on NBC. Tim has been in interviews pretty much all day and I know he's got at least one "win or lose" interview in the morning. I'll update everyone here at Inside Kanakuk after the show.

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Tim Oliphant American Gladiators Finals Watch Party Planned

Tonight is the big night! We find out if Kanakuk's very own Tim Oliphant will be the American Gladiators champion. A watch party is planned at the IMAX theater tonight starting at 6:30pm in one of the elite cinema theaters. If you would like to attend get a hold of Tim. Seating is very limited.

I still have no idea if he is going to win or not. He's done such a good job of keeping the outcomes on the DL. Either way it will be fun to be there when Tim is finally able to talk about the whole experience and to see him be excited to win or excited for the other guy's victory. Tim more than anything seems to have enjoyed the process, the people and the experience. He says that he continues to keep in contact with the other contenders.

So don't forget to set your DVR or watch it live 7:00pm - 9:00pm on NBC. Tim will be in the second hour of the program. I'll be at the watch party!


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K-Kauai - Kanakuk Family Kamp is better than Disney World?

[Picture removed]

I recently had a conversation with Doug Goodwin the Co-Director of K-Kauai - Kanakuk Family Kamp and he said that he has people tell him that their kids prefer Family Kamp over Disney World. OK, I can buy that because I've seen it and heard the stories. Today I ran across this post by MattMurph that confirmed just what Doug was saying.

Here's a short excerpt from that post:

The week is over, and one item of interest keeps standing out. Most of the 40 families there while we were had all been to Disney World before. And time and time again, I heard the same story from families who asked their kids earlier in the year if they would rather go to Disney World or Kanakuk? Each time the kids would give the parents the unanimous decision for Kanakuk.

I have to stop right there, because that seriously blows my mind. But on the drive home, it clicked:

Kids would rather have authentic, inspiring, and challenging activity based interaction with their family, well trained Kanakuk staff, and counselors, then have entertainment to the multi-million dollar N'th degree from Disney. Put simply, it's authentic interaction vs. world class entertainment.

All reflections aside, we had an awesome and unforgettable time and can't wait to go back.

The Kamp is just 3 years old and the word is still getting out about this little gem of a family experience. Have you been to K-Kauai? What was your experience and how would your kids answer the question: Disney World or Kanakuk?


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