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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New Kanakuk Kamps web site launches today!

Today the all new www.kanakuk.com is going live!!

We are excited to present it to everyone and hope that you find the "Merry Christmas" dressing fun and appropriate for the season. After the first of the year we'll be changing the look of the website again, but you'll always find the navigation, the content, and functionality in the same familiar places. It'll be fun to watch the creative team here "dress-up" the website frequently and one of these days maybe we'll give you a chance to do the same. There's lots of new stuff to see...

Don't know the first thing about Kanakuk Kamps? Discover it!
Wonder what the hype is about? Feel The Impact!
Need a new friend? Meet The People?
Want to see Joe White in a suit? Drink in the "Unquenchable love"!
Want to ask a question or tell your Kanakuk story? Why don't you Sayso!

We've hidden a treat on the new www.kanakuk.com. Just type the letters "JOY" on your keyboard to find it.

Share any of these pages with a friend! Just click on the little envelope at the bottom of the website.

During the beta testing many of you took the time to give us feedback and we spent time making the site better in those ways. Thank you!!

Once again we need you to check out www.kanakuk.com, kick the tires, try to find problems, and let us know. When you find a something on the new website that could be better just click on the ladybug at the bottom of each page and send us a short description of the change and we'll fix it. Include your name and email address and we will enter you in a random drawing for a $25.00 iTunes gift card.

Also, the www.kanakuk.com web store will be down for maintenance from Dec 19th this Friday at noon until January 5th. The store guys tell me that there is still time to get things ordered and to you for Christmas, just order soon.



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New Employee Announcement

MEMO

DATE: December 9, 2008

TO: Kanakuk Kamps

FROM: Human Resources Department

SUBJECT: New Employee

Please welcome Lesley to the Operations Support Department. Lesley is taking Cynthia P's place as Paul’s assistant. Many of you will get a chance to meet her when you get your picture taken for the new security badges. Smile!

Lesley is a native Californian, but considers herself a “transplant”, as she has lived in the Branson area for the last 15 years. She has three children, two who are in college and one in junior high. Lesley loves sports, especially football and is formerly a chiefs fan ☹ (At this point, she is pulling for a number one draft pick for next year!) She loves to travel and has the Holy Land and Europe on her “bucket list”. (Maybe when all three kids are out of college!)

Lesley’s children have attended Kanakuk and she is thrilled to be a part of this exciting ministry.

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Can you help us test the new website?

This is the BETA release of the new www.kanakuk.com

Don't know the first thing about Kanakuk Kamps? Discover it!
Wonder what the hype is about? Feel The Impact!
Need a new friend? Meet The People?
Want to see Joe White in a suit? Drink in the "Unquenchable love"!
Want to ask a question or tell your Kanakuk story? Why don't you Sayso!

We've hidden a treat on the new www.kanakuk.com. Just type the letters "JOY" on your keyboard to find it.

Share any of these pages with a friend! Just click on the little envelope at the bottom of the website.
Today, you get a sneak peek at the nearly ready, all brand new, www.kanakuk.com. We need you to check it out, kick the tires, try to find problems, and let us know. When you find a flaw in the new website just click on the ladybug at the bottom of each page and send us a short description of the problem and we'll fix it.

Some known problems:
Internet Explorer(IE) 6.0 looks bad, messes with our flash content, doesn't like going places, etc. If you are running IE 6, upgrade to Firefox or the latest version of IE. We'll eventually work all the IE 6 bugs out.

You can login (single login for everyone in the top right corner! Way to go Jeremy!) with your regular Kanakuk id (probably your email). You don't need it to get around most of the site but if you want to track your Sayso conversations or get to any of the personal stuff you'll need it.

Forgot your password? Click on the green "Login" button and follow the links so we can send it out to you.

Thanks for helping us with this. This has been a huge project and we really have poured ourselves in to it. Our vision is that you find it easy to use and a place that has a lot of value for your life and your Kanakuk experience. Today we lay the foundation for that.

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The Sun Sets on Kanakuk

Sometimes our light goes out but is fanned into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light. - Albert Schweitzer

Todd Rapp, K-West Assistant Director, showed me this quote this morning and made the observation that it describes much of what we do here at Kanakuk Kamps. The history of Kanakuk Kamps is full of people who have had their lights fanned alive by the love and care of our staff. It is some of the finest staff in the world. My daughter received the nicest notes from her counselors this week and we cherish them. I wish they could see the light shining brightly in her.

Just a few minutes ago I sent an e-mail out to the last three year's summer staff announcing a full-time Graphic Design job that just opened up here last week. As I looked out my office window tonight and saw the sun setting I thought of this quote again. I thought of our Graphic Designer Lindsay moving on to another job where she can grow and expand, closer to home. It's my hope that even in the Marketing Department at Kanakuk Kamps that we would fan each other's light, spurring one another on to reach toward the goals God has set before us. To be ready to fan another until their light bursts into flame. We often don't understand why we land places then get moved on, but God has a plan. Our part is to live life fanning like crazy.

As Lindsay leaves, we look forward to the next person that will fill her huge (size 5) shoes. If you know someone with Graphic Design passion and skills, please send the link below on to them.

http://www.kanakuk.com:2008/staff/jobopening.html

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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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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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What do Kanakuk Director's like to do during the winter months?

In a very unscientific poll 98.6% of Kanakuk Kamp Director types around the offices said that one of their favorite things to do when they can't be at Kamp is to travel to see their Kamp family in their towns. This is evidenced by the caravan of Kanakuk vans seen moving out of here on a regular basis during the winter months. It starts this weekend and continues pretty steady through the first part of February. To find out if they are coming to your area go the website: KanakukLive!

If you have a Kanakuk Director sighting in your area please send me photos at jay_@_kanakuk.com. They have so much fun when they are gone I'm not convinced they aren't going to the beach for a week!!

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Are You Like Sarah Palin?

 

Palin family minus new little guy, Trig.

Ask anyone, I vote, but I'm not political. I figure God already knows who's gonna win, so I spend my energies on other things, but Sarah Palin's explosion into the national spotlight has made me think.

If nothing else it seems to have highlighted the intensely diverse roll of women. Maybe you can relate. At 44 years old Sarah Palin is a self proclaimed "Hockey mom", mother of 5 in a 4 bedroom, 4 bath house, wife married for 20 years, small town church goer, oh, and Vice Presidential candidate! 

It made me think of the many Kanakuk Kamps moms who drive the kids to school, work a job, do the family "books", attend church, serve on school committees, coordinate soccer teams, and lovingly tuck their little ones in bed at night. It's not so different from Sarah Palin's life really. Maybe you don't have handlers (maybe you wish you did?). Maybe you aren't scheduled for a national televised debate tonight, but standing before the school board fighting for character training funds is pretty big. Especially impressive when you spent the 4 hours prior closing a real estate deal, making dinner, and solving pre-algebra problems! What guides you through all that?

We are getting close to rolling out a new kanakuk.com; A foundational start to a new experience for our whole Kanakuk family. My dream of kanakuk.com becoming a "resource for your life" makes me want to stop and consider your diversity. What you are doing, what you are dealing with, what questions do you have, what connections do you want to make with us, and each other? How can we come along side with encouragement for your family throughout the year?

You may not be preparing for the Sarah Palin v. Joe Biden debate but, if you can relate to the hectic life of Sarah Palin, we are right there with you. We all need a solid foundation to stand on. Something absolute to cling to when the pressures get overwhelming.

Consider this today as you spread peanut butter: Psalms 119. It is 176 verses on the importance of relying on God's word for our every need. At least take with you the familiar verse 105: "Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." Take time to read God's Word you won't regret it.

Can you relate to Sarah Palin today? How?

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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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