High School Summer Camp: Ponderosa
Overview
Ponderosa also known as “Pondy!” is our flagship camp at Hume Lake for high school students. One of the many things we love about Hume Lake is the opportunity to get away from the busyness and distractions that young people face on a daily basis and have an incredible camp experience. When you come to Pondy, you will hear the gospel preached, be challenged through scripture, engage in sweet worship through music and get some time alone and with your church to process what God did in your life up here at camp. Hume Lake takes pride in its high energy recreation allowing kids to be kids. That includes things like playing in the mud, running the gauntlet, doing the bike jump, and dominating in Kajabe Kan Kan. If you allow it, a week at Ponderosa can and will change your life forever. We look forward to seeing you this summer!
Dates and Speakers
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Speaker: Brad Bell
After living the stereotypical college life as a star athlete at CSU Fresno, Brad Bell gave his life to Christ in 1993. Dallas Theological Seminary fed his appetite to learn more about Jesus where Bell received a M.A. in Biblical Studies. Yet, a degree wasn't the only achievement for him in Texas; Bell met and married his bride, Jen, in Texas before moving back to his hometown of Fresno, CA. He was crazy enough to quit his job to start a church in Fresno with no financial support, no staff, and no building! Not without good reason, though! Tired of seeing people exhausted from the treadmill of "try hard - do good - fail," Bell developed a deep passion for discipleship. He had to respond to the calling that the Lord was stirring in him!
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Speaker: Chuck Bomar
After serving for almost 9 years as pastor of student ministries at Cornerstone in Simi Valley, Ca., Chuck Bomar is now founding pastor of Colossae, in Portland Oregon. He's founder of CollegeLeader (http://www.CollegeLeader.org), This mission takes him all over the country to speak and train leaders. He is also a popular speaker at Hume, a writer, and pastor. He and his wife Barbara have two daughters, Karis and Hope.
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Speaker: Brian Holland
Brian Holland has been in ministry for 19 years in Southern California. 17 of those years were spent serving in high school ministry and now he is currently the young adult's pastor at Pomona First Baptist Church. He is an outstanding speaker; he's captivating, funny, but most importantly passionate to see people come to know Jesus. He is asked to speak at many camps, chapels, and special events all over the country throughout the year. He has an amazing wife, Kelley, who passionately loves Jesus and two boys, Tyler (8) and Dylan (6). Brian's purpose for ministry is to exalt Jesus as the greatest - one life at a time.
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Speaker: Danny Strange
Danny Strange currently serves as the Pastor of Young Adults and Families at Neighborhood Church in Castro Valley, California, where he has worked in various positions over the past twelve years. Danny received his Bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley in 2002 and his Master's of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2006. Danny lives in Castro Valley with his wife of ten years (Jessica) and four sons (Jackson, Carter, Hudson and Brayden).
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Speaker: Josh Riebock
Josh Riebock is the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Heroes and Monsters and My Generation, and is a sought after speaker at conferences, colleges, and churches across the country. He loves 80s music. He doesn't think TV is evil. He once carried a turtle for a full mile and he somtimes tells the truth. He lives in Austin, TX with his wife, Kristen, and their dog. You can visit Josh at www.joshriebock.com
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Speaker: Darin McWatters
Darin McWatters grew up in Phoenix, AZ where he learned to wear long pants in 120 degree weather, apply sunscreen without blotching, and avoid the dreaded venom of the Gila monster. For a couple of years he lived like a tamborineless gypsy, roaming incessantly back and forth across the highways and byways of America in the band, Everybodyduck. Then he did some missions work with mountain people in the Sierra Nevadas, as the Program Director of Hume Lake Christian Camps and founder of the Joshua Wilderness Institute. Now he lives in Long Beach where he still wears long pants and sunscreen but almost never thinks about Gila monsters. He is currently a teaching pastor and weekly host of Frank the Podcast, a humorous and irreverent look at life informed by faith. He has been married to his wife Shannon for 15 years, and has four children Jack, Hank, Lily, and Will. Understandably, he is very tired most of the time.
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Speaker: PJ Lewis
P.J. and his wife Sheri have been coming up to Hume since 1994. His ministry is one of faith. Only faith can make trusting disciples of Jesus and develop a real love for God and others. PJ is currently a campus pastor at the Well Community Church in Fresno.
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Speaker: Chris Brown
Chris Brown is one of the Senior Pastors at North Coast Church in Vista, California and one of the two Teaching Pastors. Along with being on the vision casting team, and providing directional leadership for the church, he also co-teaches a preaching course at Bethel Seminary. Chris loves bringing the Bible to life with his gifts as a communicator and storyteller, but most evident in his teaching is his passion for sharing a real and authentic journey with Jesus. Chris and his wife Amy have three children, two beautiful daughters, Sayla and Karis, and a crazy son named Barak. They plan as a family to stay involved in teaching, ministries, and fishing for as long as humanly possible.
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Speaker: Brent Eldridge
Brent Eldridge is the Lead Pastor at 1st Baptist Lakewood (1BL) in Long Beach California. He's a graduate of Master's College and Trinity Theological Seminary. Brent made a big decision to follow God's calling into ministry in the summer of 1989 as a camper up at Hume Lake. He's passionate about teaching God's Word and leading people into making an impact for the Lord. Brent's an avid surfer, runner and fun-seeker. He also serves as the Team Chaplain for the L.A. Galaxy. Brent and his wife, Kristin, live in Long Beach with their three cute kids.
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Speaker: Dr. Erik Thoennes
Erik is amazed every day that God saved him as a young boy in a small factory town in Connecticut and adopted him into his family. Dr. Thoennes is Professor of Theology, and Chair of the Theology Department at Biola University/Talbot School of Theology and also a pastor at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, California. He was voted Professor of the Year twice, and was awarded the Faculty Excellence Award by his colleagues at Biola University. Erik also taught at Wheaton College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author of "Life's Biggest Questions: What the Bible Says About the Things that Matter Most," and "Godly Jealousy: A Theology of Intolerant Love." God has blessed Erik with his godly wife Donna, who has been his faithful ministry partner since they were married in 1989. Erik and Donna have three children; Caroline, Paige, and Samuel.
Learn More
Clear Gospel Message
The gospel isn’t merely one ingredient in our programming mix. It’s the reason for everything we do.
Hume speakers know teenagers as well as their bibles. They unwrap and animate God’s truth in ways that connect with students.
Students will hear the gospel of Jesus in chapels and talks, then wrestle with it in seminars, breakouts, and all those unscripted moments between youth pastors and students that a Hume Lake camping experience delivers.
Dynamic Worship
Indoor worship, outdoor worship, corporate worship, devotional worship.
Hume Lake nurtures the attitude of worship from sunrise to sunset. Just step out of your cabin, and you can’t help but acknowledge God here in the midst of His majestic creation.
Personal quiet times, small-group prayer, our dawn patrol sunrise worship—you'll have plenty of options for exalting the lord. For listening to him, too. (It helps that distractions are few here—no phones or ipods, for instance.)
And our musicians are selected for their giftedness in bringing students into the presence of the lord.
Recreation
For an hour a day, we let kids be kids. We call it recreation.
The high-energy, innovative games at Hume Lake give campers an outlet for their energy, while providing counselors a chance to encourage team-building and leadership skills.
Game-winning teams are awarded points throughout the week, and on spirit day themed costumes multiply your points to give your team the cutting edge!
While all campers receive a free “rec” shirt, only the winning team gets the coveted “champion” shirt.
Theme
The theme is a creative and practical link between the fun, entertaining aspects of camp and our presentation of the gospel.
While we believe that the theme is a critical part of the camp experience, it is our desire that by the end of the week it becomes background to the biblical truths taught throughout the week.
The opener, the daily videos, the recreation team names, spirit day and the free camp videos are some of the programming elements we use to capture campers attention, win their trust, and direct their focus to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Local Church Ministry
Let us agree on one thing: your youth pastor—not us or any other ministry resource provider—knows your youth group best.
We run camp in order to give youth pastors freedom to do what they do best—relate to students, listen, offer guidance, love. To that end, we free them up from the myriad details required for a successful, memorable camping experience—the programming, lodging, meals, recreation, speakers, music. They do enough of that anyway.
So this time, we'll do the footwork while your youth pastors ministers to your students. After all, when Jesus left this planet, he left behind a church, not a camp.
Pricing & Details
2013 Registration Opening Dates:
October 2nd, 2012 for returning churches and individuals
November 1st, 2012 for new churches and individuals
2013 Church Group Pricing
Camper $465
Counselor $209
No minimum group size required. Counselor to Camper ratio of 1 to 8 is requested per gender. Price includes meals, lodging, program, highlight video, and recreation T-shirt. Extra activities are available at additional cost or deposit.
2013 Individual Pricing
Camper $515
Price includes counselor, meals, lodging, program materials and recreation T-shirt. Extra activities are available at additional cost or deposit.
What to bring
Bible, notebook, pencil, flashlight, sleeping bag, pillow, toiletries, warm and cool clothes, jacket, modest one-piece swimsuit (no tankinis), a towel for swimming and showering, $60 recommended spending money.
(Remember: Girls no bare midriffs or spaghetti straps; guys, no sagging.)
What not to bring
Drugs (unless prescribed by a doctor), alcohol, tobacco, fireworks, firearms, electronic devices.
Registration
Camp begins with registration at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday and concludes at 9:00 a.m. the following Saturday. Dinner on the first night is served at 5:30 p.m.
You may send mail to the following address
(Please send five days prior to desired delivery date.)
Camper Name/ Church registered with
Ponderosa Camp/Dates of camp
64144 Hume Lake Rd
Hume, CA 93628
Theme
Theme TitlePhoenix DarkWho is Phoenix Dark? Everyone has an opinion, but what are the facts? In a story shadowed with mystery and intrigue, a man is asked to uncover the truth about who Phoenix Dark really is before the clock runs out. This summer we will be asking the same question that Jesus asked his disciples in Matthew 16:15 - “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Theme VerseMatthew 16:15 - “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?”
TeaserDownload HD (33 MB)
Team Colors
Spirit DayA Cool, Colorful, Creative, Classy, CHRISTMAS Extravaganza Downloads
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Band
2013 Summer Band: For All Seasons (Previously Reveal)
From For All Seasons:
Our hearts are simple: We desire to live a life of worship throughout every circumstance.
We want to live out the Gospel both on and off stage. We want to be a people who continuously choose joy.
We don’t want to be wavered by the things of this world.
We want to stand firm in who we are in Christ.
We want to worship Jesus not for what He offers but for who He is.
Hebrews 13:8 promises Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever and because of that we can choose to worship Him through every season of life.
We believe that Christ gives us a core passion to know Him intimately and worship Him with everything we have.
But He also creates in us different passions and desires. Desires to use our gifts to honor Him. For us, it’s music.
We get to do what we love not for our own glory but for His.
We get to play music and through it make His name known.
Do we know how long we’re going to be able to do it? No. But while God is opening the doors and calling us to drop everything to do what we love, we’re going to give it all we have.
Learn more at forallseasonsmusic.com