Good morning everyone,

We are happy to let you know that applications are now open for you to apply as staff at SEP 2010 in Morisset, NSW. 

The dates for camp are January 4^th to the 15^th with the staff attending pre-camp beforehand from January 1^st to the 3^rd.

I think everyone who has ever served at an SEP will agree that it is a great blessing. Serving at camp is a sacrifice of time, energy, and for many of you resources – it is certainly not a holiday. This being said, based on past experience and feedback, I believe all volunteer staff can expect  to learn a lot about themselves and one another and will come away from this year’s SEP deeply enriched. All of us must seriously consider the role of a servant and ask ourselves what it is we hope to gain from, and more importantly give to this year’s camp experience.

Please note that since SEP is now biennial (every second year) we are expecting there may be a large number of staff applications and as such, we cannot guarantee that everyone who applies will be accepted to serve at camp this year.  We appreciate your understanding and prayers in the selection of staff for the various roles needed to make SEP 2010 a success.

To aid in the staff selection process we ask that we receive your application no later than July 27^th so that we can inform applicants by mid August and make arrangements accordingly.

NOTE: All staff will be required to have a current First Aid Certificate. 

STAFF ROLES

Please carefully consider what role you may be able to best serve the youth of the camp (you may not be accepted for “the role of your dreams” so I ask all applicants to be flexible).

DORM STAFF

Dorm Leaders:DL’s have one of the most challenging and rewarding roles of all the camp staff.  Their role requires more contact with campers than any of the others as they lead their dorms to activities, look for opportunities to tie the days teachings into various tasks, handle all issues of dorm life as they present themselves, and share their lives and faith with their campers.  DL’s are responsible for making sure their campers arrive on time to various activities and that the dorm stays together with all campers accounted for. 

In addition to camper needs, DL’s are responsible for the modeling and development of junior dorm leaders (JDL’s). As this is a major focus DL’s are continually looking for opportunities the increase the JDL’s responsibilities and invite their input and involvement in all areas of dorm life including discipline.  The DL role is further supported by Dorm Chaplains and Big Brothers and Sisters. 

The greatest opportunities to connect campers to Jesus Christ and one another will occur inside the dorm family.  Providing support and encouragement as campers work together and try new things will offer DL’s opportunities to share with them the joys of a personal relationship with God. 

Junior DL’s:  are responsible to support the DL in all aspects of camper and dorm life (please read the above description).  This role will provide many opportunities to serve the campers and develop personally.  JDL’s are expected to reinforce all dorm rules and administer discipline as agreed upon – DL’s should not have to be the ‘bad cop’.  Expect long days, short nights, to have lots of fun, and to learn a lot about yourself and your relationship with God.

Dorm Big Bro’s & Sis’s: Big Bro’s/Sis’s are generally experienced DL’s who can relieve the DL if/when necessary.  They assist DL’s with all aspects of dorm life and most importantly enforce the same dorm rules as the DL’s.  Big Bro’s/Sis’s participate in all daily discussions, Christian Living classes, and many of their dorm’s classes unless they are scheduled to serve in another activity.

Dorm Chaplains: DC’s assist with the teaching and spiritual wellbeing of their dorm.  DC’s will lead the daily discussions and will involve the DL’s, Big Bro’s/Sis’s and support staff in the small groups. DC’s will also set the scene for quiet time every day and will assist DL’s in closing the day by reflecting on verses and/or lessons from the day during Dorm Meetings. Prayer for their dorm’s campers and leaders will be a major responsibility.  DC’s are encouraged to spend additional time with their dorm as they are able and as the schedule permits. 

SUPPORT STAFF(all other roles that help to make camp a success)

Dorm Pastors: DP’sprovide additional support to the dorms they are allocated to through their presence and involvement in dorm activities/life.  DP’s are happy to sit with anyone at any time to discuss personal issues, concerns, questions of faith our staff members or campers might have.

CampAdmin: assist with handling camp enquires during camp from parents, the administration of Child Safety Protocols including Incident reporting (Child Safety Officer), and various other tasks that arise in the day to day running of the camp.  In addition to this, CampAdmin will be given the camp phone.

CampCanteen:  provide campers with “healthy snacks” (rightJ!) in between meals, run and stock canteen and administer petty cash.

First Aid Officer: manage any first aid needs and must have current first aid qualifications.

Hall Monitoring:ensure tables and chairs are set correctly after classes and will liaise with the kitchen staff and the dorm serving at each meal.  Help the kitchen staff by ensuring that campers do not enter the kitchen area when not required.

Kitchen:food prep, cooking, cleaning, shopping

Media:photography, slide shows, camp newsletter ‘The Rusty Nail’

Mini-Campers: program for the children of staff members

Security:camp safety, especially at night

Sessions / Open Activities:

Arts & Crafts: Jewellery making

Basketball

Classes: eg. Stewardship, budgeting, setting goals

Cooking: eg. etiquette, meal prep, presentation

Cricket

Dance: eg. slow rhythm, swing, line dance, latin

Grid Iron

Mechanics: car maintenance class

Soccer

Softball

Touch Footy

Worship: class, band member, assist dorm presentations

Transport:bus drivers, assist with group trips off the camp site

We understand that many staff use annual leave in order to serve at SEP and we greatly appreciate this.  While we would love to be able to provide for all staff, the reality is that the budget is getting tighter.  Please note that there will be a minimal charge for all staff accepted to help cover food, accommodation and other costs of $100 per person.  We will request payment once acceptance email has been sent.

Please return your completed forms to:

Attn: SEP 2010

Worldwide Churchof God

PO Box 2600

BURLEIGH BC QLD 4220

Please forward this message to anyone who may be interested and not on email.  Staff and camper applications will also be available at www.wcg.org.au.

Cheers,

WEP 2008 - The Jungle

The photos from WEP (Vic) are now on the youth photo gallery.

Thanks to those who took the pictures.

Cheers, Kwan

Youth Ministries Update

Its been a while since I've written to you alll, and I suspect that what I'm about to share with you will spark a few emails back and forth. 

In short the big item addressed in the letter is the change of our national SEP Program from an annual camp to a Biennial camp. Obviously the Annual SEP has become a major part of our fellowships traditions for the last 26 years. After weighinig up the pros and cons I hope our membership will come to see that the new directions we are taking present us with many more opportunities for a greater development, and will benefit not only our youth but all our membership.

Please  drop me a note and share with me your thoughts (if you wish) as you process what is shared in this letter to be sent to all members shortly.

Kwan Borden

     Letter - Youth Ministries Update June 2008

Letter from the Camp Director

Hello everyone,

Is it just me or is it surprising how fast this year is moving along. It will be June shortly and we’ll be finalising preparations for winter camp - out of control! This being said, it’s good to take a minute
to pause and reflect on this year’s camp and the time we all shared together. I am truly thankful that we were able to come together for 11 days and learn together, laugh a lot, and hopefully returned home with a lot of positive memories, stronger friendships and a clearer picture of our Lord.... Kwan Borden

  read more, download the Rusty Nail 2008 - PDF (2.95mb)

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

^1Tmothy4:12

April 29, 2008

Dear “participant”,

Planning and programming is well underway for this year’s winter camp ‘The Jungle’ , so I thought I would drop you all a short update.

As you may have noted in quotations, participation is what this camp is all about.  There seems to be some ideas floating around that this winter camp is just like another SEP – not so!  While there will still be a focus on having Fun, making Friends and developing Faith, this is where the similarities end.  There will be no campers, staff, t-shirts, Dorm Leaders, or Dorm Chaplains; all key components of SEP’s success, but not what July’s camp is all about.

In ‘The Jungle’, we are all participants – coming together to engage in various activities that will help equip everyone with practical skills that are needed in everyday life. There’ll be time to relax as well as get busy.

In saying this, with the outcomes of this camp in mind, it has become necessary to change the participant age bracket.  Participants will need to be of Year 11 age up to 25.

If you have not already done so, please complete a  participation form and return it as soon as possible.  Yes, the deadline is May 30 – but the idea is to have your forms in well before this cut off date and not after; a novel idea I know J. ‘The Jungle’ is promising to be an unforgettable 5 days that I truly doubt you will want to miss.

Upon acceptance you will receive an Information Pack along with your camp invoice.  Please invite your friends who are interested in attending and direct them to either the website or to me directly; I’ll be sure to give them all the information they need.    

As mentioned in my previous letter the cost is $275 and includes all meals, accommodation and activities.  Please feel free to contact me regarding any financial queries that you might have. 

I look forward to receiving your application in the next few weeks and I’ll see you in July, in ‘The Jungle’.

Your brother in Christ,

Kwan Borden

Good evening all,

This is your first notification of WEP 2008 - ‘The Jungle’.  Please read the invite and fill in your  participant form if you would like to attend this year’s winter camp and and return it to me no later than May 30^th.  (Please note that this camp is for participants from 15 to 24 years old). 

Please pass this note on to others who may be interested in attending and we look forward to seeing you at winter camp this year.  If you have any questions please write me a note or give me call anytime.

Cheers everyone and God bless,

Kwan Borden

New Website - Network Social Engine

The new social network website has been provided to connect people, "Living and Sharing our lives". Campers from all generations that have lost contact with each other, people that you grew up with, what are they doing now?

The site enables a user to add photo albums, blogs, and information about yourself and what you've been doing. Become members of groups (camps, and the places they were held) and re-connect with the friends that you've not seen for many many years or keep connected to those you met at camp this year.  A user has full control over who they share information with, with the inbuilt security provided. Register and have a look around.

Enjoy the new site http://www.wcg.org.au/connect/

Re-Connect - Living and Sharing our Lives

The Summer Educational Program – affectionately referred to as SEP – is a national Christian camp that runs every summer, and has done so for over 25 years. This is made possible thanks to the generous support of our church members throughout Australia.

What is SEP?

SEP 2008

It's that time of year again and plans for the next SEP are well under way.   

The WEC Camp & Conference Centre in Morisset, NSW will once again be the home of this years camp and will run from Monday December 31st to Friday January 11th. I invite you to come along and be part of a fun-filled, friendship deepeening and faith building 11 days.

Some of this years activites will include leather craft, canoeing, high ropes, discussions, dance, dorm challenges, puppetry, a brand new adventure race, and much, much more.

Applications for SEP08 are now avaiable

More details about this years camp will be coming in the weeks ahead so please visit this site for updates.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding our camp program, please feel free to contact Kwan Borden  kwan.borden@wcg.org.au and he will be happy to provide you the assistance you require.

We hope to see you at SEP 08!

Discovery - the new Spirit of Succes (SOS) 2007

If you are 18-35, you won't want to miss this.

Experience the new Spirit of Success - and discover the beautiful wine and outback regions of South Australia.

Friday July 6 - Tuesday 10 July

For more information contact Kwan Borden kwan.borden@wcg.org.au or Darren and Leah McLean dazznleah@aapt.net.au

Registrations must be received by March 9

SEP 2007 Photos

The best of   SEP 2007 photos have been uploaded to the youth portal site. "100 of the camps top photos for 2007 have been uploaded and later this year you'll be able to purchase a DVD with over 3000 camp photos. Man, that's a lot of photos!" Kwan Borden

Photos curtousy of the SEP 2007 media team.

copyright BriteStar Media

copyright Britestar Media

copyright Britestar Media

copyright Britestar Media