Well, Chuck Alley, Jenny Schroeder Alfano, and I spent last Thursday-Saturday at Chanco with all of our children for part of Work Week, and there are a few things I think people ought to know about Camp Chanco... Did you know that there is no indoor plumbing in the living quarters at that place?? Also, there is no air conditioning because - here's the clincher... wait for it... there is NO ELECTRICITY in those campsites!! Truly flabbergasting! People had to actually COOK things to eat over FIRES. It was barbaric! Someone should probably inform the Board about the conditions out there...

Okay, we had a great time! Our first assignment was to clean the mattresses for the summer. Chuck, Jenny, and I got the mattress detail down to a science by the last few rows (apply bleach mix, scrub with a mop, retreat with bleach mix, rescrub) - too bad for the campers who have to sleep on the mattresses from the first gazillion rows! :) We also cleared sticks and branches from the ropes course. I am sure glad that the men were there to take care of the chipper (not my opinion, ladies! We had a great list with several items specified by gender); otherwise, there was no telling what might have ended up in the mulch. In fact, that reminds me of a funny story I overheard Jim Tansey telling... It was an absolutely hilarious story about a pilot who put his wife through a chipper up North somewhere. It seems that the FBI found all sorts of bone fragments and teeth in the mulch on his property. Isn't that a riot?! Ooooohh-whee, I can hardly stand up from the laughter (while I keep up the distracting hilarity, should somebody run and warn Ann Tansey?).

Anyhoo, we spent the evenings around the campfire. The kids made 'smores as the adults hung out and reminisced. For the most part, the kids slept peacefully through the night - once we reassured them that the wolf spiders in the bath houses wouldn't eat them. I had to let my youngest daughter, Mary Cameron, run through several sets of batteries so she could fall soundly asleep with her lantern on, but it was worth it once she was down for the count. Jenny's son, Anthony, did fall off the top bunk one night; although, thankfully he did not get hurt. In fact, he doesn't remember it at all, as he fell between the bed and the screen rather than hitting the floor. Only Jenny was really completely awake and terrified by the whole ordeal! She told him to choose a bottom bunk next week when he goes to first session, which is sound advice that I am sure his counselors will appreciate! :)

Jenny's husband, Brian, arrived on Friday evening - as did alumni Ken Weissner. I am glad they both decided to come help, because it was a lot of pressure on Chuck to be the only man among us with so many manly things to be done (remember the list mentioned earlier?). In all seriousness, they were a great help. In fact, Ken, Chuck, and Chuck's daughter, Marguerite kept working until Sunday! Brian was hilarious at the pool on Saturday afternoon, killing those obnoxious, enormous horseflies we know and hate so much with a truly awe-inspiring rendition of a Kung Fu Master - complete with a pink pool-noodle numchuck. It was a sight to behold - and one I wish I had on tape to share with everyone. Those flies did not know what they were up against, but they kept coming at him. At last count, I believe it was Brian -12, Flies - 0!  

All in all, we did our best to do things around camp to help them get ready to open for the summer, and had a great time while we were there. I have certainly been reminded that the spirit of Chanco is alive and well - in each one of us working there and in each one of you reading this and remembering a moment in time when you were there, working hard and sharing in God's spirit.  What an amazing ministry we have in Chanco! I am confident that Jim Sitzler and this summer's staff will carry that ministry on to the children this summer with the love and passion that helped each one of us believe in Chanco during its 40 years. Perhaps everyone will join me in saying an extra prayer this week for the staff as they come together for training, and work, and community building.  Staff Week has begun!   

Many thanks to everyone who was able to help throughout last week.  I know the folks I talked about were not the only ones who were there at one point or another. It is easy to forget how much FUN these things turn out to be - and the more the merrier!  I look forward to more alumni attending the next work event, so we can get even more work accomplished for our beloved Chanco and have a blast along the way.                                                       In the Spirit - Helen