Saying "welcome home" as YOU walk through the gate, sure puts a smile on our face!
It gives you the opportunity to perhaps step back in time a bit to remember how God met you and shaped you while you spent part of your summer or part of your year at T Bar M.
Glenn Stern (former camper, coach) said it well as he picked up his daughter from Camp Travis, "There is something about being here that reminds you who God created you to be."
It gives us all the opportunity to see the continuation of God's story in your life, cheer for you, pray for you and give you a bit of respite.
We saw a whole lot of that this month as we welcomed many alumni. Will Washington, speaking to a group of University of Texas Students, Emma Dotter & the Join the Journey team embarking on a weekend of team building, Andy Zinkgraf checking out school space for a retreat, or John Boudreaux, Garrett Newsom, Ana, Brett, and Bonnie coming with a family CRU weekend. It was a JOY to see you each serving the Lord in so many capacities.
So, don't hesitate to stop by when you drive through New Braunfels or Spicewood, or come with a group. You can bet we are going to be looking forward to seeing you!
(psst ... we are about to have some super fun opportunities to welcome you back to camp ... stay tuned!)
Christy, Cyndea & Jamie: Three WOGS & their 11 MAC sons!
T Bar M Camp Store has heart ... and great gifts!
We are excited to announce we have a new team in the Camp Store. They are not new to T Bar M! Sarah has been serving at T Bar M since 2013, starting as a coach and then joining full time staff. Megan served on our Day Camp team and has just recently come back to join our full time staff.
The joy that comes in the logistics of running the Camp Store is found as they provide products to help people remember what God did in their hearts while at T Bar M! We all know that to be true. You throw on your favorite hat or t-shirt and think of the place where you laughed so hard it was healing or met with Jesus in a way that you can't forget. You kick back in your Eno hammock or Crazy Creek and think about sitting still at a place where your heart finds respite. These "things" bring us back to an eternal moment.
While you are beginning (or maybe wrapping up) your shopping for the holidays ... we have some goodies that will spark the warmth of summer in the chill of winter to put under your tree. From stocking stuffers to a gift that will cause a pause, our desire is that these items will be a reminder of God’s faithfulness and spark conversations about all the ways you saw God move at T Bar M.
Check out the T Bar M Camp Store here.
What does a Camp Director do all year?
I love my job.
I don't know how many people can say that. I imagine there are a lot of people who like their job. But actually love their job? I think I'm definitely in the minority on that one.
And you're probably saying to yourself, "Yeah Chris, real hard to love your job. You're a camp director. What's not to love?! You probably just play disc golf and hang out at the blob pool most days." Most of our summer staff probably think the same thing. In fact, the #1 question that a camp director gets asked in the off-season is something along the lines of, "What exactly do you do all year?"
Well, truth be told ... we do play a LOT of disc golf.
But in addition to that, believe it or not, we do some actual work. And while that work list is long, it is safe to say that there is one task that occupies the brain-space of a camp director more than any other ... staff recruiting.
Maybe some of you are like me and started working at camp back in the nineteen hundreds. For me, it was the "chance" encounter in the student center with a group of young adults who were WAY too enthusiastic about what they were doing for a living. They were standing at a table trying to awkwardly initiate conversation with students who were avoiding eye contact at all costs. (And if you ever ran into Johnny Polk in one of those student centers, words don't even begin to describe that crazy experience!)
Back in my day (FYI: one of the tell-tell signs you're getting older is when you start hearing yourself say, "Back in my day ..." ), staff recruiting was mostly confined to the spring semester. In January and February camps started showing up on campus in an attempt to build their teams for the summer ahead. I remember one year, an overly ambitious camp did something crazy and showed up on campus in November!! Can you imagine? What a waste of time. There is no possible way a college student could commit to something 6 months away.
What I wouldn't give for the good old days when we didn't START recruiting until January.
In the overly-connected, break-neck pace world we live in, the competition for summer camp staff is at a fever pitch. Often, on move-in days in August, camps are already on campuses hard at work trying to gain commitments from students for a job that is 9+ months away.
And you know what ... I get it. I get the feelings of anxiousness. I get the borderline panic. I get the same questions running through my head: Will we have enough staff next summer? What happens if I don't get enough guys? Will we have to turn away campers?
"O you of little faith ... do not be anxious ... your Heavenly Father knows what you need. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
So, what does it look like for a camp director to "not be anxious" and to "seek first the kingdom of God" when it comes to staff recruiting? For us, it means refocusing.
As a team, our directors have made a concerted effort to refocus our approach with our college staff. Rather than see them as a mere number or a name on a spreadsheet, we are striving to continue doing exactly what we did all summer. Encourage them. Challenge them. Pray for them. Equip them. Love them.
The verse that I pray for our staff is Philippians 1:9-11. "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes from through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."
The easy and temporary thing is convincing them to work at camp next summer. The thing of eternal value is helping their love for the Father abound more and more! That's what we want to be about. We trust that if we keep our focus where it needs to be (on His Kingdom and righteousness), then we can trust that a Heavenly Father will provide what we need.
Will you join us by praying for our staff? Praying for both the ones who have served already and the ones we haven't even met yet. Pray that their love and relationship with the Lord will continue to grow. And while you're at it, will you pray for us directors? Pray that we will keep our focus in the right place, squarely on Him. I can't wait to see what He has in store!!
I love my job.
- Chris Shelton
Remember the Goodness and Greatness of God
Each month, the T Bar M Staff gathers for Espresso … like Coffee, but with a little extra. We worship, pray, and learn about spaces around camp property, how it came to be, and how God continues to use it.
You can imagine our delight, laughter, and hanging on every word as Johnny Polk shared with us about the Standing Stones (formerly known as Lincoln Logs 1981-2010). It would be unkind not to pass on the wisdom and challenge he gave us, to you ...
There is no shortage of folks purposefully placing stones in places where the Lord did amazing things. Abraham, Jacob, Joshua, those that crossed the Jordan. Standing Stones were used by God many times throughout the Old Testament as a memorial of God’s blessings and greatness. So that, when the ancients would pass a standing stone, they would ask “What happened here?” And God’s work would be remembered, and HE would be praised. God was HERE and this is what He did!
And that is the challenge for our lives today ... “Our lives should be living stones testifying what God is doing in our lives.” (1 Peter 2:4-7) Wherever God has place us as living stones, we are a testimony that He is HERE in our lives, and this is what He is doing. In your job, at your school, at camp, in your home, with your neighbors, at the store or in the bleachers, WE get to tell those around us about God’s faithfulness and blessings.
As we headed our separate ways to start the day, we each grabbed a rock to put on our desk that day to remind us to be that Living Stone standing daily for Christ.
Though we, as T Bar M alumni, are spread out across the world, we pray for you as YOU are standing as a testimony to Christ and remembering His faithfulness to you.
Serving up yellow meal ... with alumni!
With the bright yellow sun in the sky and our favorite yellow meal on our plate, we gathered our local alumni at the Sports Field at Base Camp, just for fun … and man, was it fun!
We simply can’t wait to gather YOU in your towns, back at Base Camp or Camp Travis … be watching for those plans.
Hebrews 10:25 reminds us to gather, “Let us not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
There are a lot of things to love about a good gathering … the time with friends, the reminder of what God does in a place and in our lives, and of course a good meal together.
So, gather some folks that encourage you, serve up some chicken, apple sauce, mac and cheese, and give thanks to The Lord!
Click here for NB Alumni Photos
Bonus Track: I love you more ...
While we love the yellow meal … we don’t love it as much as we love the Savior that brings us all together.
And with that, we present to you ... the lyrics of (we suggest reading with in soulful, poetic voice)
"I love you more than the yellow meal" by tommy Connell circa 2000
Pass the plate that holds the cornbread
How many pieces can I take?
I need another glass of lemonade
To wash down this yellow cake
Mac n cheese makes me happy
I love those chicken nuggets too
But when it comes to a hungry heart
Yellow Meal it just won’t do
O Lord Jesus won’t You give me
A little taste of what is real
You satisfy my soul like nothing else, Lord, I love you more than Yellow Meal
For Yellow Meal I’d cross the mountains
I’d do whatever I was able
I’d get thrown into the Sports Pool
When I leave my elbows on the table
O Lord Jesus won’t You give me
A little taste of what is real
You satisfy my soul like nothing else, Lord, I love you more than Yellow Meal
2nd Annual
T Bar M Classic
Lately, I have found myself saying one phrase more than any other. It's only two words, and it is a phrase we hear multiple times every day. Sometimes I think it has stopped carrying the weight that it should because of how frequently it is used. Have you guessed what it is? Here you go ...
THANK YOU!
There are probably countless other ways to communicate the same idea, but those two words get the job done. Maybe I should try to add some gravitas and dress it up more.
- Thank you for prioritizing others above yourself.
- Thank you for ensuring that kids who don't have the financial means to come to camp now have an opportunity.
- Thank you for giving your time, talent, and treasures to help us accomplish our calling.
- Thank you for introducing your friends and co-workers to us.
- Thank you for trusting us with your time.
- Thank you for partnering with us to raise over $110,000 for our Camper Scholarship fund in one afternoon of golf!
It may sound cliche, but there is an abundance of appreciation and joy behind those two words. So, until we tee off again ... THANK YOU! - Chris Shelton
HELP US GIVE IT AWAY!
If someone comes across your heart or path that you know could benefit from a week at camp with campership help … please introduce us!
Have them reach out to T Bar M at development@tbarm.org.
We would delight in you being a part of the process.
Previous
Next
STORIES FROM OUR CAMPERS
"This week at Camp Travis I had so much fun growing in my relationship with the Lord. This week I learned my self worth and identity is not found in the things of this world but through Christ."
"We had a camper who came to T Bar M for the first time. He had recently lost both of his parents and his dad in this last year. He was very hesitant to come to camp for the first time and wanted to go home almost as soon as he arrived. He was homesick and overwhelmed with what was happening in his life. He struggled to believe that God was good amidst all the pain and suffering he had experienced at a young age. His coaches spent the entire week praying with and for him, processing his grief, encouraging him with truth, and showing him how to find hope in the Lord. Over time, he began to realize that even with his deep questions and pain, he can take comfort knowing that there is a Savior who loves Him. On Wednesday, he chose to give his life to Christ for the first time! Not only that, but he also wanted his aunt and uncle he’s been living with to be the first ones to find out. Eventually, he expressed a desire to get baptized. On closing day, alongside his aunt and uncle and all the base camp coaches, he made a public profession of faith and was baptized by his coach. This was an amazing story of redemption, hope, and the way God uses camp to change people’s lives. Praise God for the hope we have in Christ and the peace this camper has experienced through Jesus working in his life. (We have pictures!)."
"This week I learned: I do not have to worry about my past because I am forgiven, and that I am free in Christ. I do not have to work towards heaven, my eternity is set with Christ!"
"This week I got to reconnect with God. I’ve learned that I don’t have to carry the weight of my sins and that through God, I am forgiven. God is the only fulfillment I need in my life and the lies and darkness from the world are not worth my attention."
"This week was nice, and I had awesome coaches. I learned to forgive and let go not judge or condemn others. I also learned to stay true to my faith."
"What I did at camp was a lot of fun, but what I enjoyed more was getting into God’s word and having someone go deep with my questions. In Casey’s small group, he helped me learn that sinning is bad, but Jesus died for our sins."
"Our 5th grade daughter had a very trying school year, between classroom/teacher chaos and the heavy hit of unbiblical culture pressures. She’d come home withdrawn many days. She was melancholy and sometimes incorrigible. We heard very little from her about school or friends. We picked up a bright-eyed, very talkative, joyful, smiling daughter from camp. We can only imagine she felt safe, seen, and loved at camp - because only the love of Jesus can create this beauty. We’re deeply grateful for T Bar M and its strict and ongoing commitment to the Bible and declaring God’s love and plan to youth."
Love God, Love Others,
Your T Bar M Family!
We love to hear the stories God writes. Do you have one to tell?
Email marketing@tbarm.org
Welcoming Kelli Boyd home
“God writes some amazing stories.” I’m going to credit Keith Myer with that quote. I don’t know if he stole it or if he was prompted by the Holy Spirit from all the incredible things we have heard and experienced at T Bar M in the last 40+ years. Nonetheless, the longer I Iive, the more I am amazed at what our Lord chooses to do in us and through us. I’m so thankful to have a front row seat and I want to encourage you to not only recognize, but also celebrate the amazing stories the Lord writes. If you haven’t already heard, He is still writing (multiple) incredible stories around T Bar M.
I have the honor to share with you … Kelli Boyd is back serving with T Bar M!
There is no shortage of stories of folks who were great in an arena, took a break, and then returned. From Brett Farve, Michael Phelps, Roger Clemens, and George Foreman in sports to Garth Brooks, Cher, and David Letterman in entertainment … there are seasons that many of the greatest in their fields have been away and then come back. For different reasons and in different circumstances, y’all, I feel like the Michael Jordan of relationships and connecting is coming back to the T Bar M game!
I am so incredibly excited to have Kelli joining me and the Development Team to help us love and care for people! Her first 27 years with us began in 1991 as a summer coach. Then in ’96 she became the first Women’s Director. Her next 20 years, Kelli directed Family Camp and served with our Hospitality Teams. Now, Kelli will be concentrating on Alumni (yes, come on, y’all reach out!), Camp Moms and gathering friends of T Bar M, and so much more!
SOME CALL IT CAMP, WE CALL IT HOME. And yall, it is so very good to be home at T Bar M!
GOD HAS USED THIS PLACE, the people, and experiences it offers to shape and equip me and my family in ways we just can't fathom or take credit for. Those lessons and moments keep bringing us to His Truth. Reliable Truth that allows us to walk through all our days with joy and peace. (Isaiah 55:12-13)
Speaking of JOY... connecting with YOU all makes me giddy! I am looking forward to hearing how the Lord continues to work in your life... and gathering to waste no fun while we're at it! For the very reason Cole shares below, I am so FUAGNEM to serve at T Bar M again. Can't wait to see you!
-Kelli Boyd
As the Lord continues to kindly lead us in recovery from the implications of 2020 and COVID, welcoming Kelli back on staff is one of the markers of health and healing for our Camp Family. In those hard months, decisions were made and relationships with many were strained, to say the least.
Kelli has faithfully served the Lord in several capacities in the last 3 years. The Lord has done a work in her heart and honestly has prepared her to go and represent T Bar M in new and great and hard and different ways. Our goals as a Development Team will be centered on relationships. We know we will be cultivating new relationships and stewarding long-standing relationships. We also feel blessed to mend some broken relationships. We have a team who loves the Lord and cares deeply for T Bar M and the people who make this place one of the most special places on earth. And now that we have the MJ of relationships on the team 😉, look out, we’re headed to make much about Jesus and steer T Bar M toward relational greatness!
And not to toss out too much info (SPOILER ALERT)…you just wait for what’s coming…Alumni Christ-centered adventures, Reunions, and parties galore! It’s going to be fun y’all! We’re so excited to spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)!
Love God, Love Others,
Cole
Don't Waste Fun!!
To make sure you don't miss an ounce of T Bar M fun, we've rounded up some summer memories to share. From sunrise to stargazing, we've witnessed God's handiwork unfold each day through relationships, adventure, and of course... tons of FUN!
Thank you, parents, for entrusting us with your wonderful campers and being a part of this camp family. We cherish the days your campers spend inside our gates, and we are FUAGNEM to see them return home to share the love of God with others.
Join us in thanking God for another summer of growth, connection, and unbounded joy!
P.S. Read on to see who won the summer, Alphas or Omegas!
I always want to come back to T Bar M because this is where I learned that God is in my heart forever. I trust my coaches and always love the friends I make!
- Abby T.
We love to hear the stories God writes. Do you have one to tell?
Email marketing@tbarm.org
Let's Be Social
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram
T Bar M Base Camp Highlights
Previous
Next
T Bar M Camp Travis Highlights
Previous
Next
T Bar M Day Camps' Highlights
Previous
Next
T Bar M Family Camp Highlights
Previous
Next
0
ALPHA
0
OMEGA
This summer's first half Alpha vs Omega competitions left us on the edge of our seats. But just when we thought we had seen it all, the Omegas unleashed an unmatched storm of determination and creativity! With a breathtaking comeback that defied all odds, they soared to the top, claiming the summer victory!
Alphas are you ready for a re-match?! We'll see you back here next summer for another epic showdown!
A Glimpse Into Teaching Time
Last year when we dreamed up the idea of a golf tournament to raise money for our Camper Scholarship fund, we didn't really know what to expect. Needless to say, we were OVERWHELMED by the response! The only explanation... through the generosity of the T Bar M family, God showed himself to be faithful once again. So what do we do now? We book a tee time!! That's right, the 2nd Annual T Bar M Classic golf tournament will be taking place on Monday, October 2nd. Last year we brought in just over $80,000. This year, we are well on our way to the new goal of $100,000!! The number one piece of feedback we received from last year's tournament is that many of you didn't even know we were hosting the event. Well, consider yourself informed. We have a handful of sponsorship opportunities left, and we would love for those spots to be filled with alumni. Here are a few details for you...
- The only way to play on the day of the tournament is to become a sponsor. There are currently no individual player opportunities.
- All sponsorship opportunities are available to organizations, companies, families or individuals.
- Looking to get together with some buddies... maybe your old Covenant guys... and come play? The "Don't Waste Fun" sponsorship level is a great option.
- Not a golfer? Please consider becoming a tee box sponsor.
The remaining spots will go fast, so if you want to come be part of a great afternoon of golf (with some serious camp vibes) grab your spot ASAP. Just follow this link to get signed up ...
Book your tee time!
T Bar M Classic
Previous
Next
If you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas... we'd love to hear from you. Email Chris Shelton (chris@tbarm.org) and Bekah Snell (bekah@tbarm.org) and they would love to visit.
Sponsorship Options
We love to hear the stories God writes. Do you have one to tell?
Email marketing@tbarm.org
"I worked the summer of Inside Out"
I feel like everywhere I look, the Lord is reminding me of the things He taught me at Camp. Now, I know some of you may be thinking, “Cole, when you have spent almost 2/3 of your life at T Bar M, I HOPE the Lord has used that in great ways!” But whether you spent one half summer or multiple years of your life at Camp, I trust the Lord has used it to shape your walk with Him. Reading God’s Word daily (Batter’s Box and First Fruits) has really evolved into daily reading, weekly extended sabbath, quarterly seeking a day of silence and solitude, and annually getting away for an extended time with the Lord (wow, feels like I am signing up for some accountability from friends on this one! 😉). The way we learned to live in community (Covenant Groups) has really set the tone for how Jen and I engage with our church small group. And then, of course, investment in others (ummm, I think that is all of Camp) looks a lot like raising kids as well as loving on and investing in anyone the Lord allows me to connect with. But one of the hardest things I think for us to grab hold of at Camp is time. The days are long, but the weeks are short! It's hard to remember what year I was first a Coach … however; we can all likely recall in our own Campy way! How, you might ask? Just call it the Max Out summer…or the Rightbackatchanow summer…or maybe it was the Stamp’d summer. How many times do we hear, “Oh, I don’t remember what year that was, but I know it was Bring It!”
Verse Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait for the Lord’s help find renewed strength; they RISE UP as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.”
Like the nation of Israel in Isaiah’s day we are in desperate need of comfort and hope, but when we look inward instead of upward our anxiety only increases. The promise is for those who wait for the Lord’s help. Amid hardship, when we grow tired and weary, when we stumble and fall; it is we who hope in the Lord who will RISE UP!
The world tells us that to get ahead in life we have to work harder, try harder, pull ourselves up by the bootstraps. God’s economy is different. He tells us to come to Him all who are weary, and He will give us rest. We know that life is hard, but He tells us that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
This summer as we are coming into the homestretch of summer camp, we invite you all to join us as we Rise UP by putting our faith in the only One who can handle it…the One true, sovereign God!
Which theme was your favorite?
Previous
Next
In case you missed it -
Here's a mid-summer update on all things T Bar M Camps!
https://vimeo.com/841296576/b196c5f2a9?share=copy
We love to hear the stories God writes. Do you have one to tell?
Email marketing@tbarm.org