Holiday in the Pines 2010

The first week I started at Camp Allen was the very first Holiday in the Pines, that was 12 years ago.  I was asked to organize the next one and have done so ever since.  It is my FAVORITE part of my job even though I am consumed with snow blowing, buying crafts, gingerbread house candy, and staffing a 3 day action-packed weekend retreat for the entire month prior.  Actually it is so large, that many aspects are planned all throughout the year. 

It is hard to say what my favorite part of the weekend is - there are so many for me.  Maybe it is the fact that I have families that have literally attended since their children were toddlers and now they are summer campers which makes them like family to me.  Maybe it is the fact that I love arts & crafts, and we have an entire room devoted to ornament making, face painting, and gingerbread house creating?  Maybe it is the fact that we sing Christmas carols around a campfire while devouring s'mores?  Maybe it is the ARC - a small group of mentally challenged adults who attend every year? Or maybe it is the fact that I get to don matching aprons with Lauren and have a Mother-daughter victorian Christmas tea?  I can't really pick ONE thing because like Christmas, this old-fashioned holiday weekend is based on many traditions at a magical time of year. 

Unless you work at Disney, where else can you get paid to make a giant gingerbread house, throw snowballs, eat s'mores, and help a mentally disabled adult make a Christmas present for his mom?  Camp Allen - that's where!  I am blessed to work here & create memories not only for our guests, but for me & my family.