All Systems Go!

Hi all! Can you believe that camp is less than TWO weeks away! Wow - time flies! Registrations have been coming in by mail every day and we are so excited for all the new campers this year! There is still plenty of room, though, so don't hesitate to download a registration form and get yours sent in today!

We have such a great lineup of staff members, activities and topics for Ortoha 2017 and we thought we'd provide a quick overview of what you can expect this year: 

2017 Camp Theme:

Jesus: Man, Myth, Legend... Savior? 

"Who do you say I am?"

Speakers: 

Grade School (July 23 - July 27) - Pastors Tim Winterstein & Shawn Neider 

High School (July 30 - Aug 4) - Kim and Jim Helleson

Middle School (Aug 6 - Aug 10) - Pastors Harald Schoubye & Jeff Berendt 

Camp Cooks: 

Amy Schretlen & Rev. Alan Visser

Registration for Ortoha is just $120 per camper, but some camperships may still be available for families looking for assistance. Don't hesitate to contact us for more information. 

There is one more exciting thing to share:  The recording of director Brian Bowes talking about Camp Ortoha on the Openline radio show is now available for online streaming! If you know of a parent or camper who is curious to learn more, this is a great resource! Help us spread the word! 

Click here to steam Brian's Openline recording.

Ortoha becomes the topic at minute 25. Stay tuned for more updates! 

Counselor Positions Still Open

Greetings from the Ortoha planning board! Hopefully you've already heard the exciting news that camp director Brian Bowes will be speaking during the second segment of Open Line on the radio this Friday (6/9/2017) morning. Remember to tune in! 

Brian is very excited to announce that the speaker lineup for our 2017 camping season is coming together very well. However, we do have an urgent need for more counselors this year. We have a small group of wonderful returning counselors who will provide a great foundation of experience and responsibility. We are so thankful for this group of willing students! We do urge you, though, if you know of any student looking for an opportunity to lead, engage, and have fun with some Ortoha youngsters, to please contact Brian directly right away. He would love to receive your suggestions or hear from any high school students who may be interested in counseling this year. 

Brian's contact information is provided below. He will be able to outline the counselor needs more fully and answer any questions you might have. Remember, this not only is a great way to beef up your growing resume, but also an awesome chance to bring the Good News to campers and have a blast in the great outdoors. We hope you will consider it!

Brian Bowes - 509.429.1567 - deacon@ncidata.com

Ortoha's Staff Lineup for 2017 is Coming Together

Director Brian Bowes has been putting a lot of energy into seeking out the best candidates for our Ortoha staff positions this year, and we are excited to share his progress!

We are very pleased to introduce a new head cook, Amy Schretlen, who is putting the final touches on the menu this month. (We'll be sure to post a bio as we getting closer to camp.) 

We're also delighted to share that many of our counselors from last year are returning, and a few others have been added, as well.

As for our speakers, we have a few confirmed already and are looking to fill out the rest of the posts. Pastor Harald Schoubye will serve as both a Middle School Week speaker and our Mission Fest speaker. Kim & Jim Helleson and Rick Herzer will return to serve as our High School Week speakers this year. If you know of anyone who might be willing to serve as a speaker, please contact Brian right away - we would love your recommendation. 

Spring also marks the time of year when Brian ramps up the local outreach for registrations. You might hear him on Open Line up in the Okanogan area, or see a few newspaper articles over the next few weeks. Please do all that you can to help us spread the word about registration - we love to serve and host as many campers as we can! 

Summer is right around the corner! We are looking forward to another incredible year up at Ortoha! 

Speaker Jim Helleson will be return for another year of fun in 2017! 

Speaker Jim Helleson will be return for another year of fun in 2017! 

Camp is Now Open for Business!

THANK YOU to all those who helped clean and open Camp Ortoha yesterday!

The road conditions were better than previously expected, but a blocked covert and massive washout on the drive into camp slowed things down a little in the morning. After a long day of sweeping and scrubbing, though, camp is ready for business!

Remember that you can sign up for Ortoha Youth Camp right now for the Early Polar Bear special of $85. Also, the camp can be reserved for any group gatherings you might be planning throughout the summer. Click here to see more about group rentals, and click here to learn how to register for Ortoha Youth Camp.

URGENT UPDATE: Spring Cleaning on May 6th Could Have Rough Roads

Lenette and Paul checked out the road from Havillah to camp and made a loop around by Chesaw. The road as of today requires a 4 wheel drive vehicle, so please plan accordingly. We had previously (briefly) released information that we were postponing the event by one week, but due to Mother's Day, we decided it was best to keep our original plan.

We hope you will join us... and then stop by the Big Trees, Lost Lake or take your family out to dinner at the Bonaparte Cafe! We'll bring the cleaning supplies but you can bring rakes, wheelbarrows, a shop vac if you have one, tools, work gloves and enthusiasm on Saturday! 

We'll get started around 9 am and you can leave when you need to. Call 485-3352 if you need any more information, or want to coordinate 4 wheel drive transportation. We would be thrilled to have your help!

Spring Clean-Up at Camp Ortoha!

Hi all! Our spring clean-up has been scheduled for May 6th - that's just a little over 3 weeks away so please help us spread the word! This is an open invitation to anyone who would like to join us. We deeply appreciate the help of volunteers to help speed through the list of tasks - and a wonderful afternoon at the lake will add to the reward of our hard work! 

Tasks usually include washing windows, sweeping cabins, stocking the kitchen and clearing the grounds of debris. These are pretty easy, common tasks that almost anyone can do, so please be encouraged to join us. We're hoping for clear, sunny skies and a great big big group of helpers. 

Remember to pack a sack lunch and snacks (and a rake, shovel, or extra cleaning supplies if you have them). We'll start cleaning at 9 a.m. and you are welcome to stay as long or as little as you like. 

Also! Don't forget our 2017 Registration Form is ready for downloading! 

The 2017 Registration Form is Ready for Downloads!

Make sure to get in on the Early Bird action and download your Registration Form today! Forms returned before June 10th will receive a discount of $35, for a total registration cost of $85. Keep in mind, though, that only $25 is required as a deposit when mailing in your registration form. The rest is due upon arrival at camp. 

We are so looking forward to another exciting summer of skits, games and the great outdoors! Remember to mark your calendar for this year's dates. Also, check out our FAQs page if you still have a few lingering questions. We hope you will join us this year! 

Click here for more registration information

2017 Camp Dates Are Set!

Very exciting news! The dates for the 2017 summer camp season have now been locked in: 

GRADE SCHOOL WEEK: 

  • July 23rd - July 27th
  • Registration begins at 3 p.m. and officially starts at 5 p.m. on July 23rd 
  • Camp concludes at 7 p.m. on July 27th

HIGH SCHOOL WEEK: 

  • July 30th - August 4th
  • Registration begins at 3 p.m. and officially starts at 5 p.m. on July 30th
  • Camp concludes at 1 p.m. on August 5th

MIDDLE SCHOOL WEEK: 

  • August 6th - August 10th
  • Registration begins at 3 p.m. and officially starts at 5 p.m. on August 6th
  • Camp concludes at 7 p.m. on August 10th

There have already been pledges by generous supporters for full camperships, too, which means families who cannot afford the registration cost may still be able to go! If you need information about camperships, please get in touch with our director, Brian Bowes. (509) 826-5750 

Please be sure to mark your calendars, and check back in a few weeks to download the 2017 Registration Form. The board is currently putting a few final touches on the form to make sure all information is accurate, but we hope to have it available here and on Facebook by February. 

We're one step closer to an amazing 2017 Camp Ortoha season! 

New Merchandise for the New Year!

The new Ortoha gear was a big hit up at camp last summer, so we've replenished the supply to ring in the new year! If you want to start 2017 with a cool new look, please connect with Sandy Sutton to place your order: sjsutton@ncidata.com. She can also work out the shipping details with you. 

Many thanks to Brian Bowes for placing the order and picking out these great colors! 

 

 

TRUCKER CAPS.................................$15.00  (GREY, NAVY BLUE)

LOW PROFILE CAPS ..........................$12.00  (TEXAS ORANGE, HUNTER GREEN, MAROON)

KNIT BEANIE (AKA SKULL CAP) .........$12.00   (HUNTER GREEN)

SLOUCH BEANIE................................$12.00    (DARK GREY, FADING BLUE)

The trucker caps are those pictures with white mesh backs. The low profile caps are those pictures in solid colors. 

Christmas Update from Ortoha

Greetings to all! The Camp Ortoha Planning Board wants to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas! We have so much to celebrate in the message of Jesus and his arrival as a babe in Bethlehem. We hope you enjoy this wonderful season for all it stands for.

Even though winter is upon us, the Ortoha Planning Board is already thinking about next summer and how to make the 2017 camp season an excellent one. They are currently reaching out to pastors in the area who might be interested in serving as a Speaker to the campers next year. Do you think your pastor would make a great fit? Don't hesitate to send Brian an email if there is someone you know who would make a great speaker. We always love growing our network of pastors and others who can contribute to Ortoha. (deacon@ncidata.com)

The board has also been doing a bit of research to procure a few new mattresses in the 2017 camp season. Things are going along very swimmingly so far, and we think you'll enjoy the new ones when they get delivered. Stay tuned for more updates on that in the future!

Our next update will come to you in January 2017, so until then, we're wishing you a very bright New Year! 

So Much to Be Thankful For!

As we all gear up for the week of Thanksgiving, the Camp Ortoha planning board would like to share a few quick announcements. 

2017 Camp Theme:

First off, the planning board will be meeting TONIGHT (11/20/2016) to discuss themes. This is your last chance to have a say in what theme you'd like our campers to learn about next summer. Please leave us a message on Facebook or contact our director if you have suggestions. 

Christmas Gift Ideas:

Don't forget that you can order Ortoha merchandise at any point throughout the year. We have a great selection of t-shirts, sweaters, hats, and cookbooks for those who are looking for Christmas gift ideas. You can contact Sandy Sutton to learn more about color options and prices. She will also work out the mail delivery details with you: sjsutton@ncidata.com.

Thank you so much! 

We are so thankful for all the Ortoha supporters out there. Your prayers and contributions to Ortoha are greatly appreciated. We are blessed with individuals far and wide who volunteer time and resources to benefit Ortoha throughout the year. We know that every small gesture is a ripple that eventually makes a big impact on the success of camp. We are so thankful for all our volunteers, staff members and supporters!

 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

You're Invited! Please Join Us at Ortoha's Next Meeting

Greetings from Camp Ortoha,

A year ago the struggling Camp Ortoha Board put out a desperate plea for help and support of our friends and Ortoha supporters. Around 25 of you attended that meeting, re-energizing our program! We would like to invite you to the second annual informational meeting to be held Sunday, October 23, 6pm at Hope Lutheran Church in Tonasket. We want to share what has been accomplished this past year, a review of the 2016 camp program, future plans and goals, camp needs, and hear from you, your suggestions and questions. Making camp happen is a big job and your presence will again energize us as we move forward, planning for 2017.

We hope to see you there on October 23.  Please see the invitation from the Director below. 

“Glorify the Lord with me;let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3 

 

From the Camp Director:

October 13, 2016

Greetings Parents and Friends of the Ortoha Youth Camp!

“You’re Invited…”

…to attend the next meeting of the Ortoha Youth Camp Planning Board.

Now, you may be asking yourself “Why?” so allow me to explain. To put it bluntly, we need you…we need your input…we need your involvement and of course, we need and appreciate your continued support!

So to that end, we are inviting you to our next planning meeting – Sunday, October 23rd 6:00 PM @ Hope Lutheran Church, 7th & Whitcomb, Tonasket, WA.

So, if you’re able, make plans to attend…come hear about how we got where we are; how we do what we do [planning, organizing etc. for camp]; give us your valued input regarding: lengths of camp – the day & time it ends; the order of the weeks; program ideas; and offer us your thoughts, opinions and suggestions.

We are also looking for ways to expand involvement with the planning of camp. This can take the form of Board involvement; chair or participate in the various committees [Financial, Marketing/Outreach, Food Services, Facilities]; becoming a “Friend Of Ortoha”; or being willing to become of the director’s “advisory” committee.

So, won’t you please consider attending this important meeting? We are earnestly wanting to involve the people and the use the camp and that’s…………..YOU.

If you can’t attend, but would like to either become involved OR would like to share your thoughts about some of the aforementioned items, please contact Camp Director Brian Bowes in one of the following ways:

Email – deacon@ncidata.com, or call 509.429.1567 or 509.826.5750

Help us to continue serving the youth that attend this vital ministry – we look forward to your involvement and support!

Blessings,

Ortoha Youth Camp Planning Board

Ortoha Merch! Available for Mail Order

Did you get the chance to see the new merchandise this year? We had ballcaps, trucker-style caps, knit beanies (aka skull caps), and slouch-style beanies, in addition to new gray t-shirts and sweatshirts. We've never offered hats before, and we thrilled at their popularity! We're hoping to continue selling the remaining inventory through mail orders - Christmas is coming up, after all, and you can never be too prepared! 

Here is a breakdown of the inventory we have left, along with a few pictures. If you are interested, you can send your order to Sandy Sutton at sjsutton@ncidata.com. We have estimated the cost of shipping to be approximately $7-$8 depending on the size of the parcel. 

T shirts...........................................$10.00   (grey)

Sweat Shirts..................................$25.00   (grey)

Trucker caps.................................$15.00  (grey, red, royal blue)

Low profile caps ...........................$12.00  (Carolina blue)

Knit beanie (aka skull cap) .........$12.00   (forest green)

Slouch beanie................................$12.00    (faded blue)

The trucker caps are those pictures with white mesh backs. The low profile caps are those pictures in solid colors. 

We really hope you like the new merchandise this year! Have suggestions for what we should order next year? Leave us a note on our Facebook page!! 

Lost & Found

Lost & Found 

Hello all! After a VERY busy three weeks of Ortoha Youth Camp we are now finally get around to organizing and storing supplies for next year. It turns out we have a fair number of lost & found items this year, so we're hoping the website and Facebook page will help us connect with the 2016 alumni campers and their parents in order to return as many items as possible.

If you or your kiddo forgot something up at camp, please let us know!!

Send us an email or a message of Facebook describing the item you lost and we will check our inventory to see if we have it. 

Camping Season Isn't Over Yet! 

Although the three weeks of Ortoha Youth Camp are over, the camping season is still underway. Remember that Ortoha (it's buildings and facilities) can be rented out to groups looking for a great outdoor setting. If you are curious about renting Ortoha for an upcoming event, let us know right away! We will close Ortoha up in the fall so we'll want to get you on the schedule soon. 

We Can't Thank You Enough!

Last, but certainly not least, we cannot thank all our staff members, supporters, campers and camper parents enough for such an outstanding camp season. We made some incredible memories this year and plenty of new friendships were forged. A whole new generation of kids had the opportunity to fall in love with the Ortoha atmosphere and get to know God a little bit better. We could not pull this off without so much support from all over the PNW region.

Thanks to the parents for seeing how special camp is and for being willing to transport their kids to and from Ortoha. Thanks to the campers who made it so much fun! Thanks to the many volunteers who spend countless hours preparing, planning, coordinating and finalizing all the minute details for these very busy three weeks. And of course, thank you to all our staff 2016 staff members - that includes our incredible cooks, our outstanding speakers, our talented counselors and wonderful director! Your hard work, dedication and passion for all that Ortoha stands for is deeply appreciated! 

More Excitement in Store for Middle School Week!

A whopping 34 campers are up at Ortoha this week making new memories and meeting new friends! In addition to our director, Brian Bowes, they will also be lead by our two speakers, Rev. Alan Visser and Deaconess Ruth Ann Shimoi. 

Rev. Visser is an Ortoha alumni as a camper, counselor, speaker and dean! We are always so blessed to have him return to camp from British Columbia and inspire another group of youngsters. Deaconess Ruth Ann Shimoi is joining us from Bellevue, WA where she serves at Pilgrim Lutheran Church. We know the kids are going to love the enthusiasm she brings to leading and group activities. 

It looks like the forecast will be great for the campers this week. They will have a mix of some sunshine and clouds, but it looks like the last day of camp is expected to be very warm and bright. Perhaps an afternoon at the lake before picking up the campers at 7 p.m. might be called for! 

Lastly, we want to share a big Thank You message to all those who help out during the weekends between camps. There are groceries to deliver, counselor prep-work to complete, and many errands to run. We appreciate everyone's hard work and support! 

Humor of Olympic Proportions

A total of 15 kids are attending High School Week and our speakers are going all-out to bring them some hilarity! Kim & Jim Helleson are long-time Ortoha supporters and have been directly involved with ministry through Young Life for many years. They have joined forces with Rick Herzer this week to provide some Young Life-style comic relief.

Rick and Jim have been perfecting a body builder skit that ties in nicely to the Summer Olympics currently being held in South America. It sounds like their characters, "Hans" and "Franz," will make many appearances throughout the week when the kids least expect it! 

Knowing their audience, Kim and Jim have also worked a bit of technology into their program, as they plan to use a large projector in the Gazebo to show a short video during one of the bible study talks. We are looking forward to hearing more about how the kids like both the ongoing skit and the great lesson content. 

We want to take a moment to thank Dennis & Cheri Watson who came over from the west side of the state to speak at last Sunday's Mission Festival service. It was wonderful to hear about all the work and love being poured out in the Neah Bay area. As always, thanks to the many helping hands who contributed to the delicious potluck lunch that followed, as well! It never disappoints!

Please remember to lift up all the campers and leaders in your prayers this week and help us spread the word the Middle School Week is just around the corner. We appreciate it!  

Last Day of Grade School Week!

Some news came down the hill today from camp and we are excited to share it with you! 
On Wednesday the campers had a great hike up Strawberry Mt. (for those who haven't been, it provides an incredible view of Lost Lake from the top!). 

After all that physical exertion, the campers were treated to the traditional Wednesday night camp feast of roast turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, coleslaw and carrot cake for dessert! (Kudos to our cooks, Millie and Georgia!)

A few campers go Polar Bearing in the morning, but this had to be cancelled Tuesday morning due to thunder. But all is well! The weather has otherwise been warm and clear. 
In arts/crafts, the campers have been creating tiles and sun catchers. Today they will "frame" their 2016 camp group photo.

The speakers this week, Jeanette and Sarah, have been outstanding. We appreciate all the love and planning they've put into their positions! 

Everyone is having a wonderful camp experience, but we are sure they will be happy to see you this evening at 7 p.m. after a full day of scheduled activities. We are all looking forward to hearing more hilarious and exciting stories about their week!