Friday, August 21, 2009

L.E.A.P. Into An Adventure...


Summer is almost over and for some, school will be starting soon. Our summer trips are over and those lazy sunny days are quickly becoming memories. Schedules and life return to normal as Autumn settles in. Now is the time church programs, youth groups and schools start back up, you may want to consider a L.E.A.P. at Lutheridge or Lutherock as a wonderful way to kick off the New Year!

A LEAP (Lutheridge or Lutherock Environmental Adventure Program) is a customized retreat that is great for groups of all shapes and sizes. A LEAP gives you the ability to custom design an experience for your youth, family, college students, school, or any other group you can think of. LEAP is offered at both Lutheridge and Lutherock and is truly custom designed by you with the help of our staff. We have pre-planned LEAP's to help you get started in your planning, but the experience is custom-tailored just for you.

LEAP is perfect for:
•Youth Groups desiring a weekend, fall break, or spring break away
•Family/Intergenerational Groups desiring to interact with one another
•School Groups looking for time away to build relationships & experience community that can only be formed in a retreat setting
•College Clubs/Groups interested in adventure and experiences that can only be accomplished in time away
•Homeschool Groups looking for interaction, adventure, and Christian Community

A typical LEAP group arrives on Friday evening and departs after breakfast on Sunday morning. School groups often arrive during the week. Remember, the LEAP experience can be totally customized to fit your group’s needs, schedule, and interests. A group minimum of 12 is required for all LEAP weekends.




ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
(COST VARIES BY ACTIVITIES CHOSEN):
•Group Initiatives (either site) – Team-building activities perfect for team and community building
•Group Interaction Course (either site) – A series of low-ropes obstacles that are ideal for building community.
•Intermediate/Advanced Ropes Course (Lutherock) – A “step up” from the Group Interaction Course, build teamwork and community up in the trees
•Challenge Tower/Alpine II Climbing Tower (either site) – Each tower offers solo and partner climbs.
•Day Hikes (either site) – Choose a hike that is easy, moderate, or strenuous either on-site or in the local area
•Environmental Activities (either site) – Tree identification, nature walks, forest ecology, etc.
•Creek Walks (either site) – Take a hike in the water.
•Servant Project (either site) – Engage in a service project on-site or partner with a local agency
•Rock-climbing (Lutherock) – Hike and then rock-climb on Lutherock property
•Caving/Spelunking (Lutherock) – Visit Whirley’s Cave in TN to crawl through naturally made tunnels
•Rafting (either site) – Scenic on the French Broad or intense adventure on the Nolichucky
•Skiing (either site) – Ski or snowboard at nearby Wolf Ridge or Sugar Mountain
•Canoeing (Lutheridge) – Enjoy a scenic trip down the French Broad River
•NEW! Indoor Climbing Wall (Lutheridge) – Bring the experience of rock-climbing inside
•NEW! Biltmore Estate Educational Tours (Lutheridge)
•NEW! Grandfather Mountain (Lutherock) – Walk through the nature preserve with a naturalist to learn about conservation of the area and animals. Then enjoy the view from the top.

For more information about a LEAP, visit our website. In the menu on the left, click on the link that says “LEAP”. We hope to see you on the mountain soon!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Lutheranch, Count Us In!

“Count us in!”
“Thanks for inviting us to ‘sample’ Lutheranch! What a wonderful afternoon! It was just absolutely perfect – nice drive out, incredible setting and the current facilities are very nice and more than adequate for immediate use- that was a surprise…love the screened porch, dock etc. Can’t get over the 2 lakes. "
"Getting us out onto the land makes all the difference too. One can see videos, lovely brochures, but to see the scope and beauty is what it’s all about. Count us in!!!!”
A Lutheranch Guest

Congregations throughout the southeast are being counted! About three years ago, Lutheridge+Lutherock Ministries launched the Foundations for Faith Campaign: The Challenge. Part of this campaign helped with the purchasing of a little over 500 acres along the Alabama/Georgia state line. Lutheranch is LLMI’s third site for learning, renewal, and outreach to continue the mission of LLMI to provide times and places apart. In an area where the Lutheran Church is growing, Lutheranch will serve campers, congregations, and groups throughout the southeast, especially those in the Southeastern Synod. Have you seen Lutheranch? Have you heard? Have you been counted?

The Challenge campaign has reached $3.3 million in cash and pledges toward the $3.5 million campaign goal and a $4.9 million stretch goal! Many donors and campaign volunteers have accomplished this great achievement. To date 91 congregations have participated in a congregational campaign.

We are grateful to the many that have helped Lutheranch become a reality. Gifts to The Challenge campaign enabled the purchase of this land. What a blessing!

Everyone’s participation does make all the difference! Christian camping and retreating make a huge difference in the lives of young and old! Spirits are renewed through the ministries of Lutheridge, Lutherock, and Lutheranch.

For the guest who wrote to us, and for many like her, Lutheranch is a dream come true, as camping and retreating will be made available for more people young and old.

Now as we move forward, we need others to participate in this historic and exciting opportunity. Libby Bedenbaugh, congregational campaign director, is eager to work with and help remaining congregations run a successful campaign. Every congregation’s strong participation is needed if we are to reach our goal for Lutheranch.

Let us “COUNT YOU IN!” For more information about Lutheranch and the Foundations for Faith Campaign: the Challenge, please visit our website: www.lutheranch.com.