Junior High Snow Camp
(grade 5-8)
January 24-26, 2025
Arrival: 7:00pm Friday
Departure: 11:00am Sunday
Junior High Snow Camp
(grades 5-8)
January 24-26, 2025
Arrival: 7:00pm Friday
Departure: 11:00am Sunday
weekend worship
2025 Theme: What is God doing?
If we emphasize a different word each time we say that phrase, we can start to get at some of the questions that I believe all of us ask ourselves at times. This year’s theme will focus on who God is and what God is doing in and around us. By paying attention to a few key attributes of God, we’ll hopefully leave with a deeper sense of how God is at work in us and in the world, in ways that are relevant and trustworthy, even when things are difficult. Some scriptures we’ll explore include: Gen. 1, Exodus 16, Romans 8: 31-39, and more.
2025 Resource: Julie Lehman
I’m a Virginia-born Kansan with a spirit home in the Pacific Northwest. For the last 18 years, I’ve provided therapy as a clinical social worker to youth, young adults and adults. Prior to that, I spent 5 years in Student Development at the high school and college levels. Hesston is home for me, and I live there with my husband Todd, daughters Eliya and Aria, and our goofball dog Journey. Time is meaningful for me when I can experience some of these things: activity and movement, travel, silence, creativity, and friends. Human curling is my favorite snow camp activity. It would be the tube run, but that climb up the hill…..
Julie Lehman
2025 Music: Eli Regier
Eli Regier (he/him) is a Sr. Music Ed. major at Bethel College and attends First Mennonite Church in Newton, KS. His favorite Snow Camp activities include the tube run, human curling, and, of course, singing! Eli served on summer staff as the worship lead in 2021 and 2022, and is coming back for his 3rd Junior High Snow Camp in a row.
Eli Regier
2025 Program Dir. Derek Klingenberg & Andrew Graber
Derek comes to us from the plains of KS where you can find him on the family farm or the world wide web . . . or even here at Rocky Mountain for Snow Camp season. He’s delightfully created the following snow camp video with the help of snow camp participants.
Derek Klingenberg
Andrew is a Senior Business major at Bethel College and has been making the drive across the plains of western Kansas and eastern Colorado for the past two years for both Jr.High and Sr.High snow camps! (Most known as the Photographer with a mean broomball shot) He is returning this past semester from Washington, DC, taking classes through Eastern Mennonite University w/ an intership program. Andrew has been a part of the RMMC ministry as a staff member in various roles for the past 9 years. Last summer Andrew served with Naomi Kratzer and Sophie Chindamo as Summer Program Directors.
Andrew Graber
Activities
A few examples of the activities participants can experience as part of retreat. View camp activities page.
Broomball
A combination of hockey, soccer, but not baseball is the best way to describe broomball. Camp provides brooms, goals, helmets and balls to be enjoyed on the pond. Helmets are required to insure everyones safety while playing. View broomball guidelines.
Curling
New for the 2022 winter season, curling is a sport in which players slide stones on a sheet of ice toward a target area which is segmented into four concentric circles referred to as the “house”. Shuffleboard is a related game. View curling guidelines.
Human Curling (An RMMC Original)
A combination of traditional curling and the full contact of bumper cars is Human Curling. Camp provides the ice (otherwise known as the “sheet” in curling terms) and tubes. View human curling guidelines.
Snowshoeing
Camp has a set of 12 snowshoes available for winter hiking. A good pair of snow-boots are recommended to keep your feet dry while exploring in the snow.
Tubing
During the winter months the chapel side is transformed into a winter wonderland. Starting 100ft up the chapel hill the tube run sends you across the river and to the ballfield. An exhilarating ride to start your day. Camp provides tubes and maintains the run to ensure the safety of riders. View tubing guidelines.
See more photos and videos from previous years on our Facebook page.
registration fees
Online registration opens one year prior to the retreat and is available for parents to register their child listing the youth group they plan to attend with. Payment can be offered d as a group by the youth leader or individually by participants.
Online registration opens one year prior to the retreat and is available for parents to register their child listing the youth group they plan to attend with. Payment can either be offered as a group by the youth leader or individually by participants.
good rate
After January 1
$165
Better rate
By January 1
$155
Best rate
By December 1
$145
optional Friday supper
$8
NOTE: For convenience to those travling from afar, youth groups are welcome to arrive earlier and join us for supper. See retreat schedule.
Registration Information
Group Registration
While youth groups come and participate in the retreat as a group, the registration process is done individually via the “REGISTER NOW” link for all camp program registrations. This allows participants to provide emergency contact, dietary and waiver/release information along with a portal to upload required documentation. As a part of your online registration, you will be required to select (or enter if not already listed) the name of the church youth group you are attending.
Individual payment – Families can choose to pay by eCheck (ACH), credit card or check (mailed in). If the church is covering the registration fee, please select “Pay in full by check” payment option as the church funds will be applied to the individual youth group accounts.
Church payment – Youth groups can pay by check on behalf of the youth who are attending with the funds allocated to those youth who have individually registered.
Individual Registration
While Snow Camp participation is geared toward youth groups with youth sponsors who supervise the youth, individuals not already part of an attending youth group may join in the following ways:
Option 1 – Attend with a parent or adult mentor who would supervise the participant.
Option 2 – Attend with a youth group if the participant has a connection (i.e. friends of youth group member AND the youth leader is willing/able to invite them. A 1 adult sponsor to 5 youth participant ration is requested.
Option 3 – Camp is looking into provide adult staff to serve as a sponsor (similar to summer camp counselor) for youth who may not be part of a church youth group. Please contact camp for interest and availability as we work towrad avoiding this being a barrier for youth to enjoy and experience a Snow Camp program.
Deposit
A $25 non-refundable deposit is required at registration. This represents our promise to save you a space to attend (and turn away others as necessary) in exchange for your promise to come! If a retreat is cancelled, all participants are offered to forward their deposit to a future program or receive a full refund.
Payments
Payment options available include payment in full, deposit with remaining balance due at the retreat, or deposit and remaining balance paid in monthly installments prior to the retreat. We accept cash, checks or credit cards.
Scholarships
Scholarship funds are available to help ensure that finances are not a barrier to attending camp. For scholarship assistance please contact the Executive Director, Corbin Graber (719-687-9506 or [email protected]).
Schedule & Information
Retreat Schedule
FRIDAY
4:00-7:00pm – Early check in for travelers
5:30pm – Early supper for travelers
———-
7:00pm – Retreat check in
7:30pm – Welcome, orientation
8:00pm – Worship
8:30pm – Mixer Games
9:00pm – Free time / Snack / Sponsor Meeting (Zurich DH)
10:00pm – In cabins
10:30pm – Lights out
SATURDAY
8:00-8:30am – Breakfast (prayer & announcements @ seconds time)
9:00am – Worship & small group time
10:30am – Free Time Activities:
- Broomball Tournament
- Human Curling
- Tube Run
12:30-1:00pm – Lunch (prayer & announcements @ seconds time)
2:00pm – MennOlympics: Meet in Zurich for opening ceremonies
3:00pm – Free time activities:
- Tube run
- Broomball, human curling, curling (pond)
- Snowshoe hike on Old Wagon Road (Bern DH)
- Hike to Monkey Rock (Bern DH)
- Fox & Geese game (Rec Field)
4:30pm – Free time activities:
- Human Dutch Blitz (Zurich or Chapel)
- Indoor tournaments, Craft activity (Bern DH)
- Friendship Bracelets (Bern DH)
5:00pm – Trading Post (ofice foyer)
5:30-6:00pm – Supper (prayer & announcements @ seconds time)
7:00pm – Worship & small group time
8:00pm – Trading Post (office foyer)
8:30pm – Group Activity (Zurich)
9:30pm – S’mores and free time, games in Bern Room
10:00pm – In cabins
10:30pm – Lights out
SUNDAY
8:00am – Continental Breakfast (come & go), pack-up & tidy-up accommodations
8:45am – All Camp Group Photo (gather @ Bern DH)
9:00am – Worship & small group time w/ retreat evaluations
10:30am – Brunch (prayer & announcements @ seconds time)
11:00am – Trading Post (office foyer)
11:30am Farewell
Come join us for summer camp, volunteer, next year’s snow camp or snow camp program assistant!
Winter Driving Conditions
Be aware that road conditions are a direct result of changing weather conditions (snow, melting and freezing temperatures). While we plow the road to camp and to facilities, plan for the conditions to be snow packed and slick. Four-wheel drive vehicles and two-wheel drive vehicles with chains or bands are recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring to camp?
- Warm winter clothing (snow coat, pants & boots)
- Bedding/sleeping bag and pillow
- Towel & bathroom items
- Bible
- Water bottle
- Camera (optional)
- Spending money for the Trading Post (optional)
What should I NOT bring to camp?
- Pets (large or small)
- Firearms
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Illicit drugs
- Marijuana
- Dirt bikes
- Firework
- Four Wheelers
- Drones
Do you have wi-fi or cell phone reception?
A wi-fi signal is in various locations around camp. Because of camp’s remote location and availability of high internet speeds, video or music streaming is not available. While cell phone reception is limited at main camp a land line phone is available in the office lobby.
As part of Snow Camp, we ask youth and sponosors to not be on devices during the weekend to better enjoy the relationships being built with each other during the retreat.
What foodservice is offered? Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?
Camp is pleased to offer a great selection of food choices which include a main dish option, vegetarian option, salad (lunch & supper), and dessert (lunch & supper). Cold beverages (water, orange, apple, grape, crabapple) and hot beverages (coffee, tea, hot chocolate) are also provided.
As much as possible, the camp will accommodate dietary restrictions. An option will be given to list all of your dietary restrictions during registration. We cannot accommodate dietary preferences.
RMMC is not a peanut/nut free location since we serve a variety of campers and guest groups utilizing their own kitchen facilities.
Do you have to be Mennonite to attend camp?
While teachings during the retreat are Bible-based and from a Mennonite perspective, campers of all faiths are respected and welcome to attend.