Work Day

Ligonier Camp's work day is taking place this Saturday, November 7, 2009 from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. We're working on getting the facilities ready for winter, and welcome willing volunteers for a great day of work - and delicious meals prepared by our chef, April. Any and all are welcome (kids, too, if they're ready to help!). Please call us at 724-238-6428 x 110 if you're interested in coming.

Thanks, everyone!

Thank you to everyone who made this weekend's events so successful and enjoyable. Our Dining Hall Dedication went off without a hitch, with beautiful music provided by Jim Paul, Stef Walker, and Brian Jinks, as well as a wonderful message from Pastor Tom Hall. And there's not enough to be said about April Pasternak's delicious food, from artichoke chicken pizza to spicy-sweet meatballs. How wonderful to spend time in our new dining hall, enjoying the fall scenery and the company of all those who prayed for the building process!
On Monday, our Golf outing had more than 90 golfers, as well as beautiful weather and awesome prizes. Thanks to all the Ligonier merchants who willingly provided gifts and services for the event - you made the event! With everything from gift cards to Betsy's to a meal at the Tavern to a Ruthie's t-shirt and ball cap set, the golfers in attendance went home laden with great gifts.

Posted Sign Day

Every year, we at LCCC get pumped up for a day full of property management: posted sign day. Usually, this takes an entire day to complete, and this year we have our own 543 acres plus all the land at the new lake property. In order to keep our campers, retreat groups, staff, and local families safe, we spend a full day (and then some) posting signs all around the property notifying everyone of our boundaries and how to get in touch with the camp with any concerns or questions.
With the busy doe season ahead of us, it's only wise to make sure the property lines are clearly marked. And 'Posted Sign Day' has become a favorite because a large group of our staff set out early to enjoy a breakfast at Ruthie's and spend time enjoying the woods. Today's excursion included a baby deer sighting, several handfuls of wild grapes, and probably a few too many encounters with poison ivy. All were a little let down by the summer-like temperatures of the day, but we expect the cool weather to be here all too soon.
Only 364 more days to the next posted sign day!

Garage Sale

Next Friday and Saturday, September 9/25-9/26, Ligonier Camp will be hosting a Fall Garage Sale (or in our case, a "barn" sale). The sale will run from 7 am to noon on Friday and from 7 am until mid-afternoon on Saturday down along Route 711 at the big white barn. All are welcome to check out the variety of items available for sale. All proceeds from the sale benefit the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center ministry.

Do you have things that you would like to donate to the sale? LCCC is currently accepting donations of garage sale items through Thursday, September 24, 2009. Please call ahead so that we can meet you and assist you in unloading your donated items. Our contact at the office is 724-238-6428 - ask for Sheri.

We appreciate your support of the camp throughout the year. We hope to see you all next weekend!

Golf Outing

Coming up on October 5th, Ligonier Camp will again be holding its annual Golf Outing. Imagine the early morning fog lifting over the color-tipped hills of the Laurel Highlands, giving way to a clear, cloudless day where friends come together in support of the Ligonier Camp ministry by enjoying a day on the links. (At least, that's what we're praying for!) The Golf Outing is undoubtedly one of the greatest days of camaraderie and encouragement for the camp and its programs throughout the year.
Are you interested in participating? Ligonier is looking for green sponsors, tee sponsors, golfers, general sponsors, and even prize donations for this year's event. We offer special rates for those serving in ministry careers and even great deals for golfing foursomes!
If you're interest in golfing this year, please visit www.ligoniercamp.org or call the camp at 724-238-6428. We'd love to see you there!

Fort Ligonier Days

Many of you who have been here in the summer are probably curious as to how we are all able to survive the year in a relatively quiet, small town after all the hustle and bustle of summer camp.
Well, I'm going to let you in on a little secret.

Fort Ligonier Days.

Fort Days, as the locals call it, is a chance for everyone in the town of Ligonier to either get out or get pumped for the more than one hundred thousand people that will come into town this weekend. From craft booths to food vendors to strolling musicians, Fort Days provides the opportunity to do what we all love best - wander around eating food and looking at things we don't need. It's also a wonderful chance to catch up with family because the local school district takes a day off, and families can choose to enjoy the day together. While Friday is less crowded, Saturday is the day that takes the cake. From an early morning pancake breakfast to an 11 am parade that lasts two hours to the final cheesecake served from Sand Hill Berries, Saturday is action-packed and entertaining. It's one of the things that makes this town great - and it's wonderful to have so many groups here taking advantage of the facilites that Ligonier Camp has to offer while enjoying one of the great events in the town of Ligonier. If you're in town this weekend, look for some LCCC staff members selling halushki, buffalo burgers, or great crafts as we get in on all the fun.
See you there!

Golf Outing!

The Ligonier Camp Golf Outing is coming up this Monday, October 6, 2008. We have 100 golfers signed up for the event, as well as tons of tee, green and prize sponsors, as well as many caring and generous monetary sponsors. This event is going to be a blast! Skill competitions include: closest to the pin, longest drive, hole in one, and "beat the directors". It should be a great, fun-filled day. The best part? The weatherman is calling for sunny and a high of 72! So not only do we get to celebrate our ministry, but we get to do so in beautiful weather.
If you're coming out Monday, we're looking forward to seeing you!

Posted Sign Day

Hey! One of our favorite days of the fall is "Posted Sign Day". Because we have such an extensive property, and lots of deer, this is a time of year where trespassing is very popular. Since having strangers on property could be a danger to local residents, guests, and employees (not to mention being detrimental to our deer population), we spend a day or two each fall posting signs warning others that they are entering private property and to turn around now. Now, I know it seems like a day of hiking around in the muggy wetness and ripping down old signs while posting new ones would get old, but it is the best. We got to meet some of our neighbors, become more familiar with our property lines, enjoy the beautiful fall colors, see birds all over, and pick delicious wild grapes! It was a great morning for us...not only did we get to enjoy God's creation, but we got to protect our property at the same time.
If you're driving down 711 and you see some shiny new Posted signs, you'll know who put them there! :)

The "Off-season"

Ever wondered what goes on at camp after summer camp is over? After all the cubbies in the KYBO are cleaned out and the cabins are swept and the last dodgeball has been thrown? There are a lot of things that happen, actually. Much of the time is spent getting buildings and grounds ready for winter so that they stay in great shape for the next summer. Some building are used year-round for retreats - the girls kybo becomes one side girls, one side boys, the HPC becomes a bunkhouse, the infirmary becomes a house with bunkbeds, a kitchen, and a living room, and the Coleman Cottage is dressed up and ready for visitors.
Also, the fun adventure activities campers do in the summer continue to happen year-round. In the fall, groups of kids and adults will come to do initiatives, caving, climbing, high ropes, low ropes, zipline, and even the Vomit Comet! When it gets chilly out, we layer our clothes and put out some burn barrels so people can warm their hands. It's so fun to see everyone from a seventh-grade class to a group of lawyers try the pamper jump!
While it's never the same without campers around, camp is still a fun place to be. Plus, if campers were here ALL the time, what would any of us have to look forward to? See you for Winterpalooza in December, campers! Registrations will be ready soon.

It's that time of year!

Howdy, fellow Ligonier Camp friends! We're getting to the time of year where the Laurel Highlands are absolutely beautiful. It's just the best place to be, and we're all thankful for the chance to work at such a wonderful piece of God's creation. I just wanted to let you all know about some pretty great things that happen up in this area in the fall:

First things first, there are tons of farmer's markets in this area, with local farmers and vendors supplying everything from fresh tomatoes, pumpkins, apples, and flowers to homemade crafts, foliage arrangements, pies, jams, jellies, and more. And since next week is "Buy Local PA" week, it's a great time to get out and try some local fare. The weekly Ligonier Country Market is Saturday morning from 8 am until noon.

There are two weekends left for the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival held in West Newton, just under an hour from Ligonier Camp. The Renaissance festival is a great chance to experience the culture of the Renaissance while trying everything from turkey legs to jousting!

Many local towns and farms celebrate fall festivals, including folk music, Victorian home tours, ethnic celebrations, fall foliage drives, apple-picking, food vendors, arts and crafts, parades and more! Some locations include: Scottsdale, PA; Smicksburg, PA; Mount Pleasant, PA; Ebensburg, PA; Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, PA; Faranda Farm in Hollsopple, PA; Springs, PA; and Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Seven Springs, PA.

Finally (and my personal favorite), Ligonier Fort Days take place the weekend of October 10-12. This celebration takes the town of Ligonier from a population of 1611 (per a July 2007 survey) to over 100,000 people for the weekend. The festival includes a Friday kick-off at noon in the heart of town, with food vendors and craft vendors aplenty (just a tip: Ligonier locals get great deals in downtown shops on Thursday, October 9). The festival offers tours of Fort Ligonier, reenactments, a Saturday parade, and cuisine from buffalo burgers to halushki to funnel cakes supreme. You can't miss it!

If you've ever though about bringing a group of friends or family to enjoy the Laurel Highlands, make sure to give the camp a call! We have housing for all kinds of groups, and would love to accomodate your time enjoying all the Highlands have to offer. Feel free to call and request a tour, if your child is considering a week or two at summer camp in 2009.