The Youth Endowment is money invested to produce interest to use for youth programming. Beginning with seed money from the large gift of a few years ago, generous members have raised the youth endowment to $12,500. The more money we have in the fund, the more interest will be available to use for youth programming, one of the areas of the church targeted by the visioning task force. The more we put in the youth endowment, the bigger we can dream. And best of all, any money we put in the youth endowment now will benefit our kids next year — and the year after that, and the year after that, and on and on.

Five years ago, a group of youth and adults from our congregation traveled to Nicaragua to learn more about life in a less developed nation. We visited women’s co-ops, learned from young people who had conducted literacy campaigns in the countryside, and worked alongside Nicaraguans constructing a community center and school. The kids from both countries quickly overcame language barriers, making friends, dancing, playing baseball, and eating together. As hoped, several of the youth who are now in college still talk about the experience and the profound influence on their lives . . . as do the adults!

It’s time to start planning another Youth Mission Trip. Our first informational meeting for anyone interested in the trip was after church on Sunday, December 2 in the church offices. Participants will be middle school and high school youth, and adults. However, middle school participants will need to be accompanied on the trip a by a parent. Please stay tuned for more about this exciting adventure.

Camp Mimanagish

Camp Mimanagish is in the heart of the Abasaroka Wilderness 40 miles due south of Big Timber, Montana. The camp is close to the beautiful Boulder River deep in the Boulder Valley. Mimanagish is the “place of the singing water” and is a camp run by the Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference of the United Church of Christ. For more information go to www.campmimanagish.org.

Here’s the schedule for summer 2010. The grade groupings are based on what grade the child will be in the fall of 2010.

• July 13-17 3-4 grade camp
• July 18-24 5-6 grade camp
• July 25-31 10, 11, and 12 grade camp
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• August 1-7 7, 8 and 9 grade camp

Camp N-Sid-Sen

N-Sid-Sen is a year-round camp and conference center located on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene in northern Idaho. The name comes from a phrase of the Coeur d'Alene native people meaning "Point of Inspiration". This incredibly beautiful site includes 270 acres and almost a mile of shore line.

• June 27-30 Kids Camp (2, 3, 4 grades)
• July 5-11 Intermediate Camp (grades 5, 6)
• July 11-17 Senior Aqua Camp (grades 10, 11, 12)
• August 1-7 Jr. High Aqua Camp (grades 7, 8, 9)