Growing Together: Property Updates, Playgroup Refresh, Scouts, and Summer Camp

Growing Together

Property Updates, Playgroup Refresh, Scouts, and Summer Camp

Open garage with painting supplies, a ladder outside, and sunlight illuminating a brick wall and driveway.

Property Update

Thank you to the members of the Property Team who work tirelessly to maintain our property with an endless list of repairs and updates. This is a quiet ministry that manages one project at a time. The team recently painted the soffits and cleaned up the church entrance.

Children’s paintings hang on a string under a sign that reads, "This classroom is better with you in it.

PROPERTY TEAM AND COMMUNITY GROUP UPDATE

This spring and summer the Family Circle Playgroup is undertaking a multiple projects to refresh the classrooms in the Education Wing to prepare for new families to join us in the next few years. The Family Circle Playgroup is a non-profit, parent-led playgroup of children from ages 12 months to 5 years. The homeschool extension provides afternoon classes twice weekly for children ages 5 to 8 years old, offering a cooperative learning environment where parents lead educational blocks like science, history, and electives.

A dedicated team of families conducted a week-long deep cleaning of each classroom after Easter in preparation for its annual Open House. Toys and equipment are being refreshed. Walls were washed; closets cleaned; windows and window wells washed; items sorted, and bulletin boards and wall art updated. This summer the group hopes to repaint the classrooms and continue other updates. The group worked with Steve Cathcart of the property team and Minister of Communication Mary VanOsten to plan the reorganization and rehousing of Sunday School supplies for now. These projects were also initiated in anticipation of possible future facilities projects in the education wing.

A group of scouts and leaders in uniform pose together onstage in a gym or hall.

SCOUTING AMERICA TROOP 4042

Scouting America Troop 4042, formerly known as Boy Scout Troop 42 had a successful spring. The Scouts held a successful recruitment drive and have grown to 21 scouts this spring. The Troop’s annual flower and vegetable sale sold more than $11,000 in orders. The sale offsets troop expenses. They camped at Gettysburg this spring; will be touring Independence Hall and the Trenton State House; and planning multiple camping trips and merit badge requirements this summer.

Four smiling teenagers with arms around each other celebrate outside at Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center.

CROSS ROADS SUMMER CAMP

Cross Roads is a welcoming and inclusive community providing life-changing and sacred adventures for renewal, growth, and joy. The retreat center offers sleep over and day camp programs for youth throughout the summer, as well as family camping weekends and retreats. Located on Pleasant Grove Road in Port Murray, Hunterdon County, the camp sits on land that is part of the traditional territory of the Lenni-Lenape, called “Lenapehoking.” For more information about summer camp opportunities, visit the website at www.crossroadsretreat.com