Working on the Roofs!

Taking advantage of warm December days our roofers are busy getting the new roof on Cabin 6 - they have Cabin 5 stripped and ready to go next. Hopefully, by next week we will have all 6 cabins and the staff cabin reroofed! Here are a couple of pictures of the work in progress.

Upper Creak Clean Out

A bonus during the sewer project was that the upper creek area (lake) got cleaned out - the rock was used in the sewer project! They took about 12 truck loads of gravel out! Doesn't it look beautiful?

Fall Fun at Camp

Fairview Heights had a fall retreat at camp a couple weekends ago! What a great way to spend a fall weekend!

Fall Retreat at Ne-O-Tez

This past weekend the Twin City congregation rented camp for a family retreat. Did you know camp is available for rental on the weekends? For more information see the camp website at www.neotez.org We have several more retreats coming up this fall. From the pictures that Bill has taken it looks like they had a marvelous time.

Shellie Shadduck serving in the kitchen -

Shellie also cooked and taught Bible at camp this summer!

Doesn't the fire look cozy!?! Hayride FUN!

Sewer Reservoir Tanks Installed

These couple of pics from Bill Moody are of one of the new reservoir tanks and the filtering box filled with gravel and sand. Things are progressing nicely. We have retreats scheduled the next couple of weekends at camp - fall is a beautiful time to be in the valley!

Sewer Project 70% Done!

UPDATE: These pictures are of the septic sand/gravel filtering box. They are taken about 100 feet behind the ballfield campsite and almost 200 feet up in the woods toward Inspiration Point.

Jon is reporting that the sewer system at camp is about 70% done. This is a huge project for camp. Here are a couple pictures from this week's work - thanks Mr. Moody!

Construction Pics from Bill

Sewer System Progress Continues ..

Bill Moody sends us a couple of pictures of work on the sewer system - they are continuing to make good progress. The past couple of weekends have seen retreats at Ne-O-Tez and more are upcoming. Fall is a great time to take a drive to Ne-O-Tez!

Exciting Progress at Camp

This may not be too much to look at but wow it has been a long time coming! This is the start of the "big dig" for the sewer project. The dig started at the pine lodge and is down to the ball field!

Marlin and his buddy, Sam from Australia are checking out the shingles that were delivered to camp today. All the cabins and staff cabin are getting new roofs!

Announcing the 2009 Camping Schedule

CAMP NE-O-TEZ
2009 Camping Schedule

June 7-9 PreCamp (Kdg – 2nd grade)
Marlin Henley
June 14-20 10th – 12th grade
Steve Awtrey
June 21-27 6th – 8th Grade
Jimmy Teigen
June 28–July 4 8th – 10th grade
Walter Pierce
July 5-11 All Ages (3rd-8th grade COED)
Tim Ruiz
July 12-18 3rd – 5th Grade BOYS
Joe Taylor/Edward Tritschler
July 19-25 3rd – 5th Grade GIRLS
Ron Burge


Other Key Dates:

March 27, 2009 Camp Ne-O-Tez Annual Dinner
Holman Middle School
Mike Runcie, Speaker

April 26, 2009 Staff Training
Maryland Heights

September 13, 2009 Teen Sand Volleyball Tournament
Maryland Heights

Volleyball Tournament Fun

Sunday, September 7th was the Annual Sand Volleyball tournament. Thanks to the 20 teams who competed - we had a blast. The weather was great, lots of kids hangin' out and all for a good

cause - Camp Ne-O-Tez!

Thanks to the area wide youth ministers who get their kids there and then help with the event. We couldn't do it without you. A special thanks to Dave Berry for his coordination of the event!

The color of the day was "GREEN" !

While waiting for their team to play the kids hang out, play cards, chat, eat, listen to music, etc.
We also appreciate the support we get from our camp board members and their families.

Ed and Karen (above) Desiree and Kay (below)

Thanks to all of you who helped make this event a success!

Volleyball Tournament - September 7th

The Annual Sand Volleyball Tournament for Camp Ne-O-Tez is Sunday, Sept 7th. We will have teens competing in both the middle school and high school divisions. It is an opportunity for kids to get to hang out, have fun, and raise some $ for camp. The tournament begins at 2 pm at Maryland Heights Church of Christ, 107 Midland Avenue. The concession stand opens at noon - you won't find better or more reasonable prices anywhere. Here are a few pics from the 2007 tourney:

Dan and JD grilling those hamburgers, hot dogs, and brats!

Geri and Diane making those ever so popular sno-cones!
If you need info to register your team call Dave at 314.739.8656. See you there!

Save the Date - March 27, 2009

Camp Ne-O-Tez Annual Dinner
March 27, 2009
Speaker: MIKE RUNCIE
Location: Holman Middle School

Make plans now to attend this special evening!

Reflections from Bill and Sherri Moody

Loved Ones,

From the bench overlooking Crystal Falls this afternoon we heard the silence of His valley.
Yet the silence was filled with His breath and the cardinals song from the limbs above did
accompany the melody of spring water and wind in the trees.

Memories and melancholia sing their songs in moments like these. The last summer camp
session ended yesterday, but the children's laughter and songs still linger in the breeze. They
came by the hundreds with many showing worry and trouble on their brows. They left way to
soon with smiles, tears and changed hearts full of life long memories. Many are the sounds
coming up from the waters below Crystal Falls that tell the old old story of repentant hearts and
sins being washed clean.

That was yesterday and just now we heard the opening of church van doors above us. The
sounds of children rushing to Crystal Creek are back for the first August youth retreat. Thank
you Father for the gift of this special valley called Ne-O-Tez. Thank you to all the loved ones
that have worked and sacrificed for over 40 years to keep these sounds and dreams alive.

We believe in the Book of Life. All of you that have supported this great work for children
have had another special entry written into the pages of your Book of Life. When these
entries are read on that special day, He will smile. We love and appreciate you.

God Bless You,

bro bill & sis share
Ne-O-Tez for Christ

How Sweet it is . . .

A father getting ready to baptize his daughter in Crystal Falls.

News and Fun from the Boys Week

Check out Terri (Tritschler) Taylor and her daughter, Kelsey Taylor's blog - they have a great couple of posts about boys week at Ne-O-Tez. Here is the link to click on for their blog: http://terriandkelsey.blogspot.com/

Sunday, August 3rd begins the Urban Mission Week at camp. This is campers of all ages from the North City church. Please be praying for them as they experience a week at Ne-O-Tez.

3 - 5th Girls 7/20-26

Sunday we began the 3 - 5th grade girls camp directed by Ron Burge. Ron has been directing for at least 17 years - wow! It was a very hot start with 56 campers but the girls were so excited to see each other and settle in their cabins. The creek was a popular place to cool off!

Check in time is always busy and it is fun to watch the Mothers dropping off their campers and then realizing the other Moms dropping off their daughters were their cabinmates at Ne-O-tez years ago!Ron with the Bible teachers, Shellie and Karen. They have some incredible things planned for the girls this week.

3 - 5th Grade Boys Week - July 13-19

Last week we had a marvelous session with 45 3rd - 5th grade boys led by Joe Taylor and Ed Tritschler!

Looks like they had a blast with the watermelon crawl and Skit Night!

How about this fine pair of directors?

Karen - thanks for the pictures. Anyone have a great pic or two of camp you'd like to share on the blog send to campneotez@gmail.com and we will work on publishing them over the next several weeks. Be sure and send the week they were taken and a brief description.

All Ages - 3rd - 8th Grade

Things are great at Camp Ne-O-Tez. This session has 73 campers led by Tim Ruiz and his staff. They are divided into 8 color teams and each camper was sporting a "rag" tied on somewhere with their team color. You could tell they were proud of their team. Sunday night they had the Ruiz Fireworks Extravaganza! Friday night they are having a picnic at Hillsoboro Park and then coming back to camp for "Hey" Rides! Director Tim Ruiz and Dave B. They have worked together at camp for several years.

Lo-Teen Week

Dinner at Lo-Teen Session on Tuesday evening was Mexican night. The campers and staff were creating quite the mexican masterpieces! Megan was celebrating her 17th birthday!
Exciting news out of Camp on Thursday evening that two were getting ready to be baptized! This will make 12 baptisms already this summer. Our mission "Training Youth to Walk with Christ".

URGENT NEED FOR A GUY COUNSELOR

All Ages Week - July 6-12th is in critical need of a boy counselor(need to be 16 or older). Please contact Tim Ruiz, 618-458-7202 if you can help. A counselor had to cancel and Tim urgently needs a guy.

Middle School Week

This week is Middle School Week. Jimmy Teigen is directing this session and has 82 campers in the valley! Things were going great. Keep them in your prayers this week.