We were two days in to middle school camp and I had a middle school girl who refused to shower. We’d hiked up the mountain, played various outdoor games, slept in un-insulated cabins, but she wouldn’t budge. She did not want to shower. We all remember middle school. Those awkward days of not knowing your own body well enough to…
The sun creeped over the mountain in front of Rimrock this morning and 13 pairs of sleepy eyes opened in cabins 1, 2, 4 and 5. Today is the first day of Seekers Camp, where children from grades 3-5 are learning about God, themselves and others. After a warm breakfast of scrambled eggs and sausage, the campers and counselors headed…
25
Feb
Hi, my name is Abby, the administrative assistant for Pioneer & Rimrock Camps and Retreat Centers! I’m a 21-year-old college student with more student loans to my name than pennies. I have to check my bank account before I buy groceries. I’m not in a position to spend money on things I don’t need, but I firmly believe that retreats…
17
Feb
By March of every year, almost every midwesterner takes a peek at the weather forecast before bundling in layer after layer to walk outside. We’re all looking for those sweet, two-digit numbers higher than 32. We’re all ready for the days when we can shimmy into our swimsuits, strap on our Chacos and jump in a lake. And all of…
06
Nov
One of our favorite activities during the summer season is the obstacle course. Both of our locations have different challenges on these courses, such as trust falls, balancing platforms and spiderwebs of rope. Although these challenges often look easy at first glance, campers soon discover that they truly are challenges, and they’ll have to tackle them together in order to…
The colors are changing at both of our camp locations this month. Reds have faded to brown and leaves cover the gravel roads. Our evergreens remain true to their name. Just like them, we are striving to remain true to our values and mission at Pioneer & Rimrock Camps and Retreat Centers. The sixth value of our CONNECT acrostic is…
04
Oct
In our jobs and schoolwork or whatever tasks we apply ourselves to, we all strive for excellence. When we’re young, we might be proud when a report card ends up on the fridge or when a teacher congratulates us at a conference. As we move out into the world beyond grade school, report cards and teachers, we strive for excellence…
As fall weather creeps through South Dakota, things are beginning to turn brown, yellow and red. Leaves are falling, animals are storing away for the winter and we’re preparing our hearts for the Christmas season. Counselors have started a yearly tradition of writing Christmas cards to campers they’ve had in their cabins in the summer. The cards are simple and…
04
Sep
Everyone who has been to Pioneer or Rimrock knows what it feels like to wake up there. At Rimrock, the moment you step out of the lodge or your cabin, you can hear the water of Rapid Creek tumbling over the rocks next to the Rec Hall. At Pioneer, you can hear insects buzzing as the sun warms the path…
28
Aug
The start of the school year can be hectic. There’s supplies to buy, clothes to shop for, lunches to pack. Our lives are busy and our responsibilities are often demanding. When we go to camp, it gives us a chance to set those things aside and breathe. That’s the reason many of us are passionate about camp and enjoy it.…