November 2016 Camptown Board of

Directors

Jeff O’Barr

Board Chair

NCAA

Allen Still

Vice Chair

Clifton Larson Allen, LLP

Andy Litke

Secretary / Treasurer

Wilhelm Construction

Don Schafer

President

Camptown, Inc.

Kent Grubaugh

Past Board Chair

Custom Cast Stone

Bob Adler

Comprehensive Pharmacy

Services

Jeff Beck

Faeger Baker Daniels

Bob Clark

Taft Law

Nichole Haberlin

Noblesville Parks &

Recreation

Jessica Krug

Office of the Attorney

General

Mike Mumau

SEP

Brent Holmes

Huntington Bank

Erin Pattee

IU Health Riley

Eric Richmond

ICW Group Insurance

Andrew Quinnette

BKD

Greg Schrage

Church Church Hittle &

Antrim

Brett Schwab

Element Three

Measurements of Success—by Don Schafer I get asked frequently how we measure success. When answering this ques-tion I can point to all the numbers you want. I am a numbers guy. I can show you that this year 92% of our participants reported growth in leadership, 97% reported improved teamwork, 95% reported improved confidence, and 95% reported increased respect for others. I can tell you that during the past 25 years we have served over 25,000 young people, or that we provide financial assistance to over 90% of our participants. I can show you that this year 96% of our adult partners would recommend a Camptown program. I can also point to the studies that support the benefits of getting kids outdoors.

• Children that live in neighborhoods with access to green spaces have lower body weight changes –Bell and colleagues, 2009 IUPUI Students who participate in a week long outdoor wilderness experience show increased mastery of science concepts; enhanced cooperation and conflict resolution skills, gains in self-esteem, positive environmental behavior, problem-solving skills, increased motivation to learn, and improved classroom behavior -The American Institutes for Research® • Teens who take part in outdoor experiences were found to improve self-esteem, self- confidence, independence, and initiative. -1998 study by Dr. Stephen R. Kellert of Yale University

But the real measure comes in the life stories we get to share in. These are the moments where our lives intersect. It may be while hiking in a local park, backpacking in the backcountry, sitting around the campfire, or just taking a rest after climbing at The CRUX. This may be the first time anyone has really listened to them, cared for them, shown God’s love to them. (All of the names be-low have been changed.)

Kathrine was a girl in one of our Pathfinders program. She was sexually abused by her mother’s live in boyfriend. He was doing time for his crime, but mom intended to bring him back into the home when he got out. Kathrine was a perpetual runaway. Can you blame her? Felipe was from a first generation family from Mexico. His mother and father do not speak English. He lives in an area of town where 1 in 4 children will not have two meals a day. Hope, is a girl from a rural area of Central Indiana that lives with her mom. She has cognitive and behavior issues and is growing up in a family under the poverty level. She is more likely to be a welfare recipient than

the average girl her age. Two sisters we met in Mississippi living in a children’s emergency shelter. They were taken from their mother because they tested positive for pot. They were 10 & 13 years old. Sam, a 14 year old boy who got into some trouble at school and was referred to the county court. Camptown helped him through this period in life and he did not return to the system. Juan, a 16 year old boy who lives with his mother, brother, half-brother, half-sister and her baby in a two bedroom apartment. At the age of 3 he watched his Uncle get shot and was himself wounded in the knee. What we do for these young people during our time with them is the real measure of success. Thank you for being a part of these success stories. As we start to close out this year and look to the beginning of a new year, we are excited to see what stories God will bring to us and how He will use us to make an impact in their lives.

Camptown Compass 2

Camptown Wilderness Adventure Clubs by Trey Clayton

Wilderness adventure clubs are after school clubs that meet every week school is in session. In addition, we take four field trips during the year to our local State Parks. We are currently in 7 area schools. Recently, at one of our schools, we were discuss-ing the concept of the Leave No Trace principle Leave What you Find; in which you do exactly as the name suggests, when out in the wilderness - you leave nature where you find it. A rock may be pretty, or a branch may make a great walking stick, but it is always better to leave it where it lies. To illustrate the point, the group was given a large red wooden puzzle to put together. Each student was handed a piece and in-

structed to work as a team. Brad in particular stepped up and started leading the other students as they put their pieces in place. While the students continued their project, the lead teacher informed us that Brad had a terrible day at school and almost lost his Wilderness Adventure Club privileges this week. She was excited to be able to tell his teachers about his behavior reversal at Club! In fact, he continued being a shining example, even as a couple other students tried to stir the nest and disrupt the puzzle project.

Camptown Annual Dinner & Silent Auction Was a Success Thank you to everyone that helped make our 25th Anniversary Dinner and Silent Auction a success. The evening began with some friendly bidding during our si-lent auction and the excitement continued with a completive live auction. Thank you to Jeff Rich with Rich Auction Services for donating his time and talent as our Auctioneer. He did a good job getting the bidding going in a very enter-

taining way. Jeff Allen our comedian this year was a hit! His stories come from real life experi-ences we can all relate to. Thank you to Lauren Lowrey with WISHTV 8 for serving as our Emcee. She always does such a nice job. Also, special thanks to Filson Earthwork Company, Inc. our presenting sponsor and Kaleidoscope Counseling our dessert sponsor, and all of our table sponsors. With our attendance and sup-port we were able to raise net proceeds of $42,340 that will go di-rectly to support Camptown programs.

Camptown Van Gets a New Look Camptown is very well known in the local youth serving community. But, in the broader community not as well. Over the past 25 years our focus has been, and will continue to be, to put our resources to work for the benefit of our children. To help make Camptown be recognizable in the community and expand our volunteer and support resources, we are dressing up one of our vans. If you see us on the road we are likely on our way to meet with a group of student or have one on board. Give us a wave!

Camptown Compass 3

Giving Tuesday

During this season of thanksgiving and sharing please consider a gift to Camptown. We use your gifts to make a big impact right here in Central Indiana. All of our staff are involved in programing and are dedi-cated to making a difference in the lives of children. To make giving simple you can make a gift online, text GIVE to 317-644-3266, or send a check to the address below. November 29th is Giving Tuesday. Help us

make a difference in the lives of local youth.

7998 Georgetown Road, Suite 700, Indianapolis, IN 46268

In Their Own Words The following comes from a student from one of our Wilderness Adventure Club afterschool programs:

We started to walk on the path into the woods. I was really excited to see the Devil’s Backbone because it sounded fun. We were walking more and more and we crossed some tall, spiky trees, White Snake roots, and a shallow river filled with fish. After we got past all those, there it was, the Devil’s Backbone. It looked scary as heck because it was tall and thin and it dropped off on both sides. We went up a trail that had a lot of rocks. We were about 500 feet in the air when we got to the top. I was trembling so much you could call me a speaker at volume 100. At the top it was very tall and in front of us was a thin

walkway about 2 feet thin. I was not ready for this at all. I walked across it and was looking only in front of me. I don’t know why but I looked down and I about passed out. It was so dang high! In my mind I was thinking, “why did I just do that?” I was at the end and we had to go down the world’s most annoying path, the great rocky path is what I called it. It was filled with bumpy and spiky rocks almost everywhere! When we walked down I was more annoyed than I was scared. My feet hurt and I could not deal with the pain. We kept on walking when we came across a giant sandstone wall that was really wide and tall. We took pictures around it and let me tell you, that wall was amazing because it looked like moon rock and was tall. We walked back on the path to get back to our cars. But halfway through it I found a hat and yelled out, “leave no trace!” When I got back to the car I yelled out, “anyone lose a hat?!” John’s brother said, “that is my hat,” The parents thanked me and walked back to there car. Mr. Trey told us we were going to another part of the park. We walked through the path when we came to the end of it. There was a ledge that we could walk on. I went on it and I was astonished. It was too fan-tastic. There was yellow, red, and orange leaves on the trees, and some white trees with no leaves. That was the end of the trip and let me tell you that it was an amazing experience. It was scary at some points and fun at other points. But after all the most fun part was the scariest part. The Devil’s Backbone.

Camptown Compass 4

For more information on these programs, please contact Trey Clayton , CRUX & Facility Manger at trey.clayton@camptown.net

CRUX Birthday Party

It is time for your child’s birthday again!

Climbing at The CRUX at Camptown will cre-

ate a memory they will be talking about for

years. With your completely PRIVATE rental

of the CRUX you also get the use our party

room for cake and ice cream. Request your

reservation at http://camptown.net/crux/

crux-groups-gatherings/,

thecrux@camptown.net or 317-471-8277.

Camptown Compass 5

Individuals Adler, Robert Arthur, Alan and Jennifer Bale, James and Mary Ann Barmore, Tanya Beata Lehman Bosserman, Jim Braun, Austin & Brittany Bryant, Damon Budde, Frank and Jenni Butz, Steve and Sha Clark, Bob & Kathy Daugherty, Charles Davison, James and Edith Davison, Scott and Lorraine Desmond, Mark Dick, Andrew and Amanda Dick, Bill Dorsett, David Duggan, Donald Eckart, Scott & Elsa Evans, Susan Exodus Refugee Foley, Rod Freeman, Brent & Alex Freese, Denise & Scott Gerrish, James Henderson, Leslie Hermesch, Chellsey Hoffherr, Kevin Holmes, Brent Hosking, Brian Howard, Pete and Teresa Hughes, Aaron Hutchins, Linda Jack & Karen Miller Living Trust John Pfeffenberger Kelley, Francis Kelly, Jane Kirk, Gregory Kizer, Jon Krug, Jessica & John Krugman, Pat Larowe, Brian Lehman, Beata L'Hote, Tamara Light, Matt Litke, Andy and Valarie Lord, Greg

Foundations Castleton Sertoma Children's Bureau, Inc. Community Foundation of Boone County Indiana Youth Institute Indiana First Lady's Foundation Indianapolis Foundation Lilly Endowment Mark V. Bromund Fund Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Peyback Foundation Speedway Moose Lodge

Luck, Oliver Luskiewicz, Carol Mallory, Eric Marshall, Jeff Mason, John and Kay McCleary, Louise McNeely, Kathleen Miller, Karl and Lynette Miller, Ralph and Katherine Moelk, Jake and Connie Molisee, Bill & Deb Moore, Lee Moran, Mark and Erynne Mullins, Jesse Mumau, Mike Nagy, Kyle Nakanishi, Dana Nowicki, Christopher O'Barr, Jeff and Sara O'Brien, Dave and Lynn O'Keefe, Brock Patel, Raju Pauley, David Potter, Ben & Katie Pumphrey, Brian Quinnette, Andrew Ray, David Reed, Craig Rich, Ron & Judy Richmand, Eric & Caitlin Russell, Mike and Lisa Schafer, Don & Cynthia Schafer, Don Sr. Schneider, Paul and Holly Schrage, Greg Schuster, Nicole Sharpe, Craig and Carol Sheets, Margaret Snodgrass, Mark Stewart, William and Susan Still, Allen & Cami Stone, John Trzandle, Jonathan VanVoorst, Bob and Leanna Waidner, John and Patrice Weiskittel, Kris Wooldridge, Steve and Sabrina Zapp, Keith

Businesses 3 Day Weekend ACES Power Marketing All Trades Staffing, Inc. Arduini, Alan BKD BMO Harris Bank Capstone Wealth Advisors CoBank Custom Cast Stone Darden Deem LLC Delello & Sons EMS F.A. Wilhelm Construction Co., Inc Faegre Baker Daniels Filson Earthwork Company, Inc. Kaleidoscope Counseling Lake City Bank Martin Marrietta Materials Miller Pipeline OneAmerica Software Engineering Professionals Still Farms LLC Transcorr UPS Store Weldy, John Wells Fargo Bank Wilhelm General Contractors

Churches Calvary United Methodist Church Central Christian Church Indiana Conference of UMC

Camptown relies on contributions from individuals, churches, businesses, and foundations to complete its mission. Camptown is a 501(c)(3) and your gift is 100% tax deductible. Thank you to all of you that have supported us this year!

The Camptown Core is your opportunity to join a group of like-minded individuals who want to ensure that programs like Camptown’s continue. On average, it takes $150 to introduce a young person the outdoors through an over-night camping trip. That cost rises to $500 per student on one of our week-long backpacking adventures. With your annual commitment to give $20, $50, $100, or $200 per month, you be making trips like this possible for children in need.

Thank You to our Mt. Everest Sponsors