Into the Woods with Curio: Spies at Camp!

Have you ever had the feeling that you are being watched when you are at camp? Do you feel that someone might be spying on you as you go about your day there? God is, thankfully, aware of everything that is going on at camp and knows everyone there. And the staff and fellow campers are watching out for each other, of course.

I’m referring to others that are watching, (and it isn’t with CCTV either).

The wildlife at camp – the birds and mammals and even some frogs and snakes – spy on people more than we know. Why? One reason is that they want to stay out of harm’s way, so they notice where we are in relation to where they are at any given time. Making use of all their senses they watch where we go, hear us as we move about the camp, smell us and our machines and our food, and even sense our movements through the ground when we walk by.

They also notice where we leave things, whether accidentally or on purpose, that might be food. The jay that lands on the deck railing of the tuck shop isn’t dropping in for a social call. It is checking in to see if any food has been dropped on the deck, or left unattended. It looks around thoroughly, tilting its head this way and that, all the while monitoring the whereabouts of any people nearby. If it sees something that may be edible it quickly judges the distance between the desired item and safety, and either launches itself to make the grab and get away, or leaves, all the while planning to return sooner than later, in case another animal, such as a squirrel or a mouse, has also seen it and grabs it.

The lunch or snack stored in an unguarded backpack, the garbage container with the loose lid, or any food left out in any of the buildings are all noticed by camp’s other residents, especially those with sharp eyes and a super sense of smell. But it’s not just food that some of these animals are after. Mice ‘borrow’ tissues and other soft material to make their nests, as do some birds. I once found a bird’s nest at camp with a plastic candy wrapper woven into it.

All of these animals are superbly capable of watching us while remaining unseen themselves. The camp property is their space, and has been for countless generations, and they know the area intimately. And they are always aware of our presence.

As Christians we ARE being watched, though we may not be aware of it. Unbelievers and believers alike notice what we say and do, measuring our actions to see if we are as authentic as we say we are.

“Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.” I Peter 2:12

Monk's Musings: Enlarging our Tent

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left… Do not be afraid.” ISAIAH 54:2-4

Many centuries ago, God used his prophet to encourage his people, about 2 centuries beforehand, for when they were to emerge from 70 years of captivity, suffering and exile. We too are emerging from 2 difficult years of restrictions, fears, hardship and sorrow. I believe this same word from God applies to each of us, as we face the changing months in which we live. It is a time, not for shallow optimism, but yes to seize opportunities and step out in faith, to remember He is with us, therefore we shall “not be afraid”, but we shall “trust and obey” Him.

This also applies to Beacon Bible Camp, as we open registrations for our summer camps once again. We encourage you to make plans to come and enjoy the woods and lake, to be stretched spiritually, to make deep connections, and to serve God and fellow human beings in the context of the beautiful Muskoka lakes. Invite a friend along. Encourage a family you know to come with you. Challenge boys and girls and teens to live life to the full, including the great outdoors, the way God intends them to live. Maybe God is calling you to volunteer at Beacon as a Cabin Leader, or as a Volunteer Cook. In any case, as we live out the remainder of this year, may we seek to “enlarge our tent” and “strengthen the stakes”, trusting God to help us as we march out in faith, day by day.

With all our best wishes for this upcoming camping season,

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn

Camp Crew Update on... BRIO!

We all agree that our 2021 Camp Crew were an awesome bunch of dedicated Beaconites, who worked super hard and gave every day of the summer their 110% energy, effort, passion, and dedication. We are SO thankful for them, and for all the good memories that we have with them! We thought it would be special to check in with them and see how they are doing, so today we are going to interview Brio and see what is going on in her life. Enjoy!

Emma - I mean, Brio - what are you up to these days?

These days I seem to always be at my university doing something related to my degree. I’m a full time university student in a music education program and my main instrument is the tuba, but we’ve been learning how to play a ton of other instruments this year which has been very fun. I’ve got a really busy school schedule right now, but I’ve somehow been finding time to play some hockey which has been super fun to get some exercise after doing online school for about a month. One thing new that I started back in the fall is that I’ve been playing drums for my church’s worship team! It’s been great picking up my sticks again and playing the drum kit - after all, I do love music! And some other things that have been keeping me busy: walking my dog Jasper, hand knitting a blanket (that is STILL not done) and sending audio messages with my camp friends. Audio messages are my favourite way to keep in touch.

What’s the best thing about your job/school right now?

The best thing about school right now is playing in my large ensemble band. I play in the symphonic band and it has been so nice making music again with so many people, and every time we get back to playing I realize how much I’ve missed it. Along with band, seeing all my school friends everyday is great as well! It’s been weird meeting people as I started my first year during the pandemic, and now in second year there’s been a lot more genuine friendships being made which I am very thankful for.

What is the last great book you've read and why?

I haven’t really been reading books much (unless you count the endless readings for lectures lol) but I always love reading the Harry Potter series. The one book I have been reading is the Bible, and I’m trying to read through the entire Bible this year.

What is your favourite meal these days?

Honestly, anything pasta related has been a hit with me lately. Fettuccine alfredo or chicken parmesan are my go to restaurant orders. My favourite snack of all time though, which many people from home and camp can attest to, is popcorn. Very specifically, popcorn with dill pickle seasoning and salt and vinegar chips on top. Definitely not healthy at all, but it is SO GOOD.

What is a good piece of advice you've received lately, and from whom?

I’ve got two answers. One piece of advice from my parents that I’ve heard my entire life has been very useful as of late is always trying your best and giving it your all. It’s been a good reminder with school lately as I can be a bit of a perfectionist, and very in my head about getting good grades, but it only matters if I tried my best and learned something. The other piece of advice I heard was from a camp friend, Emily “Heaps” Shields. I mentioned earlier about reading the Bible this year, and I’ve always been hesitant to because of fear of not understanding it without devotionals and what not. Emily told me to read the Bible like a story from start to finish, and that it’s always good to go back every few years and read through the Bible that way, like a story.

What is your favourite memory from Summer 2021 at Beacon last year?

Now this is a very unfair question, because there are way too many awesome memories. I have to admit I was pretty nostalgic while scrolling through the photos from the summer just now trying to decide on a memory. I do have to say that one of my favourite things throughout the summer was that we had the coolest Camp Crew Handshake ever. We created this handshake where we added a part to it pretty much everyday for two weeks. We kept up doing the handshake the whole summer and I just love how the whole team learned it, including the staff’s kids! It was very special. Another very special memory I have was when a few of us made dinner on our day off because we couldn’t leave camp and I remember decorating a table for 22 of us for a little fancy dinner. It was a very fun night where we dressed up, we all took photos and just spent time all together, which is honestly where most of my favourite memories come from because we were all together as a crew.

Thanks so much for sharing, Brio! We are so thankful for how you joined us last summer during a very strange season! Your joy and energy and love for Jesus and others was a blessing to all!

Note: If you are interested in joining us as Summer Staff this summer, let us know! Applications are now open, and can be found right here

Into the Woods with Curio: Hand-Taming Chickadees

Every winter I try to hand-tame the chickadees that are visiting the bird feeders in our backyard. This involves using shelled peanuts and shelled sunflowers as treats, and offering them on my bare hand when I go out to fill the feeders. I wait with my hand outstretched to see if any of the chickadees, (or any other bird species) are hungry enough to overcome their fear and land on my hand to take some seeds or a peanut.

I have had mixed results over the years. Some winters the birds don’t hesitate to come to me for some food. One winter I had a red-breasted nuthatch come to me right away when I went outside. I believe it must have been hand-tamed by someone else to be so bold.

This winter I have a few chickadees coming to my had every day, though they are a little cautious, and not all of their family group is willing. But it is rewarding to hear the sound of their wings close-up as they move from branch to branch, calling back and forth. Then they hop onto my finger or thumb, (they don’t seem to weigh anything) grab a seed, or sometimes two or three, and dart away to enjoy it.

Last winter I met with very limited success, despite numerous efforts. Whenever I was attempting to lure one of the resident chickadees to my hand one of those in the group would sound a scolding call, and all of the others would then refuse to come to my hand. It didn’t matter how long I stayed there, trying to keep perfectly still. It was very frustrating, but I had to give up, as it wasn’t changing. It may be this particular bird was overly cautious, or maybe it previously had a bad experience with another person.

It’s all a matter of trust, and the analogy is obvious. I have learned, and am still learning to trust God for His loving care. I have no reason not to, as His love is amazing – giving His Son to die for my sins so I could be forgiven and have everlasting life! Yet I still hesitate every day to continue to trust Him for all my needs, despite His everlasting faithfulness.

If He takes care of the birds He will surely take care of my needs…

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrew 13:8

Hand feeding wild birds at your bird feeder is a fun activity to try with your family this winter.

You’ll need a bird feeder located outside in your yard, and filled with wild bird seed. Black sunflower seeds work well. If the feeder is new to your yard, it may take a few days for the neighbourhood birds to find it and get used to it

The secret of success with hand feeding wild birds is to have the birds come to you for food rather than the feeder. Empty the feeder the night before of all but a few seeds. Then watch in the morning for feathered visitors coming for breakfast.

Dress warmly when you go outside to try hand-feeding them, and have some shelled sunflower seeds or shelled peanuts as treats. Only one or two people should try this at any one time.

Stand close to the feeder, hand outstretched and full of tempting treats. Be patient. Soon the birds, overcome with hunger, will give in. A soft rustling sound of wings, the light grip on your fingers – success! You will have fed a wild bird.

Try to keep still and quiet, letting the birds come for a few more seeds before going in to let others try, or, once finished, filling the feeder with food.

Monk's Musings: The Promised Rock

So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.” ISAIAH 28:16

A few weeks ago, I got to see one of my grandchildren be the first to test the Snow Tube Run, bravely speeding down the bumpy hill, where 3 fallen trees had recently been cleared by “Mr. Tok”. Then the rest of us followed the path that had been tested before us. Different things may cause panic to different people, and we all have hidden fears that strike panic to our hearts. God promised his prophet that He would send a Firm Cornerstone, the Rock of Ages, the Immovable Foundation. This became a reality when Jesus was born seven centuries later. And we are also promised that if we place our trust in Him, our life will stand firm, so that even our greatest fears need not dismay or cause us to panic.

Perhaps you don’t fear skiing and sledding, maybe your fears are quite different. The truth is we are all weak, puny human beings, and we need Jesus as our Sure Foundation. For this life and for eternity. May we each have faith in Him. May we always trust His Word and obey Him with all our hearts, and so be counted among those who Jesus counts as “wise men” and “wise women”, “building our house on the Rock”.

Thank God for this beautiful Campsite that He has allowed us to enjoy in the past, and we are all invited to return to this year, to marvel at the beauty of His Creation, and to have our hearts warmed to loving Him

With all our love and best wishes,

Andrew “Monk” & Marianne “Tia” Nunn

Into the Woods with Curio: Marcescence

The Beacon woods look very different in the middle of winter, compared to when most people experience them during the green fullness of summer. The leaves are gone now, as are most of the wildlife, (including some of those pesky insects) and everything is more open and …bare.

With some exceptions. As you look around the camp, you’ll notice some young trees in the woods with most of their leaves, while up on the ridges across the lake there are many mature trees still covered in leaves. The leaves aren’t green anymore, being more of a coppery brown, and withered. So why are the leaves still on these trees?

Leaves that remain on trees into the winter are referred to as marcescent, (pronounced mahr-ses-uhnt) leaves, meaning something like ‘holding on’. Another term used is ‘ever-ciduous’.

The deciduous tree species that hold on to their leaves in Muskoka are the oak trees, (three species -- red, white and bur oak) and the American beech. All of these trees are also seen at Beacon.

These are Carolinian trees, and more at home in the sunny south, such as southern Ontario and down into the US, rather than the Canadian Shield. Here they are at the northern edge of their range, and are not as suited to withstand the longer, harsher winter conditions that are the norm here in Muskoka. This helps explain, in part, why they hold onto their leaves.

According to the book ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ one reason trees hold onto their leaves into the wintertime is to help the trees stay a little warmer, and not dry out in the harsh winter winds.

Other research suggests that marcescent leaves may be a way of the tree protecting next spring’s buds and their twigs from being eaten by wildlife, such as deer and moose. It is also thought that deer and moose won’t eat dry leaves because it is too noisy and may attract predators!

Still another reason that the trees wait until spring to drop their leaves may be so they can add some nutrients into the soil for themselves at a time when it is most needed.

The trees may also use the dead leaves to catch and keep some snow over the winter. When it melts in the springtime the captured snow may provide more water for the tree.

Interesting possibilities, and amazing examples of how God has equipped these trees to adapt to an unfriendly winter environment in order to survive. He provides shelter, food and even water, and protects them from enemies to get them through a tough season.

God does the same for us. He may not make the tough times go away or disappear, but He provides for us so we can get through them, protecting us and empowering us to overcome, by His grace.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Oak leaves displaying marcescence

Monk's Musings: A Strange New Year Begins

As we've been settling into The Wheelhouse, our new Canadian home since our return from Colombia, we collected some of our old pictures and framed sayings, and have been placing them in strategic places on the walls. It makes us feel more at home. One of the pictures is a Spanish rendering of Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

I don't know how your New Year is beginning. For us it included coming down with Covid19, staying in bed, and slowly recovering. At this point, I can't smell or taste anything. I hope that will return. There are other things I hope for, and others that I fear. And as this strange new year rolls on, God whispers to us: "don't be afraid, I am with you..."

One of our grandchildren had their birthday today, and as she looks to the uncertain future, the Lord comes alongside and tells us all: "be strong and courageous, do not be discouraged, the Lord will be with you." This is the promise HE makes us. This is HIS promise for Beacon Bible Camp. Let us trust HIM, and live one day at a time. Let us grow to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind, and seek to love our neighbour as ourselves.

With all our love and best wishes from Monk & Tia, from beautiful snow covered Beacon Bible Camp.

Joshua 1:9 in Spanish