Summer Explorers Camp 2018

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We're excited to share information about 1st Explorers summer 2018! Tentatively camp will officially begin on June 18th and the end date will be determined once the Jackson County Schools 2018 - 2019 school calendar is released. 

New this year we will offer mini-camps the week before Summer Camp begins and the week after Summer Camp ends with limited enrollment, information about those camps are available below.

Our Kindergarten - 4th graders will have grade specific groups. In their groups they will be led by summer counselors in activities that are designed specifically for their age group and are tailored to make their camp experience fun and memorable!

 5th and 6th graders will have a newly designed camp experience that will assist them with the transition into their middle school years! They will participate in activities and trips that are tailored to their development level.   

 7th - 12th grade students will participate in an exciting new leadership and mentoring program. This group will have the opportunity to work with our Youth Minister, Carol Cloer, and learn ways they can serve as peer leaders in our camp groups. Each week they will spend time planning and leading an activity for younger campers and will participate in team and leadership development courses. 

We're excited about all of the learning, sharing and growing that will happen this summer through a variety of activities, including faith development through Bible study and chapel, trips to the pool, gardening, cooking, going to the library and various places. 


Mini-Camps

Traditionally we are closed the week following the end of school and the week before school begins in August, but this year we will be offering limited enrollment mini camps during those weeks. 

Fees are: 
$100 for One Child
$150 for Two Children
$225 for Three Children
*$35 per day if you would like to attend select days. 
*Campers must bring their own lunch. 


Wee Explorers Preschool 

(3 and 4 year olds)
Will offer a half-day camp from 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Cost: $250 per month


Summer Explorers Camp (K-8)

7:30 AM - 5:30 PM
First Day of Camp is June 18, 2018

One Child $650  ($100 dollars of tuition due by March 5th)
Two Children $1,000 ($200 dollars of tuition due by March 5th)
Three Children $1,400 ($300 dollars of tuition due by March 5th)


Summer Explorers Camp + Passport

his summer, children and youth will be able to attend an overnight Christian camp experience called PASSPORTkids! in Montreat, NC, July 2 - 5 or PASSPORTchoices in Greensboro, NC, July 1-6. 


PASSPORTkids! is for campers going into the 4th, 5th or 6th grade at the start of the school in August. While at PASSPORTkids! Camp, campers will participate in Bible study, worship, missions and many other fun activities with campers from all over the Southeast!
A deposit of $50 per camper is due on February 16th.
Total cost per camper is $295.


PASSPORTchoices is for campers going into the 7th - 12th grades. While at PASSPORTchoices Camp, campers will participate in Bible study, worship, missions and many other fun activities with campers from all over the Southeast!
A deposit of $50 per camper is due on February 16th.
Total cost per camper is $225.



Sign up for PASSPORT Camp on our church website here: http://firstbaptistsylva.com/giving/
*Some scholarships are available.


Additional Information
 

Applications for camp are open until February 2nd. Upon acceptance to Summer Explorers Camp, your family will receive an email confirming your child's acceptance and how to begin paying.

Families with balances from other 1st Explorers programs will need to pay their balances before being accepted to Summer Explorers Camp. 

All payments are non-refundable and accounts must be paid in full no later than May 15th.

Paying for Passport Camp is separate from paying for Summer Day Camp. 


For more information about PASSPORT, visit them on the web at http://passportcamps.org/kids-camps/

Breakfast, lunch and snacks are provided at Summer Day Camp. 

RAs and GAs Activity Weekend

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May 18th - 19th we will be have a Girls in Action and Royal Ambassadors activity weekend. 

GAs will be having a sleepover at the church in the Mission and Fellowship Center beginning at 5:30PM and will need to be picked up by 8:30AM on the 19th. Girls of all ages are invited to stay, however we do ask that girls Kindergarten - 2nd grade be accompanied by a parent. Also, we will need some female chaperones. 

RAs will be going camping at The Davidson River Campground. We will leave the church parking lot at 5:00PM and will return no later than noon on the 19th. Boys of all ages are invited to go, however we do ask that boys Kindergarten - 2nd grade be accompanied by a parent. Also, we will need some male chaperones. 

Please sign-up for both events here: https://goo.gl/forms/lph51eXhs25lDorr1

Children Learn About Baptism

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Pastor Jeff has been meeting with our after school children to talk about making a profession of faith and being Baptized. The children have been invited to fill out an activity book on Baptism. These two children completed their book and are receiving a small cross as a reminder of God’s love for them. Please be in prayer for our children and their families as they consider God’s invitation to follow Jesus. And if your child has not received a Baptism book, please see Pastor Jeff as he has many to distribute.

Introducing Carol Cloer

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We are happy to welcome Rev. Carol Cloer to our church family as she begins her service as our part-time Youth Minister.
Carol, a graduate of Charleston Southern University and of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1988, lives in Franklin, NC. Carol is an adjunct instructor at Southwestern Community College in Sylva and teaches classes in music appreciation, jazz and college student success.
Carol has served in a variety of ministerial capacities including service as a youth minister and as a music director. More recently, Carol served as a youth minister at the First Baptist Church of Franklin for nine years, and then as the Associate Pastor at Centerpoint Community Fellowship in Franklin for the last eight years.
Carol will continue her work at Southwestern Community College while she works to develop our youth ministry at First Baptist--particularly on Sunday mornings and on Wednesday evenings. Both the 1st Explorers Ministry Board and the Personnel Committee are excited about Carol’s wealth of experience in youth ministry, and her commitment to developing long-term relationships with our youth and their families. These church committees are enthusiastic in their recommendation of Carol to us and in their approval of her part-time employment.
Welcome to First Baptist Church, Carol! We look forward to serving alongside you!

A Note From Carol: 


"My name is Carol Cloer. I have spent much of my career working with youth and feel a definite call in that capacity. Most of my positions have been either a combination of Music/Youth or, most recently, Associate Pastor. I began my journey as a Counselor in Training at the WMU State camp in South Carolina. I spent 6 Summers serving there in positions ranging from Counselor in Training to Cabin Counselor to Music Director, Lifeguard and Waterfront Director!  Acteen camps were always my favorite part of the Summer, partly because it was during an Acteen camp, when I was 14, that I experienced a call to ministry.
My degrees include a BA in Music from Charleston Southern University, a Master in Church Music, with additional studies in Youth Ministry, from Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY and post-graduate work in Spiritual Formation at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts. The study in spiritual formation made a strong impact on my thoughts about spiritual community, which has been an important aspect of my ministry in recent years.
Currently I teach Music Appreciation, Introduction to Jazz and College Student Success courses at Southwestern Community College.  I see my work there as a ministry and have had many opportunities to work directly with students, assisting with issues they have encountered. In searching for a church position that would be compatible with my work at SCC, I became aware of the position here.  I am excited about the possibilities here at FBC Sylva and I am looking forward to getting to know all of you as we begin this journey together!”

Nursery Director

Please welcome our new Nursery Director, Meredith Keskula to our church family! 

Meredith started at First Baptist with the church nursery in December of 2015. She is excited to be back in Sylva full time and in a more permanent role with the church. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion. Meredith hopes to attend a graduate program in physical therapy in the future. She grew up in Augusta, GA and was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church. She then joined the Wesley campus ministry while at UGA and was a part of several small groups. Meredith also went on a mission trip to Port Maria in Jamaica with Wesley. Some of her interests include traveling, cooking/baking, and spending time with family and friends.