Awanita Valley

09/10/2026

Thursday Thoughts - Don't Compare Your Chapter

The beginning of a school year is prime comparison territory.
Someone has the relationship. Someone got the job. Someone knows what they're doing next semester. Someone seems to have their entire life together.

Meanwhile, you're wondering what you're doing today.

Psalm 139 is such a needed reminder that God has total knowledge of every person, His presence is everywhere, and He didn't make a mistake when He crafted you together.

👉 When comparison creeps in, thank God for what He's doing in someone else's life, then ask Him what faithfulness looks like in yours.

09/10/2026

How does 12 students, 38 bags, and way too many snacks actually fit into one van?

Youth group math doesn’t always make sense on paper, but somehow, it always works out. And somewhere in between loading the bags, passing around snacks, laughing until someone can’t breathe, and spending hours on the road together, something bigger is happening. These trips give students the chance to step away from their normal routines, grow closer to one another, and build the kind of community that continues long after the van is unpacked.

But more than anything, our hope is that in the middle of all the fun and chaos, students are given space to encounter Jesus, grow deeper in their faith, and come home knowing Him a little more than they did when they left.

Turns out, the best parts of youth group math can't really be counted. Ready to make some memories with your youth group? Book your weekend retreat with us and bring your crew to camp!!

09/08/2026

Your youth group may not need another event...

They might just need to get away.

Sometimes stepping outside of the normal routine creates the space students need to connect with each other, build relationships with leaders, have fun, and focus on what God is doing in their lives.

👀 Here are 5 signs your youth group might need a weekend away.

Swipe through ➡️ and see if any of these sound familiar!

If they do, we'd love to help you create a weekend your students won't soon forget.

Connection.
Community.
Adventure.
Spiritual growth.

Maybe it's time to get away.

09/05/2026

Your sign to stop saying “we should…”

and start saying “we booked it.” ✈️

See you at Awanita.

09/03/2026

And neither is the valley.
Both are needed spaces in the work of the Father in our lives.
But neither space has to define us.

David reminds us that, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..." (Psalm 23:4)
That's what defines us.
The Good Shepherd.
And you can guarantee He is with you in the valley and the mountaintop.

👉 This week take a moment to recall the mountaintops and the valleys of your journey. Pause and remember the nearness of God in those spaces. And if you can't remember, asking Him to remind you.

09/03/2026

September Youth Group Starter Pack

- Permission slips
- Someone forgot their Bible
- 14 announcements
- Pizza
- One kid already asking when summer camp registration opens

IYKYK😜
Tag your youth group!

09/02/2026

Meet the Guest Experience Team! 💙

These are some of the friendly faces helping make your time at Awanita Valley smooth, meaningful, and full of care — from the first conversation to the moment you head home.

✨ Shannon — Our Office Administrator and often your first stop on the journey! She’ll help with reservations, answer questions, and get your group on the calendar.

✨ Caleb — Our Guest Experience Manager and go-to guy for all the details. From meeting rooms to activities, he’s here to help bring all the pieces of your retreat together.

✨ Adam — Our Leader Care Coordinator, making sure the leaders who serve at Awanita feel cared for, encouraged, and prayed for before, during, and after their time here.

✨ Myles — You may recognize Myles from his time serving on summer staff and interning at Awanita, and we’re excited to have him continuing that work with our Guest Experience Team! He brings a genuine love for people, a heart for hospitality, and a growing passion for helping groups have meaningful experiences at camp.

From “we’re thinking about coming” to “we’ll see you next time,” this team is here to walk alongside you, answer questions, solve problems, and help make your time at Awanita feel a little more like home. 💙

We’re grateful for the people behind the experience — and even more grateful that we get to serve you!

08/30/2026

First Day of Camp? Not quite. First Day of Class? For some of us!

Our summer crew has officially scattered into all kinds of new rhythms—back to school, internships, new jobs, new cities, and new adventures.

One thing we love about camp is that the summer doesn’t really end when everyone goes home. The friendships, the growth, the lessons, the late-night conversations, the laughs, the faith—all of it gets carried into whatever comes next.

So whether your “FDOC” picture looks like a classroom, a cubicle, a campus, a new workplace, or something completely different, we’re praying for you as you step into this season.

Go do the next thing well. Love people deeply. Keep growing. And don’t forget where home is.

08/29/2026

08/27/2026

Thursday Thoughts — You Don't Have to Have It All Figured Out

There's something very biblical about this without getting cheesy.

We can connect it to Proverbs 3:5–6:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”

The heart of it:

We want the five-year plan. God often gives us enough light for today.

👉 What's the next faithful step God is asking you to take? Focus on that—not everything five steps beyond it.