BRING
January 8th, 2008
Below is a suggested list of what to bring to Yosemite Summit. We will need to pack light and smart in order to have guys and equipment in one vehicle. But here are some of the guidelines to keep in mind, in the spirit of “stepping away from ministry.”
What to bring:
- CLOTHES
- Thin shorts / thin wind-breaker pull over-pants
- Thin wind-breaker water-proof jacket
- Casual pants, evening pants (sweats, PJs)
- Hiking shoes that cover the ankles
- Casual shoes for evening/travel
- T-shirts, sweat shirts (maybe with hood)
- Wool Socks (plenty) Cotton NOT recommended!
- Underwear (do I really need to list this?)
- Synthetic long underwear optional
- Swim trunks (for ot tub)
- Hat suggested
- Sunglasses, perhaps with lanyard
- Personal toiletries (tooth brush!)
- Minor First Aid items
- ANY personal medication
- NOTE: bedding and towels ARE provided, but you are welcome to bring your own towels or pillow if you are sentimentally attached or need the lingering scent of your wife.
- EQUIPMENT (required)
- Backback (light)
- Flashlight (small is fine)
- Compass
- Whistle
- Small mirror (for signal)
- EQUIPMENT (recommended)
- iPod / MP3 Player (charger)
- Digital Camera
- Extra memory cards
- Memory card reader
- Thumb Drive for sharing pics
- Extra batteries
- Sun Block
- Poncho (thin, small)
- Knife (not in your carry on!)
- Bug Spray
- EQUIPMENT OPTIONAL
- Video camera (if small, but we will have a group video camera for highlight video)
- Walking Stick(s)
- Binoculars
- Power Strip (for charging items)
- Cell Phone / Charger (cell coverage rare)
- Batteries (as needed)
- RETREAT ITEMS
- Bible (small and portable)
- Pens
- Journal
- FOOD
- All meals from Sunday dinner through Thursday breakfast are included.
- Drinks and snack you will buy on the way to Yosemite on our Wal-Mart stop.
- Lunch bags and zip-lock pages will be provided when we pack our lunches, but you are welcome to bring a lunch bag/case with you to protect your food better in your backpack.
- Water bottles or water bag backpacks are highly recommended. You will need to drink a lot of water.
- SAFETY ITEMS
- As mentioned above, each guy needs to have a compass, whistle and small mirror. We will each get a map once in Yosemite of all the hiking trails. I will also be bringing additional survival items that will be disbursed throughout the guys for carrying, such as bite/poison meds, first-aid, matches and other similar items.
- CELL PHONES
- There is little to very little cell coverage in Yosemite Valley and where there is, it is sporadic. There is NONE at the lodge. However, a phone is available at the lodge, but will require an 800 Calling Card. Other than emergencies, calls will be restricted to wives/family. A few cell phones will be carried on the hikes for emergency use only. We are turning off the outside world; but having phones available for emergencies is simply wise, and calling our wives is simply kind.
What NOT to bring:
Work – of any kind!
Laptops computers / PDAs. (leave it behind)
There WILL BE a computer at the lodge for the SOLE PURPOSE of downloading your digital pictures from the day. Each attendee will get a CD of their photography, and of the others willing to share. A highlight video will be made as well as a Yosemite Summit Worship DVD will be produced later from all the photography of the group. It will be free to attendees and then made available on Kidology.org for others.
Work – worth mentioning again – that is the whole point of this retreat, you are not the sum of your work, you are a child of God and this is a retreat for reconnecting the man with God, not the worker.
Reading material – No children’s ministry or leadership books allowed! It is fine if you want to bring a book that deals with your walk with God but even just a Bible is perfectly fine! You are not coming to improve your ministry or leadership skills, you are coming on this retreat to get closer to God.