Nobody is bored when he trying to make something that is beautiful or to discover something that is true.
—W R Inge

The only thing wrong with doing nothing is that you never know when you're finished.
—Author Unknown

springhill stunt

This month's challenge is a great way to show your true colors and see your face in a future SpringHill enewsletter! All you have to do is have your photo taken this summer wearing something that says SpringHill, like a hat, a t-shirt, a sweatshirt . . . you name it. We want to see photos in the unlikeliest places, like your family vacation in the Grand Canyon or your mission trip to Haiti or at the bottom of the swimming pool! Then, send the photo to staystrong@springhillcamps.com and we'll share it in a future issue of Bounce. Watch the video to learn more!

talk about it

We all experience it at some point: too much time and not enough to do. What do you do when you're bored and can't come up with anything worthwhile to do? Where does your mind turn? How do you start feeling about yourself? Or what if you're waiting for an amazing week (like a week of summer at SpringHill!) or an event that's just around the corner, and everything else you could do in the meantime pales by comparison? Do you sit around and wait? What do you think God would want you to be doing?

Talk about it with other SpringHill campers and counselors on the SpringHill MySpace page. Or, if you have another question you'd like to discuss, email us.

say something

1. Who chooses your activities for the summer?
Mostly me
Mostly my parents
I don't do activities in the summer

2. If you could add one thing to your summer, what would it be?
More free time
A week at SpringHill
A sport or sports camp
A family vacation
More time with friends
Spending time with grandparents or other family
Other

3. What is the main reason you get bored during the summer?
Too much free time
I don't get to do things that I like
My friends aren't around
I'm waiting for a fun event or week
I don't know what to do
I never get bored

4. If you get bored this summer, which of these ideas would you most be willing to try?
Find a new friend
Help out a neighbor or volunteer
Get involved at church (service project, youth group, etc.)
Learn a new hobby or do something creative
Get outside and do something active
Talk to God and ask him to show me what I can do

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what you said

· Who is your greatest influence? 45% of those surveyed say friends; 20% say family and 20% say Jesus.

· 30% of you say that the influence you would be better without is negative messages from the people around you; 25% say the wrong kind of friends and 20% say fashion magazines or media that tell you that you don't measure up.

· 60% say you have a positive influence over your friends; the other 40% don't know.

· When you think about having free time over the summer, 45% feel excited, while 40% feel bored.

· 50% of you have a good idea about what you'll be doing this summer; 30% are open to anything.

just do something!

Do you end up with a lot of time on your hands during the summer? Maybe you have a couple of fun things planned (like a week at SpringHill!) but the rest of the summer is yours. This might sound pretty fun after a long school year, but nearly half of Bounce readers admit to feeling bored when they think about the upcoming summer months. So, how can you put your extra time to good use? In this issue of Bounce, we'll challenge you with ways to do something for God this summer. And we'll tell you about all the fun and exciting things coming up at SpringHill — from Summer 2007 to our awesome new Fall Music Festival!! You'll find other cool stuff here, too, including a clever new stunt (that's really a contest that you could win!) and some great new music reviews. Check it out!

news @ springhill michigan

Don't miss SpringHill Summer 2007!! Check out the SpringHill summer schedule and the new majors for NewFrontiers . . . and, new for ’07, during Week 1 only, we will have FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Basketball. Coaches from FCA will be facilitating the program during this week, which will involve intensive training to help you get game ready! Be sure to remind your mom or dad that they can go to the SpringHill website NOW to register!

Bring your family to SpringHill Family Camp over Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28, for an out-of-this-world bonding experience! Spend quality time with your family playing, learning, talking, growing and worshipping. It'll be the best four days you spend together all year!

An amazing lineup of some of today's hottest Christian bands (like Sevenglory, Red Umbrella and Sidewalk Prophets) will be coming to SpringHill for our first annual Fall Music Festival September 22 and 23! Bring your whole family to this awesome, fun-filled event that includes all your favorite SpringHill activities and three stages rocking with music all weekend long. Check out the Festival webpage and the Festival myspace page for more details — and to register!!

dude, get off the couch

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. —Proverbs 6:6-8

What would your summer be like if no one was directing it? Imagine if you had no commander, overseer or ruler . . . in other words, no parents telling you to get off the couch and do something! Would you spend the summer there, on the couch?

The Bible suggests that we take some lessons from a tiny insect. That’s pretty humbling. But, think about it, ants are never bored. Their whole lives are filled with purpose. Imagine if you lived your summer that way. What would it look like if you made it your mission to do something for God this summer? Would you train for something, reach out to someone, serve or volunteer? Chances are, you have some extra time on your hands. What could you do?

Think about this: What is one thing you could do for God this summer? What keeps you from being productive? Who could help you keep a mission-minded focus? How would you feel at the end of the summer if you had done something for God instead of sitting around on the couch?

a springhill counselor talks to bounce

A New Frontiers counselor last summer, Ansley Howard just finished her junior year at Grand Valley State University with a major in elementary education. Although she wishes she were going to be back at SpringHill for Summer 2007, Ansley will be working as a nanny instead. Here, she talks to Bounce about how to keep summer from becoming boring and how to spend your time well.

Bounce: Tell us about a memorable summer and what made it great.
Ansley: When I was in junior high my family spent part of one summer in North Carolina with extended family on my mom's side. We all stayed in a big cottage and had lots of picnics and went white water rafting and just had amazing fellowship together.

Bounce: Why did you choose SpringHill last summer over other things you could have done?
Ansley: I liked the fun, energetic atmosphere and how the events and programming throughout the week reached out to all kids, no matter what their background or abilities. Also, I love how SpringHill shows that the Christian lifestyle is exciting.

Bounce: What do you think God thinks about boredom?
Ansley: I don't think God gets angry when we're bored, but he doesn't like us to be lazy or selfish. When we get bored we need to start thinking about what we can do to serve someone else, even if it's just helping out our mom with dinner.

Bounce: How do you get out of a rut when you feel bored or feel like you are wasting time?
Ansley: I try to find some kind of activity to do or call a friend and get outside. I try to think outside the box.

Bounce: What advice do you have for students about how to take time that's being wasted and do something for God?
Ansley: Plan some activities with kids from church. Even better, be a friend to someone who others might not think to reach out to.

now playing

After the Music Stops from Lecrae: This rapper from Dallas who was rescued by Christ at age 19 is passionate about the God he serves and his songs really show it. SpringHill counselor Zac Houston likes his infectious hip-hop beats and his understandable lyrics, which proclaim the truth of God's character without compromise. Zac, who plays Lecrae for the kids he ministers to in the inner city, says, "when you turn on Lecrae, you've got joy straight up." Plus, Lecrae walks his talk, mentoring and discipling kids on the streets of Dallas and delivering messages about his faith in Jesus nationwide. Read a longer review or visit Lecrae's myspace page.

Sidewalk Prophets from Sidewalk Prophets: A regular group of guys out of Indianapolis, Sidewalk Prophets is driven by a single purpose: to engage culture through the medium of music and to deliver Christ's redemptive message of love and acceptance for everyone. This summer you might be lucky enough to rock with them live at SpringHill (or this fall at SpringHill's first annual Fall Music Festival )! Self-proclaimed as "an unlikely group of poets, musicians and fun-lovers who have been brought together by the blood of Jesus Christ to share the hope, faith, tragedy and love that is the reality of Christianity," this band also plays some pretty rad tunes. Catch them at SpringHill Michigan July 1-6 and July 29-August 3 or at SpringHill Indiana June 17-22 and July 15-20. Get a preview on their website.