As the founder of Camp Treehouse Trauma Camp, my hope in journaling our progress is that all who read this would both be encouraged and be reminded to pray for Camp Treehouse and its Leadership daily. I will from time to time come back to update this blog for your continued encouragement. Thank you!
2013: Watching the Treehouse Master with Pete Nelson on television for the first time the Vision for Camp Treehouse was conceived. Every year since 2013, once or twice a year God impresses upon my heart this vision. Each time I receive a more detailed look/vision on what Camp Treehouse looks like and whom it will serve.
September 1, 2022: God speaks again! What does God want me to do RE: Camp Treehouse?
- Contact all contacts & share the vision
- Contact all Calvary Chapels within the Rocky Mountain Region to include TX and NM to set up speaking tour
- Contact Liberty University to set up meeting with their leadership
- Contact Landowners regarding property
- Contact US Corp of Engineers regarding infrastructure (Roads, lake, Adventure Island)
- Obtain estimates from building vendors (Pete Nelson, Lucas Lagoons, Anthony Archer-Wills, & Bonsai)
- Create Presentation
- Get invited to speak on a variety of Podcast/Media
- Pray for my Prayer Warriors
- Be Consistent in my PRAYERS!
September 2, 2022: Building Dynamic Faith
- Clearly God is working!
- I’m being encouraged daily!
- I can feel the prayers being lifted on my account!
- I need to be intentional in my faith – Trust the Lord and in His leading
- Continue to be faithful in the small things
- Be obedient – whatever it may look like
March 17, 2023: God speaks again! Pray, Pray, PRAY!!!! Invite the church (Calvary Chapel Aspen Trail) to pray.
March 19, 2023: Spoke to Calvary Chapel Aspen Trail (CCAT) – Asked the church to pray for 4 weeks about what God would have us do. Share the Vision:
- A people without a vision perish (Proverbs 29:18) God gave us the vision!
- A wise person leaves an inheritance for his children’s children (Proverbs 13:22) We are to leave a legacy to the next generation to further the Kingdom of Christ!
May 21, 2023: CCAT decided after much prayer to start a building fund for Camp Treehouse & Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor (whose umbrella we were operating under as a church) tells us that we need to start our own 501(c)3 and become our own church if we are going to start a building fund for Camp Treehouse.
May 22, 2023: Contacted StartChurch to form our own 501(c)3, began forming our own Board of Directors (Elder Board), consisting of the following:
- Tom Broadbent – Calvary Chapel Aspen Trail (CCAT)
- Bob Fukui – Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor (CCPH)
- David Bustamante – Calvary Chapel Chino Valley (CCCV)
- Tim Balagat – Rocky Mountain Calvary (RMC)
- David Bilberry – RMC
July 2, 2023: Officially began Camp Treehouse building fund. (Praying God would show us He is in this – Praying for $10K to be raised by year end)
September 27, 2023: Invited to meet with Liberty University Leadership – They sought to encourage me in our vision, left the door open to possibly partner with each other in the future
December 31, 2023: God showed up! He exceeded our expectations, and we raised a little more than $12K by year end minus a few expenses. (Our prayer was to raise $10K)
January 1, 2024: God speaks again! He impressed upon my heart to pray thru four goals for 2024, and they are as follows:
- Raise up an Army of 1000 Prayer Warriors (Those willing to pray daily for Camp Treehouse and its leadership)
- Raise up 100 Campaign Warriors (Those willing to donate to Camp Treehouse on a monthly basis)
- To create five or more Strategic Partnerships with other organizations
- To run and operate a “Proof of Concept” REBOOT Summer Camp
April 4, 2024: God speaks again! After much prayer, will speak to David Scott about taking over as Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Aspen Trail
May 2, 2024: Reconnected with my Uncle Roy, who has agreed to help us with our Social Media presence
May 29, 2024: We launched www.CampTreehouse.net
June 2, 2024: Stepped down from CCAT as Senior Pastor, handed it off to Pastor David Scott, to focus more on Camp Treehouse
June 28, 2024: FUNdraising Competition idea conceived (possibly too soon for 2024 – may need to push and plan for 2025
June 29, 2024: 1-year later from the start of Camp Treehouse, we have raised approximately $21K after all expenses
July 17, 2023: Enrolled in two college courses (University of Colorado) for Grant Writing
August 2, 2024: Re-organized the Board specific to Camp Treehouse (working thru StartChurch), held Board meeting – Installation of new Executive Board and the Board of Governors, and Voted Unanimously to adopt New Bylaws
- New Executive Board (Those responsible for the Administrative and Operational aspects of Camp Life) consist of the following:
- President of the Board: Tom Broadbent
- Secretary of the Board: Jonny Benton (CEO of Wild Warrior Adventure)
- Treasurer of the Board: David Bilberry
- New Board of Governors (Those responsible for the Spiritual aspect of Camp Life) consist of the following:
- David Bustamante – Calvary Chapel Chino Valley
- Robert (Bob) Fukui – Calvary Chapel Pearl Harbor
- Richard (Ric) Brown – Executive Pastor of a local Assembly of God church and a Retired Army Chaplain
August 18, 2024: God speaks again! Trusting the discernment of our Prayer Warriors, God impressed upon my wife’s heart and confirmed it thru my prayers that Camp Treehouse should be primarily focused on being a Trauma Camp
August 25, 2024: Launched Camp Treehouse Trading Post (Digital Camp Store) https://camptreehouse.net/camp-store/
August 29, 2024: Discussed with REBOOT regarding forming a Strategic Partnership – idea well received, pending follow up
- Decision also made to expand our Board to include Christian Professionals from the following:
- A representative from REBOOT
- A representative from Wild OPS
- A Lawyer
- A CPA
- A Behavioral Health Professional
- Active-Duty Military Chaplain
- Law Enforcement Chaplain
- Land Developer
- Pastor/Youth Pastor from withing our community
- Social Media Experts
- Fundraiser Expert
- Possible Existing Donors
September 6, 2024: Decided to look for a Mentor in the Nonprofit community to help me become a better Leader for the Camp Treehouse Ministry
September 7, 2024: Met with Chris Hoey, local REBOOT Instructor – Invited him to pray about sitting on the Camp Treehouse Board and serve as a Program Manager
September 13, 2024: Met with a possible Mentor from www.Score.org Steve J.