Legacy Partner Update

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As many of you know, summer is the busiest time of year preparing for seven different father-child experiences. Preparation for those trips has received a ton of attention, but right now I'm most struck with the goodness of a first time offering: Our Father's Day Cardboard Boat Derby. This was our first year and it could not have gone better. The ingenuity that dads and their kids showed in designing amazing boats (there was a Where's Waldo themed Viking ship!) was astounding.

But best of all was having an evening to laugh, play, and celebrate the goodness of fathers who give their attention and intention to their kids. And...I got to participate with my kiddos too - so it was a triple win!

And, I took my daughter to Base Camp Girls….wow, what a gift to not only be on the giving side of things (i.e. helping make it happen), but also to receive as a father myself.

CHIEF OF OPERATIONS

Toward the end of June, I loved getting to see Base Camp Boys experienced through the eyes of a good friend and their son who were able to attend this year from out of state. To hear their stories of memories created, friends made and furthered father son connections as they spent the weekend together. Once again a reminder of all the behind the scenes details our staff team and volunteers tirelessly work on every year to help create these experiences.

On July 17th, I head out to co-lead the first-ever Back Country Girls Canoe trip! i can’t wait!

As usual this month has been full of lots of behind the scenes tasks that help keep RP running smoothly through our busy summer season.

My favorite phrase: “It’s like herding cats!”

CHIEF OF RESOURCES AND EXPERIENCES

This month I've been working way ahead on the Small Batch magazine that will go out in the fall. I've also been preparing the menus for our back country trips happening in just a few weeks, starting to think through an online RP community (more to come on that), keeping up with all of our gear needs, and making sure we have enough quality swag. In addition to the work stuff, we've taken two family camping trips, gone to a Cincinnati Reds game (easily the best game I've ever been to!), and tried to get quality time with the kids this summer.

Next month I'll be guiding our Back Country Boys Rocky Mountains expedition in Wyoming, and gearing up for the Journey Northwoods trip just a couple weeks later.

GROVE CHAPLAIN AND STRATEGIST

Exciting news!!! Our family is moving back to Colorado!!!

We are in throes of buying a house, selling a house, and packing up to return to Fort Collins. More on this later…right now, I’ve got packing tape stuck to my fingers…

DIRECTOR OF RESTORATIVE EXPERIENCES

Summer expedition season is at full throttle and we are having such a good time hosting fathers, sons, and daughters from all over the nation.

I had the opportunity to take my own son to Base Camp boys just last weekend. Getting to experience Base Camp as a participant was so special- I’m in awe of how powerful our experiences are. Levi and I laughed and cried together so many times; our relationship will never be the same!

As expedition season continues, I’m thinking about the men and women who make it all possible. These experiences are being led by the most dedicated, generous, and gifted team of volunteers on the planet. I’m grateful for every single one of them!

Next up: I’m taking Aisha to Kenya!! Stay tuned!

ADMINISTRATION

I first connected with RP in Fall of 2019 by being invited to the Grove Training Experience. This is an annual retreat where men are trained how to bring restoration to their own communities. After Grove, I then became an active participant and advocate for all things RP. I thought I had a really good handle on all the things RP does, until I came on staff back in January of this year. I had no idea how wide and broad this ministry is!

As I sit here now in June in anticipation of the coming months of expeditions and activities, my eyes are wide open to the countless names I see on spreadsheets of men, sons, daughters, and families we get the incredible opportunity of coming alongside of. What a joy it is for me to get to write postcards and send books to these participants, and also prepare bins and purchase supplies for these experiences. I love what I get to do with RP.

CEO and Co-Founder

One of the things I love about Restoration Project is how committed our staff is to our work. Whenever possible, we take our OWN children on these experiences too…wanting to soak up the goodness as long as we can with our kids.

In July, I have the privilege of taking our youngest daughter, Sophie, on our first ever Trek to Kenya, a father and older-child experience designed to awaken their minds and hearts to God’s great world, to cast a vision for what it means to be a global citizen, and to prepare them to launch out into the world. We love traveling together, and this is an extra-special way to enter her senior year of high school.