http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/index/ en nsloan@fortcaswell.com Copyright 2012 2012-05-12T19:45:59+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/spring_heats_up http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/spring_heats_up#When:19:45:59Z I spent seven years on summer staff here and you'd think with that kind of experience, I'd probably remember that it gets a little hot. This week has seen temps well into the 80s and it has me remembering those heat waves of the past all over again - you know, kind of like when you smell something that reminds you of something else and it takes your right back . The past two years of my life were spent like many inlander's, which is to say they were spent mostly indoors. WIth a pier, a pool, and a beach all within walking distance, the temptation to venture outside during my off hours is far greater here at Caswell. I'm sure any of you who have been guests of the Assembly can sympathize with me on that one.  Summer doesn't officially start until June 20th, which is over a month away, but my mind is already on that track. On June 11, Summer Youth Weeks begin  and another season of fun, worship, and fellowship will begin for youth from all across the state. In my travels, when I've mentioned Caswell as a place I've worked I've been surprised to hear how often folks knew exactly what I was talking about because of summer weeks they'd spent here over the years. We all hope that the folks who come in through the gate will hear from the Lord in a real and meaningful way while they're down, and this summer is no exception. I hope anyone reading this won't hesitate to join me in praying for a summer of fun, growth, and spiritual blessing for all the youth and youth leaders who visit.  News, 2012-05-12T19:45:59+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/berry_good1 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/berry_good1#When:14:59:22Z A couple of weeks ago a guest of the Assembly told me about some blackberries behind the PX. Skeptical, but knowing that Caswell is full of potential for plant life, I set out to scan the area myself and see what I could find. To my general surprise, there was a sizeable patch of these berries scattered around the brushy dunes that flank the river shore.  Unlike the any type of blackberry plant I’d seen, these grew out of thorny vines draped low along the sandy ground. Among the deep blue ripe berries there set a shock of bright red new growth, which complimented the scene nicely. Hesitating at first, I leaned down and plucked one from its nest and popped it in my mouth – delicious! It didn’t take long for me to claim this little fruit find for myself. I planted the flag of my own inquisitive success into the story of their discovery with each telling to friends and co-workers. That lasted right up until I posted something about it on Facebook and Jamie Lloyd, a teacher in Southport and long-time inhabitant of Fort Caswell, quickly brought me back down to Earth. “They are actually dewberries,” She told me, “they grow along the beach or in this case, the river.” I later found out that it was common tradition for her and others to pick the berries each year. I guess I’m not a big hidden berry-finder after all.  If my ego was hurt all signs of it quickly melted away when I picked a few more and kicked back on the pier to enjoy them. You never know what is waiting just a little further around the bend or down a sandy trail, in life or at Caswell and good surprises aren’t uncommon. God is generous with blessings and lessons of all shapes and sizes -- we just need to open our eyes and hearts to them. In this case I learned that sometimes a discovery doesn’t have to be new for it to be just as sweet.    News, 2012-05-05T14:59:22+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/history_hay_rides http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/history_hay_rides#When:17:54:02Z For me, working at the Assembly thus far has been a bunch of new experiences all piled on top of each other. This is partially because I’m still a new-ish employee, but my position on the Guest Services team requires that I wear different “hats” on different occasions so that plays into it as well. It brings a welcome variety to my workday and means I get to have experiences like the one I had this week, in addition to my normal day-to-day. A lot of folks don’t know that NCBA at Fort Caswell is more than a coastal retreat and conference center, but that we also host our own programs that are developed in-house. One example is our Coastal Environmental Education program, which gives school groups a unique educational experience; It takes classroom lessons and puts them in the real world where students can touch and see them. I was asked to step in and provide a special version of our historic grounds tour for a group of local 2nd graders who were all very excited to be outside – and the best part? We did it on a hay ride! From Native American trails to pirates and, of course, the American Civil War, the tour covered a lot of history and seemed to be a big hit with the kids. A favorite moment of mine was taking them inside a section of our 180 year-old masonry ruins to look through the same rifle loopholes that a civil war soldier would have. As we traveled along campus, I pointed out the different eras of construction and the original purpose of our many historic structures, while quizzing them occasionally to see if they’d paid attention. For the most part, I wasn’t able to stump them. We have lots of different age groups come through for educational purposes and I, for one, would like to see even more of it in the future. If you’re interested in the history of our facility but you aren’t a student, never fear – we offer a traditional grounds tour for kids and adults alike, but if you’re interested be sure to let our reservations office know before you arrive. Thanks for checking in!   News, 2012-04-28T17:54:02+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/cruising_with_christ http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/cruising_with_christ#When:16:49:24Z It's the time of year that makes people want to get out and experience the beauty of God's creation and for many folks that means a trip to the beach. Here at Caswell we love serving groups who need a retreat to the beach to kick back, rest up, and recharge spiritually. Every spring we host Spring Coastal Adult Retreats so that senior adult ministries across the region can have just that sort of experience here at the fort. This year’s theme is “Cruising with Christ” and features various different talented speakers, entertainers, and worship leaders. The theme verse is John 15: 9-10, “As the Father loved me, I also have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep My commandments you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” The theme of Cruising with Christ is being drawn from abiding in His love by keeping His commandments and a special emphasis on  practical adherence to those commandments is being made during the retreat’s worship services. Of course, there are plenty of other fun “cruising era” tie-ins that we’ve made to keep things light as well. Tuesday night we served old-fashioned Coke and Root Beer floats to attendees and earlier that same day the good folks from the Cape Fear Cruisers Auto Club brought down some fantastic examples of American cruising vehicles. Several folks enjoyed looking through the windows and peering under the popped hoods of these classics which spanned decades of U.S. automotive history. Our Coastal Adult Retreats continue weekly this spring through May 16th. We’re already looking forward to the fall’s equivalent, which starts in September and will be themed “Reap a Good Harvest.”    News, 2012-04-21T16:49:24+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/pool_time http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/pool_time#When:17:31:07Z Each year thousands of visitors to the Assembly enjoy going for a dip in our swimming pool. For years I did this knowing that the lifeguards and recreation staff did a lot to make sure the pool stayed clean and safe to swim in. What I didn't know was exactly what went into getting the pool ready. Sometime around early February I made my way over to the pool to discover it was still filled with water. This water, in turn, gets filled with algae and other muck which tints it a nice shade of hunter green. In the spring the water and sludge has to be pumped out so that the pool can be cleaned and made usable. Our pool is just a hair smaller than "Olympic size", so you can imagine what a big task this is. “The first of May we have groups come to use the pool, so Elkin Valley comes and helps us get ready,” says Recreation Director, Amy Southerland, “They’re from my home church!” I got a chance to speak with the group leader from Elkin Valley, Zack, who told me the steps they take to get the pool in top condition. First, enough water is pumped out that they can walk in the shallow end in rain boots. From there, pressure washers and cleaning agents are used to remove any stains or debris from the walls and floor. To get the surface of the floor ready for pressure washing, a group of the volunteers pushes the water and anything else that has fallen into the pool over to the deep end with big push squegees. Eventually, all that’s left is to pump the deep end, and after that they give everything a final check. The whole process takes at least a day to complete. “I think it looks good! They did a good Job,” Amy said of the pool after the task was completed. Indeed, it does look good and it is now ready for a full season of fun times thanks to the hard work of the volunteers from Elkin Valley Baptist Church! Thanks! News, 2012-04-11T17:31:07+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/time_to_fish http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/time_to_fish#When:15:28:32Z By now you're probably like the rest of us who have started enjoying the new leaves on the trees, the green grass, sunshine and 70+ degree weather. Spring is here to stay and for a lot of folks with it comes a big urge to get outside and get to fishing! At the Assembly, not only can we tell this from talking with our angling co-workers, but we can see fishing fever hit our guests who enjoy casting out a line in the surf or from our pier. To that I say, “Bring the sunscreen and grab your gear!” Of course, it cannot be said that this is a new pastime for folks who find themselves at the fort. From letters and historical records collected by NC scholars over the years we know that soldiers stationed here at Caswell during the Civil War were keen on fishing as well and made their way over the dunes with just about every chance they got. Before the Civil War, the lone Fort Keeper was happy to let locals fish on the land so long as they gave him a portion of their catch. Not a bad deal! These days folks can keep whatever they catch as long as it’s within the legal limits set by the state of North Carolina. If you’re lucky you’ll pull up a few flounder, trout, or red drum! I enjoy passing by the boat basin or fishing pier and seeing families having fun together as they fish or just take in atmosphere. When my dad comes down I look forward to a little family time at the pier myself - maybe this year I will break my personal flounder record of 13 inches. A saltwater fishing license is required to fish here if you’re over the age of 16 and can be purchased from a WRC agent or online at ncwildlife.org   News, 2012-04-05T15:28:32+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/southern_live_oak http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/southern_live_oak#When:19:36:08Z       Guests of The Assembly often comment on our live oak trees. I know they made an impression on me as a young visitor and they still do. Their twisted low branches stand in stark contrast to the straight trunks of the trees in my old hometown. These branches also make for great seats or leaning spots, giving our guests a place to rest in the shade on the hottest of summer days. In this respect, a few particular examples come to mind – the three live oaks between the boys and girls barracks. I can only imagine how many conversations have transpired under their limbs and how many folks have met there for the first time. Something you may not have known about live oaks is that they only grow natively along the coast of North Carolina and only in the Southeastern US in general. Dried live oak lumber is extremely hard and strong, which led to its being used by 18th and 19th century boat builders for hull construction in wooden sailing ships, (one such example of this is the famed USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned navel vessel that is still afloat). The trees commonly reached over 500 years of age and one tree, “The Angel Oak” in South Carolina is estimated to be over 1400 years old. Saplings were bent over in the shape of a lowercase “h” to serve as trail marker trees for Native Americans who made regular journeys to the coast for salt and fish. Next time you’re in Southport,  just across the river from us, stop by the park near their library and check out the famous Indian Trail Tree as an example. “We love live oaks at Caswell,” said Assistant Director and chief green thumb, David Lloyd, “In fact, we’re trying to plant more of them.” David has been a part of planting these newer live oaks over the years as well as making sure they stay in good shape for future generations to enjoy. Last November, when I had just moved to Caswell, he had me help place 2x4 braces to support several young trees on the inland side of the property. “When Hurricane Irene came through last year we had several of them blow over and had to straighten them up,” he said. The Assembly extends an offer to any person or group who appreciates our live oaks to donate one to be planted and have it memorialized to a loved one. The cost is $450, most of which pays for the memorial stone which is placed at the base of the tree. In a really tangible way, these old trees become a part of what makes Caswell and coastal North Carolina what it is. In their resilience to hurricanes, their thriving in sandy soil, and their strength and size we see a fine example of the handiwork of our God the creator. To inquire on planting a memorial tree, contact David Lloyd by phone at 910.278.9501   News, 2012-03-30T19:36:08+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/screw_in_a_light_bulb http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/screw_in_a_light_bulb#When:20:17:20Z Hatch auditorium has been host to most of our largest youth events in the summers as well as many concerts and large-group meetings throughout the year. Since opening in 1968, a few things about the building have changed but one constant has been the need to change its light bulbs. Several steel beams arch into an "A" shape that frames the large auditorium, with the greatest height reaching 30 feet above the pews on ground level. As you might imagine, changing the lights in this setting requires a little more than your standard aluminum extension ladder. To complete the task, the Assembly rents two different types of indoor lifts to change both the house lights and the choir lights above the stage. This was the first year I got harnessed up and took my place in the buckets of these lifts and it certainly leaves an impression. After going through thorough safety and operation training, I was on my way with a box full of fresh light bulbs. Heights have never really been a problem for me - I’ve gone hiking on mountain trails with steep drops and peered over the tops of a few famous skyscrapers with no issues, but there is something completely surreal about being right next to the steel supports for the roof of Hatch - maybe it has something to do with all those years of viewing its big lights from below. While I was up there it seemed like a good opportunity to dust off a few speakers, reseat the projector cables, and even polish the auditorium’s original stainless steel cross. Before dropping the twenty or so feet back to the stage, I took out my camera and snapped a quick shot of the view to share with you all.   News, 2012-03-22T20:17:20+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/an_introduction http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/an_introduction#When:17:04:08Z Hello! My name is Nathan Sloan, allow me to briefly tell you a little about myself. For starters, I have been incredibly blessed to have spent seven seasons (2003-2009) on summer staff at Caswell. Just this past December I came on as a full-time employee and I can’t stress enough how excited I am to be a part of the ministry and purpose of this unique facility. It is my great joy to write, film, and brainstorm creative ways of sharing my own experiences at Caswell, as well as help everyone else find an outlet or two to share their own. This blog is one of those outlets, and all of us on staff hope it is a blessing through encouraging stories, news of recent and upcoming events, and fun information on our rich history and local ecology. As such, updates to this blog will be getting much more frequent and will be in the style of an open personal journal, (so check back often!). Over time, we’re hoping to have several contributors to offer different perspectives and insights on their areas of interest. If you’re a fan and friend of NCBA at Fort Caswell and a social media user, I have to plug our official Facebook page and Twitter feed (twitter handle is @fortcaswell). These sites offer a quick and very social way to get news and updates direct from the staff as well as view and post comments and photos from/as our guests! We think it’s a lot of fun. Also, be sure to “like” us on Facebook if you haven’t already. In contrast to our social media activity, contributions to this blog will have more detail, more photos, longer stories, beefier articles, and comprehensive newsletters that just won’t fit anywhere else. If you’re the kind of person that enjoys getting the full scoop on Caswell, bookmark this page and/or add us to your RSS feed. Thanks for checking in and thank you for remembering Fort Caswell!   News, 2012-03-13T17:04:08+00:00 http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/new_website_section_childrens_programs http://www.fortcaswell.com/blog/new_website_section_childrens_programs#When:23:29:37Z We recently added a new website page for our Children's programs!  You can find it by clicking here or from our main menu use the "children" entry in the dropdown "Caswell Programs" menu. News, 2012-01-09T23:29:37+00:00