Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Youth Camp 2014 Monday

Day 2 – Goodbye Egypt
After a breakfast fit for children of the King (including Sugar Frosted Flakes but not breakfast of champions), campers headed to a session on contracting. Not what you’re thinking.  This is a contract of accountability and support for each member of their small group.  Students were challenged to be proactive in looking out for each other and forming a hedge of protection.  To commemorate this activity, the contract was written and signed on a unique object that would not be easily be lost.  You can spot this in the pics.  Unfortunately the 9th-10th grade group misplaced their pink manager which was picked up by a camp staffer.  It was returned at the evening gathering and the group had to leap frog to dinner.
Activities for our campers were wide ranging for the day.  With temperatures in the upper 90’s and lots of walking and hiking, hydration was the rule of the day.  One group had a physics object lesson at Shipwreck with emphasis on teamwork.  Another group hit the water front where there creativity on the zip line resulted in a new set rules and a repair crew.  Others chartered a course on the open water (ok a 3 ft. deep river) in kayaks.  Afternoon activities included climbing obstacle courses and more hiking and bible studies.  In the Millhouse, teams competed in traversing (they learned a new SAT word) a blob bag which alternately represented quicksand and a garbage dump.  Campers (and certain sponsors) used ropes, nets, peg boards; random dimensional lumber and even rope swing monkey bars to avoid the dreaded hazards below.  One group found creative ways to launch unsuspecting campers airborne.
The focus for the day was on remembering the plight of the Israelites in Egypt and God’s provision of deliverance through Moses obedience to His call and the plagues God used to convince Pharaoh to let his people go.  Students saw how the captivity and deliverance were foretold hundreds of years before in God’s direction to Abraham.  They were reminded of His faithfulness to remember our situations as well and to provide deliverance through His Son.
In the late afternoon, when wagons were dragging, staff prepared a high intensity game with multiple activity stations requiring keen memory skills and teamwork.  Students showed a lot of grit while the sponsors chilled in the lounge (well not all but those that didn’t wished they had).  Upper classman scored at fantastic 59 points which may be enough for the winner’s trophy (free ice-cream).
Dinner was a hit with flour tortillas, pork, white rice (what – no Spanish rice), black beans and salsa with a decent bite.  Rolling out of the dining hall, we proceeded to the Mine amphitheater for praise and worship followed by a message by the camp pastor.  From there, small groups headed to the play fields to sit on hard rocks in a mostly round circle and discussed the day’s activities and challenges to living a committed life. 
After showers (for most) it was a few more minutes of group chat and down for the count.  Some campers have a lot of walking miles in their future tomorrow!

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