Since many of you reading this are not at camp with me, I thought I would give you a typical day in the life here, or some general information of what we do here. As the previous entry states, camp is truly a wonderful place. There are times when so much is going on and and other times when life just simply trots along peacefully and still.
As I sit here writing, I can hear the excited screams and voices of children in the distance. Who knows what they are doing, but I can tell that they are having fun whatever it is. Ahh, there is no place like camp - that is for sure. A playground might come close to simulating camp life, but, I would have to say, I just can't get enough of this place.
Our day starts off at 7:50 am - the kids gather in the dining hall for "First Word" - a story, scripture or activity that prepares them for the day ahead. Usually it's something simple and to the point, kind of like taking a deep breath and exhaling before the start of a big day. During this, the counselors meet upstairs for a quick 10 minute "stand up" meeting where we detail the day's events, check in with each other and how the previous night/day went and cover any announcements. Then we pray together and join the campers for breakfast. After breakfast, the kids return to their cabins for "Cabin Clean-up" - where they sweep, sort, pick-up garbage and beat out the rugs of their messy lodgings. I am always amazed how quickly and easily these cabins get messy - most of the boys' cabins are so full of clothes that you cannot see the real wood floor.
After the cabins get cleaned, we join together for morning worship. We will either gather in the chapel or at the outdoor space, simply referred to as the "Chimney" (benches set up around an old chimney, remnants from a structure of long ago.) After worship, the counselors take the kids from their cabin (anywhere from 7-12 kids per cabin group) and have "Cabin Time." There are 2 of these Cabin Times during the day, and the counselor are to choose which one they will conduct the day's bible study and which time slot they will use to hang out and do some sort of group bonding activity. Then we gather for a large group game or activity as a whole. Sometimes we have a "Songfest" where we learn all the camp songs we'll be singing for the week and other times this activity could be water oly's (Olympics) at the beach, various tag games and other fun large group stuff. Today, we did something special for our theme this summer "Just for Life" - focusing on God's Justice in the world. We put on a "Hunger Meal" where the kids got to experience the hunger issues first hand in sort of an experiential learning activity, while also watching some videos, images, scripture and world hunger facts displayed on a power point presentation. We concluded with discussion in our cabin groups and as a whole. There is never a shortage of trying new things throughout our day - keeps the counselors on their toes as well as providing variety for the campers.
After lunch there is always some kind of ADE (After Dinner Entertainment.) This is where the counselors act goofy and do some sort of random skit or totally pointless action that gives the kids time to laugh and digest their food. I've been known to join in on the fun from time to time, which is always a high point of the day. The kids then have some quiet time in their cabins before the second cabin time of the day. After this, the kids have free time from 2-4 pm. They can swim, take the boats out, play 4 square, go to the craft cabin, hang out, play carpet ball or whatever else they feel like for 2 hours. This is also a time for us to interact with them and take some time to just get to know the kids more and have some fun. I love getting out in the water and stirring up some fun - last week, my brother Dave, myself and another counselor played a sweet game of keep-away for an hour in the shallow water with a host of girl campers. Sure we all got face-fulls of water splashed in our eyes, but we had a great time. Then we hit up the deep end and jumped off the water trampoline. The kids almost always call for belly-flops from the counselors. We oblige, and then painfully exit the beach.
After free time concludes, we give the counselors their only hour off from their campers. This is called "Power Hour." The APD's (Assistant Program Directors) play a game with the campers during this time. Last week, we played "Fishy Fishy" for an hour. I played along - it was a nice way to get some wind sprints in my day. We have mail call and CCA's from 5-5:30. CCA's (Cabin Clean-up Awards) are given to - you guessed it - the cleanest cabin from the morning. Kids have been known to become quite competitive for these - which is great for us - cleaner cabins result! After dinner and another round of ADE's, the staff go upstairs for the evening staff meeting and devotions while the kids go "Out to Pasture" for some free time. Next we play another large group game - perhaps "Indiana Jesus," "Staff Hunt," or "Bonkers" (more on this game another time) or the Tuesday night "Hymn Sing" in the church followed by an ice cream social. When the game is over we have another free time allotted for the kids called "Quick Dip" - the beach is open and they have about 45 minutes to do whatever. The evening ends with a campfire worship service down by the beach - where God delivers some of the best sunsets on the earth, over Lake Andrew.
Post campfire we send the campers to their cabins for night devo's (devotions) with their counselors. FYI - Each cabin is two-sided, with around 10-12 bunks on each side. I will try to shoot some photos of this at some point to the blog. Occasionally a cabin will arrange some shenanigans like a "kitchen raid" - where they'll "sneak out" and grab some goodies from the kitchen. This is quite funny because the kitchen staff will leave stuff out for them with notes that read "Do not eat" - but the kids of course, don't realize that they know...which makes it also funny when I suddenly appear and give them a scare - "RUN!!" Good times. (Not that we encourage stealing and lying or anything...) Lastly, we finish up the day with a little "nightwatch" duty, where someone is to walk the grounds and keep an ear on the weather radio in case of storms. Should some bad weather come through, the nightwatch person would alert the APD's, who will decide if we need to move the kids to the storm shelter AKA "Party Room." Should we take cover in the Party Room, trust me, a good time always ensues as we keep the kids occupied with lots of crazy fun and distractions. Almost without fail, the kids always note that time spent in the Party Room is their favorite highlight from camp.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about the last night of camp! Sheesh! Well, we have a "musical" where the counselors put on a show for the campers. This is a play based on the theme for the summer, and music is sung in between the scenes. So, it's not really a musical in the technical sense as it is a play with music. Either way, it is A LOT of fun and the energy hits an all-time high by the end and then we all sing together some favorite songs from the week - awesome time, to say the least.
That is enough for now - it's free time after all, and I want to go do something fun (not that writing isn't, but something fun OUTDOORS.) Rebecca and I are going to take the kayaks out or something else...we're burning daylight, so I'll catch ya later!
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