More Photos to Come!!!

I'm sifting through about 800 pics taken at Kids Camp...and I will add them to each day's entry as soon as I can. Meantime, scroll down to Monday and Tuesday, and you will find pics and highlight videos. :)

FRIDAY

The week has come and gone. And what a week it was! But we couldn't leave the campgrounds without enjoying one last worship service. During our AM Rally, the kids played Human Foosball. They linked arms and kicked about 10 balls around the gym....trying to score as many points as they could. Then Pastor Michael shared one more message with the group. Today's theme....NAME! Being called a Christian should imply a set of differences that can be expected. When we call ourselves Christians, the way we think, speak & live should be different from the rest of the world.

Pastor Mike also announced the winning team! It was a close call, but the GREEN team had pulled into first place! They enjoyed a special pizza lunch before everyone boarded the buses and headed home!

We hope your child loved KIDS CAMP 2009 as much as we did! Keep checking back for more pics & videos. And keep looking for info about our upcoming Camp Reunion!!!

THURSDAY

This morning had a very laid back start. We enjoyed a late breakfast right outside our rooms, as well as a casual AM Rally in the common area of our lodge. The teams competed in a team competition called Gladiator-Style Assault Challenge. The kids had to carefully make their way to several barriers where they had to collect hidden flags. All the while, they had to evade the ammo that 4 adult "Gladiators" were shooting at them (ie: Nerf guns). The BLUE team won this challenge, followed by GREEN & ORANGE in 2nd place and BLACK in 3rd.

After the game, Pastor Michael touched on today's theme, OUTLOOK! When God transforms us on the inside, our outlook on life will also be changed. People will know we are followers of Christ when they see our changed outlook on different circumstances.

This rally lasted until lunchtime. After lunch, we headed out to the Lake for a quick small group devotion & then some more Lake Swim!

Service tonight was very unique. It was a progressive service, taking place at multiple locations. It started out with worship in the gym. Then they headed back to the Lodge where they were surprised to find a Wedding Feast underway! They enjoyed cake, the Cha-Cha slide, and a special gift bag for them to take home. Pastor Michael explained that this party is just a taste of what we have to look forward to in heaven! The church is known as the 'bride' of Christ, and he is preparing a banquet for us in heaven!

Next, the kids were instructed to head out to specific starting points for the next field competition. It was called Wolf Pack!!! The teams were instructed to come up with an original wolf cry. At the sound of the siren, all the teams were to race throughout the campgrounds, shouting out their wolf cries, and listening for the hiding Wolf to echo it back. They were to follow his echoes to his hiding spot. The first team to find the Wolf won first place! The BLACK team came in first, followed closely by the GREEN team!

When all the teams arrived, we gathered around a nearby campfire for the next part of service. Pastor Michael began telling a story of Paul the Missionary. He told them of a time when a prophet told Paul that if he carried out his plan to preach the gospel in foreign lands, he will surely suffer.

The kids were led through the forest by torch light to an ampitheater where Pastor Michael told the rest of the story. Paul's ministry was blessed and many people came to know the Lord, because of his decision to obey (despite imminent danger). It was a very interesting way to present this message, around the campfire/surrounded by forest. It was as this service that Pastor Michael asked the kids to raise their hand if they wanted to commit their lives to the Lord as well, no matter what the cost. Many kids responded! And the counselors spent time in prayer with those kids.

Upon return at our Lodge, we played one more fun game! This one is called Labrinth. The teams had to work together to tilt a wooden labrinth as the ball made its way through the maze. But they had to avoid the holes...otherwise the ball would fall out and they would have to start all over! This was a timed event, and many of the teams tied for 1st place!

Then we all headed back to our rooms to pack up and get some sleep!

WEDNESDAY

This was our busiest day of the week!

During our AM Rally, we played a game called Human Tacos! The teams had to build as many tacos as they could within the time allotted. First they laid a kid down onto the "tortilla" (which was a circular bedsheet). Then they added 3 handfuls of lettuce (shredded green paper), 3 handfuls of cheese (shredded orange paper), and a ladle-full of Hot Sauce (brown paint water). They rolled 'em up, and dragged it over to the "Counter" where the customers were waiting. Then they ran back to their team members and started building the next taco. The BLACK team earned 1st place! BLUE & RED came in close behind for 2nd place. Then the counselors took a turn racing the clock as they made Human Tacos! What a fun (and humorous) way to start the day!

Pastor Mike introduced our theme for the day...KINDNESS. He played a humorous character, "MIKE the icon." This character thought he was better than everyone else. He treated other very poorly. And his attitude showed the exact opposite of kindness.

After small group devotions, the kids came together out on the field for our next team competition. It was a Messy Obstacle Course!!! This course was a test of patience, strength & endurance. The BLUE team came in 1st for this competition! Orange took 2nd place, and Green finished 3rd!

Then it was Lake Swim time! We spent 2 1/2 hours swimming, sliding, canoeing & playing in the sand. It was a blast!

After dinner, the kids headed to their rooms for showers and cleanup, then walked to service. Worship was great again. And Pastor Michael spoke about the fact that the mark of a Christian is LOVE. When we are kind, we show the world what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

We had a special snack time after service (in our lodge). The kids were invited to grab their pillows & blankets and meet in the common area, where we played a movie for them and passed around popcorn. This was a fun way for the kids to wind down after such a busy day!

TUESDAY

Today was jam-packed with activity! After breakfast, we headed over to our morning rally service where we met an interesting character named LEON. He is a humorous character, acted out by Pastor Mike. Mr. Ryan handed out the SKUNK AWARD...which is actually a penalty for the messiest room! The recipients of the Skunk Award had to receive a white stripe, spray painted across the top of their head. Then he handed out the CLEAN ROOM AWARD, which earns major points for the rooms that were the cleanest. During this service, we were also introduced to our topic for the day...'INTERACT.' The way we interact with others will prove what is in our hearts.

After lunch, we headed straight to the field for a field competition! This was a team effort TREASURE HUNT!!! The kids and counselors had to find clues all around the campgrounds. Each clue led to the next destination. But they had to decipher the clue by looking up scripture verses and pinpointing key words. For example, one clue stated, "When I was hungry, you fed me." The kids quickly figured out that this clue was leading them to the cafeteria! The final clue brought them back to the field where they found a row of catapults. The leaders had to quickly launch water balloons from the catapults, while the kids stood out in the grass trying to catch them. The first team to catch 10 balloons won!

Then the campers broke off into small groups for devotions. The kids took some time making a card for Jesus. We will use these special cards for an activity Wednesday night.

Today we also enjoyed a couple hours of free time. We hit the pool, arcade, & mini golf course, etc... After dinner we rallied back into the service room for our evening worship service. Worship was awesome (as usual) and was followed by another fun game! We played FOUR CORNERS!

Then Pastor Michael spent some time telling us the story of Paul & Silus in jail. (Some of the kids helped act out the story!) He really expounded on the concept for today...that our INTERACTION with others should be different than the rest of the world. And just like Paul & Silus, our actions can profoundly affect the lives of those around us!

After service, we enjoyed a SNACK together. Then lights out! The kids were awfully tired after such a busy day...

MONDAY

It's the first day of Kid's Camp! And we kicked it off immediately with a team field competition. The teams had to work together to solve an oversized board game/puzzle. But, in order to get the step by step instructions, they had to take turns crawling across a wet Slip-N-Slide, jumping into a pool of purple slime, and fishing for floating clues. Then they ran their clue back to the rest of the team, where the counselors helped them piece together their puzzle. The BLUE team finished first,earning their team big points! The other teams earned points respective to their team finish. After the field competition, the kids hit the path to the lake for a fun swim!

Service time was amazing.

We started out with a comedy skit about a guy who wanted to be the next 'American icon.'

But the panel of judges thought his 'audition' was horrid! This led into an upbeat worship time with the Kid's Connection band.

Pastor Michael explained our theme for the week, which is the word Eikon. The letter 'E' stands for EXPRESSION! This is the video that he showed the kids, to demonstrate this point:

He pointed out that we are willing to scream at the top of our lungs during team competitions. We cheer for teammates and expend lots of energy supporting our teams.

We learned that we should put forth even more effort and excitement into praising God than we do for team competitions and other entertainment.

At the end of service, Pastor Michael opened up the microphone for the kids to come up and express their praise to God. Long lines of kids formed up at the stage, where kids excitedly shared with the rest of the group some of the amazing things they have seen God do in their lives. It brought the adults to tears, to hear these kids honestly express their deepest thoughts and thanksgiving.

Of course, we couldn't resist playing another game! Tonight's team competition was called "Pants That Catch Pies!" Kids had to toss shaving cream pies to their teammate who was wearing a pair of oversized pants. The BLUE team again dominating, catching a whopping 11 pies!

We finished the night with a hayride and bonfire. What a way to end our very first day at camp. :)

Kid's Camp 2009!!! (Aug. 10-14)

HEY CAMPERS!!!
We hope you are as excited as we are to be gearing up for KID'S CAMP 2009! We leave bright and early on Monday morning for Carlinville, IL. Please remember to tag your luggage and bring a sack lunch for the bus ride. And bring your smile!

HEY PARENTS!!!
We invite you to check this website frequently throughout the week. We'll be super busy with crazy field competitions and powerful worship services.....but our goal is to upload photos and videos so you can be updated on all your child's activity throughout the week.

***Feel free to leave us a comment or two! (We love feedback!)