Friday, July 18, 2014

Sr. High Camp (meant for Thursday, July 17, 2014)

This post was meant to be a Thursday post and apparently I wrote the post and left it in draft version without actually posting it to the blog.  When you read it, please be thinking Thursday, the next to the last day of camp.
  • The girls in Retreat right are loud.
  • The counselor hunt last night was cool.
  • We have the talent show tonight and each cabin is asked to do something.
  • The staff beat the campers in volleyball.
  • The campers beat the staff in the counselor hunt.
  • The french toast is really good this morning.
  • This place is like totally awesome.
  • The talent show acts are a secret to the campers.
  • I'm going to miss camp.
  • One of the campers told me that she normally does not like french toast but she was enjoying the camps version this morning.
  • The food is always good here.
  • Gotta love those pranks?
  • The sun is beautiful this morning.
  • We need more vanilla yogurt.

Everyone was getting ready for another big day at camp.

Sr. High Camp

On the last morning of a camp session. I traditionally ask campers for a one word description for their entire week of camp.  This morning, I received the following comments from the campers and staff of Sr. High Camp.
  • Excellent
  • Holy
  • Needed (X2 meaning that two campers gave the same answer)
  • Changed
  • Great experience
  • Fun (X5)
  • Indescribable
  • Memorable
  • Relaxing
  • Unforgettable
  • Blessed (X2)
  • Hilarious
  • To-legit-to-quit
  • Great
  • Too-short
  • Cool
  • Inspiring
  • Exhilarating
  • Exuberant
  • Blessing
  • Will-power

Some words have been hyphenated to meet the one word quota.  In general, this was a good group of kids who had a great experience.  God Bless.

This is our last program camp for the summer.  We will miss the campers who attended Redwood Glen this summer and look forward to 2015.


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Sr. High Camp

This morning the campers were in a more talkative mood.  As I went around, I got some good comments from people.  Here is what they said...
  • I slept like an angel last night.
  • I love the fresh air here.
  • We are so active that when we go to bed at night, we are ready for sleep.
  • The night swim was fun.
  • We enjoyed jumping off the diving board and playing football in the pool last night.
  • Tomorrow, we are going to play volleyball.
  • Yesterday was a hot and humid day, thank you for the cold water in the shower.
  • Thanks for the sausages this morning.
  • Watching the deer with her fawn was fun.
  • I predicted pancakes this morning and I was right.
  • Loved swimming last night.
  • I haven't slept this well in months.
  • The pool is fun.
  • The slingshots were fun and several campers were excellent at it.
  • Robin with a Hood is going down.
  • I am learning to live without a night shower.
  • The camp temperature was great.
  • I enjoyed helping to teach volleyball.

The kids are having a great time and enjoying each other.   I know the message is getting across this week as well.  Only two full days left.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Sr. High Camp

The Sr. High Camp is always an enjoyable group.  We have older campers who really want to be here and enjoy everything that Redwood Glen has to offer.  Of course, we typically get kids who would rather sleep in the morning and go to bed very late at night.  So this morning when I sat in at an 8:00am breakfast to get their blog comments, most were barely awake and those who were, would rather be eating than talking to me.  In any event, some of them were talkative and shared these comments with me;
  • The first night at camp it is always hard to sleep.
  • The food is great here.
  • One person told me how much he enjoyed the night hike.
  • The s'mores at the campfire last night were great.
  • Hello.
  • Several were looking forward to archery.
  • A couple mentioned that their legs were getting a workout.
  • The bacon this morning was great.
  • Some of the guys were noisy last night.
  • One of the campers tried to be funny but failed.
  • An unknown camper is a nice person.
  • The friend of the unknown camper is a nice person.

I have a feeling that tomorrow morning will be easier to get comments from everybody.

Monday, July 14, 2014

Sr. High Camp

Good afternoon everyone.  Today, the Sr. High camp begins at Redwood Glen.  25 Young people are registered for this camp and all are anticipating a wonderful experience.  Each morning, I will visit with the campers to get a pulse of what they are enjoying, what fun activities they are participating in and what they are looking forward to.  I will attempt to capture the flavor of the week and share it with.  Until then...

Saturday, July 12, 2014

JRAD

The Jr. Adventure Campers had their last meal this morning at the dining hall.  It was a good group of kids who enjoyed pretty much everything they did during the week including cooking over an open fire, sleeping in tents, swimming in the pool and spending time in the natural setting of Redwood Glen.  Their comments this morning went like this...
  • Awesome (X3 meaning three campers make this statement)
  • Nature
  • Weird
  • Fire
  • Survival
  • Exciting
  • Wow
  • Fun (X2)
  • Amazing (X3)
  • Adventurous (X2)
  • Mosquitos
  • Outstanding (X2)
  • Exciting
  • Crazy

My impression of this camp is that the kids really enjoyed their experience.  They worked together well and felt the presence of God through the staff and in their surroundings.  This was a good week.

YMAD

On the last day of each camp, I ask the campers to give me one word to describe the entire week.  This morning, when I visited the Music and Drama Camp, they shared the following words...
  • Delicious
  • Life changing
  • Fabulous
  • Amazing
  • Birds
  • Fantabulous (X2- meaning two people gave me the same answer)
  • Spontaneous
  • Incredible
  • Yousa
  • Illuminating
  • Enlightening
  • Interesting
  • Short
  • Awesome (X4)
  • Strengthening
  • Exhausted (X2)
  • Busy
  • Exceptional
  • Adventurous
  • Frozen
  • Jesus
  • Wonderful
  • Paper-Footballs
  • Browniesthatyouneverwanttoeatagain
  • Majestic
  • Fantastic
  • Memorable
  • Anchoring
  • Refreshing
  • Changing
  • Funnest-week-of-my-entire-year

This week was topped off by a wonderful presentation of "Totally Christmas."  Needless to say it was a successful week for everyone.