JRAD, Day 2, July 10, 2013

When I visited the Junior Adventure group this morning, they were busy doing camp chores and getting ready for a great breakfast.  The chores were things like collecting wood for the campfire, cleaning the area and setting the tables for breakfast.  Some of the campers were helping to cook the meal.  It was a camp full of activity and excitement.

Here were the comments from the kids...

• Swimming yesterday was awesome.
• Creek stomping was also fun as the campers love walking through the deeper water.  Don't worry parents, everything is supervised and our lifeguards go stomping with the camp.
• Campers love tending the campfire and two of the girls told me that they were able to start their fire with just one match.
• Last nights dinner featured foil packs.  Campers chose the food they wanted for the meal and wrapped it in foil and laid it on the fire coals to cook.  One of the leaders said that this was the best foil dinner he had ever seen and no-one burned their food.  It was yummy.
• Five campers mentioned how much they enjoyed the pool and the water seemed warm.  The key word there was seemed.
• The breakfast this morning of French Toast and Sausages was declared to be "deliciousis"!  Translates to really good.
• Today the campers are looking forward to the Trad'n Post, swimming in the pool and archery.

Today as I was preparing to leave the area, one of the campers took me aside and said, "Can I give you one more comment for the blog?"  I said sure and he said..."I love this camp!"

God bless.
Mike

Youth Music and Drama Camp (YMAD), Day 1, July 9, 2013

I visited every table this morning to speak with the campers and to get their comments on camp.  Several commented on how excited they were about the performance this coming Saturday.  They were looking forward to their first day of rehearsal.

Archery and swimming were high on the list of the activities for the first full day of camp.  Other campers mentioned that they were looking forward to meeting God at chapel.

Here are other thoughts from campers...

• Breakfast is good and I like the pancakes
• One girl just looked at me and gave me a big smile and a thumbs up
• Someone told me that she was glad the auditions are over
• Everyone is looking forward to working on their parts now
• Kids are having a good time
• Camp is awesome
• Camp is really big (not sure what that means)
• Kid's liked the s'mores
• Everyone is so welcoming
• Hair dryer ( I really don't know what that means)

I'll visit again tomorrow morning and give you a first hand account of what the kids are talking about.  God bless.
MIke

Junior Adventure (JRAD), Day 1, July 9, 20132

Hi everyone,
JRAD has begun with a great group of campers excited about sleeping in tents and eating in the great outdoors.  I will visit the kids each morning and share their comments with you.  The first morning it is always tough to get anything out of them but after today, there will be plenty to share with everyone.

I visited the campers at breakfast to find most eating a meal of scrambled eggs and potatoes wrapped in a burrito shell.  Some of the boys had already eaten and were making a model of a tee pee.  All were excited about their day and I was able to got the following information from them...

• This camp is awesome and fun
• The view at Indian Point is pretty
• The food is good
• Last night we had a campfire with s'mores
• At worship last night we sang songs like "How Great is our God"
• The counselors are thankful for coffee this morning
• Today we are excited about creek stomping and crafts
• Camp is extremely fun
• Yesterday we went on a hike near the creek

The campers are having a great time at camp this week.  The weather is perfect and the spirits are high.  God bless.
Mike

CMAD, Final Day

Hi everyone,
Yesterday was such a busy day that I was unable to make the last post on the CMAD blog.  Hopefully some of you will still see these comments.

At breakfast, all the campers could think about was the performance for friends and family.  I received quotes from kids such as, the play is coming today, I can't wait for my parents to see the play and it's a very musical day.

And the campers did not disappoint their audience.  Although it was very warm on the stage, the kids hung in there really well.  They danced, spoke and sang their ways into the hearts of everyone watching.  First we had a puppet show about Jonah and then we were treated to a presentation of "It's Cool in the Furnace". The amphitheater was hoping.  They all did a great job and we so appreciated the speakers and individual singers..

The campers were also commenting that it was their last day of camp and talking about how much fun they had.  Some stated that they were sad to leave friends and this fun place.

It was a really good CMAD camp.  The volunteer leaders and counselors did a great job of caring for the needs of the kids and sharing God's love with all of them.  I know that at least two of the group made a decision to accept Jesus into their lives.  Praise God.

Many of the parents and kids stayed for the wonderful BBQ and then afterward, the egg toss and pie eating contests.  A good day was had by all.  Thank you all for your part.  God bless.

Mike

PS This was a comment from an  8 year old boy in the CMAD camp.
I will always love you Jesus.  Jesus can be with me, and I will be with you.  Jesus I hope you are happy where you are.  Jesus, I'm going to be good, but Jesus I hope you have fun.

CMAD, Day 4, June 28, 2013

Good morning folks.  It is another absolutely beautiful day at Redwood Glen and if you are concerned about the heat, you don't need to worry about the kids.  It is going to be a beautiful day here and the temperatures may reach 80.

The campers enjoyed another great breakfast in our dining hall with the specialty of the day being Cinnamon Rolls.  The kids were enjoying them as I visited each table this morning to get their blog comments.  Today is their last full day of camp and rehearsals for the show on Saturday.  Campers are getting excited about the show and sharing their gifts with you all.

I was able to extract some comments from the kids this morning and here they are...

• The talent show last night was awesome!  There were lots of great acts including the Shoe Genie,  the singing dancing, crazy counselor who played the ukulele, dancing in PJ's, and much much more.  They also felt the hosts for the show were hilarious.
• Yesterday the group went creek stomping in the Pescadero Creek.  They enjoyed hiking in the stream and rubbing rocks together to make clay for face painting.  They said the water was cold, wet and lots of fun to walk in.  They also said they had to be careful of the small rocks underfoot as some were slippery and people got wetter than they thought they would.
• Apparently there is a counselor turning 93 tomorrow (not).
• The cabins are cozy.
• Retreat Cabin Right won the Tidy Cabin Elf Trophy yesterday.
• One camper pointed out that even though the cinnamon rolls are good, her favorites were the tiny sausages.

Regarding the open house tomorrow, here is the schedule....

CMAD performance 11:00am-12:00pm

Come join us as we celebrate the Children’s Music and Drama Camp.  All week long the campers will have prepared for a spectacular Christian Show.  Join us  as they perform for you.

[Following the performance, there will be a free will offering.]

Food  12:00pm

Redwood Glen will offer a full BBQ for $5.00 per person

You may bring a picnic lunch to share with your family if you prefer.

Tickets will be for sale at the registration table area.

 Games

There will be a time of fun games to watch and participate in

*1:00pm Egg Toss (in field)  

*1:30pm Pie Eating Contests  (youth and adults near picnic area)

[Note: prizes for games will be camperships for next summer]

The campers have had a great week at Redwood Glen.  We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.  God bless.

Mike

CMAD, Day 3, June 27, 2013

Good morning everyone.  When I visited the campers this morning they were busy enjoying a great breakfast of cereal, yogurt, eggs, french toast, and bacon.  They were enjoying breakfast so much that it was difficult to get them to talk about activities.  Consequently, today's post is shorter than normal.

The comments that I was able to get from them went like this...

• Breakfast is really good.
• Archery was fun yesterday.
• The French Toast is sweet.
• One young lady told me that she passed her swim test.
• Today, the campers are looking forward to creek stomping in the Pescadero Creek.
• Everyone had fun last night playing capture the flag. They especially enjoyed making the staff person laugh so they could get out of the games jail.
• One of the male counselors looks a little like Jesus.
• Breakfast is good here.
• The counselors are so nice at Redwood Glen.

It is another beautiful day here at the camp and the temperature is just right for all activities.  Rehearsals are going well and all the campers are having a wonderful time.  I can hear some of the music from my office and I think you will enjoy the performance on Saturday.

Well, that's it for now.  Maybe I can get them to talk more tomorrow.  God bless

Mike

CMAD, Day 2, 2013

Just before breakfast each morning, the CMAD camp gathers at the picnic area for announcements and the blessing.  This morning I met them at the picnic area just to see how they were doing as a camp.  Every camper was excited about the new day and all the activities they would experience.  It is a beautiful morning at Redwood Glen and the kids were looking forward to a hearty breakfast and a fun day.

At the meal, I walked around and had a conversation with each person to get material for this blog.  They were so busy eating that they seemed to have nothing to say at first.  After spending some time with them, I got some good comments for all you who are reading this account.

Here is what they said...
Shepherd right won the counselor hunt last night and a big blowup trophy.
One camper didn't speak but gave me a big smile and a thumb's up for the week.
One of the girls cabins had an internal issue but worked it out.
This morning a male counselor spilled some eggs on this shirt but still managed to eat the eggs.
During the counselor hunt last night, none of the girl counselors were found but the boys were easy to find. Speaker Danny was found but Larry's record of not being found continues for another year.
Redwood Glen is an awesome place.
The swimming pool is a cool, cold pool and is a lot of fun.
The hash browns this morning are so good.
When you mix orange juice with apple juice, you get a blended fruit salad taste that makes your lips tingle.
One of the girls told me that she got the workshop she wanted.
Dinner is the best said one camper.
Campers like the carrot cake last night.
Brook side is the best cabin proclaimed another camper.
Drama is fun!
I liked the new slingshot range.
Camp is awesome, I love it.

As I am writing this blog, I can hear the sweet voices of children singing.  It is a beautiful sound and one that you will enjoy on Saturday.  God bless.

Mike

PS  Our photographer was ill on Tuesday so no pictures have been posted yet.  Tuesday's pictures were taken however and should be posted soon after lunch today.  Thanks for your patience.