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.

JRAD

Visiting the campers in the morning is very enjoyable and the setting at Indian Point is glorious.  As I visited this morning, I found all the campers in the breakfast mode.  The campsites were immaculate with everything in its place.  This is a really good group of kids who are enjoying their stay.  They do have their quirks however and when I ask them about how their day looks, they answer as though they have already done the activity.  An example would be.  When I ask them about their hike this morning, they tell me that the Memorial Park hike was fun when in fact they haven't gone yet.  The good news is that they are very enthusiastic and optimistic about their day but it can be confusing. 

This morning they shared the following comments...

• Looking forward to using the float at the pool.
• The night swim is going to be fun.
• Camp is awesome.
• The night swim was fun.
• The morning swim was fun.
• Swimming is fun.
• They loved playing the Underground Church.
• Memorial Park was fun.
• The hot cocoa is good.
• Frizball ( a game the kids made up) is fun.
• Lunch at Memorial Park was great.
• One of the leaders told a great story last night at he campfire.
• The foil pack dinner was awesome.
• It is sad that this is the final full day at camp.

Obviously these campers are having a great time at Redwood Glen.

YMAD

This morning when I visited the YMAD camp, I found the campers in excellent spirits and busy eating a scrumptious breakfast.  The best time for me to talk with the kids is at breakfast so it isn't unusual for people to give me comments about the food.  We are always pleased when everyone likes the camp menu but sometimes it is difficult to get them to talk about the activities because they are so busy eating.

This morning I received some great comments from the campers.  Here they are...

• The talent show last night was really good.
• Campers had a number of opportunities to highlight their talents.  One camper told me she was in four acts.
• All the acts were awesome.
• Love the french toast this morning.  Four campers made this comment.
• Looking forward to nap time today.
• The bacon today is very tasty.
• It's hard to be mad when you are bouncing.
• The snowball fight was fun.
• The Churros were good but they were not from Mexico.
• It is hard to be mad when you are bouncing.
• Lunch was awesome yesterday.
• The musical will be fantastic.
• This week has gone by too fast.
• I hope dress rehearsal goes well today.
• The coffee is strongly brewed.
• It has been a fun week.
• The pastor's sermons have been deep and meaningful.
• The Boy Band last night was excellent.  The name of the group: "Retreat Left Minus 1"
• The talent show was amazing.

Tomorrow's presentation promises to be very enjoyable.  The program begins at 11:00am and you don't want to be late.  Remember that there is lunch being offered at the picnic area.  YMAD participants are free.  Tickets can be purchased at the door.  Adults = $7.00  Youth=$5.00 each.  See you then.

JRAD

When I visited the campers this morning at Indian point, I found most of the campers sitting quietly around the picnic tables either waiting for their french toast and sausages to be cooked or already eating them.  Two batches of french toast were cooked by two very capable campers under the watchful eye of the staff.  Two other campers cooked the sausages and all was done over an open campfire.  Not only did they do a  great job but the food was enjoyed by the other campers.  Everyone had done their chores and they were getting energy for a busy day.

Here were their comments as I spoke with them...

• Magical unicorns live in Redwood Glen.
• Raccoons are eating everything left in the grease pit.
• One camper told me that he enjoys the social aspects of camp.
• A couple of kids told me how much they enjoyed "boomball" last night.
• Swimming is a hit with many of the kids.
• One camper made perfect french toast this morning.
• Campers enjoyed the morning hike.
• Camp is awesome.
• The sausage was good.

There are many cool things happening with this camp and I think you will notice a difference in your children when you pick them up.

YMAD

Good morning!  At the dining hall this morning, the kids were really getting into breakfast and preparing for a busy day. It is an absolutely beautiful day here at Redwood Glen,  The sun is out and the temperature is just right.  It was difficult to get too much information out of them this morning as they were still a bit sleepy and eating up a storm.

Here is what the campers shared this morning...

• The coffee is really good.
• The food is delicious.
• Last night's games were really fun.
• One camper told me that she got a much better sleep last night.
• One person said that he got smacked in the face with a pillow pet.
• Glad we have oatmeal each morning.
• The counselor hunt was really fun.
• Several mentioned how much they enjoyed the worship.
• Retreat left is funny and entertaining.
• One person told me how much she enjoyed the candles at the campfire.
• One young man said the "yesterday I had the best baked potato ever."

I have heard the singing from this group and it sounds great. I think you all will be in for a treat on Saturday morning.

Youth Music and Drama Camp (YMAD)

YMAD is an interesting camp as the campers enjoy camp activities for a portion of the day and preparing for the presentation the remainder.  The campers come with anticipation of seeing old friends having fun together, learning more about God and putting on a Saturday program to excite their parents and friends.

This blog is designed to keep you informed about the happenings of the week and most of the comments come directly from the kids.  I typically visit with them each morning and hope that they are willing to share with me.  Sometimes I have much to write and sometimes I can't squeeze anything out of them.  The amount of information I share depends on how much sleep they got the previous night and how good breakfast is.

These were the comments from the campers today...

• The pastors sermon last night was really good.
• The games we played last night were lots of fun.
• We liked the part where we dressed up another person.
• The eggs were good this morning.
• I am enjoying everything.
• These potatoes are excellent.
• I got into the band but really didn't want to.
• We enjoyed the warm and friendly campfire last night.
• Because of the lack of water, the mosquitos were really out last night.
• Several proclaimed "Merry Christmas"
• It's Christmas in July
• It's nice to see everyone together again.
• Retreat left has a peculiar odor to it.
• The beds were declared hard/soft/just right.
• The campfire was funny.
• We are looking forward to the play.
• The coffee is great.

Until tomorrow, have a good day and don't forget to view the camp pictures on line.

Jr. Adventure Camp (JRAD)

This blog will attempt to inform you of all the cool things that will happen at JRAD this week.  Each morning I will visit the campers and attempt to solicit their comments in the hope that you can read about and enjoy the experience with them.  I will not mention names to protect their privacy but you may recognize some of the postings as comments from your children. 

This morning, I visited the kids as they were enjoying their first breakfast together.  Here were their comments.

• Campfires are fun.
• One camper said their were too many chores to be a camp.  (he had been collecting fire wood).
• One camper was told that he runs and talks while sound asleep in his sleeping bag.
• One young man suggested that this is the perfect camp.
• Sawing branches for firewood is hard but fun.
• It was cold when we got up this morning.
• This is the best camp ever.
• We love the bacon.  Some of it is in the shape of a bird.
• We collected lots of wood for the cooking fires.
• From a staff; the campers are working together well.

Remember, for this camp, many will learn how to cook over the open fire and some will be able to start the campfire.  They will be sleeping in tents all week with the majority of the meals being cooked over an open fire.  This morning was beautiful in the redwoods and the campers were eating well.  They are off to a good start.