ETA...

So, we've finally reached the last day of camp.  It's been a great week and we are heading home.  We plan to take off sometime around 9am--provided everyone can get all their things to the bus in a timely manner! :-)  Our trip out here took almost 10 hours so we are hoping to arrive in Norfolk around 7:30 or 8:00pm, Lord willing.  We will make our customary phone calls within and hour of our arrival so parents can meet us at the church when we get in.  Thanks for your prayers and keep them coming all day tomorrow as we travel the open road! Praise God for a great week at Camp!

The Timber Trek

This afternoon the campers raced their cars they had been building all week long--Fred Flinstone style!  And it was no small race.  They did it relay style and with the uphill hike a few of them had they were quite tired out by the time they finished....just in time for a special grilled dinner!

Q&A with Pastor Brock

Today the morning service was a bit different.  The campers were allowed to write down questions they had for Pastor Brock and he answered them. The questions ranged from deep and personal questions regarding how he handled the grief of his wife passing 18 months ago to how he goes about his daily devotions to where is his favorite place to hunt! It was a really neat time to get to know the speaker and I think it really made a difference to the teens in how they connected to him and therefore his messages.  Pastor Brock has an amazing testimony and has been a real blessing this week!

Sponsors (& kids) Have Fun at Camp Too!

Paddleboating

These guys were nice enough to let Alex ride along with them!

This was right before the guys got stuck in some mud and the girls had to bail them out!!  :-)

Sir Tagsalot...Gotta Love Games Where You Wack People with a Noodle!

This game is like musical chairs except you tag people out with a noodle.  Kids love to wack other kids with a noodle.  :-)

Free Time in the WAC

The WAC is the Willis Activity Center. It's basically like a Rec Hall. There is a large gym on the main level with access to the snack shop. Upstairs in the loft there are tables and tons of board games to choose from, a piano, and several fooseball, ping pong, pool, and air hockey tables. Something for everyone and the kids have a lot of fun there. Free time is also a good time for us to touch base with the campers and make sure everyone is doing ok and also to talk with their counselors a bit.

This is a game called 9 Square.  The ball is supposed to stay up in the air.  If it falls in your square you move back to the end of the line.  The idea is to try to get bumped all the way through all 9 squares without getting bumped to the end.

view of 9 Square from the loft above

Rock Climbing

Today the campers had the opportunity to do some major rock climbing.  Here is the "rock" they climbed. 
They said it was an awesome experience!

Michael and David said they are so tall they made it up the mountain in 5 strides!  :-)

one of the staffers said our campers were really brave, even when they had to repel!

Mountain Boarding!?!

boarding down the path...trying not to wipe out!

Cameron, one of the staff, explaining to the kids how to fall safely and how to wear the safety gear!  Very importaint when you are riding on an oversized skateboard with big wheels down the mountain path!

Alex and Austin had a good time mountain boarding.

Team Scoring Time

At the end of dinner time the kids enjoy an evening news style presentation for team scoring.  They are shown video and pictures of themselves doing various activities throughout the day as well as funny video clips the staff puts together. 

At the end of team scoring today the staff passed out camper mail.  But....in order to retrieve your mail you had to "kiss that moose!" When your name was called the entire group yelled "kiss that moose" and the pics below explain the rest...

The Serious Side of Camp

The Services this week have been great. The music has been very well done -- it is both beautiful and God honoring. The messages by Pastor David Brock have been challenging the teens to live by faith which is "belief in action" and to evaluate their lives to be sure they are living for God. Last night he preached a powerful gospel message. Pastor Brock is an engaging speaker and he powerfully applies God's word to the teens.

Wednesday

Sorry to say I don't have that many pics to post today because we forgot to charge the camera and it died on us. Pastor Ryan is hoping to get a few more pics tonight on his phone, so hopefully I will have a few more then. Today in the mountains it was a bit foggy and crisp enough to wear a sweater--perfect! The kids have enjoyed great preaching, tasty food, and a hike up the mountain (if they chose to hike).

they served special desserts tonight: cotton candy, frozen lemonades, or funnel fries.  2 of these girls chose cotton candy!

Alex really enjoyed his cotton candy!

playing games with mountain views all around you! that's camp!

free time fun

hanging out