Junior High 3 – Day Six

Today is the last day of Junior High 3, and the last Junior High summer camp of 2019!  We have had such an amazing week with these campers – they’ve truly made our last week of Junior High camp a wonderful time and we will miss them.  But we are excited to send them off into the next year, having spent a week learning more about their Awesome Creator.

Parents arrived today at around 10am for the Closing Rally, which started in the Main Hall with a video show and slideshow!  Then we all went out to the Steps of Faith for the rest of the rally.  Campers received prizes for doing Polar Dip, Gorilla Gets the Man, and the week-long fishing competition.  We sang some fun songs and took a Love Offering for summer camps that Camp Lebanon supports in Ukraine.

Nate Miller, our speaker for the week, gave campers a reminder of the things that they learned this week and a challenge going forward into the school year.  Then it was time to encounter our summer-long characters one more time, with a resolution to their adventure.

Then the moment every camper was waiting for (and every staff member was dreading)…pies!  Campers say memory verses throughout the week for a chance to pick a staff member to pie in the face.  Two campers and one staff are chosen out of a bucket of names each week and get to pick their victim.  After hearing proper pie-ing technique from Rich Olson, the Director of Youth and Family, pies fly!

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What an incredible week of summer camp!  It’s hard to believe it is over, but we can’t wait to see these campers again next summer and to hear about how God continues to use them in the lives of their friends and family.

To continue following the story of Camp all year long, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to download the Camp App for notifications and easy access to Summer Camp info!  Check your email inbox soon for an email with links to high quality photos from the week, the video of the week, and a PDF document with some discussion questions for talking to your camper about their week at Camp!

Junior High 3 – Facebook Photo Album

Junior High 3 – Day Five

In last night’s chapel, Nate talked about how God defines us.  Nate talked about how we all desire to be known and to know who we are.  We sometimes define ourselves by things that world says about us, things we achieve, or what are friends and family think.  But God is the one that defines who we are.  We looked at 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”  This is what Jesus says about us!

TAKE CAMP HOME:  Talk with your camper about what it means to be a “new creation.”  Sometimes we don’t feel like it, but we can still choose to live according to that identity in Christ.  Ask you camper about some ways that they see this play out in their lives.  Nate asked campers the question “Who are you?” and had them respond with truth from scripture.  Ask your camper the same question and discuss the responses!

This morning, campers got to sleep in an extra hour for Sleep In Day!  Then we had a delicious morning meal – breakfast tacos!  Campers had their TAG time (Time Alone with God), and went to Morning Chapel next.  Morning Free Time was a bit shorter today, and led right in to lunch.  Then campers went to Mail Call – today’s was a video in the Chapel, a continuation of the story that is being told all week.  Then the last round of Clinics & Seminars for the summer.  So many staff were sad to say goodbye to the clinics & seminars they have been teaching all summer, as this is the last week they will be leading them.

Then it was time for Free Time!  Campers made the most of the last day of Camp and the gorgeous weather (but really, Camp has been absolutely wonderful weather-wise all week – we are so thankful!).  There were plenty of campers on the waterfront today, but also quite a few in the Craft Room, working on some of the different craft options that have been provided all week by our Craft Coordinator.

And, of course, the waterfront was busy too!  Our photographers had a great time capturing several impressive leaps from the high dive.

Tonight was PIZZA NIGHT for dinner, with huge, gooey chocolate chip cookies for dessert.  After dinner, campers went to Chapel.  In tonight’s chapel service, Nate continued to talk about how God defines us.  Specifically, he encouraged campers to know that they were created for a purpose.  When we know what God says about us, we can also begin to understand who He has made us to be.  Nate continued the list of things that God says about us, and called campers to be passionate about sharing what Jesus has done in their lives.

TAKE CAMP HOME:  Read 1 Peter 2:9 with your camper.  What are some of the other things that God says about who we are?  Talk to your camper about their passions – the things that make them excited.  Discuss some ways that they can use those things that they love to share the love of Jesus with others.

After Chapel, campers had some Cabin Time and evening Free Time (plus Canteen), and put on their long sleeves and long pants for the hike out to the Campfire at Bass Point!  At the Campfire, we traditionally sing songs, play a round of Gorilla Gets the Man, and hear another word from our speaker of the week.  Since it is getting darker earlier now, campers will also get a great view of the stars tonight!

Tomorrow, parents arrive for the Closing Rally at 10am, where we’ll show a video recap of the week, give out prizes, and send these wonderful Junior Highers off!

To continue following the story of Camp all year long, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to download the Camp App for notifications and easy access to Summer Camp info!  Check your email inbox soon for an email with links to high quality photos from the week, the video of the week, and a PDF document with some discussion questions for talking to your camper about their week at Camp!

Junior High 3 – Facebook Photo Album

Junior High 3 – Day Four

Last night in chapel, Nate talked about the topic “God saved.”  He asked campers to think of a time that they felt really stuck or powerless, and told the story of getting his minivan stuck on an ATV trail.  He then talked about how all humans are stuck in sin, and we need to be saved.  We can trust in the Creator for eternal life.  Jesus, who is the Creator (the wind and waves obeyed Him), cam to rescue us and show us God’s love.  He came to live, serve, love, and die to cancel the debt of sin.

TAKE CAMP HOME:  Ask your camper to tell you the story Nate told of the minivan stuck on the trail.  Read Genesis 3:1-13 & John 1:1-4, 9-12, 14. Talk with your camper about some of the ways that we see the world being stuck in sin.  What about in your own lives?  Read some verses – Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, & 10:9.  What is the message of these verses?  What is the good news in response to Adam and Eve’s Fall?

Wednesday morning, campers went about their usual activities – polar dipping, breakfasting, cabin cleaning, and spending time alone with God.  Then it was time for another morning chapel, followed by morning Free Time.

After Free Time, campers went to lunch – today’s meal was ham & cheese sandwiches, tater tots, salad, and apples for dessert.  Campers went to watch another skit at the Steps of Faith after lunch, and to collect their Wednesday mail.  Then it was again time for Clinics & Seminars before FREE TIME!

Today for Free Time, lots of campers hung out in the water or near the water, enjoying the pleasant breeze off of the lake.  Still more campers headed up for their zipline or laser tag slots.  At 4 o’clock, the Option was Ultimate on the North 40 Field.  Campers who were into crafting could make washi tape or watercolor clocks in the Craft Room!

Then it was time for dinner, followed by chapel.  Look for a chapel recap in tomorrow’s blog.  After Chapel, campers will have some Cabin Time, where their counselor will plan a fun activity for the cabin to do together.  After that, campers get some evening Free Time (with Canteen), before gearing up for a big Night Game!  Tonight’s game is called Bible Smuggler!

TAKE CAMP HOME:  What were some of the activities your camper did with their cabin throughout the week?  Ask your camper about the Bible Smuggler game.  What were the goals of the game, and what was their favorite part?

Continue following the story of Camp this week.  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to download the Camp App for notifications and easy access to Summer Camp info!

Junior High 3 – Facebook Photo Album

Junior High 3 – Day Three

Last night in chapel, Nate Miller talked about how we are loved by the Awesome Creator, the God who made it all.  He did a deep dive into Psalm 8 with the campers and talked about how our weakness shows God’s strength and our smallness shows His greatness.

TAKE CAMP HOME:  Ask your camper to talk about Psalm 8.  Read it together.  Why should we praise the Creator?  What does it mean to praise?  What are some ways that we can praise God throughout our days?

Today is a big day at Junior High Camp!  It’s Volleyball Tournament day, so everyone is preparing for the big event tonight after dinner.  Campers and their counselors get to come up with a team uniform, team cheers, and develop their strategy for playing in the tournament.  We can’t wait to see what the evening brings!

This morning, campers woke up to a beautiful, sun-shiney day at Camp.  Polar Dip, Breakfast, and TAG Time happened as usual, followed by the split guys and girls Morning Chapel.  Then campers had some more Morning Free Time & Cabin Time.

In true “Taco Tuesday” fashion, we had nachos for lunch today!  Campers could grab chips and pick their toppings, all in a nice paper boat.  Then it was time for Mail Call – another skit from the story of our summer-long characters.  Then another round of Clinics & Seminars, with completely different options than we had yesterday.

On to Free Time!  It was a gorgeous day, with temps reaching the mid 80s!  That meant lots of campers spending time in the lake, or enjoying the breeze as they zipped down the Screamin’ Eagle Zipline.  Laser Taggers & Crafters enjoyed the shade of the laser tag field or the Craft Room, while others chilled out with their Canteen treats on the Hub and played Octoball or 4-square.

Then it was time for dinner!  Tonight meal was brats, chips, veggies, potato salad, and baked beans!  After dinner, we all hiked up to the North 40 to start the epic Volleyball Tournament.

Campers played on teams with their cabin, using face paint and color-coordinated clothing to get into the team spirit.  Music was blaring from the loud speakers, there were practice volleyballs for campers to toss around between games, plus carpetball and 9-square to play.  The night started off as the sun was bright on the field, and went into golden hour as the final teams battled it out for the win!

When the last game was over, campers came back to main Camp to get cleaned up and ready for Chapel.  The Canteen opened, and campers hung out on the Hub, playing games and waiting for the bell to ring for evening Chapel.

More on tonight’s chapel in tomorrow’s blog post! Until then, continue following the story of Camp this week.  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to download the Camp App for notifications and easy access to Summer Camp info!

Junior High 3 – Facebook Photo Album

Junior High 3 – Day Two

It’s been a great day of Junior High summer camp!  Campers woke up this morning, got ready for the day (for some, that included jumping into the lake for the Polar Dip!), and headed down for Flag Raising and breakfast.  After breakfast, campers each went off for some TAG Time (“Time Alone with God”), using some devotional sheets provided by our speaker for the week.  This is a chance for campers to spend time reading the Bible, praying, and enjoying being outside in God’s Awesome Creation as they start the day.

After TAG Time, campers gathered at the Steps of Faith for our big group photo!  Here’s one of the goofy ones that we took:

Then it was time for Morning Chapel.  Campers split into guys and girls for these chapel sessions, with guys up in the Eagle’s Nest and girls down in the Chapel.  Each day, they’ll hear a different staff member talk on a specific topic, and then have a chance to do some discussion as a cabin.

Before lunch, campers had some Free Time and Cabin Time.  Campers mostly spent time on the main Hub of Camp, playing 4-square, 9-square, volleyball, and Octoball.  Some campers went down to the Lower Field to play Wiffleball.

Lunch today was chicken strips, mac ‘n’ cheese, & salad!  After lunch, campers had Mail Call at the Steps of Faith, where they got to meet the summer-long characters and watch a funny skit.  Then they went right in to our Clinics and Seminars.  This week, campers will get to pick from a different set of Clinics and Seminars each day – some active options, and some more discussion/classroom style.  This gives campers the chance to pick a topic that interests them specifically.

TAKE CAMP HOME:  Talk to your camper about their Clinics & Seminars.  What did they choose to attend?  Can they teach you some of the things that they learned?

Then it was time for FREE TIME!  Campers had nearly 3 full hours of Free Time today, and there was plenty to do.  The swimming area was open, campers could go fishing out on Pontoons with the help of Fishing Grandparents, Laser Tag and Zipline were open, and the Craft Room had some really fun creative options today!

Free Time ended with a bell for Flag Lowering.  Each night, a different cabin signs up to lower the flag (they can also sign up to raise it in the morning).  After the flag is lowered, there will sometimes be an Amphitheatric.  Tonight, four campers volunteered for the Post-It Note game.  Then everyone headed in to the Dining Hall for dinner – pasta, meatballs, salad, and cheesecake-in-a-cup!

After dinner, there’s more fun to be had!  Tonight, campers played a big Camp game called Clue (which works a lot like the board game, but all over Camp and with staff members dressing up as different characters).  Then they will have a little bit of Free Time and Canteen Time before Chapel at 8:30.  We’ll recap the chapel session in tomorrow’s blog.  Until then, continue following the story of Camp this week.  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to download the Camp App for notifications and easy access to Summer Camp info!

Junior High 3 – Facebook Photo Album

Junior High 3 – Day One

Today is the first day of our last Junior High summer camp for 2019!  We are so excited to start this week with these amazing campers – they are so full of energy, and we can’t wait to share our week of adventures with you on the blog each day!

Campers arrived and were introduced to their cabin counselors before having the chance to take their swimming tests.  There will be a chance for campers who didn’t take the test today to take it tomorrow at the beginning of Free Time.  Then campers went to the Steps of Faith to meet the staff and lower the flag before dinner.  Tonight, we had a picnic meal of sub sandwiches, chips, veggies, juice, and a gooey brownie for dessert!  Campers went with their counselors to sit somewhere outside and to spend some time getting to know their cabin group.

Then it was time for rules in the Chapel!  Campers heard all about Rich’s Top Ten Rules for the Funnest Fun, Swim Time rules, and how to participate in the week-long fishing contest!  Campers went on a tour with their counselor to find out exactly where some big Camp landmarks are and to ask any questions they might have about the week.

Next up, Chapel!  This week, our speaker is Nate Miller.  Nate’s topic for tonight was “God Created.”  He talked about the intentionality of the universe – how our planet exists because of a series of precise factors that had to be perfect in order for life to exist.  It had to be perfect, and mathematically it is impossible…but here we are!  This week, Nate and the campers will be looking at Creation and digging in to God’s Word to try to understand our Awesome Creator through the things He has made and the things He has said!

TAKE CAMP HOME:  Read Romans 1:19-20 with your camper.  Talk about some of the things in Creation that show God’s character and attributes.  What are some things that we know about God from the things that He has made?  Take some time to make a list of the things in Creation that help you to see the Awesome Creator.  In what ways is our Creator God beautiful?  In what ways is our Creator God precise?  In what ways is or Creator God creative?  See if your camper remembers any of the examples that Nate gave – or come up with your own examples!

After chapel, campers had some Free Time and Canteen before a big Night Game, then bed time.  Tomorrow we’ll wake up bright and early for Flag Raising at 8:20 (some campers might even jump in the lake for Polar Dip at 7:40), and start our first full day of summer camp!

TAKE CAMP HOME:  Ask your camper about their first day of Junior High 3.  What do they remember doing on the first night.  Can they tell you more about the Night Game – how did the game work, and what did they like most about it?

To continue following the story of Camp this week, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Don’t forget to download the Camp App for notifications and easy access to Summer Camp info!

Junior High 3 – Facebook Photo Album

Wonderful Wednesday (Part Two)!

Part two of our Wednesday blog is packed with stories of a very full day!

Today for Free Time, a staff member had the great idea of bringing a 9-Square set down to the shallow end of the waterfront!  It was so fun to see campers playing this popular game in the water today!

There are plenty of other fun things happening during Free Time – including swimming, zipline, and laser tag!  Cabins get to participate together in these activities with their cabin groups.  It was a warm day, but that just made the trip down the Screamin’ Eagle Zipline more enjoyable because of the nice breeze!

If you didn’t want to hang out in the hot sun for a while, lots of campers headed into the Craft Room for some quiet crafting time.  The craft of the day was decorating a mug!

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The waterfront was busy with campers enjoying the water – lots of fun on the Raft, the Rockit, and the watermats!

After a delicious dinner of chicken enchiladas, rice, salad, and chocolate cake, campers had evening chapel!  Mark Allen talked about what comes after beginning the journey of following Jesus.  Making the decision to follow Him means that we will be changed.

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

-Ephesians 4:1

Mark talked to campers about how after a big decision to follow Jesus, we often focus on our behaviors and what we need to change about those.  But he said that instead we should focus on  our thoughts.  “Thoughts are as important as actions” to Jesus.

TAKE CAMP HOME:  Talk to your camper about this chapel and have a conversation about things that they took away from it.  Ask them about the story Mark told about the river – ask them what they think is “upstream” that might need to change.

Mark finished the chapel by talking about the 4 questions to ask ourselves:

1. What am I consuming?
2. What AREN’T I consuming?
3. What am I believing about myself?
4. What am I believing about God?

Campers will discuss this questions throughout the rest of the week!

There is one more full day left of Camp, but first, tonight there is Canteen and then an all Camp game called “Storm the Castle,” a medieval-themed Capture the Flag!

To continue following the story, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Junior High 3 – Photo Album

 

Tournaments & Tie-Dye Tuesday!

Tuesday has been full of fishing, corcling, swimming, ziplining, and playing!  This morning, campers woke up to Polar Dip, breakfast, and TAG time (Time Alone with God), followed by morning chapel.

TAKE CAMP HOME: What did your camper learn most from their daily TAG time?  Ask them what passages they studied, where their favorite spot to sit was, and see if you can come up with a plan to help them maintain a daily TAG time while they are home!

After chapel, campers did what they seem to love best – spending time with each other out on the Hub.  We even moved the 9-square court so that we could open up a second 4-square court by the Canteen – these campers just love to hang out and enjoy the sunshine!

Fishing was popular this morning – and it was beautifully still out on the lake, so campers spent time with the Fishing Grandparents and their counselors out on the fishing docks.

After morning free time, there was a more structured time called “Cabin Time,” where counselors planned an activity for their cabin to participate in together.  Some cabins teamed up to play games like dodgeball and volleyball, while others went corcling or played a game of extreme spoons!

TAKE CAMP HOME: Find out what your camper’s favorite “cabin time” was this week – what were some of the activities they did as a cabin team together?

We enjoyed a lunch of hotdogs, mac & cheese, and salad for lunch, and headed right in to Clinics & Seminars time.  Campers got to pick from a whole new set of subjects taught by staff members.

Then, it was time for Free Time!  Including what our Craft Coordinator calls a “Tie-Dye Party!”  Campers get to dye their shirts today and then, by the end of the week, they will be able to take home a fully ready tie-dye shirt!

There’s never a dull moment during afternoon Free Time…

Tonight is the big Volleyball Tournament!  But first, we will have a cookout dinner up on the North 40 Field at the Eagle’s Nest, where the tournament will happen.  Tonight is a great night for cabin bonding.  Counselors usually try to help their team unify as a team by using face paint or similar outfits to help them build a team.  After flag raising, we’ll hike up to our tournament!  To Victory!

To continue following the story, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Junior High 3 – Photo Album

 

 

Junior High 3 Begins!

Over 200 Junior Highers have arrived at Camp Lebanon and we can’t wait to spend a full week with them, investigating God’s Word, playing crazy games, and bonding with cabin teams!  There’s a lot to look forward to this week, but even the first day of Camp has some great adventures!

Campers arrived this afternoon to a medieval-themed Camp, including a bell tower “castle,” staff members dressed up as knights, and watermelon dragons at dinner.  It’s hard to miss the theme for the summer – “Knights of the Lord’s Table.”  Don’t forget to cheer “To Victory!” 

After a delicious dinner of sloppy joes, “dragon scale” chips, veggies, and cookies, Campers spent some time getting to know their cabin mates for the week.  Counselors take the opportunity of the first meal together to ask “get to know you” questions and help campers meet their cabin mates.

Campers sang some crazy actions songs, learned some of the guidelines for having a great week, and got a quick tour of Camp from their counselors!  Then it was time for chapel with our speaker for the week, Mark Allen.

Mark started off the week by talking about how we all come to Camp with things that we need to let go of, things we need to talk about, and things that God already knows about.  He talked through the passage of Matthew 16:13-19.

TAKE CAMP HOME: Talk to your camper about this passage of Scripture.  Campers were asked how they would answer Jesus’ question – ask your camper what they think about who Jesus is after a week at Camp!

After chapel, campers will head outside to enjoy some evening free time (including Canteen) before the big variety show!  Staff put on “Ye Olde Staff Theater” on the first night of camp – skits and shenanigans galore!  Laughter is a great way to close out a wonderful first day.

To continue following the story, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Junior High 3 – Photo Album

Pies and Goodbyes

What a wonderful week! We are sad to say goodbye to all of the junior highers that were here this week. This week was full of laughter, learning, and new friendships, and we are thankful for all of the campers that came.

We ended our week with a delicious breakfast of cinnamon rolls and cereal, and then we enjoyed our last mail-call before the closing rally. Our closing rally featured a video slideshow of the week, our favorite worship songs, a love offering for Source of Life Camp in Ukraine, prizes, and of course, throwing pies into the faces of our favorite staff members. Today, Maddy, Nolan, and Lizzy are full of whipped cream to celebrate memorizing Scripture.

As we say goodbye, we are praying that these campers remember everything that they learned this week. Thank you God for a really great Junior High 3!!!

Here’s a link to the Facebook album with more pictures from the week: Junior High 3