Category Archives for "kids camp"

Kids Camp Olympics Starts Today!

My housing is buzzing early this morning as my wife and kids prepare for the first day of Kids Camp Olympics.  For the next three mornings, they will be getting up early and heading over to the campus of Christ’s Church of the Valley in Royersford, PA to meet up with over 500 other volunteers and over 1000 kids to run around, play wild games, sing songs, and learn about Jesus.

This year, Kids Camp is using the Olympic theme to get the message across.  So the kids will be teaming up with other members of their “country” for games that are sure to include obstacles, water, and possibly some mud.

If you live within 10-15 miles of Route 422 between King of Prussia and Pottstown you should consider coming on over to the camp.  To learn more, clink on this link.  If you can’t make it today, don’t miss Thursday and Friday (it’s not too late)!

Here’s a promo video to get you excited!

2012 Kids’ Camp Olympics Promo from CHRIST’S CHURCH OF THE VALLEY on Vimeo.

Is your church doing any camps this summer?

Kids Camp Big Top

Today, I had the privilege of volunteering at the last day of our Kids Camp Big Top. I had a blast! (I’m also exhausted.) I spent the morning helping out with games which was pretty fun. The afternoon was spent dismantling the camp and preparing our church for Sunday’s “normal” activities. I am constantly amazed by the volunteers at our church. We must have had well over 300 volunteers wearing read shirts helping to pull off the morning festivities which were attended by 850+ kids (from what I’ve heard). What was as amazing to me is that with approximately 40-50 volunteers, we could successfully perform the clean up effort in roughly 3 1/2 hours. It was truly amazing. I hope to post a highlight video later, but I could help but reflect now on what transpired today (and the two previous days).

I am hopeful that this camp experience will be the catalyst to bring unchurched families from around our area to church. I’m also hopeful that this experience will be the glue that sticks are regular attenders together in a way that can’t help but impact our lives and the lives of those around us.

Until the next post, I’ll be sleeping…

Kids Camp Adventure Island Video

Here’s a highlight video from Kids Camp Adventure Island hosted by our church a few weeks ago. It provides a small look into the fun time that 750 kids and 350 adults had during this three day adventure. Hope you enjoy!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxHv20WEa9g]

Exhausted

Thankfully, I took today off, because I am exhausted.

Last night, we wrapped up Stretch. Between Kids Camp and Stretch, I believe we had 1000 different kids at our camp. It was really cool. I especially appreciated the chance to hang out with other volunteers at Stretch. We are so blessed at our church to have committed people who get it. What I mean by this is that they understand why we do events like these and why we do them with excellence. It’s not about putting on the best event in the area, so we can say we’re the best. It’s all about drawing people in our area to a fun activity where they will be challenged to examine and change their lives.

I spoke to several parents yesterday at church who were so thankful for camp and who seemed very interested in coming back to check out our church again. I pray that they do, and their lives are challenged and changed as a result.

Tomorrow, it’s back to work. I’m sure I’ll be tired, but I’m also sure I’ll have a reinvigorated outlook as I interact with my colleagues.

Until the next post….

Kids Camp Day Three – Start of Stretch

OK, we just finished day three of kids camp, and it was incredible. I had 26 fourth graders back to have fun and to learn more about trusting God. Today specifically, we talked about “treasure.” Our verse today was from Matthew 6:21: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” It was awesome to see kids professing the need to put God first in their lives before all the other stuff like video games, trampolines, dogs, TV, etc. I heard we had around 665 kids again today. What an experience.

I just got home for a quick shower and half hour break before heading back over to the building for Stretch. I have the privilege again this year to lead the games team. It should be a blast. We have laser skirmish, a “puke” machine, a maze, hoops, a huge video game room, and inflatable maze, volleyball, table games, … I’ll let you know more later. I gotta run.

Until the next post….

Kids Camp Day Two – Trusting God through Lives Obstacles

Today at Kids Camp we continued with the theme of trusting God. Specifically, we talked about how we can trust God throughout the obstacles that comes our way. Our verse for the day was Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and brave. Do not be frightened. Do not lose hope. For I will be with you everywhere you go.”

This afternoon at work, I received word that the wife of a college friend had just started treatment for breast cancer. We also have a neighbor friend who is battling breast cancer, and the 3 1/2 year old daughter of a college friend is also battling cancer. It’s not necessarily easy to explain to 28 fourth graders that these are the types of obstacles they may face in life.

These examples provide a reminder of how important it is to establish a strong foundation in Christ, so when these types of obstacles come our way we can “be strong and brave” knowing that God is always with us everywhere.

Our pastor, Brian Jones, wrote a book (Second Guessing God) that speaks very frankly about this subject matter. Trusting God even when life hurts can be a hard thing to do. This is a great read whether you’re going through a tough time or not.

(By the way, Kids Camp today was awesome! As mentioned above, my team grew by seven members. We had a blast!)

Until the next post….

Kids Camp Day One Thoughts

Today…

I woke up at 5AM. Spent some time in the Message. Got the kids and myself ready and heeded out for the first day of Kids Camp Adventure Island. I spent the morning leading 21 fourth graders all over the place to play crazy games, do a craft, and to sing and learn at big group and team time. Today’s theme was Trust God. And the first for today was “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

After sending 21 kids back home for the afternoon, I buzzed home for a quick shower and change, so I could head into the office for 4 1/2 hours of work. Sometimes we need opportunities like the one I had this morning to remind us that God still has a plan for us in our own places of employment. It’s always interesting to get the reaction from my co-workers and colleagues when I tell them how I am spending my vacation time this week.

Tonight, when I arrived home, I said hello to my wife as she cruised out the door for drama practice back at the building. When this is all over, I’m sure we’ll get to spend time together again, but these past few weeks have been crazy between all of Leanne’s busy hours at church and my crazy project demands. Another reminder that Proverbs 3:5 needs to be just as true in my life as it is for 21 fourth graders and the rest of the 700 or so kids who came to camp today.

Tomorrow, I’ll do it all over again. It will be exciting to see what God has in store for the new day.

Until the next post….