Thursday, June 18, 2026

Day Three- Pizza, Party, and Performances

 


During J-Zone, the campers were able to watch today’s episode of the drama Braa-riliant Adventures. The sheep were taken to market to be sold to the highest bidder. The sheep know that being sold likely means their next stop was the dinner table.  


 Fortunately for the sheep, they have been bought by the Shepherd, who calls them my sheep. There’s love and kindness in his voice and he leads them to a new beautiful meadow and sheepfold.  The scene provides a picture of how our Shepherd, Jesus, has bought and paid for us and calls us to follow him.


The littlest lamb, Snow White is intent on leaving the sheepfold for new adventures.  The other sheep in the fold warned her not to venture beyond the safety of the sheepfold. We’re left with wondering if Snow White will understand the need to stay close to the fold or will she give in to her desire for adventure? We’ll learn more tomorrow, when we see Act Three of the Braa-rilant Adventures drama.









The  true life story of David was a part of J-Zone. Yesterday we learned that God was displeased with the current king, King Saul, and sent his representative, known as a prophet to identify the new king. God impressed on His prophet Samuel, that the next king would come the family of a man named Jesse.  Samuel goes through the line-up of Jesse's sons, starting with the oldest, and working his way down to the next to the youngest son, but God tells Samuel, none of these men are God's choice. David, who was forgotten at first, and watching over the family sheep, is finally remembered. David is brought to Samuel, and God tells Samuel this is the one.

Today we learned that Israel was at war with the Philistines and  the Philistine champion Goliath, a giant of a man, was mocking God and Israel, since no Israelite had the courage to face him in a duel.  David was offended for both his God and his country. He accepted Goliath's challenge.   King Saul attempted to outfit David with standard issue army items, like a sword, armor, and shield, but David was not effective with these standard issues tools of war. Instead, David used his sling and some stones to take Goliath down.  God had prepared him to use the slingshot and stones for this time by having him use them to fight off wild animals. 

We learn from yesterday and today's lessons that God looks on a man's heart, not his appearance, and that we must follow God's plans and ways for our life to be successful in him. 





Campers continue to enjoy the arts and crafts if the Activity Center.  In the Bead booth, campers can make a variety of items by following pattern books or they can make up their own pattern for a one of kind beaded item.  Campers also made their way to the lathe, where they learn to coax  beautiful shapes out of blocks of wood .




The archery range was open for business today. Archery Instructor  DJ took the campers through the basics of archery  an how to stay safe while having fun on the range. 










While at the waterfront today, campers were able to take a ride on the pontoon boat and tour the surrounding area.






The fun continued with the camp Birthday party.  Campers are called up to the front, grouped by Birthday month, and they select a Birthday gift bag.  Once everyone has a gift bag, they tear them open to see their gifts. 






A popular Birthday gift this year was a personal, mini karaoke machine. A pizza party immediately followed the gift opening. 



The final event for the day was the Give It a Go Show.  This show differs from a talent show, in that the campers' talents are never judged, and in fact campers are encouraged to share the abilities, no matter how zany the act might be.



This year's show included several singing groups as well as solo singers. Other talents shown were, back flips, a shadow puppet show,  art, dancing and flying eagles.  Everyone was encouraged during their performance and it was clear that everyone had a good time. 

 











Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Day Two - Art, Fish and, Space Dawgs

 



Act One of Braa-riliant Adventures was presented to the campers. The cast of characters are:


§  Snow White, a baby sheep

§  Ewenique an eccentric, middle-aged ewe

§  Sherry a meat-and potatoes, no nonsense adult sheep

§  Pete the “straight man” in the comic team

§  Repete the “straight man” in the comic team

§  Bronco He an overly self-assured, late-adolescent ewe

§  Mr. Peabody   He is the wise, old leader of the group

§  Wylie an externally self-absorbed, 

charming villainous wolf

§  The Shepherd who represents Jesus, patient, wise, 

loving, and who speaks identity into His sheep

§  The Buyer, a person who plans on

 buying the sheep for slaughter

Little Snow White, the baby lamb, loves to run away. But Bronco is hatching a plan to teach her a lesson.  It's also rumored that there's a buyer for the sheep and they will soon be sold. Be sure to check back tomorrow to learn if Bronco’s plan works. And how about the sheep, will they be sold at the market? If a shepherd doesn’t buy them what will happen to them?




The Activity Center offers many artistic opportunities . Campers can take advantage of the Face Painting booth






Plaster of Paris forms are another way the campers can express their creative side.

The cat on the left of the drying rack was inspired by the camper's black and white cat. The camper was very avant guarde in his approach to his artwork.  


The Spin Art booth is always a big draw for our creative campers. One of the campers pointed out that he had create so many spin art master pieces, he now had the makings of a gallery. 



















The woodworking booth has added a lathe, which enables campers to create their own pens from cylinder pieces of wood.  Clearly these pens will become keepsakes for our campers.


 

Dollhouse, bug boxes, lions, and other wood kits are available too. 







It was back to the fishing pond reel in more rainbow trout. Campers continued to pull them in and add to the cooler full of fish.  We had a few first time fishermen who were able catch a fish or two.




























































The campers were able to experience a Kurtis Hoppie concert this evening.  Kurtis is a Christian faith based hip hop artist with a message of hope and a love of Christ. 

The campers were engaged in Kurtis's concert knowing and enjoying many of the songs he sang for us. An example of tonight's set was Space Dawgs and his number one song, Rooftops.  Go here to learn more about Kurtis and his music.

Christian Rap Kurtis Hoppie 






Camper relaxing with his buddy and enjoying the concert.


Kurtis autographs campers' items