2009 - In Their Own Words

 

One of the last activities of camp is to ask the campers what they liked about camp.  each camper diligently wrote down what were their favorite parts of camp.  Some of the campers' responses are below: 

[girl camper] I like Royal Family Kids Camp because you get to know more people and you get to have a better relationship with the Lord and plus you don’t have to be embarrassed because most of the kids have gone through what you have gone through so you can have a better relationship with the kids too. Plus your counselors are the best and they understand you, laugh with you, and they love you. I love the food!!! I also love J-zone and Breakfast Club because of Maaartha and Kid Roayle. That is why I like Royal Family Kids camp!!!

 

[boy camper] I like playing with basketball and singing in chapel. I like painting faces, friends, swimming, fishing, kicking the ball, and dancing. Tom is my best friends. Royal Family Kids Camp ROCK!

[girl camper] The reason I like Royal Family Kids Camp is because I am in the best place in the world. This is the best place in the country and everyone cares for me.

[boy camper] I like camp because we get to go and fish in the lake. I enjoyed doing the Polar Bear swim. Furthermore, I enjoyed having dinner, breakfast, and lunch. I really enjoyed the jumping house. I liked to not steal and not take stuff from others and having fun without being mean. I leanred that God loves us and He tries to help us.

[ girl camper]  I like the polar bear club swim and I like the counselor I got. I really lie the zipline. I like my room and all the stuff I got. I like the signs I got when I first came off the bus. I like all the activities there are. I like the people in my cabin and I like how they’re not all bossy… and there’s a bunch more reasons I like camp too.

[boy camper]  I really liked building things, swimming, the zipline, breakfast club, archery, and the birthday party. I liked fishing too.

[girl camper] I really like the zipline and the high heels. I like all the presents because they are cute. I like to play all the activities. I don’t like mean people, I only like nice people and everyone here is really nice. I like the food its yummy. The birdhouse Uncle Bryon made and I go tot paint it. I liked seeing all my friends from foster care. I like Katie’s bedtime stories when I’m the princess.

[boy camper]  I like camp because it’s fun. I like the zip line. The bow and arrow target is fun. And building and swimming and the bounce house. Something I like is listening to the staff and listening to CJ. And living to the Spirit and God and Jesus.

[girl camper] I have always loved Royal Family Kids Camp because I have always had fun here! I love LOVE the zipline because it goes fast. I like face painting and make it like make-up with lipstick and eyeshadow! I also like dress-up and I love J-Zone and all the songs. I also like Kid Royale. Just to tell you I am saving the best for last and it is so cool! I love crafts and activities and also when we sing on stage.

[boy camper] I liked the zipline because you can slide down the line and it’s just really fun. Archery because I short Bambi on accident. And I liked the ropes course because it takes practice. CJ is a cool guy and the nicest man.

We are thankful that we have been given the opportunity the work with these children and are looking forward to another successful camp next year. 

Wrapping Up Camp

Royal Family Kids' Camp Boise 2009

The last day of camp has come and gone.  We had the final installment of the sheepfold drama.  You may remember from yesterday's report, that one of the young sheep was enticed by a wolf to venture out of the fold and he is now in the the clutches of the wolf.  The shepherd, who watches over the fold has gone in search of the young sheep. 

The shepherd finds the wolf and the sheep in the wolf's den.  The shepherd battles the wolf for the sheep and although somewhat battered, comes out the victor.  The sheep of the fold can always depend on the shepherd to watch over them and seek them out whenever they stray from the fold. We learned that we have a shepherd in Jesus who watches over us as well and he's someone on which we can always depend.

Campers, counselors and staff members had lunch on the lawn and signed shirts.  This has been a camp tradition and gives us an opportunity to relax and recognize the friendships we've made.  Once we were returned to Boise, the campers, counselors and staff put on a Welcome Home performance for their care givers.  Everyone returns to their normal lives now, but in our hearts we are gearing up for next year's camp.

Day Four

 

 

Nothing jolts someone awake like a 7:30am swim in a cold mountain lake.  It's been a RFKC Boise tradition for many years to take such a swim at least once during the camp.  We call this early morning ritual the Polar Bear Swim. 
Camper, counselor and staff members brave the cold morning air and even colder water temperature to swim the length of the camp swimming area to win the title of Polar Bear.  For those who do not wish to win this distinction, they can wade into the lake, up to their knees and gain the coveted title of Penguin.  This activity isn't compulsory and many of us are happy standing on the dock and cheering the swimmers and waders on while they accomplish their feats. 

 

After a hot shower and breakfast, we head off to Breakfast Club. In addition to our standard programs, our teachers, Sue and Carolyn teach us good life principles through, games, skits and puppet shows. In today's puppet show we learned that each of us is dealing with difficult issues, whether it be loneliness or fears, and that we can overcome these issues by helping one another.

The drama team has been presenting a play this week that is staged within a sheepfold.  The sheep have been dealing with the issue of the grass being greener on the other side.  There, to encourage one of the sheep out of the sheepfold is a wolf, who is promoting the idea that in fact the grass is greener on the other side.  Of course his ultimate goal is to spirit the young sheep away to his den for a mutton meal.  Today we left our story with the Good Shepherd, who looks over the fold,  rushing off to save the poor sheep. Hopefully he's not too late.  The final installment is tomorrow and we will know if the young sheep is safe or a stew.

 

                                      

   The RFKC Boise Players

Today's events were capped off with awards and a graduation ceremony.  Each camper receives an award that has been specially crafted for them.  You may not recognize awards such as "Best Bug Catcher" or "Best Air Guitar" but at RKFC Boise, they are highly valued. 

Once all of the awards were distributed, we began our graduation ceremony, which is for those campers who have reached the upper age limit for attending our camp.  Each graduate receives graduation gifts and their counselor says a special prayer for them.  The day ended on a thoughtful note. 

It can be somewhat difficult for the graduating campers to accept that they will no longer be eligible for camp.  The staff and counselors have become equally attached to the campers and the day can be difficult for them as well.   I think the silver lining is that this reluctance to part ways is a further sign that the camp has made a huge impact on  the camper, counselors and staff members alike and that the year long effort to produce this camp is worthwhile. 

 

Let's Give It A Go

 

Our first event of the day is named Breakfast Club.  As promised, Great Scott came to Breakfast Club and taught the campers a trick where seemingly, a rubber band jumps from the first two fingers to the last two fingers. If you know one of the campers or staff members  of our camp, be sure to ask them to

show it to you.  The trick is amazing.  We've also been learning through stories and activities that we need to help one another.  it may not be the easiest thing to do, but it's always the right thing to do.

 

Sue Carpenter and Larry Funzel teach
the campers

 

Campers were also treated to speedboat rides. A photographer
went along for the ride and took pictures of the campers as they experience the thrill of skimming across the water.  The smiling faces beaming in the photos were a testament to the great time they had this afternoon.

The excitement continued to build for the campers as they attended their joint birthday party.  These children aren't always able to celebrate their birthday. We try to remedy that by having a birthday party where every camper receives a Birthday Box filled with gifts and the whole party attendees sing Happy Birthday to each of the campers until everyone's named has been mentioned.  Just to make sure we have that total "Birthday" feeling, the host camp staffers make cup cakes and distribute them to the party goers.

You've probably deduced by now that one of our camp goals is to build the campers confidence in themselves.  This year, rather than having a Talent Show, we decided to have a "Give It A Go" show.  Giving it a go opens up the field for campers who would like to try  to entertain the audience, but might not think their offering would constitute the name talent.  We had plenty of takers this year with entertainers ranging for singers to actors in skits.  The applause and cheers for each entertainers resulted in a lot of smiles and signs that everyone had a good time.

Nothing Up My Sleeve - Presto!

Breakfast club started off with a big game of King Of The Chairs.  For those of you who haven't had the chance to play a couple of rounds of King Of The Chairs, the rules are somewhat simple.  There's a line of chairs, five or so, and the kids line up on each of the chairs with the first person in line competing with the person sitting in the chair.  The person in the chair and the next person in line do a round of Rock, Paper, & Scissors.  You can stay in the chair as long as you win that round of the game. If you lose, the next person becomes the king and the process goes on.  Our teachers, Sue, Carolyn and Larry the Worm helped us learn through the story of David that we shouldn't judge people on the outside but instead look at their heart.

It was  a great day at the fishing  hole today.  The weather was good and the fish were biting. Each of the campers were able to catch at least one fish.  Many of the campers caught more than one fish with the record  being one held by a girl camper who caught seven.

More importantly it is a time for the counselors and campers
to sit in the beauty of nature, the warmth of the sunshine, and talk.  The campers will enjoy eating the fish tomorrow.

 

 

                                                   

The evening was capped off with a magic and ventriloquist show given to us by Great Scott.  Great Scott taught us about David who as a child had a faith that changed a nation.  He definitely made us laugh and learn along the way.  He will teach all the campers a magic trick in the morning.

The Red Carpet Treatment

  Today is the first day of camp for RFKC Boise.  For those of you who have been following the camp blog over the years, you've probably seen a couple of photos of our arrival party where each of the children are announced and cheered as they leave the bus, ready to begin their camp experience.  This year, we've added a new twist.  A red carpet and ropes have been added to the walkway in hopes that we can give each child the "Your Special" treatment right from the start.  On our red carpet, we don't ask who you are wearing, but rather say welcome, we're so glad you're here.

 

                           Red Carpet walk

 

 

Counselors and Staff Welcoming the Campers

 

For several years, the Project Linus organization has provide beautiful quilts for our first year campers.  These campers cherish these quilts and take the quilts with them wherever life leads.  The quilts are picked by the camper's counselors and sometimes the choices can be difficult due to not knowing what the campers may like in terms of patterns and colors.  The picking of the right quilt was particularly agonizing for one of our counselors who did not want to let her camper down.  Her perseverance paid off,  her little camper wrapped herself snuggly in the quilt, even though it was a hot day, and exclaimed, "You made a good choice."

Dean of Men & Dean of Women distribute quilts to the campers

The campers are now safely in bed , likely covered with their quilts and dreaming of the big fish they are going to try and catch tomorrow.