Friday, June 27, 2014

Day Five- Our Camp Has Come to a Close

 



We’ve reached the last day of our camp for this year.  It seems like a good time to wrap up some loose ends.  Sue completed the story of King David for us.  We learned that King David made some bad choices in his later years that led to some personal heartache, and that while sometimes we may have to live with the consequences of our actions, we can ask God for forgiveness and he will lovingly grant it to us.

In terms of our play, yesterday’s post left off with one of the sheepfold’s young rams being coerced into joining the wolf in his den where he very well could end up as the wolf’s next meal. Through a series of events the wolf carries out a plan where with the ram’s help, convinces the rest of the flock to unwittingly become a part of the wolf’s larder.  It is a very close call but in the end the Good Shepherd finds the sheep and sends the wolf packing with his tail between his legs.

 

The day was wrapped up with the campers, counselors and staff performing the children’s three favorite songs for the children’s foster parents.

At our debriefing meeting, we all agree that we were pleased with how the camp went and that we all feel very blessed to have been a part of it. Time to start looking forward to next year.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Day Four- Frosty Morning Swim

It was a calm, cool, clear, morning for our polar bear swim. The glass like surface of the lake  was soon broken by the chop of our polar bear swimmers.  This early morning swim gave us a chance to to continue to bond with our campers.


Some of our very young campers were somewhat reluctant to dive into the icy cold water.  But they really want to make the swim and prove they were polar bear material. Their counselors dove in first and trod water encouraging them to make the dive. Each camper in turn slid into the water from the far dock and made their way to the beach. There was one story which, particularly plucked at our hear strings and was representative of our role here at camp.  One little camper want to claim the title of Polar Bear, but was nervous about making the swim.  Once he was in the water, he swam over to his counselor and clung to his shoulders as his counselor swan them both to shore.  The camper beam that he had made it to shore and met his goal of making Polar Bear.



 

 


Each counselor looks to support their camper in anything the camper wants to accomplish while at


camp. The support can happen in many ways, whether it’s an encouraging word, teaching a new skill or just being there when the camper wants to share something about their lives. After the swim and a warm shower came Activity Center time.  Archery is one of the activities in which the campers can participate.


 



We were excited to see that the host camp has built a new archery course. Archery instructor Lee did his usual stellar job of teaching archery skills to the new campers who have not had the chance to participate in the sport of archery as of yet, and had them hitting the bulls eye and the 3-D deer target in no time.


 


 

 As mentioned in yesterday’s post, this year’s play centers around a sheepfold and the trials and tribulations the sheep experience as they disobey the good shepherd and strike out on their own to discover new grass and what they perceive to be freedom. it’s not long before they meet a wolf, who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and find themselves in very dangerous situations.  Today we left off with the wolf luring one of the most rebellious rams into his den and now the ram finds he may be the main course for dinner rather than a guest for dinner as he first thought.  Tomorrow we learn if he ends up as the wolf’s next meal or if the Good Shepherd rescues him in time.

 



Tonight was both awards night and graduation night.  If you’ve been following our blog over the years, you may remember that each camper receives a unique award specifically chosen by their counselors for them.  For example, you might have an award for the the best zip line rider or the best dragonfly catcher. The sky’s the limit on both the creativity and categories for what can be chosen as the award.  Each camper beamed as he/she received his/her award.

We had five graduates this year.  A graduate is defined as a camper who will reach their twelfth birthday prior to the next camp.  Each graduate wears a mortarboard, receives a RFK medal, Bible and tee shirt which states they are a RFK graduate.  It’s always both exciting and sad to say goodbye to our grads.  We pray that God will watch over them as they journey on to the next chapter of their lives. 

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Day Three- The Hunt is On and Camp Talent Abounds

 


Today camp started like many days. We have what’s known as J-Zone where we sing songs and  learn


more words of wisdom from our teachers, Sue and Carolyn. These women have a way of taking ancient scriptures and putting them in a way that makes sense in today’s terms for our young campers.  We learned about the giant King David had to face as a young boy and how he set his fear aside, as he face the giant problem in his life and depended on God to keep him safe and lead him towards his destiny. Our campers have many fears and giants that have been placed in their lives as well.  It was important  for them to hear that these fears can be faced, overcome, and that they too can march on towards the destiny God has for them. As a side note, our giant known as Goliath is actual size at 9 feet two inches. We got a taste of what David had to face and it was pretty scary. Besides the stories, our camp play can be used as a teaching tool too.

 


We  will talk more about the camp play tomorrow but want give you a preview of it today.  Royal Family KIDS camps around the country are sharing a play about a sheepfold and the good shepherd that
watches over the flock.  Since this is Idaho, we thought it only fitting that our set have a sheepherders wagon on the set (pictured right).

Our Camp Directors were able to create a miniature wagon that looks pretty authentic and we’re all enjoying having it incorporated in to the play.

 

Some of our campers decided today would be a great day to hunt for water snakes. While hunting snakes might not be everyone’s cup of tea, you can see the team pictured below was enjoying it.



In the end, they were successful in capturing a few snakes and one of them is shown in the picture below.


It’s important to note that no snakes were actually harmed in the big snake hunt of 2014.  I do suspect they were annoyed at being captured and having their day interrupted but they were soon released back into their home field to carry on with the day’s activities no worse for the wear.


Snake hunters weren’t the only hunters out in the fields and waterways today.  Many a tadpole, water skipper, and bug hunter were on the banks of the pond, trying their luck.  They too were fairly successful.


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

If you’ve followed this blog in the past,  you’ll know that our camp has many traditional events that we try to host each year during camp.  Two of those events are the Birthday Party and the Give it A Go Show.

We had some first time campers that were quite surprised that we celebrated everyone’s birthday and that each camper received a Birthday Box of gifts. The Birthday Party is one of the highlights of camp each year and returning campers look forward to it eagerly. One of the other highlights is the Give It A Go Show.



This show is geared to give each camper a safe place to share their talents.  We call it the Give It A Go Show so the campers can feel more comfortable in sharing their unproven talents rather than using the talent show moniker where some sort of proficiency might be implied.

We had some of the more traditional performers this year, such as singers and dancers.  Some of the more unique talents displayed where making noises with a cup, a trick ankle and a magic trick involving a small fan and some balloons.  All in all, I think the  campers had a good time performing and being in the audience cheering on the other performers.  Who knows what future stars of tomorrow we might be cultivating at camp today.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Day Two- Royal Family KIDS Boise Camp Regatta

 

It was a great day for riding the zip line. The sun shown brightly above us and a light cool breeze blew across the camp.  The campers tried many poses as they flew down the line, each with a name crafted by the rider. We had the usual Iron Man and Spiderman poses.   One of the more unique poses was named the hanging deer.



In some instances the face paint added to the whole zip line experience making it easier to figure out which poses were which. 

You’ll see to the right that Spiderman is getting his face painted just prior to heading down the zip line.

 

 


We had what  I think might be the first annual Royal Family KIDS Boise camp regatta.  Some of the campers built boats during their time in the woodshop and they wanted to  test them on the high seas.



Campers built a series of canals, locks and dams that spanned much of the sand on the lake beach.


The campers brought water from the lake in their sand pails, they poured the water in the canal, and the water washed the boats through the canals.  They also test the water out in the lake swimming area. The campers were pleased that al of their crafts were watertight. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have a group of talented musicians that form a band just for our camp. This year they entitled their band the Shepherds’ Band.

During their concert, we learned the all important answer to the question, “What does the sheep say?” For those of you who are unsure of the answer, it is “Ba ba, ba, ba, ba ba baaaa.”  The campers had a great time singing and dancing to their music. Thanks Shepherds’ Band for taking time out to come and minister to our campers.  Day Three has something special in store.  It is a secret that we will share tomorrow.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Day One- Going to Royal Family KIDS Camp

 

Some of Sunday evening and Monday morning


are spent in quiet reflection, preparing both our hearts and minds for working with with the children who will be soon arriving.

Much of the rest of the time is spent decorating rooms and creating placards with the campers names that will help let the camper know who is his/her
  counselor.

 

Room decorations are complete for the campers to enjoy

Unless you’re  a camp counselor or staff member, it’s not likely that you have been able to participate in the campers’ first few moments of the their camp experience.

It is a camp objective to make sure every camper feels welcomed and loved from the moment they step off of the bus until the time they head home.  The above video gives you an example of the our campers’ first experience as they enter the camp.  You can get a sense of the buzz and excitement as the campers get off of the bus. 

Royal Family KIDS has a camp theme song with a first line that says, “Headin’ For Royal Family KIDS camp headin’ for a lot of fun.”  I think our camp lives up to the theme song.



 

Campers spent their first day in the woodworking, face painting, dress-up, and ceramics tents. Others ventured out to the new archery course where they learned the fine art of shooting a bow and arrow with some already having hit the mark on the 3-D deer target.

 

 

The afternoon was spent down at the waterfront swimming, kayaking and building sand castles on the beach.



It was a great time for both counselors and campers to bond.



We are fortunate to having  returning Australian staff members, Graeme, Angela, and Carolyn with us.  As you can see by the photo to the right, they have claimed a little of the camp for their own. We are so please to have them joining us again and the children all have a special place in the hearts for these wonderful people. We are eagerly anticipating what Day Two will bring.