Chalk and Nikie Names

Our theme this week is "Growth".  So we went outside yesterday (during the few moments that it wasn't raining) and drew things that grow on the sidewalk!

Hoping to incorporate some home-made sidewalk paint within the next few weeks, but we'll see how that goes.  Anywho, here are some photos that I snapped during that time.

Also to share: some newly acquired nick names! Compliments of Head Lifeguard (Nikie)

For the 3 leaders of the Adventure day camps:

Becca — Boss Lady

Stacy — The Teacher

Katrina — Mother Dearest

Theme Verse: 2 Peter 3:18, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ"

Relays Gone Rogue

While planning our schedule last week, we were informed that the beloved 'swim time' was not going to be available for Monday.  Not that we're really attached to the 10am swim routine, but we were informed that we couldn't go on the water at all on Monday—not morning or afternoon, for either swimming or boats.
Not okay!
The campers love being in the water, and as a campground, that's one of the biggest perks that we have to offer to them—not to mention, it's pretty easy on us to just play around in the water, or to sit on the beach and keep an eye on them.
But we planned some water relay games to do instead.  We figured that they would still be getting wet that way, and it could be fun—right?  I think the Becca and Stacy joined me in being a little unsure about the activity.  Not that it wouldn't be any fun, but that it wouldn't quite measure up to the fun of the beach and sand.  And did I mention that it was overcast and gross outside?  Cuz it was overcast and gross outside.

But oh! We had an absolute BLAST!  We started out with the relays, and though we had about 6 planned, we only did the first 3 and a water ballon toss before ambushing them with water balloons and sponges filled with water. It was the most fun I have had in a while!  Dripping wet and screaming, we ran around the field, dodged between picnic tables, and tried to get everyone else as wet as we were!  SO much better than the lake!

I don't have any pictures of the fight, because I was quite busy getting my campers wet and trying not to get hit by another bucket of cold water—but I will add some photos of my war wounds soon.  While giving a hug to a dry friend (who dumped a bucket of water on me!), we tripped and fell on the cement.  We weren't hurt very badly, but I've got a few scrapes to show off now  :)

Oh, how I love counseling!

Quotation Marks

m Oh, how I love working with kids—they say the best things! haha
Here are some of my favorites from week 1 and 2, hopefully more to come :)

Week 1
"Rubbish" — Adam
"I'm allergic to girls" —Jack
"We used the other-different-kind-of-baby-turtle-food" —Brandon
"It's not the 'Amazing Race', it's the 'Handsome Race for all Super Heros and Princesses'" —Jack
"We hugged for longer than 7 seconds, that means it was a real hug" —Allison (which explains the death-grip around my neck...)
"You dot to be tidding me" —Tyler ('you've got to be kidding me')
"Baa" —Ben ('bye', said like he's from the deep south)

Week 2
"Why can't you talk right?" (Brandon to Tyler, who doesn't say his 's's)
"Are diamonds poisonous?" —Tyler
"I'm dur-ty, I nee a dink" —Tyler (no, not 'dirty', but 'thirsty')
"Is this for fake?" —Brandon
"I'm going to wear my cow girl clothes every Thursday..." —Lindsay
"Reach for the sky" —Jack


There were so many more, but my lack of preparation caused me to slide on the whole "write it down so you remember" thing, so this is all I have right now

"Rubbish"

Well, yesterday was Day 4 and we had 4 campers.
Today we have officially reached the esteemed Day 5 and were joined by 5 campers!
This has been great so far God, but don't get too carried away now...
But it's been great—we're working with our own schedule, so the great thing is that we can spend more time on what they love (or need, like nap time), or we can spend less time on something that they don't have as much fun with (or we don't have enough people for...).  And in the end, it's just really neat to be in this position!  I could live without the 6am wake up, but the quiet time in the morning is kinda nice.


T-man—shown in the bottom picture with the shell he found—is learning to say "please" and "thank you" this week.  He's getting pretty good at it :)

Our most loyal camper's favorite word is "rubbish".  Everything is either "rubbish", or "better than that other rubbish".  Haha, it's pretty funny.  And we're breaking through to him—he was refusing to admit that he was having fun (responded to everything with "eh" when not using "rubbish"), but yesterday we caught him saying "yay" about our next activity! hahaha, victory is sweet!  He also started reading the Bible we gave him‚ which is really exciting!  Praying that it continues :)

Our theme this week is "Treasure", with the theme verse being Matthew 6:21 — "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also".  So we have spent plenty of time finding God's treasure—both in nature and with the people that we meet—and we are seeking after His treasure by treating His creation well.

The other counselors are finally back—I'm so glad!  Even though we don't get to see them very much, it's nice to know that they are there, and to at least see them at dinner again.

Three for Three

Today started off rather slow—but a slow pace that I needed.  The majority of the drop off time was spent without any kids, though towards the end I started to fear that we wouldn't have any!
Day 3 brings 3 kids (if this pattern continues, we shall soon be too full to function!).
And despite the cold, we have been able to have some fun today.  We built sand castles on the beach and played some on the playground before roasting hot dogs over a fire for our "fun" lunch of the week.
We're currently enjoying some down time—though it is becoming clear that the personal quiet time (PQT) is more for the counselors than the kids.  Oh well, we'll stick with the theory that it's good for them! haha

One of the funniest things of today happened right when we got to the beach.  Head Lifeguard proudly displayed all 700 layers of long sleeved shirts, her pants and her hat and informed us that she was still cold.  Once we got onto the beach, the oldest boy, Adam, requested to take the swim test that would allow him to swim in the "shark" zone (deeper water).  He hasn't been interested the past few days, but he really wanted to this time.

Nikie looked at him in stunned disbelief.  In order to give him the test, she would have to go into the water herself—something she had no desire (or intention) of doing.  The rest of us busted up laughing while poor Adam was entirely lost and Head Lifeguard sputtered her refusal.

It was super funny