Sunday July 12th
Our volunteer staff and counselors arrived at camp at 2 pm to unpack and prepare mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the journey we are on together.
We gathered as the adult half of the family for dinner at an Italian restaurant in Big Bear Village.
Monday July 13th
Prep, prep, prep and THEN…
The bus arrived at about 12:45 and kids were given counselor assignments and a sack lunch
With their counselor, the kids explored camp, moved into their rooms, and wrote out their own set of “camp rules”
Simultaneous “Sheep T-shirt” making and a pseudo drum-circle/song and music
Birthday Carnival with balloon toss, hacky sacks, face painting, etc
Waiting for the party to start, the kids were given a birthday hat, birthday blowers, and Chinese yo-yos
Birthday party with music, bubble machine, and disco ball: the Birthday Fairy delivers birthday boxes/bags filled with UNO, beach towels, flash lights, Barbies, footballs, soccer balls, coloring books, crayons, toothbrushes and paste and much, much more. Many of our kids jump from house to house through the months and they don’t get to celebrate their birthdays. We make a big deal of their birthdays because of it.
Wash up and go to dinner followed by DOTS cupcakes and ice cream
Telling of the first Bible lesson on Psalm 23 by Cameron
The first episode of the Drama about sheep, shepherds, and the safety of the sheepfold written by Kenny W.
Scavenger Hunt to get to know the camp site and the people who make the camp the instrument it is: Grandma and Grandpa, Coach Heidi and Bruce, Laundry lady Ashley, Program Directors Jeremy, Chanel and Deanna Music/Song Leaders Jason and Ryan, Arts and Crafts Coordinator Carly, Nurse Christine, and Safety Coordinator Matt
Back to the rooms to get ready for bed. Our kids are greatly encouraged to get in bed because they know Grandma and Grandpa are coming around soon with their daily dosage of intra-camp mail. We have this great option to write to our kids, to each other, and to have our kids write to each other. The value of this and the power behind it go the distance.
Lights out and Counselor relief at 9:30 pm. As the munchkins wind down the counselors go on a break and our staff put the kids to bed.
Monday was a fun packed and amazing start to our camp. So much so that the first day alone, our photographer, Stephan, took 700 photos!!! What a way to start it all?!?!?
Tuesday July 14th/Wednesday July 15th/Thursday July 16th
The mornings run the same for three days with slight variations but similar structure.
7am wake up and optional workout on the Basketball court
Breakfast
Second Part of Psalm 23 lesson with Cameron at Chapel in the Rocks. This location at camp is one of the favorites. The "rocks" are huge boulders that rest on a decline with the perfect view out to Big Bear Lake. This is often the times we meet with natures little animals. (birds, squirrels, lizards)
Outdoor games with Coach Heidi and Coach Bruce. It’s here that our counselors take their hour-long morning break. Many use this time to shower, others to rest, and even some to go on a mountain run. (Tuesday was “shepherd” related games. Wednesday was soccer. Thursday was volleyball- there is actually a sand pit court on our site.)
Snack time with granola bars and juice boxes!
The Morning Show began with the theme this year of giving back thanks to Ellie. (Each day our children wrote letters to different groups in need. Tuesday was elderly folks living in a senior home. Wednesday was soldiers in the military who were specially selected for us as those who don’t receive much mail. Thursday was orphans in Mexico.) A big thanks deserved to Jason for heading up the show this year!
Next up we had a rotation each day. Tuesday we had a special guest come from the Moonridge Animal Park (who knew?) She taught us all sorts of things and shared with us some beautiful and adorable animals including a hawk, an owl, a hedgehog, a grey fox, an albino king snake, and a tortoise.
Wednesday we had a very special fire safety demo with our very own firefighters Matt and Brandon and a special visit from the Big Bear Fire Department.
Thursday our kids got more free time to do small group activities like fish with Bruce, arts and crafts with Carly, mail writing, lizard hunting, playing homemade instruments in the lakeside rhythm room, making friendship bracelets and just about anything they so desire.
Morning over so wash up and get some lunch!
As the morning ends and the afternoon begins the program takes a more loose approach and gives freedom to our kids and their counselors to compromise and choose their activities. Each afternoon holds the same options from Tuesday to Thursday.
After lunch every group of two kids and their counselor go back to their room for mandatory 30/30 time. This is an hour of quiet time and for what we call “rest, sweet rest.” A special 11-year-old hike during this time on Thursday allowed for conversations to be had about all things tough. The girls and boys were on two separate hikes, which allowed them to open up even more. Discussions were about everything from sexually transmitted diseases, to drugs, to bullying, and peer pressure, and even social studies, all things said they were struggling with. (Huge thanks to Jax and Steve for being real and alive and honest with our kids!)
Then for three hours in the afternoon kids can head to the lake to bask in the sun, swim their energy off, boat in the lake, catch fish in the lake with Coach Bruce (often for the first time), practice for the talent show, write mail to each other, play on the playground, or do arts and crafts. (This year arts and crafts had everything from painting and drawing, to making sheep with cotton balls and clothespins, to leather working, to beading and bracelet making, to clay working, to leave imprints, to SO much more.)
Late afternoon is washing up and having dinner as a family.
Quickly afterward kids run to their rooms to change into warm clothes, grab a flashlight, and spray on some bug spray before heading to the nights activities.
Each night starts with singing songs and episodes of our intracamp drama show.
At about 7:30 every night begins a different activity.
Tuesday was a Star Party where the kids wear t-shirts we’ve splattered with glow ink and then the went on a Night Hike with their counselors and had to collect a list of objects, some from nature and some that shouldn’t have been in nature.
Wednesday was Camper Tributes where counselors share what they have loved and shared with their two children. This opportunity allows our children to SHINE! Then we split into groups of boys and girls and half went inside to do Arts and Crafts and half had The Lorax by Dr. Seuss read to them outside by Grandma and Grandpa, and then switched.
Thursday was the much awaited, much talked about, much looked-forward-to; Talent Show! The dancing, singing, magic talents of our children abound. Watching them sing along to Stephan, our photographer, playing “We are the World” by Michael Jackson on the guitar, was priceless and brought tears to our eyes. One of our kids even said, “Ah man, if we sing that part one more time, I’m gonna cry!” Being that Thursday was our last night; our graduating eleven year olds went down to the lake in the dark to have a little release ceremony. They were each given glow sticks, which were put on a boat (thanks to Tom) and sent it off into the lake. A little organized mischief to follow…water balloon attack on Matt and Jerm (such good sports) by the boys and car painting (washable) by the girls.
Friday July 17th (The day we’ve all been dreading.)
After doing some packing on Thursday night, most of it happened this morning.
We had breakfast together for the last time and then put all the packed bags in the parking lot.
One last amazing lesson on Psalm 23 by Cameron followed by our Graduation Ceremony for our 11-year-olds.
Meanwhile, the bus arrived and was loaded. Backpacks with school supplies were put on each seat for the kids, Director Deanna’s seat was packed with snacks for the road and a box filled with a photo albums made for each individual kid was put on her seat to be handed out. Each kids gets an album specially made for them with pictures of them from the week. Because of the population we serve and love, the photos are very protected and children cannot take home pictures other than their own and those taken with their siblings.
At about 10:30 am through all the tears of separation, both children’s tears and adult’s tears, the bus was boarded and departed to go back to the city.
The closure of this week leaves us exhausted and exhilarated at the same time. We are filled with even more love than we had to give when we arrived. We’ve learned new lessons about who we are as people and things we need for growth both individually and collectively. We have started planning for next year already, fundraising for next year already, and will NEVER stop loving these beloved children AND the people we serve them with. That includes everyone at home who love, support, pray, and give to make this week happen and all of those who make the journey with us up the mountain.
All for the children, all for the moments!
