These Elementary Kiddos Rock! (and a sorry...)

Hello parents and families! First off, all is well and good here at Camp Emmaus! These 90 youth are amazing, energetic, WONDERFUL singers and are an absolute joy to be around!! So thank you for sharing them with us! Second, we apologize that the blog has not been updated until now. Our technology director at the last minute had to go on another program and so we are doing our best to cover and take pictures of your kids but unfortunately we have been unable to post until now. We are so sorry for the inconvenience and if that has caused you any worry. Please know that everyone is great and having a good week! They are all fed, clothed and clean (Trying our best! :) ). We hope your week at home is going well! We will try and update you on what has been going on around these parts the last couple of days...

Sunday! 
We had 90 4-5th graders join us on Sunday for our elementary program! They got settled in their cabins, moved in and got to meet their counselors and cabin mates. They were led in some mixers by their counselors to get know each other and then took a tour of camp to see where everything is at and how it all works! The dining hall was full as we ate our first camp meal together! Our opening worship was amazing as these kids are enthusiastic singers and it is a joy to hear them praising God together through song. They were introduced to our theme for the summer, "Mirror Image" in which we will be talking about how we are given this awesome example of how to live our lives through Christ and in return we are challenged to live out our faith and His example through our body, hands, heart and feet! 

They were thrilled to play a rousing game of Bonkers! Always a camp favorite... And then they headed to the canteen for snacks! Our day ended with a campfire worship and omegas (cabin devotions at night). It was a full first day but everyone got settled and the community is already being formed!!

Monday! 
Bright and early the kids arose and headed to the bell for some morning movers and alpha (morning devotion)! The morning consisted of chapel, an all camp game of Capture the Flag and some cabin time together. They chowed down on some pizza, headed to their cabins for some quiet time and then it was free activity time! Some chose to jump in the lake and take a swim test, others went canoeing, made button mosaics, visited the camp store and canteen and more! 

After afternoon activities, the group gathered together for Bible Party time where they dived deeper into what it means to be the body of Christ and how are we are mirrors of that body as members of it. The evening included a worship, huge game of line soccer, canteen and campfire! After campfire, the ladies got to sleep on a beautiful starry night out in the field in tents. The gentlemen got to stick around the campfire for smores and a night devotion together. Another great day at camp!

Tuesday!
The morning started off again with crazy morning movers to get the kids going for the day and a devotion. After breakfast, half of the cabins got to experience of low ropes activities which include a lot of team building challenges. The other half dug into our second day of bible study, "Reflecting God's Hands". In which the counselors led them in a conversation and activities about forgiveness and how Christ did this amazing thing for us by dying on the cross for our sins and giving us the gift of forgiveness. The campers talked about forgiveness and what that looks like in their lives and how it is an important challenge we are given to ask for forgiveness but also forgive others.

The afternoon had free time once again! There were many swimmers today and artists that took part in our arts and crafts project of spray paint tye dye. After free time, the whole camp gathered at the beach for an afternoon of beach and water activities together ending in an all camp swim! They got to have a sandcastle contest, relays, reenact a movie scene that involved water and swim with everyone. Everyone had a blast and were prunes afterwards! After dinner the groups switched with bible party and low ropes and ended the day once again with canteen and campfire. The guys were able to sleep in the tents in the field and half of the ladies cabins made smores!

Wednesday!
Today has been a little wet but not too bad! Luckily we have been able to do the activities we planned. The cabins this morning were busy doing more team building and challenges with a few more low ropes activities, playing a camp game called, 'Mighty, Mighty, Scoop, Noodle, Challenge!' and getting to worship at chapel. At chapel we focused on prayer and the campers got to go around to four different stations that had an activity about prayer and different ways to pray. 

Watch out for the bonkers!

Loving those Jolly Rancher Popsicles!

Canteen!

Hangout time during canteen

The fluorescent girls!

These two (above/below) hard at work on their spray paint tye dye!

Making some bracelets

Ready to hit the water!

Hi family!

Cabin Pictures and their sandcastles...

Cabin Hope

Cabin Trust

Cabin Care

Cabin Praise

Cabin Truth

Cabin Life

Cabin Light

Cabin Joy

ALL CAMP SWIM!

Getting ready for the 'Baywatch Run' 

And they're off!

Those crazy camp games...