Hello all! Another great week of camp has begun at YAA!
It has been a great time this summer. Sadly, this is our last week of summer camp, but don't worry. We are going to finish with a bang. This is our largest overnight camp yet, and we intend to put every ounce of energy into it.
Things started off well with some icebreaker games and getting to know one another in our cabins. After dinner, we continued with games and split up into our 7 teams and came up with some great team names at cheers. We finished off the time with some medic dodgeball. Your campers sure to love dodgeball. I can't wait until we play killerball, the greatest form of dodgeball EVER!
We just got done with our Missions Moment with our Missionary in Residence, Jim Albright. Tonight, we spoke on the importance and power of praying in Jesus name. This week, Jim will share a lot of stories about his time as a missionary in Africa and France and discuss the importance of missions. I always like hearing his stories.
Well, I am keeping this post brief. It is freetime, and I want to hang out with the campers before its time for bed. My name is David Denny, and I am the Program Director at YAA. Thanks for entrusting the staff and I with your children for the week. Each night, I will have a different staff member type about the events of the day. Though the schedule is similar throughout the week, each staff has their own take on things. Hope you enjoy reading the blog. We sure enjoy living it out.
See ya Friday!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Hey Everybody! This is David Howard from team Crazy Ice Cream Trucks and I just want you to know that all of the campers had another fun filled exciting day of camp today. The funny thing is though to see the campers with their seemingly unending energy start to dwindle. We are all going full steam to make it to the end of the week with something around every corner. But don't take it the wrong way, campers are still having a blast. I'm really excited for some of the campers who were beginning to get home sick. They are going to make it! It's a big step for some to be away from home this long with out seeing mom or dad.
This morning we had a crazy game were the campers had to pour cups of water into other cups that were on the counselors head's. Lets just say that nobody was safe from getting wet ;). We moved on to another great message from our speaker Mike who is doing a amazing job by getting through to the campers! The best part about this age group is that they all seem to engage very well. I'm very happy that all the staff have the opportunity to speak into the camper's lives.
I also help run canoeing and let me tell you, it is a blast to see the campers jumping into Hyalite Reservoir and see the surprised expression's of their face's when they hit the cold water. You wouldn't believe how fast they got back out of the water. Every camper has a chance to go canoeing and I have yet to hear a complaint about how they did not enjoy their time.
Well there is so much more to talk about but we are going to surprise the campers with a night game tonight! Some senior campers have their suspicions that its coming but most of them don't even realize whats about it happen.
Its been a great week and I know the campers have had a blast. Thank you so much for allowing us to take care of your kids for a week and speak into their lives. See you all Friday
This morning we had a crazy game were the campers had to pour cups of water into other cups that were on the counselors head's. Lets just say that nobody was safe from getting wet ;). We moved on to another great message from our speaker Mike who is doing a amazing job by getting through to the campers! The best part about this age group is that they all seem to engage very well. I'm very happy that all the staff have the opportunity to speak into the camper's lives.
I also help run canoeing and let me tell you, it is a blast to see the campers jumping into Hyalite Reservoir and see the surprised expression's of their face's when they hit the cold water. You wouldn't believe how fast they got back out of the water. Every camper has a chance to go canoeing and I have yet to hear a complaint about how they did not enjoy their time.
Well there is so much more to talk about but we are going to surprise the campers with a night game tonight! Some senior campers have their suspicions that its coming but most of them don't even realize whats about it happen.
Its been a great week and I know the campers have had a blast. Thank you so much for allowing us to take care of your kids for a week and speak into their lives. See you all Friday
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Hey to everyone out there! My name is Maley and today has been another great day at camp! This week I'm on team steak,an Arts and Crafts leader, and leading a girls cabin with Amy.
My campers have been having a great time this week! This morning half of my campers went on the ridge run. Then we had a wonderful breakfast with blueberry muffins. During cabin clean-up we did a theme of God's Little Princess and my campers made a castle out of their bags. After that we all went down to the Field for a crazy game with petroleum jelly and cotton balls. Then we had our first skill builder for the day. In arts and crafts we mad snakes and crocodiles out of beads, everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Following the skill builders we sang a crazy song of singing in the rain and had lunch. After that it was the wonderful T.I.E. time, we all rested and just took it easy. Then everyone got 45min of free time to do whatever they wanted. After that was the second skill builder of the day which was really fun. Then we had our activity areas, which went pretty good until we got a huge thunderstorm which we haven't gotten here in a while. Everyone got really wet, especially the ones who were on the hike.
We then had a delicious dinner of salad and chicken with all sorts of toppings. We then played trench dodge ball and enjoyed another free time. After that we had a really fun chapel and learned a lot of cool things about Africa.
Well, bye for now, hope to see you all on Friday!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Hey everyone my name is Amanda and I'm on the air benders team! It was another great day at camp! We had so much fun, least I did. We started off the day with the ridge run hike. On the first day all my campers went on the hike and they all wanted up at six fifteen!Considering most campers don't like to get up that early (which I don't blame them) as the week progressed the numbers slowly started dropping.
For breakfast we had pancakes! They were amazing thanks to our wonderful cooks. After a delicious breakfast we had cabin clean up. Yesterday my cabin would have tied with Josh's cabin for the cleanest cabin but they had a theme the leaning Tower of Babylon. It was so disappointing to lose so we needed to come up with a theme for the next day. The night before our chapel speaker Michael Wedman was explaining to us the two different paths we could take the path of Righteousness of the path of Wickedness. So we came up with this great idea to make a path with sticks one lead to Righteousness and the other to Wickedness. Our cabin ended up winning Grimer (The bear is awarded to the cleanest cabin).
After cabin clean up we played a group game. It was like dodgeball but each team was split up into four sections that they had to stay in. It was by far one of the funnest games this week (Hayden Cade, one of my campers, agrees :)After the group game we headed up to chapel and Michael Wedman spoke about Jesus dieing on the cross for our sins.
Finally, it was time for our skill builder #1. I'm helping with riflry this week. We have about 6-7 campers. Today was especially fun because the campers actually got to shoot the guns. The first day was all rules and learning how the gun works, which we all know how much campers love just sitting there listening to you talk, when they signed up to shoot the gun. Yesterday was probably the hardest because we were trying to explain the rules and the parts of the gun when one camper spotted a deer hiding out in the woods. Then everyone had to stop to look at it and of course they all wanted to shoot it. After we all got a good look at the deer and explained we were not going to shoot it, the campers asked about every minute can we chase the deer? How about now? But regardless we all had fun at riflry that day.
For lunch we had tomato soup. After lunch we had TIE time and who wants to sleep when you can pass notes the whole time. So I didn't get much sleep and neither did my campers but we seemed to make it through the day alright. Next we had free time and then skill builder #2. Activity area was after that and each team is assigned to different thing like zip line, field games, and hiking.
After a long day of fun we ate pizza for dinner then headed down for a fun game of capture the flag, but it was a chicken, not a flag.
Finally we had chapel and our speaker was Jim Albright's wife and she spoke about what it was like to be a missionary in West Africa. She showed us how the girls wore shirts and how they carried their siblings on their backs. She also showed us some of the dolls she make to help the women support their children and send them to school.
Time for bed. See you all on Friday.
For breakfast we had pancakes! They were amazing thanks to our wonderful cooks. After a delicious breakfast we had cabin clean up. Yesterday my cabin would have tied with Josh's cabin for the cleanest cabin but they had a theme the leaning Tower of Babylon. It was so disappointing to lose so we needed to come up with a theme for the next day. The night before our chapel speaker Michael Wedman was explaining to us the two different paths we could take the path of Righteousness of the path of Wickedness. So we came up with this great idea to make a path with sticks one lead to Righteousness and the other to Wickedness. Our cabin ended up winning Grimer (The bear is awarded to the cleanest cabin).
After cabin clean up we played a group game. It was like dodgeball but each team was split up into four sections that they had to stay in. It was by far one of the funnest games this week (Hayden Cade, one of my campers, agrees :)After the group game we headed up to chapel and Michael Wedman spoke about Jesus dieing on the cross for our sins.
Finally, it was time for our skill builder #1. I'm helping with riflry this week. We have about 6-7 campers. Today was especially fun because the campers actually got to shoot the guns. The first day was all rules and learning how the gun works, which we all know how much campers love just sitting there listening to you talk, when they signed up to shoot the gun. Yesterday was probably the hardest because we were trying to explain the rules and the parts of the gun when one camper spotted a deer hiding out in the woods. Then everyone had to stop to look at it and of course they all wanted to shoot it. After we all got a good look at the deer and explained we were not going to shoot it, the campers asked about every minute can we chase the deer? How about now? But regardless we all had fun at riflry that day.
For lunch we had tomato soup. After lunch we had TIE time and who wants to sleep when you can pass notes the whole time. So I didn't get much sleep and neither did my campers but we seemed to make it through the day alright. Next we had free time and then skill builder #2. Activity area was after that and each team is assigned to different thing like zip line, field games, and hiking.
After a long day of fun we ate pizza for dinner then headed down for a fun game of capture the flag, but it was a chicken, not a flag.
Finally we had chapel and our speaker was Jim Albright's wife and she spoke about what it was like to be a missionary in West Africa. She showed us how the girls wore shirts and how they carried their siblings on their backs. She also showed us some of the dolls she make to help the women support their children and send them to school.
Time for bed. See you all on Friday.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Hey there! Another great day of camp has concluded! This is Josh, one of the counselors on team Steak (Yeah. Steak.) The cabins are pretty big this week, most of them are around 11 or 12 campers with 2 counselors to each cabin. I was amazed this morning as every single one of my campers got up at 6:30 AM to go on the Ridge Run hike. There were actually only about 6 or so campers that didn't go on the hike this morning. We will see how long that holds up.
After an amazing breakfast, it was cabin clean-up time, and the judges said that it went pretty well for a first day. I will brag a little in saying that my cabin did win the Grimer Award (given for having the cleanest cabin). After that there was a team competition in which members of each team had to spin a tennis ball around that was attached to their heads with a nylon stocking. It was pretty crazy fun.
Later, camp speaker Michael Webman talked to us about choosing the paths we can take in our lives. After chapel, we went to our morning skillbuilders! In camp craft today we learned how start a campfire safely and some other valuable things to know in the woods. When skillbuilders were over it was time for lunch, and after that TIE time (take-it-easy time). After that team Steak headed off to Hyalite Reservoir to learn about canoeing, and the rest of the camp had some freetime before afternoon skillbuilders started. Once afternoon skillbuilders came to an end, the other teams got to go to a different activity area, such as zip line, field games, and hiking. Next came dinner.
After dinner there was a rousing camp-wide game of Killer Ball, an everyone-against-everyone dodge ball game. After a bit of free time, Jim Albright, our missionary in residence, shared with us about how man rejected God but then God gave us a second chance. He also told us a story of when he was in Africa and he trapped a spitting cobra under his house at night.
At this time all of the campers are in their respective cabins getting ready for bed (I hope) and surely getting more and more excited about what the rest of the week holds for them. Thanks for letting them hang out with us this week!
Josh Kaltenbach of the Trail Blazers, team Steak, college staff
After an amazing breakfast, it was cabin clean-up time, and the judges said that it went pretty well for a first day. I will brag a little in saying that my cabin did win the Grimer Award (given for having the cleanest cabin). After that there was a team competition in which members of each team had to spin a tennis ball around that was attached to their heads with a nylon stocking. It was pretty crazy fun.
Later, camp speaker Michael Webman talked to us about choosing the paths we can take in our lives. After chapel, we went to our morning skillbuilders! In camp craft today we learned how start a campfire safely and some other valuable things to know in the woods. When skillbuilders were over it was time for lunch, and after that TIE time (take-it-easy time). After that team Steak headed off to Hyalite Reservoir to learn about canoeing, and the rest of the camp had some freetime before afternoon skillbuilders started. Once afternoon skillbuilders came to an end, the other teams got to go to a different activity area, such as zip line, field games, and hiking. Next came dinner.
After dinner there was a rousing camp-wide game of Killer Ball, an everyone-against-everyone dodge ball game. After a bit of free time, Jim Albright, our missionary in residence, shared with us about how man rejected God but then God gave us a second chance. He also told us a story of when he was in Africa and he trapped a spitting cobra under his house at night.
At this time all of the campers are in their respective cabins getting ready for bed (I hope) and surely getting more and more excited about what the rest of the week holds for them. Thanks for letting them hang out with us this week!
Josh Kaltenbach of the Trail Blazers, team Steak, college staff
Sunday, July 18, 2010
3rd-5th Camp!
Hello to all you parents out there!
Another wonderful week at YAA has officially started. I am happy to say that today went very well, and all of the staff here are glad to see all these campers here. After they all arrived, we got to know one another through some name game and icebreakers. After dinner, we continue with some team challenges. We split all the campers into four different teams. We had them pick team names, such as Team Steak or Team YAA Spartans, and did an obstacle course together. Throughout the week we will have a lot of exciting games for your campers.
We just finished up at Fireside with our Resident Missionary, Jim Albright, speaking. He talked about the power of prayer in Jesus name and the basic gospel. I look forward to hearing him again as well as our camp speaker, Micheal Wedman, a pastor from Idaho Falls. They will have plenty to teach us.
Well, your kids are getting ready for bed. It was a great start to a week of camp. Its about time for me to hit the bed as well. I want to get plenty of rest. Thanks for entrusting us with your children. My name is David Denny, and I am the Program Director here. Each night I will have a different staff member talk about their day with your kids. Give you a different view for everyday. I hope you enjoy the blog. I know we will enjoy living it out.
Another wonderful week at YAA has officially started. I am happy to say that today went very well, and all of the staff here are glad to see all these campers here. After they all arrived, we got to know one another through some name game and icebreakers. After dinner, we continue with some team challenges. We split all the campers into four different teams. We had them pick team names, such as Team Steak or Team YAA Spartans, and did an obstacle course together. Throughout the week we will have a lot of exciting games for your campers.
We just finished up at Fireside with our Resident Missionary, Jim Albright, speaking. He talked about the power of prayer in Jesus name and the basic gospel. I look forward to hearing him again as well as our camp speaker, Micheal Wedman, a pastor from Idaho Falls. They will have plenty to teach us.
Well, your kids are getting ready for bed. It was a great start to a week of camp. Its about time for me to hit the bed as well. I want to get plenty of rest. Thanks for entrusting us with your children. My name is David Denny, and I am the Program Director here. Each night I will have a different staff member talk about their day with your kids. Give you a different view for everyday. I hope you enjoy the blog. I know we will enjoy living it out.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A Fun Day In The Sun!!!
Why hello friends! This morning we woke up to another amazingly sunny morning. Some of the campers woke up early to hike the ridge while others were super tired and decided to get as much sleep as possible. Once everybody was up we gathered for flag raising and went into the dining hall for another incredible breakfast made by our amazing chef, Hannah.
After we filled our stomachs we went back to our cabins to do a little cleaning. Some of the cabins decided to have a theme for their cabins while others simply tried to make their cabins look as nice as possible. Next we all headed to the field for a friendly team challenge. Little did we know how complex this challenge would be. A camper from each team had to put a nylon with a tennis ball on the end over their head. There were 5 tables with different objects that they had to knock over. There was a little twist to this game...they could only use their head with the tennis ball to knock over these objects. Before they could knock them over though they had to spin 10 times around placing their head on a bat. The campers were each timed and only one camper was allowed to go at a time. Counslors even had to do this challenge and our program director David Denny did it as well. We all laughed during this challenge.
From the field we headed to the chapel to hear about Jim's adventures as a missionary. Today Jim told us about the wisest animal in the world. You probably think I am going to tell you which animal this but... you will have to wait for your camper to get home and tell you. He also reminisced about his childhood and how he shared his lunch with a boy who never had a lunch. You will have to ask your camper about the stories he told.
Campers then went to their skill builders. Finally it was lunch time. We were all super hungry! Hannah had prepared us another delicious meal. Once we were done eating we headed to our cabins for TIE time. All of my campers headed to their bunks as soon as they got into our cabin so they could take a nice nap. Since they had gained some energy they were ready for activity areas which ranged from hiking to paintballing. Everybody had a lot of fun!
We returned to the flag for flag lowering and then sang a silly song before we had dinner. After dinner we played capture the flag. Then we headed off to chapel. Pastor Brian told us the story about Caleb and Joshua. Once chapel was over we had some free time and now everyone is in their cabins having devos and getting ready for bed. Once again it was a FANTASTIC day of camp!
Darcy Homan (CIT for God's Angels)
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