Session 1A...

Well, We have made it through the first session of the summer. The bar has been set high. We had an awesome group of kids this first session and it will be hard to beat for the remainder of the summer.

This past Tuesday we went on our second camp out of the session. The campsite that we went to was on the top of a mountain. There was a lookout spot at the campsite where you could go and sit and look over into the valley and see all the mountains. It was a truly spectacular site to see. We took the kids up there for the devotion that night and we sat there and watched the sun set and then laid there and watched the stars. It was an amazing experience for everyone.

Today we said goodbye to the kids and we have about 1 1/2 days to rest and get ready for another session. For this coming session we will have 7 kids in our cabin. I would like to leave you with some words from Camp...

"God, give us hills to climb, and the strength to climb them"

And that's camp....

It's hard to believe that we will be saying goodbye to this first group of kids at the end of the week. I have had the pleasure of having a great group of kids this session. Last night we had council ring and then tap outs for the Little Chief Test. We also did promotions for our cabin as well.

Yesterday afternoon, I put my First Aid Training into action. It's one thing to read and learn about it, it's a completely different thing to actually have to react. On the way back from the Nibble Nook, where we get Ice Cream on Sunday's after worship, a kid collapsed and passed out. He was actually a kid that was in my cabin last year. He was hypoglycemic. He was only out for about 5-10 seconds and then he regained consciousness. It was certainly a learning experience.

Today we will be taking the tribe on a field trip in the afternoon. We will be going Linvelle Caverns and then to Fudruckers. Tomorrow night we will go on another camp out and we will be making packets meals for dinner.

Fully Known

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1Corinthians 13:12

The theme for camp this year is "Fully Known". This summer we will be talking about being fully known in ourselves as well as being fully known in God. The versus above is our theme versus that we will focus on for the summer. Week 1 of kids is just about to be over. I have an awesome group of kids this session. I could not have asked for a better group. The weather has been fair this past week. There have been a few rainy days and hot days but overall, it's been good.

I really appreciate the care packages and letters that have been sent. It means a lot. I also appreciate all the prayers that you have made for myself as well as the campers this summer. As many of you know, Father's day is this weekend. I ask that you pray a special prayer for one of my campers. One of my kids lost his father not but 6 months ago. I don't know what to expect this weekend but I ask that you keep him especially in your prayers this weekend.


Finally, as promised, the above is a picture of me with my really short hair....

The Kids Have Arrived....

Well, the day has come, the point in the summer that we have all be training and praying for, the kids are here!!! It now feels like camp has really begun. For this first session, 1A, I think I have a great group of kids in my cabin, 9 of them.

Tonight we are going to be going on our first camp out. Also, I had my hair cut the other day and got it cut really, really short. I will try to get a picture to show you but just as an FYI, it's really, really, short. Please continue to pray as we get going this summer.

Shawnee Tribe!!!

There have been many exciting things going on at camp the past few days. We have been doing beautification every day, which pretty much means cleaning up around camp and making it look nice for when the campers arrive. Yesterday morning we found out what cabins we would be in for the summer and who our co-counselor is. I will be in the Shawnee tribe again, (10-11 yr. olds) and I will also be in Cabin 7 again.

Last night we went on our first camp-out of the summer with our tribe. It was a really nice camp-out. Above are pictures from the camp-out. We went to the Ridgeview Campsite which is basically just straight above camp. The next few days will be more cleaning around camp, training sessions, and meetings. The kids will be here on Sunday and then camp will truly begin!!!

Staff Week is here....

The last few days at camp have been pretty easy. Just mostly hanging out with old friends and making new ones. Wednesday night I challenged my CPR certification since it had expired and I passed the test, so now I am certified again. Since I passed the challenge I didn't have to take the whole course over again, which was a relief.

Since then, I have been mostly hanging out, going into town some with friends. There have been several games of 4 square and frisbee golf to be played in preparation for when the kids arrive. At 6:15pm today staff week will officially begin. We will kick it off with a staff dinner, then more training and work will begin tomorrow. The next week will be filled with beautification around camp, this is basically fixing camp and cleaning things up and then also several different training sessions.

It won't be long until the kids get here. There has been a little bit of rain here and there and it has been surprisingly warm. Hopefully it will cool down soon. All for now.

Day 1: Mount Mitchell and the Blue Ridge Mountains

One of the first things I like to do when I get to camp is drive up to through the Blue Ridge Mountains. So that's what I did this morning. I got on the Parkway and drove up to Mount Mitchell. On the way up to the peak there is a restaurant where I was able to stop and have breakfast as I looked down into the mountains. After that you drive up a couple of more miles and you get to the parking lot where you walk about 1/2 mile or so to the top. On the way down from the top, I took a side trail that went for about a mile and took me around the mountain and down through the ridge. It was a nice short hike to get me ready this summer. Here are some pics from the day adventures. Enjoy!!!

Well... I made it...

It feels great to be at camp. The trip up here was rather short and uneventful. I was able to make it in a bout 5 1/2 hours. There was a little rain here and there but nothing too bad. All the roads were also open, which always helps. Once I pulled up and stepped out of the car at camp, I was immediately talked into playing a round of Frisbee golf. That's camp staffers for you... priorities...

I will have pretty much the whole day tomorrow to just hang around camp or go explore Asheville if I want to. Thursday evening I will do CPR Recert and then should have all of Friday to hang out.

It's nice to be up here in the quiet and stillness for a bit before everyone arrives. Now, let the summer begin.