Final Day of Wyoming Wilderness Middler I & II Camp

Have a great summer!

Day 5 of Wyoming Wilderness Middler I & II Camp 2009

Today is the last full day for the campers. Everybody is buzzing around and having a good time. As I listen to the campers I do not hear any reports of being homesick. My family arrived late yesterday and during the Morning Watch the two older girls along with Kellie decided that they wanted to go on the half day nature hike. That means that I would stay back at the main camp and watch my youngest child. With that in mind I hung out at the swimming hole for most of the morning.


The campers are one tough group of people. They jumped into the water and swam about. Now, the spring run off is still taking place and so the water is really cold. The campers lasted about 30 minutes before they got out and sunned themselves on the rocks. Every so often you would hear somebody yell, 'IT COLD!" as they would swim from the floating platform to the rocks on the side of the swimming hole. They would then look at the water with dread as they knew they had to swim back over to the floating platform to climb out of the swimming hole. Enjoy the pictures.

Looking at jumping back in with fear and caution!

Day 4 of Wyoming Wilderness Middler I & II Camp 2009

This morning I took a bike ride with the campers. It was decided to take the van loaded with the campers and the truck loaded with the bikes to the top of the hill. The campers were great sports about the entire trip. A funny moment took place when we unloaded all the equipment and campers only to find out one of the campers have never ridden a bike without training wheels. She got to ride in the "drag vehicle" behind the group. We all took a break at the local store and were treated to popsicles. The ride itself was level and so the campers didn't have to physically push themselves. We all arrived back at the van in time to drive down to camp for lunch.



Later in the afternoon I spent some time on the low rope course. The first element was a line of swing tires. The campers had to go from one end of the tires to the next without touching the ground. They were also timed which gave them incentive to move quickly. They really loved the challenge. The next element was a crossing a log. The group was divided into two and we had to cross the log and the group that started on the right side had to move to the left and the left side had to move to right side without touching the ground. It sounds easy until you do it. The primary lessons for this element were, one everybody had to support one another and two people have take time to work together.

Day 3 of Wyoming Wildnerness Middler I & II Camp 2009

Tuesday is the toughest of all the days of camp. This is the threshold and once the kids get through the day the transformation takes hold. Today was the day. I am sure in the coming the days to come will produce wonderful fruit.

Today I spent the morning in the stewardship program. During this time the kids learn about the forest and taking care of God's creation. We talked about how Smokey the Bear was created in WWII and later an actual bear was located during a forest fire and became the national mascot. We also learned about pine beetle and how the tree fights the beetle off by drowning it in sap.

This evening a thunderstorm rolled through camp and with it brought hail. The campers moved into St. Timothy's for the evening. When the rain stopped everybody moved back outside and played hard. It was funny to see all the kids with mud on their pants and smiles on their faces.

The staff are masters of changing to meet the needs of the camp. Pat had to go into Casper today and so some of the programing changed. However, a lifeguard arrived and so the swimming hole was available for the campers. The rope course continues to be a wonderful draw and community building exercise for the Camp.

Talk to everybody on Wednesday.

This is a picture of the "staff" catching up on e-mails and other various events. The campers are not encouraged to use computers at camp. Now to get the staff to do the same. (smile)

The campers playing after the rain. They have been inside (see the picture below) yet they had plenty of energy to burn once the sun came back out. The kids played hard and their clothes reflect it.

This was a game that require everybody to work together. The amazing thing was that they could not talk or make any sounds. It was also an exercise in patience. The campers did well.

This is a picture of the stewardship talk. The presenter (the one in orange) had been giving the same talk for about three years and never grows tired of it. He talks about taking care of the forest and the need for humanity to take care of the blessings of creation.

This is a rare sight. The amount of rain this summer has given the prickly bear a reason to bloom. This does not happen very often. Nice looking plant.

Day 2 of Wyoming Wilderness Middler I & II Camp

The opening of the day consists of waking up to the bell. This takes place around 7am. The kids begin to get dress, move about, get ready for breakfast. They all gather around the fire pit for the "morning watch." The Morning Watch is designed for kids to watch for God throughout the day. This morning's watch was about seeing God's seeds throughout the day. We all ate outside because the weather was beautiful.

After breakfast all the kids worked on their morning chores. Each program group have different tasks to get prepared for the day. Details are cleaning the grounds, the dinning hall, and shower house. This is a group building exercise and the kids learn how to work together with new people. This year, the camp have about 50% of the kids returning and so they are able to show others how to get things done. After details are completed they return to the fire pit to get their morning programs. This year they had Stewardship (taking care of God's creation); Low ropes (problem solving as a group as they are faced with different challenges); Arts and Crafts (creation); and Hike and Lunch (being in nature).

I went along with the hike. The kids were great. Pat noted that they didn't complain once and trooped right along. We looked around. Discovered that some of the people before us didn't always pick up their stuff and left items like wood piles, a broken down pick-up truck, and a cement mixer that was on a back of a truck. Pat discovered an old two man saw that most likely was used by Hank Raymond back in the day.

After lunch I sat down with "Aspen" and we planned out our chapel service. This is the results of our work together:

Kambria (John) – What a trip! The people are coming out of the woodwork and we cannot get away from them!

Francesca (Peter) – I know I didn’t think following Jesus could be such a blast! Every time we turn around more people are coming to listen. Hey. It is time to get out of the boat.

Kambria (John) – Here we go again. More people!

Cassie (Jesus) – Ok folks. It is time to exit the boat. Please locate your exit buddy and step out of the boat on the right or starboard side. Thank you.

Katie (James) – Just like my brother. Directing traffic and almost forgot me. Hey Jesus, you are my exit buddy.

Cassie (Jesus) – Ok, lets go.

Brittany (Jairus) – Jesus! I have heard that you are a man of great talent! You can heal the sick. You can teach even the most stubborn of people. Can you please, please heal my daughter?

Cassie (Jesus) – I would love to help out. Lead on my new friend.

Kailyn (crowd) – This I got to see. This guy waltz in here and he is going to turn things upside down. I am going to watch this guy closely.

Elizabeth (crowd) – Hey where are you going?

Katie (James) – My brother here is going to heal a little girl.

Elizabeth (crowd) – Can I come along?

Kailyn (crowd) – Sure. Follow me I know the way.

Madine (the woman who wants to touch Jesus) – Hum. This guy Jesus is known for healing. Now if I can only get close to the guy! (reaching out) Ok I am almost there. Closer, closer, closer (touching Jesus) Done! I did it!

Cassie (Jesus) – Hey something just happened. I felt power leave me. Who touched me?

Katie (James) – Hey bro, everybody is touching you!

Kambria (John) – I think you fell off your rocker Jesus. Look around you, there is a large crowd. It seems like you draw one every time.

Francesca (Peter) – Doesn’t he always.

Cassie (Jesus) – Sorry guys I am not moving until I find out who touched me.

Brittany (Jairus) – Jesus, I don’t want to be rude, but can we get moving? My daughter is not feeling well.

Grace (daughter) – (from off “stage”) Oh my head. My body is hot. My world is spinning. My world is becoming dark. What is happening? Dad! Where are you?

Cassie (Jesus) – Sorry I am not moving until I discover who touched me.

Madine (the woman) – Well I don’t want to hold everybody up. (addressing Jesus) It was me.

Cassie (Jesus) – Because of your faith and willingness to try you have been made whole. May your faith continue to guide you. I know that God my Father will bless you. Be well my friend.

Grace (daughter) – Wow, I see a light. I think I will move toward it.

Kailyn (crowd) – Oh no. That is not good.

Elizabeth (crowd) – Well that takes care of that. The little girl is no longer with the living.

Brittany (Dad) – Great. My daughter has died. Talk about making different plans. I got to hire professional wailers and grievers. Boy I was not prepared for that.

Cassie (Jesus) – {addressing Brittany} don’t worry. Have faith and all shall work out.

Katie (James) – Well here we are. We are now at the house of the little girl.

Kambria (John) – Yup. A large crowd.

Francesca (Peter) – Ok Jesus here we are. What next? Oh by the way you can’t touch a dead body or I am going to have to disassociate from you for a while.

Brittany (Dad) – Well Jesus we have arrived. Is there anything you can do? I am really sorry for this outturn of events.

Cassie (Jesus) – Don’t worry. All things of faith will work out. Oh folks everybody needs to clear out of here except James, John, and Peter and this little girl’s parents.

Elizabeth (crowd) – What! I pushed hard and worked hard to get front roll seats and now Jesus is telling me to get lost. Talk about frustration!

Kailyn (crowd) – Let’s pretend to leave and sneak around the side and look through the window. I have a feeling this is going to be good.

Elizabeth (crowd) – Ok.

Cassie (Jesus) – {addressing Grace} Awake little girl.

Grace (daughter) – Oh …. Hey what is going on around here? I was moving toward a bright light and now I find myself in my house. And I am sure hungry.

Cassie (Jesus) – {addressing Brittany} Give your daughter something to eat. See you faith in God has made your daughter whole and alive.

Brittany (Dad) – Thank you Jesus.

Katie (James) – That is my brother. Healing the sick.

Kambria (John) – Do you think the crowd will now leave? No way!

Francesca (Peter) – Jesus is the man! This is fun!

Elizabeth (crowd) – See I knew this was going to be good.

Kailyn (crowd) – You were right. Faith is the seeds of life.

Prayers –

Cassie – God we ask for seeds for bravery

God hear our prayer.

Katie – God we ask for seeds for fun to be planted tonight.

God hear our prayer.

Brittany – God we ask for seeds of a bright future.

God hear our prayer.

Kambria – God we ask for seeds of noble attitude to grow.

God hear our prayer.

Francesca – God we ask for the seeds of hope to find good soil.

God hear our prayer.

Grace – God we ask for seeds of excitement to continue to grow among us.

God hear our prayer.

Madine – God we ask for seeds of friendships to be sown tonight.

God hear our prayer.

Elizabeth – God we ask for seeds for fearlessness be planted with us.

God hear our prayer.

The morning watch around the fire pit.

Taking some time to journal on the hike.

The web of life. When one animal or part of the environment fails slowly the web fails and falls. Good exercise to pay attention to God's Creation.

Playing before bed.

Day 1 of Wyoming Wilderness Middler Camp I & II

The first afternoon of camp is now in the books. The kids are having a great time playing and getting to know one another. The trip to Wyoming Wilderness Camp was full of God's grandeur and breath taking views. I had to laugh as I pass cars and trucks heading back to the highway.

This year there are about 30 kids and about half of them are returning for another camp. In this group of kids we have 13 Wyoming towns and even one from Colorado! Douglas, Wheatland, Cheyenne, Laramie, Yoda, Gillette, Thermopolis, Casper, Cody, Torrington, Kaycee, Basin, Dubois, and Colorado are listed location from where the kids traveled from to be in this spendid location outside of Easterbrook Wyoming. The staff is geared up and having a good time. The check in period when without a hitch. This year's theme is around Mustard Seeds and so I asked the kids tonight as we were wrapping up what kinds of seeds that they would like God to plant. Such things like, respect, safety, fun, laughter, friendships were asked.

That is all for now. Check back throughout the week and check out what is going on.

Everybody checking in and getting settled down for the week.

A picture of the journals that the kids will be filling out throughout the week.

The kids are put into "program" groups. They will do different activities throughout the week as a unit. The first nigh of camp they gather and come up with a name for their group. Then they perform a skit explaining their group name. Listed below are the skits along with the name of the group.

Leaping Frogs

Flying Ninja Possums

Sleeping Koolas

Martian Monkeys

An Newpaper Article about Wyoming Wildnerness Camp

Check out this link to an article about Wyoming Wilderness Camp. It was published in the Douglas Budget on July 1, 2009.

http://www.hrcampfoundation.org/images/forms-media/BoyandGirlClubCamp1small.pdf

Impressive.