2nd Jr Boys Week
posted in Camp Updates |This is our last week of Junior Camp, Jr. Boys 2, July 13-17.
It was our biggest week of camp ever with 25 campers! And 18 of those boys were alumni campers! Most of them were between the ages of 10-12 and the cooks did an amazing job feeding all those hungry boys plus 50 staff persons!
Meet the Brave Bears~ with counselors Carl Eldredge and Isaac DiGennaro. This team won the wagon team challenge for the week!
It’s the Courageous Cougars~ with counselors David Rosado (our Assistant Director) and Jonathon Neuman. The young man in the red shirt memorized 80 Bible verses at camp!
Here are the Overcoming Eagles~ with counselors Zephan Hazell and Calvin Byers. This is Calvin’s third summer as staff, and his first time as counselor!
It’s the Loyal Lions~ with counselors Cliff Rosenow and Ezra Hall. They had the little guys, and they were cute!
And the Fearless Wolverines~ with counselors Brian Catron and Galan Cameron. These guys came up with a really creative team cheer!
Starting the morning out at the obstacle course and developing teamwork.
Teamwork put to the test: Get each team member over the wall with good attitudes, and keep your hands up till it’s done.
The horse program continues to be the all time favorite at camp!
Petey has been coming to camp for 4 years, and his two brothers have graduated from campers to staff and were serving as Support Staff this week.
The guys find all kinds of creatures on their Nature Hikes!
This young man brought two of his cousins to camp, and all three boys had a parent in prison. On staff this week we had a former county jail administrator as an “Auntie”. The last day of camp she told us “I had one guard who had seen three generations come through the jail in just 35 years… Camp David is helping to break the cycle of crime.” We pray that each of these boys will turn to God and follow His paths, and break the cycle of crime that is in their families.
Pablo was very proud of the wooden snake he painted!
The boys spent a lot of time memorizing verses with the help of their counselors!
The boys were given these coon tail hats and Grandpa took their pictures in front of the General Store. They earn coins for each Bible verse they memorize, and then they go to the General Store to “purchase” toys and little items. It’s a great reward system!
The fishing was really good on Tuesday night, and several guys caught big catfish! There were also some really big ones that got a way. A big “Thank you” to Earl Pietch, a neighbor down the road, for letting us take the campers fishing in his pond.
This summer we had 5 staff members get lifeguard training, which is very helpful since the swimming is almost as much fun as the horses!
One part of camp that you don’t often see is the very important role of our Camp Grandparents! The Grandmas (and Aunties) read bedtime stories to the campers every night! For many of us, this is a normal routine growing up, but most of the campers come from such troubled homes that this is a very special treat. We have a wonderful selection of short story books that teach good character.
Ranger Dave had a great time connecting with the boys in his cabin and being a Dad to them. They look tough, but inside they are so hungry for love and attention. It is hard to put into words everything that happened at camp- except to say that it is a life-changing experience for both the campers and staff.
Thank you so much for being a part of our summer through your support and prayers. We are still praying for some more sponsors for campers, and we ask that you pray about sponsoring a young boy or girl as a family. It is $100 per sponsorship.
Keep your eyes open for some pictures of Green Team and staff!
For the children’s sake,
Ben and Grace Smith
