Shock. Not Just a Name.

Our last week of camp started about a month ago, but with moving back to town, taking time off, and starting back in the office again there was hardly any time to write about a week of camp that was dedicated to high schoolers. We began to realize sometime last year that what we had to offer high school age kids just wasn't adequate-our feedback and attendance was proving that quite well. One of my most pressing tasks was since I started in January was to develop this program from the ground up. Don't get me wrong, I had a TON of help from other full-time staff members, the summer programming team, and even some of my supporters to pull this off. I did feel going into the week that we needed to hit a home run in a programmatic sense; and this was an intimidating prospect creating something entirely new with no opportunity to test market. All the worries about how the program would go was brought to a halt when campers arrived and we began realizing that the late nights, sleeping in, and a camp tailored to them was just the way many of them wanted to finish their summers. We started Sunday strong with Eagle Lake Idol (we actually gave five counselors the week to prepare their acts for a real cash prise of $150!) followed by a beach party complete with music, games, a bonfire, and a midnight jump into the lake. Here are some pictures from that event:

Some campers and counselors enjoying the beach party.

Campers having a blast.

The aftermath of a snack for high schoolers.

So I think the best way to explain what went down at Shock is to give a little detailed schedule of events with my commentary attached.

Monday: Adventure Race/Campers went with their small teams all throughout the property completing tasks that ranged from intellectual to physical to simple 50/50 decision making. The first event was our separation event. It took teams anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 minutes to figure out what is odd about the following paragraph:

"Gatsby was walking back from a visit down in Branton Hill's manufacturing district on a Saturday night. A busy day's traffic had had its noisy run; and with not many folks in sight, His Honour got along without having to stop to grasp a hand, or talk; for a mayor out of City Hall is a shining mark for any politician. And so, coming to Broadway, a booming bass drum and sounds of singing, told of a small Salvation Army unit carrying on amidst Broadway's night shopping crowds. Gatsby , walking towards that group, saw a young girl, back toward him, just finishing a long, soulful oration. "

Still stumped? The paragraph has no "e"s in the entire thing.

Tuesday: A counselor's favorite, Messy Games. Basically we thought of the most messy, gross, and nasty things we could; anything from slathering a teammate's face with peanut butter and trying to stick cheese puffs to it at a distance to making sundaes on people's faces from five feet up. Here's a few pictures:

A Work of Art.

Life as a Plate.

Wednesday: Capture the Flag...enough said.
Thursday: Tournament Time. Campers selected their own teams for a variety of tournaments. There was basketball, volleyball, and ultimate tournaments going on in different places of camp. Winners took on pre-determined counselor all-star teams.

It was important for us to come up with a variety of new activities for these kids other than just a change in program. Campers were able to participate in paintball, mountain biking, climbing, swing dancing, and a hip-hop concert from a local act. These new activities allowed campers more freedom to choose a skill that interested them and experience some new things.

Throughout the week campers had integrated Bible studies, quiet times, and speakers that adapted our theme verse for the summer, 2 Corinthians 3:18, just for them. All in all, 125 kids had a great end to the summer.