Last day of Int/Jr High II!

So today was UBER-Awesome Day! And it was, indeed uber-awesome. We started off the day by waking up Lake Coeur d’Alene with the “Good Morning” song. After a delish pancake breakfast, we went into Morning Program where we talked about “Shalom” and watched a moving video about living life from unique perspectives. During lunch, throw-ins were Uber awesome-ly announced by “Brock Sampson” and a Gorilla! We played some fun games after waterfront (Squeeze Mafia, Rock-Paper-Scissors War, and Psychiatrist). We then had a Eucharist led by Fr Ernie and Bishop Waggoner, which was quite entertaining. The evening program was a dinner and Talent Show on Terry Field, which was lots and lots of fun. All of our campers have Uber-Awesome talents! The talent show was briefly interrupted by a rainstorm, which sent us into Wallace to finish - although we did get to see a beautiful double rainbow on the way! We ended the night with the sad but cathartic Stick Ceremony. No one can believe that it is already time to leave - the week went by way too fast!

Wednesday 25 July

The day started off right with cabin closure, and we went directly into campfire/dinner. Following a wonderful dessert of mud pudding, we enjoyed pepperoni and cheese pizza. Then we moved into our evening program, Quidditch!!!!! If you haven’t figured it out yet, today was BACKWARDS DAY! The battle raged on between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, with Hufflepuff coming out victorious scoring 140 points plus the bonus for finding their snitch. Following Quidditch, the kids enjoyed an extended chill time and then Slop Slop Sloppy Joe’s for lunch. Following backward jump ins of “pmac ssorc” we enjoyed waterfront and then a “Fire Hose Baptism Eucharist.” Next, we separated the boys and girls to go on hikes. The boys traveled to Winston Rock where we enjoyed a very manly breakfast. We returned for morning program and put together a jigsaw puzzle of pieces that each camper decorated to represent themselves, with the unified “Camp Cross Cross” representing the community of our camp. We concluded our backwards day with mandatory showers and meditative morning exercises, then one solitary bell to mark lights out. We will return to the normal schedule tomorrow, but that’s fine because tomorrow is UBER-AWESOME DAY!

Intermediate/Jr High II - Day 3 wrap-up!!!

Tuesday was a busy, busy day!  The theme today was “Science,” and things got off to a rockin’ start with an amazing science experiment by Bruce, one of Fr. Ernie Campbell’s sons-in-law - he turned Iron Oxide and Aluminum into Steel (and Alum. Oxide) before our very eyes!  It was quite interesting.  We also got white hats, on which we will be writing positive words - continuing our theme of the “Power of Words.”   After a well-deserved break for Waterfront, the campers worked with their small groups to play a fun game of Clue.  They all did an amazing job, and in the end we finally found out “who kidnapped Colin.”  After dinner we had a quick game of Amoeba Tag, followed by a super-awesome Movie Night.  We all enjoyed watching “Happy Feet,” but the overwhelming favorite part was the concession stand where we were able to “purchase” snack, candy and italian sodas!    A great day, indeed.

We would also like to send a special Birthday shout-out to camper Paige Powers, who turned 14 today!  Hurray!

Int/Jr High II - Day 2!

Today was our first full day at Camp, and all agree that it was awesome!  The theme today was “Cavemen” as we talked about Creation.  We woke up to a refreshing round of limbo, and all were impressed at some people’s flexibility.  We then had a great morning program led by Jan, Father Ernie, and 2 of his daughters   where we learned about the Power of Words and how they can transform water crystals.  We each got to wear a positive word on our shirts until lunch, and then hung the words in Wells so we can feel their power for the rest of the week.  The swim test was a rowdy but fun time, followed by the age-old tradition of the “tippy canoe” test!  Then, finally, it was time to swim - not a moment too soon, as it is HOT outside!  We drank lots of water today!  This evening we made flags with our small groups, and everyone came up with a great small group cheer/dance!  We carried our flags around during the always-fun Small Group Olympics, each team excelling at a different activity.  Finally it was time for campfire, which was followed by a quick worship service and beautiful sunset.  Whew!  We have earned our rest tonight!   

Sunday Jr High 2/ Intermediate 2

Welcome to day one of Jr High 2/ Intermediate 2. The campers arrived between 3 and 4:30 where they were treated to some rousing games of Demolition Derby Tag, and “I’d like to meet someone who…”. This was followed by cabin assignments (which for the boys filled every available cabin) and then one of the best parts of the week, the Camp Cross tour. We then enjoyed a lovely meal of Chicken Alfredo and topped it off with Chocolate Cake. Following dinner, we took the camp photo at the deck of the ark, and this truly showed how many campers are actually in attendance with the grand total of 65 (which when added to the staff, counselors, and resource, we come to a number of 99 people at camp). The camp was then treated to introductions and the CAMP CROSS RULES!!! These were met with great enthusiasm and all responded quite well. Following the rules, we broke to change for the final part of our evening, Camp Fire. Camp Fire was led by the staff, which included Stacy’s Hipo song, a rousing rendition of Molly Malone, the counselors performing some camp-themed charades and a story from Fr. Ernie about a bully he faced as a child in a one room school house. We ended the night with “Taps” and then sent the campers off to bed, to ensure they got enough sleep to be ready for tomorrow and the rest of the week. If it’s late where you are, you should be getting to sleep too, because tomorrow night’s post will make you tired just reading it, which will prove to you the total awesomeness that these campers are experiencing.

Mid High/Sr High I Wrap Up

Friday

To culminate our week of movie and television themes, today was rich and famous day. We had a great breakfast, as per usual (thanks Stacy!) and then had another wonderful session of morning program with Michelle Klippert where we talked about how to bring what we’ve learned about God’s grace with us out into the world. For recreation classes, Alex taught us some more salsa dancing, Rachel took a group out in the canoes, Mitchell taught a group about archery (with LOTS of water breaks!), and Kate lead some super fun waterfront games. After lunch we spent plenty of time in the water, extending waterfront a little to compensate for the very hot, hot heat (103 degrees!). We then had a “pump up” worship service with lots of upbeat songs and unique prayers, which left everyone in very high spirits. Our bishop, Jim Waggoner, came out to join us and arrived just at the end of worship, so we then sat down for 45 minutes for “stump the bishop,” in which campers, counselors, and staff had the opportunity to ask Bishop Waggoner all kinds of questions, especially about scripture and the church.

We then had dinner – a barbeque in Wyatt’s Ark. We sent the campers to their respective sides to prepare for tonight’s dance, but then the wind storm picked up and a large tree fell onto the boy’s bathroom. No one was hurt and no buildings were particularly damaged, but to keep everyone safe we rang an emergency bell and gathered the group together in Wyatt’s Ark for some games until the dance began in Wells. Since it was rich and famous day, the dance was a VIP charity ball and everyone got ribbons to wear to show their support for various charity causes. Some danced the night away, some played cards, and others watched spiders build intricate webs. We then had our stick ceremony behind Wallace, and everyone went to bed, exhausted but fulfilled!

Saturday

Today began for many with a polar bear swim at 6:30, and then everyone got moved out of their cabins before sharing a boxed breakfast with their small groups. At 9am, guests began arriving for the open house, so small the group signed the Ark and played some games together until worship began in Wallace at 10am. Many of us enjoyed seeing camp volunteers we knew from years past, including the Krislock family. We then had a delicious buffet lunch of various salads, and dedicated the docks. We then said goodbye to our friends, old and new alike, and saw each other off on the pontoon. Thank you so much to all who contributed to an amazing camp session. Mid High/Sr High I 2007 was one for the books, and we all had such a blast!

Mid High/Sr High I Thursday

Thursday

Today was Harry Potter Day! This morning we ate breakfast and cleaned up the well-used areas of camp, then moved into morning program to talk about how grace transforms us into new creations. After this we had a multi-media worship in Wallace, utilizing some beautiful photos on the projection screen to direct our thoughts and prayers. The group then went up to Terry Field for Jeff’s Archery Challenge where small groups learned how to safely shoot bows and arrows, and their targets were evil characters from Harry Potter books and films. After lunch and waterfront – a welcome respite from the very intense heat – we had rec classes, which included some rock jumping into water, lawn games, and creative writing and drawing in air-conditioned Wallace Hall. Dinner came after this, and following dinner we played a big game of Quidditch! The camp was divided into two teams, Ravenclaws (blue) and Hufflepuffs (yellow) and each tried to score points by throwing balls into hoops on the opposite team’s side of camp. They were also looking for a golden snitch, a very small ball hidden in bushes which would win them an extra 150 points. In the end, the Ravenclaws won by a mere 10 points (after some confusion on my part in scoring, where for a few minutes we thought the Hufflepuffs had won :P) We then moved into Wells to play some board games and have a little snack before finishing the day with campfire and cabin closures. Another magical day at Camp Cross!

Mid High/Sr High I Wednesday

Wednesday

This morning we continued our discussion of grace and how it gives us hope in our lives. One of our video clips of the day was from the classic To Kill A Mockingbird, and our song of the day was “My Life Be Like Oooh Aaah”. Following morning program, we went to rec classes, which today included waterfront games, painting an old window, and preparation for tonight’s talent show! More on that later.

It’s really been heating up so everyone was eager to take advantage of waterfront after lunchtime. After enjoying the lake for a couple hours, we had a healing service for worship. We had a laying on of hands and sealing with oil by our priest and deacon this week, JP and Barbara Carver. We also wrote letters to ourselves, walked the labyrinth, had a burning ceremony to incinerate our sins or burdens, and a station where we gave up our burdens to God by putting them onto a rock and throwing it off the end of the dock. Hopefully all felt refreshed and renewed. After dinner, we had our America’s Got Talent Show, and boy do our campers have talent! We had a number of stellar singers, some hilarious skits, and even a few miscellaneous odd talents. Our “judges” gave everyone great scores, because they were well deserved. Afterward, we enjoyed some s’mores at our Old/New campfire pit and then moved to our usual spot for a fun campfire. And thus ended another fun day of Mid High/Sr High I 2007!

Mid High/Sr High I Tuesday

Tuesday ended in exhausted campers, counselors, staff and resource people because it was so packed full of fun! In the morning we continued our discussion of God’s grace, and how it transforms our lives.  Some of us then wrote poems or short stories on the pontoon during rec classes, while others decorated flower pots, played Frisbee golf or went on a photography hike.  The afternoon was calmer, including some chill time where some played games and others watched some Peter Pan, followed by a little waterfront, a very refreshing break from the hot, hot weather we’re having.  After waterfront, we had a coffeehouse where we made Italian sodas and Chai teas while we played a few board games to get a respite from the heat.  Worship was brief and then we had dinner.

After dinner was the true manifestation of MacGyver day.  Crazy Deer (a semi-mythical creature who roams camp, munching on compost a stirring us from our slumber with his deep wheezing) assembled an army of deer and was planning to take over camp from his perch at Gruber’s Ridge, so each small group had to build a floatilla – a raft – to float their small group members from one side of the waterfront to the other to signify escaping Crazy Deer.   The trick is that they were only given 90 minutes in which to build it, because that’s how long it takes an army of deer to charge down the hill in an organized fashion, and they could only use 3 materials given to them.  The materials included funoodles, logs, a garbage can, and of course, duct tape.  I am proud to report that all groups were successful, and Crazy Deer was thwarted once again.

As a reward for such great work, after campfire we all headed up to Terry Field to watch Bruce Almighty, a film about grace and the power of God.  It was a very long day, but loads of fun, and we of course look forward to another!

Mid High/Sr High I Commences!

This week started off with a fast paced first day.  Fifty campers arrived at about 3:00 pm and they were full of energy.  After being assigned to cabins the campers had a delicious spaghetti dinner.  Small Group Olympics consumed a good portion of the night with games like the Spider-web and Orc Raid.  These games require teamwork, strategy, and a healthy desire for competition.  A small group by the name of Disco claimed a Camp Cross record in the Beach-Ball game with an all-time record of 258 hits.  The night ended with a rocking campfire put on by the Camp Cross staff.

Monday morning started early at 7:45 with some Limbo fun.  The Limbo is always a healthy way to start the day.  Monday had a mystery theme to make the day just a little more interesting.  During morning program we learned about and discussed God’s grace for us.  Small groups bonded well while discussing the topic.  After the lunch the true mystery began with a Surprise Gauntlet, which is where some counselors and staff lined up underneath buckets that may or may not have water in them.  Then the buckets were tuned over and some where pleasantly surprised while others were drenched in water.

The hot weather was ideal for waterfront and everyone enjoyed their time, whether they were swimming or hanging out in Wyatt’s Ark.  After Waterfront we had a true game of mystery by playing a live version of Clue.  The campers worked in their small groups to find members of the “Camp Cross Mafia” who were hidden around camp.  These “Mafia” members would provide the campers with a clue to solve the mystery of JP Carver’s kidnapping.  This activity challenged the camper’s teamwork and helped develop their mystery solving skills.

The night ended with a calm and quiet Taize worship service.  The chants and praise songs gently repeating calmed the campers and staff down and allowed us some time the thank God for everything that he gives to us.  Tuesday is “MacGyver” day so hopefully everyone has their most creative thoughts today.  And that’s the way the cookie has crumbled over the past two days.