Junior #1: Monday

A Shot from the Photo Class

Today was so much fun. With just one day under our belts I can already tell that Junior camp is going to be great. These kids are so much fun. They can stand in a straight line, they answer questions and their sense of humor has evolved beyond jokes about bodily functions. We love these kids (I know, I say that about all our campers, but its true). 

A class very close to my heart began today. Our digital photography class got their first chance to go shoot in the field at our Archery department. I love working with the kids as they develop into young photographers. Our curriculum is actually based a college photo curriculum adapted for younger kids and they leave here with all the knowledge they need to be strong amateur photographer. 

The gratuitous plug for my favorite class aside, the rest of the campers had a great time too. We had breakfast burritos in the cafe this morning and then we headed off to camp council where we heard our first message from Pastor Larry. Pastor Larry used to be a staff member here and now he is back to bring the word to our campers. 

Go-Karts after we came back from rainy day.

The rest of the day went according to schedule, except for a brief reprieve during the first afternoon activity rotation when we had to go to rainy day schedule, but our staff didn’t miss a beat and the campers had just as much fun playing games indoors.

In our first night of outpost we saw a young boy kidnapped by the evil Gail family and his mother run off for help. Tomorrow night we will find out where she goes and what the plan is to get them back.

We are so excited about camp this week,         -Colin

Discovery Camp: Final Day

The Sabbath Village

What a way to end the week!  The morning began with breakfast baskets so the cabins could have some time together eating as a family. We sang songs together and then headed down to our sabbath village for our sabbath morning experience. The kids had a great time interacting with the inhabitants of the village until the evil governor arrived, but never fear Jesus was there to give the town hope and empower them to drive to governor away. 

These boys are God's soldiers. Singing at camp council.

We escaped the heat for lunch in the cafeteria and had some sabbath quiet time. Then we went to the Ponderosa Room and had our Sabbath Church Service with a message from Pastor Benny. 

We split up into groups for our sabbath afternoon program and came back together for vespers to close the sabbath. From there we headed over to the Campfire Bowl for Saturday Night at the Ranch. We sang songs, watched some hilarious skits and found out who won Cabin of the Week and Ultimate Cabin. We were also treated to a glowstick firework show presented by the staff.

Today was packed with programming for our kids to end camp in the right way. We will be sad to see our campers go, but next week’s campers will get here soon after.

Don’t forget that camper pick up starts tomorrow at 9:30 and ends at 11:30.

Blessings,    -Colin

Discovery Camp: Day 5

Prayer Circle before Pageant

Is it really sabbath already? This week seems like it has flown by so fast. Surely yesterday we were welcoming the campers into the Ponderosa Room and sending them to their cabins. Nonetheless, a week full of memories is under our belts and we are preparing for our Sabbath change of schedule.

Flag Raising

Today we started with a sweet breakfast of french toast and from there we had a flag raising by Counselor Kristin and cabin Cheyenne. We went to Camp Council and from there we went to our morning rotations. Lunch was a summer favorite: corn dogs and watermelon.

Fun at the Archery Range

An hour later we met on the field for a game of handball. The kids had a blast getting the ball from goal to goal and our staff had a great time keeping up with them while they ran on the field. We opened the ropes course, the pool, drama and lazertag for super big event. The rest of the day was set aside for getting ready for the sabbath.

Then came our favorite part of the week: Friday night pageant. The stage flooded with campers committing their lives to Christ. We sang our hearts out as one by one the cabins went off to debrief after the program. Nothing excites us more than when a camper gives his life to Christ.

Tomorrow will be an exciting day as we celebrate the sabbath together. I can’t wait,        -Colin

Discovery Camp: Day 4

Photo Booth at our Carnival

Today was a blast!  We all had fun at activities and programing today. Our day started off like a normal day here at PSR, but by the end it turned into something special. Here are a few special things that happened today at camp:

1.) Our campers got the opportunity to play lazertag in the dark, as part of our Thursday carnival.

2.) The cafeteria served pizza for the first time this summer! (let the staff rejoice…)

3.) The kids all had a great time at big event playing dodgeball.

4.) We served Nachos, Ice Cream and Popcorn for our carnival. (That’s always a hit)

Climbing wall orientation at ropes

Today wasn’t special though because of what we did that was fun, it was special because today I saw several indications that the kids finally settled in with their camp families. Cabins seem closer than ever and the awkward distance between campers has changed into budding friendships.

Nina engaging with campers at camp council.

I know that in the few short days we have left your campers will create memories for a lifetime. That’s what happened to me, and its our goal for all our campers this summer.

Our staff is dedicated to that goal and is working hard to ensure a pleasant experience for each and every one of our campers.

I can’t wait to see you tomorrow,               -Colin

Discovery Week: Day 3

Fun with Cabin Arapaho

Today was full of uncertainty. The weather was always just shy of forcing us into rainy day schedule. We weren't sure if outpost was going to happen until it started and morning linecall had to happen indoors. 

I have one thing to say to all that uncertainty. We beat all of it. Not a single thing was interrupted today by the weather. It stayed just far enough away for us to have a great day. 

Our staff were ready to make the shift to rainy day if necessary, we were prepared to move our outpost program indoors and everyone pitched in where it was required.  It's just another example of our dedicated staff being willing to be flexible when we need them.

Before we met in the Ponderosa Room for Linecall, we had a pancake breakfast with fruit. We had Camp Council indoors and then came outside to a bright shiny day for our activities. Go-Karts was up and running after the track dried, but never fear the kids had tons of fun playing games until they started. 

Counselor Gabriel Driving kids at Go-Karts

The cafeteria came to life again at 1:00 PM with a frito casserole and a full salad bar. The staff ate together and traded stories of their campers. 

Back to the regular drill with another set of activity rotations. Dinner was brief for the staff, as they ran off to practice for our third night of outpost, but it was a good meal of hoagies and salad. We headed up to the fort for the final installment of the outpost play, which was a blast for our campers. 

No day at camp is dull, so I can’t wait to see you all in the morning,                -Colin 

Staff Profile: Edward Rebolledo (Self-Defense)

Edward as a Roman Soldier on Sabbath

    

     Remember back in the day when people wrote bios for Facebook and nobody read them? This is like that, but not at all, in any way. I've asked some staff members to write be a short profile of themselves and why they work at camp. I'll be posting them occasionally through the camp season.

     This week I've asked Edward Rebolledo, our Self-Defense Instructor, to share his with us. Here's what he wrote:

    "Hi! I’m Edward and I’m the self-defense instructor here at PSR. As a former pathfinder, I’m also part of our Special Drill Team. I was a camper myself at PSR for eight years and loved it enough to spend a summer as a counselor-in-training and after leaving on hiatus, I’ve finally come back to try and give back to this camp everything that it gave me.

     My favorite memory at camp as a camper was being able to grow spiritually, especially my last year as a camper. At PSR you become so much more connected to everything around you and that sort of spiritual tranquility is priceless.

     As a staff member, I have really enjoyed being able to minister to kids and really try to reach them. Another benefit is being surrounded by genuinely caring souls from the 2015 staff."

We really appreciate the work Edward is doing here at PSR. Stay tuned for more staff profiles and don't forget tonight's blog.

Discovery Camp: Day Two

Cabin Mohave Lowers the Flag

     At camp it is easy to get burned out and it is up to all of us here to lift each other up and make sure camp runs smoothly. So, I want to start today’s blog with an affirmation to our staff for everything they do to cover for each other. Here are 5 things I saw today that inspired me in our staff:

1.) I saw a staff member drop what he was doing to help a fellow staff member escort a camper to the nurses station.

2.) I saw 6 different staff members offer to assist in a cabin to give their fellow staff members a break.

3.) A staff member carried my tray back into the cafeteria because they saw I was a little tired.

4.) I saw staff members rush to the aide of a golf cart stuck at the bottom of a hill with no battery left.

5.) Finally, I saw departments pull together and share a water cooler because we were low on coolers today.

     These clearly aren't life changing situations, but they are little snippets of why camp works. We help each other. We are always there to help each other when needed. Camp doesn't run without these moments and we want to give a huge thank you our staff.

     Now on with our regularly scheduled blog. Our day began with a hearty breakfast of eggs and tater tots, with fruit on the cold bar. From there we had a flag raising by Counselor Delcy and Cabin Arapaho.

    Onward to morning rotations; including Archery, Drama, Swimming, Soccer, Skateboarding, Sports and so many others. Indian camp is having a ton of fun earning their feathers.

     Lunch was a decadent pasta and salad bar. The kids really seem to enjoy pasta day.

Taking aim at the Obstacle Course

     Then a break for village time and a chance to visit our brand new store in the Manzanita Room. Afternoon rotations were a blast, I heard they had a particularly good time at the Obstacle Course.

    The day started to come to an end at supper with a fan favorite: Grilled Cheese. Flag lowering was done by Cabin Mohave in excellent form. Our second night of Outpost happened tonight at the Tee Pees for the first time and was a huge success, then we all headed off to bed, but not before Indian Camp made a quick stop at the Ponderosa Room to earn their blue feather in the chair maze.

    We look forward to every day here at PSR. See you in the morning,           - Colin