Camp Ray Bird (USA) Journal 2007

Today we returned from camp. I know I say this every year, but this may have been the best year yet. Our volunteers did an outstanding job and the camp ended on a high note with a week in review video/slide show. As always, there were lots of tears and hugs as campers were delivered to their parents.  I overheard one mother exclaim to her daughter after she kissed her counselor goodbye, “Hey, don’t you have a kiss for your mama?” I am always astounded by the level of excellence, enthusiasm and commitment exhibited by the staff and volunteers at camp. By the time the last campers were leaving, the activity and maintenance teams had already made great headway in the process of cleaning the cabins, laundering the bed linens and dozens of costumes, secured the beach front and other duties required to close camp for the summer. Of course it doesn’t end there. In the next couple of weeks the staff will be sending out bible correspondence materials to every camper (over 1,000 kids this year) and planning for special weekend retreats for the kids who completed and returned the bible studies. Mike, Susan and Sean will also be working out a strategy to visit the homes of as many campers as possible as well, in order to encourage them in their walk and hoping to get them and their families plugged into good churches. Special thanks to all of the Castleview congregation who supported our team in prayer and provided extra support that was used to help send needy kids to camp this year!  By the way, the DHL team led by camp director Mike Houghteling won the competition this week!

This is our last full day at camp. As you will see, there are still verses to memorize, games to play, a lake to be enjoyed and even a fashion show! Also, a first at Camp Ray Bird, a field trip! A donor arranged to take the whole camp to a minor league baseball game in downtown South Bend.

Click here to watch the video.

It was another hot day at camp Ray Bird, but the activities continue.  Today was red and white day, The verse of the day was Romans 10:9, so all of the small groups, the CRB newscast, campfire and cabin times reflected the theme of salvation by faith.  The photographer decided to hang with the campers today, riding go carts, playing the uke, and showing them how to scream shooting down the waterslide and how to shoot hoops in the lake, so the video is a bit shorter today.

Click here to watch the video.