LifeRock Camp Highlights 2011
Camp Harvest
Information
On the bus ride home from Camp Harvest 2011, one of our leaders asked his son, one of the campers, “On a scale of 1 to 10, what was this week of Camp?” “300” was the answer. And from us as a ministry standpoint, we couldn’t agree more.
What a wonderful week the Lord blessed us with this year at the 4th and 5th Grade week of Summer Camp at Camp Harvest. We had a bit of a rainy year, but that only allowed us the opportunity to see God work in ways we didn’t plan. From an impromptu worship concert and extended game time inside Tuesday night because of the rain, to a special free time slip and slide session in the rain on Wednesday, to an amazing testimony night on Thursday night, the Lord’s Spirit was abundantly blessing all aspects of our week at Camp.
Our camp-tivity times were thrilling for the kids, as they went for the first time inside the Zorb, a gigantic plastic inflated ball that rolls down the tubing hill, and as they went ziplining, and spent time in outdoor survival, learning to make a fire, catch a fish, clean it and cook it up. There were activities on the waterfront and outside that captured the children’s attention, and then pointed the way to Christ. At the archery range, the camp staff taught that unless you hit the target in the center of the mark every time, you fall short. This illustration of each of our own sinfulness helps our cabin leaders bridge the gap between knowing and understanding with the kids in their cabin.
We had a few special additions this year, with a cabin talent show at night. The kid’s creative sides were showcased as each cabin "performed" a skit of their choice and the whole camp was entertained each night by the kid’s uniqueness and performances! We also added some fun seek and find games for extra points for the cabin competitions. And of course, we had cleanest cabin points given out as well! Parents, we hope that laundry went straight to the washer!
Through out the testimony time as we shot video and heard the kids tell the leaders what they learned this week, nine out of ten kids answered that they needed to make more time in their schedules for the Lord and to read their Bibles. The Holy Spirit is alive and well and working in these kid’s hearts! As a ministry, we are planning on making a summer Bible reading plan through John and the New Testament to help equip the kids to make those intentions reality and to build on the foundation that was laid this year at Camp Harvest.
Families, continue to pray for Camp Harvest and be thankful to the Lord for His provision to us in this Camp! It is an unequivocal time the Lord pours into the hearts of each person there. We are so grateful for the opportunity again this year for you, the parents, to partner with us and entrust us with your children for the week, and to the Camp Harvest staff and our pastoral staff who gives their best every hour of the day to make sure that these kids not only are spiritually fed for the week but also loved, protected and in an environment where the kids can just be kids and have an amazing time at summer camp!
As we were leaving camp, one girl stood up on the bus, and said, “I’m so sad we’re leaving. I wish we could stay here forever,” which I replied, “I know, me too, but we’ll come back next year.” And we are looking forward to the growth in each child’s heart towards the Lord until that day next summer. So talk to a leader, talk your kids about Camp Harvest this summer. The Lord Jesus Christ is amazing and He granted us a phenomenal week of Camp!