How Is It Friday?!?!

Fridays at camp are both incredibly wonderful and so hard. It’s wonderful to celebrate the amazing week we’ve shared together, and it’s so hard to say goodbye.

We began the day with a delicious breakfast of chocolate chip pancakes, bagels, bacon (we can never have enough bacon!), and fruit. Today’s morning group program focused on strength bombardments. Strength bombardments give group members a chance to share with each other positive affirmations and words of encouragements. It’s amazing to see how our campers build each other up and celebrate the amazing gifts they see in their peers. After morning group, we had an all-camp picnic. We enjoyed hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, pasta salad, chips, and watermelon. A feast! Then at 1:30, we started the hug line. This is an amazing tradition that brings all of our campers and staff to the field (around 500 people total this year!), and everyone hugs everyone else. Can you imagine getting 500 hugs, all in one day? It’s so awesome! It also takes about 2.5 hours! We put some good music on over the loudspeakers, lather on the sunscreen, grab water bottles to stay hydrated (it can get hot out there!), and hug the afternoon away.

This evening, dinner was a camp favorite — chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese. Talk about “camp’s greatest hits”! After dinner, we prepared for a wonderful camp tradition — consecration. We divide the campers up for two consecration services — one for our junior high campers and staff and the other for senior high. After junior high consecration ended, we added something new to the evening. All the junior high campers got pizza to share in their cabins. We wanted to encourage one last night of cabin bonding, giving our campers and staff a great way to end the week with food and fellowship. The perfect combo!

Our senior high campers and staff gather in the Rec Hall for their consecration service, which is led by the senior class. The seniors did an amazing job putting the service together. 

(The communion table in the Rec Hall for senior high consecration)

After the worship service, we moved out to the council ring for our closing campfire. Five members of the Class of 2019 were chosen by their peers to share a message at the campfire. They all did an amazing job! After the senior speakers finished, we gathered around the campfire and sang the Lord’s Prayer together one last time. And with that, another week at camp has almost come to a close.

(The closing campfire where the seniors gave their speeches)

Tomorrow morning will be busy, busy, busy as campers pack, clean up their cabins, eat breakfast, and prepare to return home. In less than 12 hours, we’ll be on the road back to Braintree High School!