07.29.10 - Jr. High Houseboat Trip

By Chad Merrihew

This years Jr. High summer camp was a huge blessing to our group and to my staff. This is the second year we've attended this summer camp in Stockton CA at the river delta. We took 38 students and 8 leaders and had 3 houseboats and 3 ski boats for the whole week.

We brought up a great group of students and I was particularly impressed with our new 6th grade class. We just lost a big 8th grade group of students but our incoming 6th grade class has proven to be very strong. Over 50% of the campers were 6th graders. It was awesome to see the younger class show up to camp and I loved the energy they brought.

We had 5 students except Jesus as their personal Savior for the first time while at camp. Of course every student rededicated their lives to Christ, as that seems to be what happens every year. Students bonded with each other tremendously and I truly saw our new group become a family. It was great to see our 8th grade class step up to the plate and be great leaders to the under classmen. I saw many of the 8th graders hanging out and praying with the new 6th grade students throughout the week.

Our goal each year having summer camp in June is to build momentum and unity very early on. My hope is that the momentum that is built at summer camp will last throughout the summer and even throughout the school year. Last year summer camp did exactly that. Since summer camp we have had a beach day every Tuesday and an event every Friday. We've gone to scooters jungle, a dodger game, to San Onfre for camping, and are leaving Friday for 6 flags Magic Mountain. Our participation rate for these summer events have been the greatest our group have ever seen. I truly think this is because of the work God did at summer camp. Kids built relationships and they just want to be together. God worked at camp and I loved it.