Monday, July 16, Day One of Explorer Camp in Portland--Part One

Load'em up and move'em out! Dan leads the caravan of cars full of camp team and supplies from our hotel to the school where camp is being held this week.

Still recovering from surgery, we left Sean behind at the hotel to pray for us and our day.

Early morning set up happened inside and outside the school. This is the room where the older girls will spend the afternoon this week enjoying Created for a Purpose activities. Today and tomorrow they will be sewing bags in this room.

Phyllis Hamm in the registration tent.

Each camper is given a camp Tshirt and assigned to a junior high or senior high school counselor.

Bailey Doyle, Emily Mince, Koyla Edwards and Catherine Luke looking over the names of their campers.

Mary Jane Lassiter and Colley Acken are two of our youngest team members. They are enjoying camp along with their new friends from Portland.

Bailey and Lorien were in the same group last year and were excited to see each other again.

First order of business--making nametags! Thank you to Joel and Helen Megginson for cutting limbs into nametags for us!

Elizabeth Ragland, Bailey Doyle, and Sarah Mince are ready for the day.

Crystal Keplar is a member of CTR and coordinates camp on the CTR end. We think she is a Wonder Woman!!! She buys and organizes morning and afternoon snacks for all of the campers and gathers some of our supplies ahead of camp to save us from shipping and/or shopping at the last minute. This is her second year as camp coordinator. We couldn't do it without you, Crystal!!!

Camp began with singing praise songs led by the Cov Pres counselors.

The first Bible story? Creation! As Dan told the story of each day of creation, he asked for volunteers to form the numbers 1-6 to help keep the story straight. Day one, in the yellow shorts, did a great job. We weren't so sure about the number two for day two!

Campers listened attentively to the story. In the background, you can see the fields where many camp activities will take place. The tent in the far background is where archery was taught.

Seven girls wanted to form the letter seven, but since God's creation work was finished, they represented that day by singing, "This Is the Day."

Rebecca Acken (far right) and Sissy Flynn led the youngest girls in a craft time under the shade tree. They made journals and flower pens.

Sissy gave instructions.