As of April 11th, these are the age groups and weeks that are at least half full.

SIT Camp (Middle School) Boys – Week 1 – only 4 spots available
SIT Camp (Middle School) Girls – Week5 – only 5 spots available

Junior Camp Taste of Camp – Week 1 and Week 2 – only 6 spots available
Junior Camp Full Day – Week 1 and Week 2 – only 6 spots available

Get your registrations in soon. You don’t want your kids to miss this amazingly fun summer opportunity!!!

Thank you to all of you that have registered your kids for camp already!!! We are really looking forward to this summer and all the new children and families we are going to meet.

For those of you that have not registered, there is still time but don’t wait too long. Here is a glimpse of where we are at:

Junior Camp (ages 4 – PreK) : Some weeks are 1/2 full meaning there are only 6 more spots open

Day Camp (completed K – completed 5th) : Some weeks are 1/3 full – the majority of our availablility is in this age range though

SIT Camp(completed 6th – completed 8th): Some weeks are 1/2 full which means there are only 5 more spots left per gender

Don’t wait too long!! We don’t want you to miss the exciting adventures we have here at camp.

Please email me at graceadventures@gcconline.org if you have any questions.

Yes, it is that time again! Time to make your plans for summer 2010!!!

It is with both joy and sadness that we announce the resignation of Hillary Pennington as camp director. Sadness to lose Hillary but joy because Hillary and her family are pursuing the awesome opportunity of being involved in the Fusion church plant! We wish her all the best and pray that God blesses her work with Fusion as He did here at camp.

Michelle Conner, Assistant director from our first year and co-director from last summer, has been hired by the church as the new director for Grace Adventures Day Camp. She is super excited to fill the role and we are blessed to have a director on board that has been with camp from the beginning.

We are also pleased to inform you that many of the great staff from the 2009 team are joining us in 2010.

And now, what you’ve been waiting for, the dates for 2010!!!
Brochures will be mailed on January 3rd. Look for them in your mailbox or pick one up at Grace Community Church.

Registration will begin on January 17th

Registration Kickoff will be January 19th at the Chick Fil A on John Hopkins Rd from 5 pm to 8pm. This will also be a camp fundraiser with Chick Fil A donating a portion of the proceeds from that night to our scholarship fund. The director and some camp staff will be on hand to answer any questions. Bring your family and friends because we miss you!

Five weeks of Camp will begin the week of July 12th and end on August 13th

Save these dates and be watching for more information to follow!!!

I honestly can’t believe it. This summer has flown by, and yet at the same time, it feels like it’s been going forever. Regardless, here we are at the last day of camp…at least for this summer.

Of course no last day can go smoothly, at least not completely. But bumps in the road point us to the One who is ultimately in control, instead of trying to rely on our finite wisdom. So far we’ve had two counselors call in today. When you’re already bare bones in staff, being two down could spell disaster, but at Grace Adventures, we know Who is in control. God knew long ago how this day would go, and it’s his plan to glorify himself through it. He’s already been working.

I told you before that He had paved the way for Raven’s siblings to come to camp. We signed them up to come this week, paid in full, but we’ve run into some glitches trying to get them here. So after that second phone call this morning, I just dropped to my knees and turned this day over the God. On my way here, Aaron Smith called and said that his bump in the road was removed and he was now able to pick the boys up and bring them to camp. Score one for the Big Guy! It’s was almost like He was just confirming to me that He’s got us covered.

Here’s to a great last day of camp.

I barely blinked and the week was gone…our largest week yet, more than twice the size of our largest week last summer. Crazy, isn’t it? We had over 85 campers and 20 staff, outgrowing our brand new pavilion. Seriously, who would have thought? It was also our second to last week. Summer is certainly winding down, but it’s not over yet. The saddest part of this week was that we said goodbye to 5 of our beloved staff members, Sara Beth, Tim, Erin, J-Mo, and Roya. Each of them brought their talents, gifts and passion for the Lord and his people to our camp family this summer. Even though there is only one more week, I feel like we’re going into it a bit incomplete. I have to say that our team is beyond amazing and I’m so thankful that God sent them to us, called them to camp. I’m not sure what God has in store for them over the next year, but I hope each of them considers returning next summer, to continue investing in the lives of Grace Adventure’s campers.

We have some campers that stay with us all summer. Let me tell you, that takes some faith on behalf of the parents. We’re always honored when someone would entrust their children to us, especially when they don’t know us. Last summer, there were several families, 12 kids total, who took the leap and signed their kids up for all four weeks. All but 1 of them, and they moved out of state, came back with summer. This past Friday night, our team was invited to the Shamlin’s house for an end of the summer picnic and movie night. I’m amazed by this family. They have so much going on, from building a new business, moving to a new home, and raising two boys…and yet they still find time to bless our camp family with great food, fellowship, and genuine hospitality. We look forward to having them back next summer as well. It’s an investment.

Another all summer family, the Metzgers, caught the vision of camp and ran with it…literally. Before they had even filled out the registrations for their four kids, three of their friends had already hopped on board (for the entire summer as well). Mr. Metzger is juggling so much while his wife is deployed, and yet he’s still looking out for his friends and neighbors.

There are so many more stories just like that one where people are reaching out to the people around them and inviting them to camp. I know that as we grow, our vision will grow as well, encompassing the community around us. What a great way to open the doors of the Church, to invite people to play in its front yard.

Posted by Hillary