Learning to Surf at BEACH PARTY

BEACH PARTY, Surfin' Through the Scriptures was an incredibly fun time and wonderful experience of God's love all week long. Headed up by Karen Jennings, the camp was run mornings during the week of July 7-11. A total of 24 kids were in attendance, plus a few babies belonging to various helpers at times throughout the week. The kids ranged in age from 3-11, plus several middle and high schoolers serving as Junior Lifeguards and Lifeguards which gave them some responsibility but also allowed them to play alongside the younger kids.
For those who know "Ellis Hall" it was unrecognizable! With the help of Andy & Teresa Folley, Wes and Betty Splettstoesser, Angela Blanchette, and Carol Bruneau the hall was transformed into a beach: beach chairs everywhere, tiki torches, Christmas lights, sand boxes, picnic tables, surf board decorations, and even an old fence with wet suits and other surfing gear hanging.

As the kids arrived, they were registered and given a sticker to affix to their name tag and a lei. A craft area was set up so kids could have a comfortable transition time.

Then each kid grabbed a surf board (towel!) and the surfing began. Ellen Dunn headed up a time of surfin' tunes where we learned BEACH PARTY music and watched a video with Sandy Castle who taught us some real surfing moves! Each day the kids learned a "Be-Attitude" and a fun surfing response when the word was shouted through the day: "Be Obedient! ... Hang Ten!" and so on. After this the kids rotated around to various centers until another time of closing music with Ellen.

The craft center was led by Amy Wellington where the kids made surf board crafts, including a photo puzzle with photos of each child that fit together into the shape of a surf board.

The story time center was headed up by Carol Bruneau (in the parlor room) with soft lighting of Christmas lights and a sandbox where they heard God's Word, and dug for treasures they kept each day in their ocean bottles.

The snack shack was headed up by Betty Splettstoesser and was certainly very popular with all of the kids. The kids sat around a beach table with umbrella while Betty offered them various treats; the homemade cookies were of course the most popular! Betty also spent time sharing about the related theme with the kids as they snacked. And next to the snack shack was set up another pool for the kids to collect items to donate to the food pantry for the week's mission. The tub filled up higher and higher through the week as the kids shared with their parents about the mission.

The Rockn' Rec center was headed up by Pastor Jamie Arrison where the kids could run off a little energy playing games which also served as a teaching point for the day. They picked up sand buckets filled with water with a swimming noodle (as a group!), filled buckets in a relay race with sponges and other fun activities.

Other helpers included Phoebe Shank, Bethany Aelmore and Rachel Rideout who served as Lifeguards, Betty Smith, Andy and Teresa Folley and others who helped, and Pastor Gwyneth Arrison who served as the photographer and errand-runner.

Thank you also to Betty Lane, Wes & Betty Splettstoesser, Dana MacLean, David & Carol Bruneau who helped tear down and clean up.

Kids and teachers received certificates at the end of the week, and teachers also received a plant as a small token of appreciation. Karen hosted a slide show celebration on Friday evening for parents, friends and other family members to experience a little BEACH PARTY with their kids. And the kids got to share a song and a few slides during church Sunday too. The kids blessed us all.

The best was hearing the kids tell their parents each day how they wanted to come back the next day! Thank you to everyone who donated items, helped set up and take down, helped out with the kids, visited to show your support and prayed. Thank you especially to Karen Jennings for your leadership and hard work these last few months to make BEACH PARTY such a grand success. You all made a difference in the lives of the children!!!