Summary of our first Camp Nichols of August 8-10, 2008
Our first camp for youth at Camp
Nichols was very successful. We had between 40 and 50 youth and
adults at various times during the weekend. Both youth and adults
expressed appreciation for a fun-filled weekend. We not only had
fun, but we had a time of learning and experiencing new things.
When the youth came on Friday
evening at 7:00 pm, we had a band from Clinton County, KY, singing
contemporary Christian songs and afterwards we roasted wieners and
marshmallows around a campfire. The youth really enjoyed this
event. The Lord provided perfect weather for the entire weekend for
all the activities and events.
Friday night the males slept
outside in the big tent that Arise Ministries use for tent revivals
in communities and inside prison walls. The females slept inside
the Arise Chapel. We all got up early on
Saturday and enjoyed our breakfast in the picnic shelter.
At 9:00 am on Saturday each camper
received a journal and pencil to record 29 Bible verses that are
embedded in stones around the campground. We all met in the Arise
Chapel for a devotional pertaining to these Bible verses. At 10:00
am we divided into 4 groups: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. These
4 included Drug and Alcohol teaching, Christian woodworking,
Salvation bracelets, and Games and Activities. Each camper attended
all 4 groups during the course of the day. Other events on Saturday
included a 2:00 singing, a pizza party, a gospel illusion show,
another Christian band from Russell County, KY and more activities
around the campfire on Saturday night.
Resurrection (Sunday) morning we
arose with the Son (sun). We enjoyed another delicious breakfast at
God’s shelter. At 9:00 am, we were blessed as we worshipped the
Lord together. Rev. Michael George, Jr. from Louisville, KY,
delivered a very encouraging message for the youth and adults.
As the campers prepared to return
home, they received a bountiful gift package. The gifts were
donated by Arise Ministries, CAP, and New Life Industries. After
they received their gifts, the big tent was taken down and the
campers and volunteers did a final clean-up of the grounds. Many
photos were made to preserve our good memories of this first weekend
of Camp Nichols. Also a two-hour video was made of the weekend
activities.
Plans are already underway for two
camps next summer. One in June and the other in
August. We are expecting twice as many as we had this year.
So there will be early need for financial help. The youth come free
of charge, therefore, they need sponsors. Next year we are
projecting a sponsorship would be $100. per
youth.
A special thank
you to all the sponsors, volunteers, and youth for making this a
positive experience for everyone.
Larry Sears Nichols
Camp Director
