West Fest

Dan O'Reagan
IT/AV Coordinator 

Yesterday afternoon, all of Res Camp participated in "West Fest:" a celebration that involves a parade, hundreds of Laffy Taffys, several rousing speeches, and a yard game extravaganza.  Campers got to play dodgeball, chase a greased watermelon, go up against the rest of their cabin in "Knockout," slide on the world's most extreme slip n' slide, challenge other cabins at dizzy stick, play "Drip, Drip, Drop" (a variation of Duck, Duck, Goose), "swordfight" on the water mat, attempt to catch water balloons launched from a sling, participate in a four-way pull, and show off their skills at "Cornhole."  

Advance Camp Challenge Course

Dan O'Reagan
AV/IT Coordinator

Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of photographing three groups of Advance Camp boys as they worked on different segments of the HoneyRock challenge course.  The course is designed to teach groups to communicate and work together efficiently and lovingly.  The groups that I photographed were completing challenges that involved successfully balancing a platform while having members of the group jump on or off the platform (surprisingly difficult), flipping over a blanket while the whole group is standing on it, and climbing over suspended logs or plank walls.  

After each challenge, the group would debrief to discuss what they had learned from their successes (or failures).  I saw the boys' communication transformed as they learned to work together and listen to each other over the course of the afternoon.  The groups left much more excited and unified than when they entered the course.  

Evening Intro Skits

Dan O'Reagan
IT/AV Coordinator

Yesterday evening, all of Res Camp came to the waterfront where Buckwheat Billy (Program Director Dan Elsen) confronted the sinister Prospector Bob (Activities Coordinator Charlie) about "the rumor that HoneyRock Ranch was going to be sold and then turned into a gold mine."  Prospector Bob said that he had already forceably enlisted the help of the activities staff in his hunt for gold.  Buckwheat made a deal with the current owner of the ranch, Dr. Elmo Zacko (Unit Leader Tim) that if he could prove that campers were able to have fun at HoneyRock then Dr. Zacko would refuse Prospector Bob's offers to buy the ranch.   

After the Activity Intro Skit, campers filed to the tent to introduce their cabin by performing their personal introduction skits that they had invented earlier that day.  Once the campers finished performing their cabin intro skits, the Unit leaders told the group about "Solid Rock," an award campers receive for waking up at 6:00am to memorize scripture, do service projects, run, and swim.  After they finished explaining the program, Unit Leader Zach led them in a set of worship songs and then Director Dan Elsen gave a devotional about God's love for us.  

Session 3 Arrives

By Dan O'Reagan

IT/AV Coordinator

The campers have arrived safely, got introduced to their cabin mates, and are now excitedly completing their swim tests.  After that, it's dinner and the Activity Intro Skit.

Session 3 bus trip - midway stop

Departing Madison stop. ETA at HoneyRock: 3:30pm.

Session 3 Departure

On our way to camp! Stopping in Rockford at 8:50am.