What happened to the summer weather?

We only had a handful of days that left us craving a second dip in the lake. We had more clouds than we cared to look at. Tack on a week full of rain and you have one depressing recipe of a summer.

But that didn’t slow God down at all.

This summer has been jam-packed with incredible moments. Whether it was getting the most points in our Super Villain capture game, or being launched the highest into the air from the Aqua Park’s water blaster, gleeful squeals could be heard each week from the campers. Some Beginner campers stayed away from home for the first night, while other Juniors campers successfully combatted homesickness to have a fantastic week and growth experience. Junior High campers met new friends and grew deeper into a relationship with God, while Senior High campers learned that there is a way to have good, clean fun. No matter what the age, God clearly was changing, developing and shaping the lives of the campers and staff alike.

It’s sad to see the summer end, but it is exciting to see what the new year will bring. I think for many of us, the new year starts in September rather than January. Now is the time for new beginnings; new schools, new youth groups, new churches, new work places.

We pray that wherever you may go this year, God would direct your path and bless you greatly.

Thank you for following us on our journey this summer! As we gear up for the Fall season, we will be letting this blog rest. But don’t worry! We have every intention of picking it back up in the Spring!

Blessings,

Bayside Camp

The leaves are still green, and by noon the sun still beats down mercilessly . . . but dusk comes early now and conversations are beginning to turn to the approach of September.

After eight weeks of carefree play and deep relationships, the summer is drawing to a close. And, like the end of all good things, this Friday will symbolize a bitter-sweet transition.

When you are used to music blaring out the windows and faces smeared with war paint, and a perpetual pile of sweaters and Bibles littering the grounds . . .  a quiet camp can seem kind of sad.

On the other hand, it is a tremendous feeling of contentment: a backward glance at childish antics; a camera full of vibrant memories; a meaningful Bible passage; a new friend on Facebook.

And, for the staff, it is a much needed rest. As hard as the campers might play, the staff play just as hard . . . all the while fostering growth and positive relationships.

And now it is Fall.

This Friday the camp will be scrubbed and polished for its September debut.  The aqua park will come out of the lake.  The archery targets will come down.  The staff will say goodbye.

But, unlike some camps, Bayside doesn’t shift gears into ‘off-season’.  Instead, the camp welcomes church families and youth retreats and leadership getaways until the summer returns.

“For every thing there is a season under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Summer season has come and gone; a new season has begun.

And, of course, there was a delicious banquet on Thursday night. A turkey dinner with all the fixings graced our tables. Some of us dressed to the nines… while others of us relived our own junior high days!

But that wasn’t the end of the Thursday. We gathered around the final campfire and talked about how God was working in our lives. Throughout the whole week our guest speaker, Anthony Liberatore, talked to us about the story of Joseph. The take-home point was that, just like Joseph, God is always with us.

With only one more week of summer camp left, the staff are gearing up for the most intense week yet. Expect amped up games, songs and food menu for Senior High!

Josh:          What do you do at camp?

Emma:       I help the program team set up games, lifeguard during waterfront, and participate in games and activities.

Olivia:        We also get a chance to hang out with kids, build relationships, and have tons of fun while getting a chance to grow closer to God.

J:                Does what you do at camp have spiritual significance?

E:               Yes! When I am on the Aqua Park I have a chance to connect with the kids and just sit with them. Also, when the kids are scared to jump in, I encourage them. If they still don’t want to go in, it’s a chance for me to answer any of their questions. I help keep the waterfront fun but safe.

O:               Swimming is a big attraction, especially with the AWESOME Aqua Park! Once kids are here they have a chance to learn about and grow closer to God.

J:                What is your fondest memory of camp so far?

E:               My favorite memory of camp is when I was on the Aqua Park and all of the girls were sitting on the trampoline. It was really fun because we were all dancing and jumping up and down. We were all being kids and having fun.

O:               I really enjoy canoeing because I get time to connect with campers, get to know them and try to show them God’s love.

J:                What is your favorite song to sing at Fireside?

E:               “Bubblegum”, because the kids enjoy mimicking “quarter” and “water” in my accent (British). I don’t mind this because it just opens a door for them to come and talk to me.

O:               “Pizza Hut”, because there are many fun verses to sing, including some we made up ourselves!

J:                Any last words?

E:               Play, Live, Grow! and… SWIMMING ROCKS!

O:               Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime! Bayside Camp!

All these shameless plugs… I guess camp is a fun place to work! Thanks for your time, Emma and Olivia. We are really lucky to have a great lifeguarding team at Bayside. Rest assured, our campers are in good hands while they swim in our lake! Thanks again to all those who voted… there is only one more “Meet the Team” article left! Vote for who you want to meet next!

What a contrast from Monday! Finally, the sun emerged for our last day of Juniors 2. It was a great week despite the rain, filled with canoeing, soccer, racing, super villains, aliens, music, talent shows, camp fires and lots of other fun activities!

Our guest speaker for the week was none other than Matt Snow (aka “Snowy”), the youth pastor from Birch Cove Baptist Church. Matt led us through a variety of different scripture passages, teaching us how actions speak louder than words when it comes to being a Christian (Acts 11:19-26), how God wants to work through us (Luke 1:26-38), that the Kingdom of God does not revolve around status (Luke 22:24-27), that God offers forgiveness through Jesus (Luke 15), and how we are to work together to share His story with others (Acts 14:1-28).

Last night, we all gathered around a big fire and shared how God was working in our lives. It was truly amazing to hear the stories some of the campers were sharing. One girl in particular announced to the entire camp that she had decided to become a Christian that night! Others said they grew closer to God this week, and others explained how they had made a lot of new friends and had a fun time at camp.

God continues to do amazing things here at Bayside Camp! Thank you so much for your continual support through prayer, time, effort, and even monetary gifts. We truly appreciate it!

Thanks Juniors 2 for such a wonderful week in the rain!

Josh:    Can you explain to us what your role here at camp is?

M&A:    To  supervise and support the counseling staff, ensuring a high standard of camper care, staying in close contact with local churches and leading the Bayside Missions program.

J:          What is something you enjoy most about camp?

M:          Anything that makes a camper say, “This is awesome!” and missions! Shout-out to Vida Joven!

A:          Bucket brigade, RollerRama and Thursday night fireside.

J:          What is your favorite food at camp?

M:          Make your own sandwiches… I just like sandwiches, OK?

A:          Bayside brownies and tacos!

J:          How has camp impacted your life?

M:          Camp has helped me to grow as a leader, have unforgettable experiences, and allowed me to see God work in AMAZING ways. I have grown closer with friends and God and have had the wonderful opportunity to see campers do the same.

A:          I’ve grown in faith, confidence and maturity. I’ve been pushed to my limits and been surprised to see God work in my weakness. I’ve been astounded by how children can have a beautiful and simple relationship with such a complex God. I’ve learned that one week can have incredible impact in a child’s life!

J:          Any last words?

M:          For only $205 you can come enjoy a second weeks at Bayside Camp this Summer 2011!

A:          Shameless plug

Thanks Mat and Allison! We are so thankful to have two great mentors working with us at camp during the summer that specialize in enriching the counselors and campers’ lives. Thanks again to all who voted to meet these two wonderful people! Vote below for next week’s edition of “Meet the Team”!

Although the sky is bright and the ground is dry, all of us trudging down in our rubber boots and rain coats know that the thick air and gloomy grey can mean just one thing:

Rain.

There’s a reason we don’t put up rainy-day pictures on the camp website: camp at its finest is designed for blues skies and bright sun.

Unfortunately the forecast for this week calls for showers. Three days straight.

Today is a particularly unceasing, straight-down- no-mercy kind of rain.  It catches you as soon as you stick your foot out the door and it gives no reprieve to any visitor, compost emptier or forgetful camper who left their sweater back at the cabin.

But as much as camp is about sunshine and blue skies, it is also about flexibility.  We pray, we adapt and we don’t let it slow us down.

—

Outdoor activities move inside; canoeing and archery are cut short, but there are drama games and parachutes and dodgeball.  The halls ring with giggles and shrieks, an overpowering noise we take as a sign that spirits are high.

And this proves to be the case.  At swim time they leap, one by one, into the water with great delight.  Even rain can’t get in the way of a good swim.

By supper we have adjusted to the little puddles of water that pool by the doorways.  It even seems kind of fun and silly to catch the raindrops falling off the tips of our noses, and laugh at the ‘wet hair shake’ as people run in from the deluge.  Besides, who doesn’t like running around in sock feet?

This morning at staff meeting we prayed for the weather to change . . . even if it could just be overcast.  Even if it could give us a break at some point.  Even if it could be a little warmer.

Answered prayer came in the form of a Tuesday forecast of cloudy skies and sunny breaks.

God is good . . . and so is the occasional rainy day.

Josh: What do you do here at Bayside Camp?

Tilly: I’m a Senior Counselor which basically means I spend my summer helping change lives for God’s glory and run around playing crazy games with youngsters!

J:       How did you hear about Bayside Camp?

T:      My youth pastor told me about Bayside Camp this past fall when I was looking for camp opportunities.

J:       What made you want to come out here?

T:       I knew that I wanted to be involved in camp ministry, and had heard many good things about Bayside, so I decided to apply and leave the rest up to God.

J:       What do you want to do later in life?

T:       After completing university, I plan to teach English as a second language, [while] helping to rebuild communities through aid and missionary work in developing countries.

J:       Any last words?

T:      FUN FUN FUN FUN! (That’s four fun’s, which means I’m more fun than Paul!)

Thanks Tilly! We are so proud of the hard work that our counselors put into their jobs. Vote below for next week’s edition of Meet the Team! Thank you to all who voted last week!

-Josh Mitton, {CORE} Leader

The week began with a splash as we all dove into the beautiful lake here at camp. Later that Sunday night, we were met with strange alien invaders who we chased and captured after a hard night of running and hiding. As the week went on, we did several activities: we painted ourselves in cabin colours, tracked down super villains who broke out of their forcefield, had a giant water fight on the lower field, displayed our skills in the talent show, raced around camp, snuck by the Wild Ones, got all muddy in the mud pit, enjoyed the summer sun with beach bash, and played a variety of different soccer games up on the sports field. Check out the comments below at 6:00pm to see which cabin collected the most cabin points!

This week’s guest speaker was Michael Fisher. He led us through the life of Jeremiah, focusing on Jeremiah 1:5 -

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

The campers and staff were able to see just how much God wants to be a part of their lives, even so much as to die on a cross for us. Because of that, we have been called by God to live a “SWAGG” life: seriously walking after Godly greatness!

Finally, the campers were able to share some of the ways God had been working in their lives on Thursday night. Some quotes from the night were:

“I was able to come closer to God this week.”
“I learned about the Bible and God’s purpose for me.”
“This week I said yes to God being a part of my life!”
“I want to thank my mom for dragging me out to Bayside Camp.”
“I met a lot of friends this week, but my best friend is God.”

Thank you for all your prayers this week! It was a great week for staff and campers alike, and we are excited for what’s in store for next week’s Beginners camp!

Josh:      What do you currently do at camp?

Paul:     I’m one of the program coordinators. I plan games, lead those games, make sure the schedule is   running smoothly, host meal times, and help the campers have a great time while they’re here at camp.

J:            Why work at Bayside?

P:          I feel as though I’ve been given the gifts to lead others, and God has called me to use those gifts here at Bayside Camp through managing and leading the program and activities that happen here at camp.

J:            What is one of your favorite moments here at Bayside?

P:          I love Thursday nights; hearing the campers talk about how God is working in their lives. It’s really nice because I don’t get to see those moments with the campers, because they usually happen in the cabin or in cabin groups. It just reminds me that everything we do here at camp is for a great reason.

J:            What is your favorite memory here at Bayside?

P:            Sassy Thursday. The guys in cabin nine would just have a lot of fun bonding with each other.

J:            Any last words?

P:            FUN FUN FUN!

Thanks for sharing a bit about yourself and what you do here at camp, Paul! Stay tuned each week as we talk with more of the staff so you can get to know us better! Let us know who you would like to learn about next by voting in the poll:

- Josh Mitton, {CORE} Leader