So What Do You Do at Camp?
BEFORE CAMP BEGINS
Saturday
A small group of kitchen staff arrives Saturday afternoon with the kitchen supplies and
frozen foods, all neatly tucked into coolers so they can endure the drive to camp. The
supplies completely fill a 20 ft Ryder truck. All supplies are unloaded into the kitchen,
and the work of setting up the kitchen begins. The park only permits us to have 7-10
people on the grounds until Sunday afternoon, and we only have access to the Nurse's cabin
and Mess Hall. The small group spends the night on the campground.
Sunday
Sun. morning, everyone at camp goes to services at a nearby congregation (Ellis Church of
Christ). They go to Linton for lunch and return to the campgrounds. Sun. afternoon, the
rest of the camp staff arrives between 2-5pm. The camp director checks in with the park,
pays for campground rental, picks up the cabin keys, and proceeds to open every cabin and
inspect it for damage. A multi-page damage report is completed and returned to the park
office, and we are now able to start camp preparations in earnest. As staff members
arrive, they set up their bunks in each cabin. Several cabins have no wall outlets, so
those cabins must have a central wiring system installed so campers can plug in fans for
the week. Some of the counselors have developed quite elaborate setups through the years.
You'd think you were in their living rooms! As staff members get their cabins ready, we
turn our attention to setting up other areas of the grounds, including: volleyball courts,
sound systems in the Mess Hall and Recreation Hall, stage lighting in the Recreation Hall,
tree removal from the canoeing area, shower stalls for the men's restrooms, salad bar
tables, wood for the camp fire-the list doesn't seem to quit! We do as much setup work as
we can before Sun. evening service.
Sunday at 5pm, everyone on the campground gathers for the evening service in the Recreation Hall. We sing, pray and hear a lesson from the scriptures. After the service is concluded, everyone hops in a vehicle and we go to Linton somewhere to eat and after that, the annual pilgrimage to Wal-Mart. We buy cases of drinks and snacks, batteries for FRS radios, marker paint, and the occasional item for an event/sporting activity. Team captains often buy supplies for decoration, or items they forgot. The drinks and snacks fill up most of a pickup truck bed. We return to camp and unload all our supplies. Everyone gathers in the Mess Hall. Team captains start making and hanging posters to show their team spirit. Shirts for Team Day and the Theme Park Trip are sorted for quick distribution later in the week. Name buttons are organized. We inspect game supplies, and make a list of items to buy when we return to Linton. Everyone is busy doing something to prepare for tomorrow. The work and talk goes well into the night-the Mess Hall closes about 1am. Camp is almost here!
NOTE: The only campers at camp before registration (Monday morning) are the children of staff members. Any other camper must have permission from the camp directors, as camp does not officially begin until registration.
Monday
Monday morning, everyone is on their own for breakfast: donuts and cereal are in the Mess
Hall. At 7:30pm, the camp staff meets in the Mess Hall to prepare for the day's
activities, get last minute changes (we have them every day!), and verify assignments for
registration. We set up the registration tables, post staff members to direct traffic and
welcome campers in each cabin. Another year of MSC is about to commence!
CAMP BEGINS
Monday
Children of staff members go through the check-in process, then check-in is opened for
everyone at 9am. As campers arrive, they first go to the Mess Hall to complete their
check-in. We make sure that their form is completed, the medical information is right, and
payment is all in order. The nurses take any medications that a camper needs and put it in
bags for each camper. They also talk to campers and parents about any medications. Each
camper receives a team color, cabin assignment, bus assignment for the Theme Park trip,
and their name button-which is worn all week. Once check-in is finished, campers can take
their mound of supplies to their cabin and get a bed. Counselors will not permit someone
to enter a cabin without a name button-and you get that button when you register!
After check-in, camp starts in the outdoor amphitheater with the camp directors. Staff members are introduced. The assembly is dismissed to their cabins, where they meet cabin counselors and review rules for the camp, including the dress code. After that, we gather for lunch at the Mess Hall. It is customary for senior campers to lead songs while waiting for the Mess Hall to open. Oh, and you don't get any meal unless everyone sings for the cooks-it's mandatory! One of our young men leads the prayer before each meal, then we eat. It's all home-style cooked food--good stuff. After the meal, the directors announce the afternoon schedule and anything else that's needed, and everyone goes back to their cabins to prepare for an afternoon of games. For the next several hours, we play volleyball, softball/kickball, canoeing, Lip Synch preparation. We get some free time before supper. Then we have supper, some more free time, and we end the day with some event-either a Staff Talentless Show or a campfire. Then it's off to the cabins for some time together before bed. Most cabins have a brief devotional period before lights out. Older campers get a few more minutes before lights out. Cabins go dark from about 11:00 - 11:30pm. Monday afternoon is pretty similar to every afternoon at camp: team games, shower/free time, supper, free time, an event, cabin time, lights out.
Because we are in a public park, each night our watchman patrols the grounds until early morning, before he turns in for a little sleep.
Tuesday and Wednesday
Tuesday is the first whole day at camp. Tuesday and Wednesday have the same basic
schedule: the only real difference is the night event. Camp staff are the first up: they
have about 45 minutes, beginning at 6:00am, to shower and prepare for the day. Campers are
up next. Most of the staff gathers at 7:00am for the daily briefing. This is where we
cover last minute schedule changes, camp issues, and such. The whole camp gathers around
the flagpole about 7:30am. "Flagpole" is a 10-15 minute period where the speaker
gives a devotional, motivational, or patriotic talk. Speakers change each day, but we
always reserve one morning for the Cabin 10 boys (age 17-18).
After flagpole, we have breakfast then morning events are announced. Campers go back to their cabins for 15 minutes to clean up: we judge cabins each morning. The best boy's and girl's cabin receives the "Golden Dustpan" awards for the day. The worst cabins get to clean the restrooms that day. Real fun. When the bell rings, we start the morning rotation.
Morning rotation goes by age groups (Group 1,2,or 3). No matter which group you're in, you do these three activities: Sports, Bible Study, Crafts. The Bible class speaker is different each day 'cause we wear them out-the speaker does three classes in a row. The craft activity varies each day. Some years the craft takes multiple days to complete, so it will be picked up again the next day. The sports activity is different each day, but one of the favorites is the Water Balloon Launch. After morning rotation, campers have a few minutes of free time. As campers begin to gather near the Mess Hall, they often start singing songs as they wait to enter the hall. Teams take turn helping the kitchen to set the tables and clean up after each meal. After lunch and announcements, campers have a few minutes before the afternoon rotation starts.
The afternoon rotation is just like Monday's rotation: volleyball, baseball/kickball, Lip Synch practice, team time, Canoeing Practice. Canoe races are Wednesday afternoon. Each hour, the teams pair up and run the canoe course. Team members show us what they learned the previous two days of practice. Each team is timed. As one pair of campers runs the course, the next pair gets in as the other hop out. This continues until all pairs have paddled the course. It's a very exciting event to watch, as campers get excited watching their teammates.
Campers have free time/shower time before supper. After supper, they have more free time before the evening activity. Tuesday night is our mid-week Bible study and singing. We usually invite an outside speaker. The young men at camp lead the songs for about 30 minutes before the lesson. Wednesday night is the Camp Talent Show. This is a chance for campers to demonstrate those talents we don't get to see on the field. Campers give thunderous applause to each act, encouraging their fellow campers. After the activity is over, it's back to the cabins for some cabin time and a brief devotional before bed. Bedtime is around 11:15pm most nights.
Thursday: Team Day
Thursday starts like other mornings: staff meeting, flagpole, breakfast and cabin
clean-up. But the similarity ends there. While cleaning cabins, teams put on their Team
Day shirts. Each team has a unique color. After breakfast, the whole camp assembles for
Bible study. We then start the Team Day events: team spirits overflows as teams rotate
among events every 30 minutes. The events challenge the teams in unique (and sometimes
wacky) ways. One event may require you to have a cup of water on your head; the next one
gets you to remove marbles from a pool-with your toes; another one strains your brain with
trivia questions! It's all in fun!
Once team events are completed, it's time for lunch. While we eat, the sports director lays out the ultimate test of the week: the Obstacle course. Each year, it's a new masterpiece of odd, wild, and crazy things that teams must do together to turn in the lowest time. About the only thing that's constant each year is the water slide. You can't run an obstacle course and stay dry! Teams take their turn at the course, while other teams watch and cheer them on. Afterward, teams head for the showers to remove the "course remnants" from them. Once the event is finished, it's free time until supper.
Thursday night is the Lip Synch competition-the culmination of camp. Each team shows their stuff, using their mouths, gestures, and props to sell their song to the judges, who are often former campers themselves. Once the event is over, younger campers return to cabins for cabin time, while the oldest campers stay to discuss their preparation for college. College is a time when all too many young people abandon their faith, so we encourage them to think about their faith as they make plans for their future-whatever it might be. Then, it's time for all lights to be off. We need the sleep-tomorrow is the Six Flags trip!
Friday: Trip Day
Man, what a day! Counselors are up at 4:30am, campers at 5:00am. We get a quick breakfast,
go back to the cabins to put on our Six Flags shirts, get pillows or blankets for the
trip, then wait for the buses to arrive. Each camper is already assigned to a bus. When
the buses arrive, campers load up on their assigned bus. Counselors take attendance and
return whatever money each camper deposited in the camp bank. We're rolling!
We arrive at Six Flags-St. Louis about 11am. As campers exit the bus, they receive their admission ticket and meal pass. We have a catered lunch from 1-2pm; campers must show up for attendance before they leave for the park again. Campers must stay in groups through the day: adults who find a single camper make them tag along until they find a group again. At 6:30pm we gather at the fountain entrance. It's so cool to see 200 people singing songs as they stand in line (by bus). Once everyone is present, we go outside for the annual group picture, then it's back on the buses for the trip home. Campers get a drink and snack as they board. We arrive back at Shakamak about 11:00pm.
After arriving, campers can either attend the campfire, go watch the pillow fight competition, or go to sleep in their cabins. The grounds begin to close up as the oldest campers wind down at the campfire about 1:30am. For staff, that's a 21 hour day. We're shot, but the campers are more wired than ever.
Saturday
We start a little later, to make up for sleep deprivation. After our final flagpole and a
quick breakfast, campers go back to cabins and start packing their items on the bunks. At
the bell, teams gather to clean their assigned area. We have to leave the grounds clean
for the next group! Items are loaded on the trucks and trailers, floors swept and trails
prettied up. Trash is hauled from the Craft and Rec Halls to the dumpsters. A lot to do in
a short time! As cleaning is finished, campers have one last time to hang out before the
Awards ceremony starts near noon.
Awards in the amphitheater bring the camp to a close. Teams learn their final placing, and the all-camp awards are given. The ceremony always concludes with the last-year campers getting their chance to come down, say a few final words, and sing a final song. This camp is now history.
Conclusion
Camp is a mix of the changing and constant. Each year, some old and new
campers spend their week doing pretty much the same things-at the same place-each summer.
It's a special week that leaves fond memories for a lifetime.