BOOF!

It happened!  It might have been a more abbreviated game, but we had one round of Boof during activity time.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Boof is a special kind of tag.  In it, campers run around and Boofers try to tag them with a sock full of flour.  Once a camper is tagged, they must freeze and wait for a Medic to arrive.  The Medic will ask them to perform a task.  Once the camper has done this, they will be unfrozen.  You can get tagged twice before you're out.

This year, everyone on the field had to be careful, Boofers and Boofees alike.  It was soggy out there, sneakers only.

Amongst the Boofers: a bat, a sunflower, a T-Rex, and a wolf.  And the medics had many creative ways to "unfreeze" people who had been tagged: high-fives to all the adults and push-ups, to name just a few.

As in past years, we had a pep band cheering on the players.  The mood was festive and the sky was sunny and blue.

Everyone had a great time.  If canteen hadn't been the next activity, I think everyone would have played a second round.

Hang Time

While every day we have F.O.B.B.Y. (Flat On Your Back By Yourself) time, camp is busy and can be loud.  There are instruments playing, kids singing, and activities that make you hot and tired.  Sometimes it's nice to take a little extra "me time."  And that's why God make the hammock, and we hung them between two trees.  It's nice to relax, recharge, and read a book.

Lost and Found Fashion Show

Well, it's the last full day of camp, and the lost and found is FULL.  Our solution here at EYMC, a Lost and Found Fashion Show.  We had two fabulous models this year, counselors Riley and Jessica.  After a few trips down the catwalk (the aisle between the two rows of tables in the Dining Hall), most everything had been claimed.  Hopefully, by tomorrow afternoon, all the stuff the campers came with, will be all the stuff they leave with.  Fingers crossed.

Recorder Roundup

This year, beginning recorder learned how to play Take Me Out to the Ball Game.  It was hard because it uses all the notes including an F# and a G#.  The hardest part of recorder, is that sometimes our fingers are a bit too little to cover all the holes.  However, we practiced all the hard parts over and over.  By the end, we could play half of the song.  From low C, to high D.

Making Grapes into Sacred Wine

During LT Boundary Breakers (an LT activity), we all said something we wanted to smash.  I said berries and throughout the week it became a joke that we would do it.  Eventually, it became more than a joke.  I asked for permission and supplies.  On Thursday, my dream came true and we got to smash berries.  It was a blast and the joke will be used at the Eucharist.  (Lauren Dudley)

After Lauren and the rest of LT smashed their berries.  I ran across Cheryl in the kitchen and I asked, "How are you going to make it into wine?"  I assumed there was some special formula, as she was boiling it on the stove.  Instead, Cheryl said, "Use my finger."  Of course.  (Sarah Babbitt)

Star Struck - Walking on Water

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage!  It is I.  Don't be afraid. -Matthew 14:27

Morning Prayer

God, help us be courageous in how we love.
Help us take risks because even if we mess up, you will still be there.
If fear holds us back, help us remember that Jesus will hold us up.
Help us keep faith, knowing that Jesus will not let us fall in the water.

(by Cabin 7, Nina, Molly, Priscilla, Margaret)

BSB at Camp!

For those of another generation, BSB is the Backstreet Boys.  And they made an appearance at skit night (BSB aka Sr Girlz).

And the EMYC BSB performing "I Want It Christ's Way":

He is my fire
My one desire
Believe me when I say
I want it Christ's way

But we are two worlds apart
You are in my heart
When you say
I want it Christ's way

Tell me why
He helps me through my heartaches
Tell me why
He loves me and my mistakes
Tell me why
I always want to hear you say
I want it Christ's way

We are your fire
Your one desire
Yes, it's never too late to say
I want it Christ's way

Tell me why
He helps me through my heartaches
Tell me why
He loves me and my mistakes
Tell me why
I always want to hear you say
I want it Christ's way

It was a hit!  The LT fans in the front row went crazy!!! They had signs and screams.  Reaching onto the stage as the band sang.

By the end, the entire crowd was singing and dancing.  OMG.  It was soooo awesome.

Let the Stormy Clouds Chase - Quieting the Storm

Day 5

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet!  Be Still!"  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  -Mark 4:39

Storms continue here, but the earth was replenished and renewed by a steady drizzle thought the day.

Rain doesn't stop EYMC!  However, we did move all outdoor activities inside and shuffled locations.  

Since the dinner theme was "stormy weather," everyone was well equipped for the light and heavy rain and no one minded the misty drizzle that came in between.  All had their rain coats, ponchos, umbrellas and Wellies.  And everyone was both fashionable and dry.

The one disappointment of the day was we had to cancel Boof, because the field was too soggy, but we anticipate tomorrow's sun will dry up all the rain and Boof with be back on.

With Boof cancelled we tried a new activity, the first annual EYMC fashion show.  In the same groups as photo scavenger hunt.  Groups used found items to create costumes for their "models."  They only had 20 minutes to put together their outfits together.  Silly was the look of the evening.  And it was also all about the runway walk.  There were many colorful and creative costumes.  It was fantastic.

I asked if outfits could be found off the rack, but they weren't on the rack in the first place.  Everyone had to return their items where they found them.

By evening it was wet, but calm.  The storm was over.

EYMC's Love Affair with Homonyms

This week, we are obsessed with homonyms here at camp:

hom·o·nym

/ˈhäməˌnim,ˈhōməˌnim/

noun

plural noun: homonyms

each of two or more words having the same spelling but different meanings and origins (e.g., pole1and pole2); a homograph.


Why you may ask? Because it is a theme in this year’s bedtime story Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin.


The story is told from Rose’s point of view and she is obsessed with homonyms. She loves that her own name is a homonym, and she purposely gave her dog, Rain, a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose’s rules of homonyms, is very special. Not

everyone understands Rose's obsessions, her rules, and the other things that make her different – not her teachers, not other kids, and not her single father.

When a storm hits their rural town, rivers overflow, the roads are flooded, and Rain goes missing. Rose's father shouldn't have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search. (Amazon)

This is all to prepare you from what will become, I am sure, one of the all-time classic camp skits.

Starring Kusi, Keelan, Kellan, and Luke (6th, 7th, and 8th grade boys), as well as counselors Wayne and Charles

Welcome to EYMC School. Your teachers are Wayne and Charles. The first lesson: Vocabulary.

“Can each of you name something that begins with A?”

“Apple.”

“Ape.”

“And.”

“Isle.”

“That doesn’t start with an A.”

“Yes, it does. A-I-S-L-E. Aisle. I thought you guys were teachers.”

“OK. OK. Let’s try another letter. Q.”

“Queen.”

“Quilter.”

“Quarter.”

“Cat.”

“Cat doesn’t start with a C.”

“Quat, the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea. Are you qualified for this job? Where’s your license?”

“I left it in my other pants. Let try one more. F.”

“Fan.”

“Fly.”

“Feign.”

“Excellent, feign. To pretend to be affected by.”

“No, foehn, a warm breeze from a different terrain. You’re fired.”


Scene.

"Rainbows are Shining" - the Flood Ends

 Tuesday was "the Flood Ends."  Our motto was "Rainbows are Shining."

Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. - Genesis 9:16

Cabin 4 took this theme to heart for skit night and reminded all of us of our "rainbow connection."  We were visited by a cabin-ful of Kermits singing "The Rainbow Connection."  It turned into a giant sing-a-long.

Thanks, Elsa, Eva, Ambry, Cecilia, Sara, Kate, and Rachel (Annie and Juli, too).

Skit Roundup

Cabin 5 - presented us with the "Cabin 5 Game Show."  Contestants are paired off and are challenged.  Challenge one, while hiding behind your partner, feed them applesauce.  Challenge two, brush their teeth.  Challenge three, put on lipstick.  And the audience decides the winners with their cheers and applause.  The winners?  In the end, they're all winners, with lipstick all over their faces.

Cabin 3 - brought us a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.  Let's just say, I don't think those guys would survive the real thing.

Cabin 12 - took us to boot camp.  Their were some interesting recruits, including two wild and crazy guys.  And despite their lack of preparedness for battle, Bernie is leading the charge, and they'll all have free and affordable health care.

The little ones brought us a shark attack.  And cabin 11 taught us how to do a back flip.  Don't try it at home.