A WEEK IN THE LIFE OF A CAMPER
Elise
Allen, now a student at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, has spent many summers
camping and working at Castle Rock. She
has agreed to share her perspective on what happens during a typical week at
camp.
The ministry of Castle Rock
Baptist Camp has changed many lives over the years, young and old alike. Many
people have been influenced in many different areas of their lives – socially,
physically, and most importantly, spiritually. Castle Rock has been a place
where the youth of the west (Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, as well as other states)
have been able to go for a week of their summer and just escape the influence
of the world. It is a week of spiritual renewal, where teenagers can totally
focus on knowing God, understanding Him better, and glorifying Him without
other distracting influences. The week is filled with physical challenges,
social interaction with other Christian young people, and time spent in the
Word of God.
Monday is supposedly the day to settle in! One would think that the first day would just be to get to know everyone and get a feel for the week ahead. When you first arrive, there is a little bit of time for that, but not much. First of all, campers get registered and assigned to a cabin. The girl campers drag all four or five of their suitcases and bags up to the cabin, and the guys throw their duffel bag and pillow over their shoulder and head down to find the cabin. Now it is time to get settled into what will be home for the next six days! After the bed is made and the suitcases are unpacked, there is a short time for a bit of mingling. Before long, the bell will ring and everyone lines up to head into the Allen Lodge to eat a scrumptious meal of spaghetti and meatballs. After everyone is full to the brim of spaghetti, bread, and salad, there is time to head back to the cabin to change and get ready for the evening chapel service. The next bell signals that it is time to head to the chapel. The evening service is filled with singing of praise to God, and sometimes there is special music by campers that have a desire to glorify God in that way. The evangelist will then preach the Word, giving the campers their "spiritual food" for the night. Through the Holy Spirit, decisions are made in campers' hearts, whether they act upon that decision or not. After the service is over, the famous "Snak Shak" is opened and campers can buy candy and soda for snacks. The campers then head up to upper level of the Allen Lodge, where they are divided into teams that will compete against each other all week in various activities. Many fun and exciting games are played, and Mr. Bies, the camp's activities director, always has a new game to try. Games like "House of Fire", "East Coast, West Coast", as well as the ever- friendly game of "Rejection", have been favorites for years. The evening is filled The evening is filled with exciting activities, but the time soon comes for campers to head back to the cabins, get ready for bed, and end the day with a "spiritual bed time snack" of cabin devotions. With the sound of the Gallatin River flowing by, the campers need to get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day!
Tuesday starts off bright and early, as campers wake up, get ready for the day, and head to the flag pole to begin the morning with some calisthenics and flag raising. An opportunity for personal time in the Word and in prayer is given after that. It is a time to spend alone with God. Often campers will choose a spot outside, where they can just look around and see the beauty of God's creation and praise Him for how awesome He truly is. When the bell rings, it is time to line up in four different lines, according to team, and then according to gender. The activities for whole week are centered around a point system. Each team tries to gain points at every opportunity, such as winning games, lining up first, and memorizing verses, which is a vital part of the week.. After lining up, and points are awarded, it is time for another great meal in the Allen Lodge. Everybody’s favorite part of camp, cabin cleanup, comes next! Each cabin is required to clean their cabin from top to bottom. However, it is a competition, and each cabin is judged. The campers all pitch in to clean the cabins every morning, doing everything they can, from bribes to poems, to come out on top! The next bell that rings signals it is time for the morning chapel. This is a time for praising God through some singing, and a challenge is given usually from a pastor or missionary. What follows is a very serious time – the morning activity time! Mr. Bies always has an exciting game ready for the campers to play. After everyone is worn out, lunch is next on the agenda. During lunch, all of the campers are getting so pumped for what is coming up. For some it will be a new experience; for others, it will not be so new but definitely not any less exciting! Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are the days for whitewater rafting and paintball wars. They are two days filled with excitement – something that you will never forget. Most campers come back very wet or bruised, depending on the activity. However, the average wet or bruised camper usually has a big smile on his or her face. After all, they just had the time of their life! There is a little bit of time to clean up before supper, and then to get ready for the evening service. After another time of bringing glory to God's name, and another message from the Word, the Snak Shak is opened again. The evening activity is sure to be filled with excitement! Soon it is time for cabin devotions, and then time for bed. By that time, everybody is ready for some rest!
Wednesday is very similar to Tuesday. Here is a quick recap – Wake up; flag raising; devotions; breakfas; cabin clean-up; chapel; activity; lunch; rafting; paintball; clean-up; supper; evening service; snak shak; activity; cabin devotions; bedtime. Thursday is strangely similar also. If you haven't noticed, everything at this camp is done very fast-paced, but it is also done very orderly. Thursdays are different though, in that the afternoon activity is not rafting/paintball. Usually the afternoon activity on Thursday has something to do with a shooting competition. Being a Montana girl who loves anything to do with hunting and shooting guns, this is a fun activity! The afternoon is filled with competition in accuracy and skill. Shooters of all skill levels enjoy competing, and often the girls hold their own against the guys, if I do say so myself! The evening ends after another day of enjoyment and praise to God.
On Friday, the campers realize that it is the last full day of camp. However, this day is filled with everybody's favorite activities, including "suicide soccer" for the morning activity. Suicide soccer is the activity that is saved for Friday, because it is the most physically active of all the games. Unfortunately, this is the game where campers and counselors alike most often get hurt. This exciting game is a cross between football, soccer, and rugby. Basically, there are not really any rules, which therefore constitutes in very rough playing. The guys and the girls are split up, so the girls have no chance of being killed by the guys, but the game is still very fun. After playing for a few hours, considering the popularity of the game, lunch is served, and then all the campers and counselors prepare to go on the annual hike. A different hiking trail is picked every year, and the hike is a great opportunity to marvel at God's awesome creation. When you reach the top of the mountain and are able to look out and see the grandeur and beauty of the mountains, you just cannot help but be in awe of God, and you just want to glorify Him. After the day’s activities, supper, and the evening chapel service are done, it is time for the Friday night bonfire. In the eleven years I have been going to Castle Rock, I have heard countless people express that this is the best time of the whole week. Campers and counselors alike share how God worked in their lives throughout the week. Some share how God used a certain chapel message to speak to them, and how the Holy Spirit worked through that message to show them what needed to change in their lives. Others have shared with the whole camp how they received Christ as their Savior that week. It is a time of sharing with fellow believers, but it is also a time of bringing glory to God for how He worked throughout the week.
Saturday is the day for departing. Campers wake up and are required to do their part in cleaning up the campgrounds. It is a morning of packing things up and getting ready for the next week of camp. Many sad goodbyes are said to new friends, and arrangements are made to keep in touch. Campers reflect back over the activities of the week. Until next year, it was the best camp ever!
Written by Elise Marie Allen, 2005
Monday is supposedly the day to settle in! One would think that the first day would just be to get to know everyone and get a feel for the week ahead. When you first arrive, there is a little bit of time for that, but not much. First of all, campers get registered and assigned to a cabin. The girl campers drag all four or five of their suitcases and bags up to the cabin, and the guys throw their duffel bag and pillow over their shoulder and head down to find the cabin. Now it is time to get settled into what will be home for the next six days! After the bed is made and the suitcases are unpacked, there is a short time for a bit of mingling. Before long, the bell will ring and everyone lines up to head into the Allen Lodge to eat a scrumptious meal of spaghetti and meatballs. After everyone is full to the brim of spaghetti, bread, and salad, there is time to head back to the cabin to change and get ready for the evening chapel service. The next bell signals that it is time to head to the chapel. The evening service is filled with singing of praise to God, and sometimes there is special music by campers that have a desire to glorify God in that way. The evangelist will then preach the Word, giving the campers their "spiritual food" for the night. Through the Holy Spirit, decisions are made in campers' hearts, whether they act upon that decision or not. After the service is over, the famous "Snak Shak" is opened and campers can buy candy and soda for snacks. The campers then head up to upper level of the Allen Lodge, where they are divided into teams that will compete against each other all week in various activities. Many fun and exciting games are played, and Mr. Bies, the camp's activities director, always has a new game to try. Games like "House of Fire", "East Coast, West Coast", as well as the ever- friendly game of "Rejection", have been favorites for years. The evening is filled The evening is filled with exciting activities, but the time soon comes for campers to head back to the cabins, get ready for bed, and end the day with a "spiritual bed time snack" of cabin devotions. With the sound of the Gallatin River flowing by, the campers need to get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day!
Tuesday starts off bright and early, as campers wake up, get ready for the day, and head to the flag pole to begin the morning with some calisthenics and flag raising. An opportunity for personal time in the Word and in prayer is given after that. It is a time to spend alone with God. Often campers will choose a spot outside, where they can just look around and see the beauty of God's creation and praise Him for how awesome He truly is. When the bell rings, it is time to line up in four different lines, according to team, and then according to gender. The activities for whole week are centered around a point system. Each team tries to gain points at every opportunity, such as winning games, lining up first, and memorizing verses, which is a vital part of the week.. After lining up, and points are awarded, it is time for another great meal in the Allen Lodge. Everybody’s favorite part of camp, cabin cleanup, comes next! Each cabin is required to clean their cabin from top to bottom. However, it is a competition, and each cabin is judged. The campers all pitch in to clean the cabins every morning, doing everything they can, from bribes to poems, to come out on top! The next bell that rings signals it is time for the morning chapel. This is a time for praising God through some singing, and a challenge is given usually from a pastor or missionary. What follows is a very serious time – the morning activity time! Mr. Bies always has an exciting game ready for the campers to play. After everyone is worn out, lunch is next on the agenda. During lunch, all of the campers are getting so pumped for what is coming up. For some it will be a new experience; for others, it will not be so new but definitely not any less exciting! Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons are the days for whitewater rafting and paintball wars. They are two days filled with excitement – something that you will never forget. Most campers come back very wet or bruised, depending on the activity. However, the average wet or bruised camper usually has a big smile on his or her face. After all, they just had the time of their life! There is a little bit of time to clean up before supper, and then to get ready for the evening service. After another time of bringing glory to God's name, and another message from the Word, the Snak Shak is opened again. The evening activity is sure to be filled with excitement! Soon it is time for cabin devotions, and then time for bed. By that time, everybody is ready for some rest!
Wednesday is very similar to Tuesday. Here is a quick recap – Wake up; flag raising; devotions; breakfas; cabin clean-up; chapel; activity; lunch; rafting; paintball; clean-up; supper; evening service; snak shak; activity; cabin devotions; bedtime. Thursday is strangely similar also. If you haven't noticed, everything at this camp is done very fast-paced, but it is also done very orderly. Thursdays are different though, in that the afternoon activity is not rafting/paintball. Usually the afternoon activity on Thursday has something to do with a shooting competition. Being a Montana girl who loves anything to do with hunting and shooting guns, this is a fun activity! The afternoon is filled with competition in accuracy and skill. Shooters of all skill levels enjoy competing, and often the girls hold their own against the guys, if I do say so myself! The evening ends after another day of enjoyment and praise to God.
On Friday, the campers realize that it is the last full day of camp. However, this day is filled with everybody's favorite activities, including "suicide soccer" for the morning activity. Suicide soccer is the activity that is saved for Friday, because it is the most physically active of all the games. Unfortunately, this is the game where campers and counselors alike most often get hurt. This exciting game is a cross between football, soccer, and rugby. Basically, there are not really any rules, which therefore constitutes in very rough playing. The guys and the girls are split up, so the girls have no chance of being killed by the guys, but the game is still very fun. After playing for a few hours, considering the popularity of the game, lunch is served, and then all the campers and counselors prepare to go on the annual hike. A different hiking trail is picked every year, and the hike is a great opportunity to marvel at God's awesome creation. When you reach the top of the mountain and are able to look out and see the grandeur and beauty of the mountains, you just cannot help but be in awe of God, and you just want to glorify Him. After the day’s activities, supper, and the evening chapel service are done, it is time for the Friday night bonfire. In the eleven years I have been going to Castle Rock, I have heard countless people express that this is the best time of the whole week. Campers and counselors alike share how God worked in their lives throughout the week. Some share how God used a certain chapel message to speak to them, and how the Holy Spirit worked through that message to show them what needed to change in their lives. Others have shared with the whole camp how they received Christ as their Savior that week. It is a time of sharing with fellow believers, but it is also a time of bringing glory to God for how He worked throughout the week.
Saturday is the day for departing. Campers wake up and are required to do their part in cleaning up the campgrounds. It is a morning of packing things up and getting ready for the next week of camp. Many sad goodbyes are said to new friends, and arrangements are made to keep in touch. Campers reflect back over the activities of the week. Until next year, it was the best camp ever!
Written by Elise Marie Allen, 2005
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