Sports Camp

Sports Camp may have been the most highly anticipated event on Travis' summer schedule.  He has been excited about it since last year, and the enthusiasm never waned.  Last year he was on Team 45, for the 4 and 5-year olds (they work on sports skills like jump roping, throwing, kicking, etc.), and this year he got to pick a sport.  He declared that soccer would be his choice and that has not changed either.  So this past week it was finally time for Sports Camp.  It's three hours in the evening, from 5-8 pm, and I worked on the snack team so we had to be there early.  So all week it was an early snack/dinner and then out the door.  It's good that Alaina is so young and can sleep anywhere because the toddlers were nearly beside themselves with exhaustion by the end of the week.  Justin did okay because when he gets tired he's a cuddly tired, not a cranky tired.  All his coaches loved that!

The theme this year was Olympics, Beyond the Gold.  The verse was 1 Corin. 9: 24-25, which Travis learned before the week even started because he wanted to be sure to get a pin like he did last year (which he still wears at least once a month, along with his wrist band.)  Each day they have a theme word, like teamwork or respect, and they tell a sports story to focus on that theme.  Then they tell a Bible story that also emphasizes the word of the day.  The kids bring home a pamphlet with games and highlights from the story along with review questions that needs to be returned the next day to go in a drawing to win sports gear (jump ropes, soccer balls, and the all-important wrist bands.)

Here we are in our t-shirts.  You can see the boys pins on their shirts.  Justin conned one of the coaches into giving him a pin the first day too, even though he hadn't learned the verse.  Team 45 learned hand motions for the verse, which Justin did very well.

The evening started out with some high-energy singing.  The kids all loved this part.  It didn't take long for them to learn the songs and the motions to go along with them.  They are mostly songs written specifically to go along with the program.  Here's Justin's group:

And Travis' group:

(This was crazy hair and sock day, thus the crazy outfits)

We had a little over 100 kids in the program (our church's VBS).  Plus about 40 volunteers and the college kids who travel around doing these camps all summer.

On Friday the kids who are in individual sports play a game of campers vs. coaches.  The parents are invited to watch.  Travis almost scored here!  (The campers won only because it was like 25 on 6.)

I told you the kids were tired by Friday.  Travis spent a lot of time on the ground.  Plus it was really hot!

Randy was able to come and watch the game.  And Alaina slept.  We didn't get home until close to 9 pm every night and by Wednesday morning my kids slept in to the late hour of 7:30!  It was bliss!

Team 45 performed their memory verse and an adorable song about Noah.  Justin was so good!  It was a long song and he did a great job.  He was very proud of himself.

This is Justin tooting on his horn.  This might be my favorite part!  He really got into it!

And Team 45 all got medals for being a part of the program.  Justin's smiles sometimes confuse me.  He really was happy!

Travis won a soccer ball the last day.  Actually, another soccer player won the ball, and gave it to Travis because he saw how much he wanted it.  It was really nice of his friend to share with him.

Sports Camp was an amazing success and both boys and pumped for next year.  Justin will spent another year in Team 45 and Travis is all ready for another go at soccer.  It's a really fun twist on VBS and it's great that it gets the kids moving.  And the boys slept in until after 7 am until Monday morning.  I love Sports Camp just for that!