Retreats, Lock-ins, and Camputs
Sixth grade begins the year with a one day retreat to a nearby pond and park area. They spend the day playing on different water rides and praying and learning about how God is working in their lives as they are growing up.
Seventh grade spends the night under the stars and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows at the bonfire. They play their favorite game "Underground Church" and tell ghost stories before falling asleep. (The chaperones won't forget the instructions for putting up tents and listening to the sounds of all the giggles.)
The eighth grade spends special times at New Life Bible Camp for two days in the fall. They ride on horseback, shoot rifles, go down a zip line and fly down a makeshift waterslide. They study about pulling together for the Lord, sing praise songs around a bonfire and have a wonderful time smearing each other with shaving cream. (Our newly-wed chaperones had an incident where Mr.A. lost his wedding band in the field during the shaving cream fight. Many students spent time walking, searching and praying for help in finding the lost ring. Around dusk we heard loud shreeks and shrills, and we all joined in the excitement of finding the lost ring. Just as the hymn "Amazing Grace" says, "I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see," this brought us to realization that the grace of God is always with us know matter how lost we ourselves feel among the "weeds" of the world.)