Camp 3 has arrived!

Camp 3 is here with all kinds of sweet energy! These youth are way too much fun and every time we talk to them is a joy! Here's a bit how their first 36 hours have gone!

Once everyone was here and registered and settled in their cabins we had dinner and an opening Eucharist! It was so fun to start singing together again!

Afterwards we got to meet our family groups and then played a small game of capture the flag in the field. It was so good to run around and move everybody to get the week started!

This morning we woke up and after a little breakfast and cabin cleaning, we had chapel where we talked about how God is illuminated for us in nature. The counselors had a pretty funny skit about the creation story and then we went on a nature walk to see and express all the things outside we're thankful for (we might have snuck around to get this sweet picture of the Quesadilla group on their walk!) Finally we expressed our thankfulness on a stone which we then put on the stone altar. It was a really beautiful morning!

Next we went swimming and played some kickball before heading to lunch! 

Once we had a little lunch and siesta in us we went on an adventure to hike to Green's View in Sewanee. It is a beautiful trail that leads to an even better view!

We then spent a little time in Abbo's Alley playing in the creek and gazebo before we headed back to camp!

Everyone was thrilled to have taco bar for dinner tonight which fueled us well for Cabin Olympics tonight! Cabin 5L came away with the overall win but with games like our own version of the Belmont Stakes, a raisin race, water balloon toss, 4-legged race and ultimate ships and sailors are there actually winners and losers? I don't think so!

Everyone is safe and snug in their beds so we will be rested for another big day tomorrow! Don't forget to stay tuned to the Instagram and Twitter accounts for live action updates throughout the days!

The end of Camp 2!

I know it's a little late, but I figured everyone wanted to see these awesome pictures from camp 2 anyways! So here's what happened Thursday and Friday of Camp 2!

Morning chapel was spent talking about the ways that God is illuminated in other people- both in their gifts and the ways that we amplify those gifts in each other.We finished our time by washing each other's feet and serving each other in the manner that Christ said is the full extent of his love.

In the afternoon we continued this attitude as we went to St. Mary's to serve our community by helping them in their garden as well as tending to the lavender fields. We weeded, gardened and then gathered the lavender that was taken to Thistle Farms in Nashville to be used in their products!

Thursday evening was spent in the ever-so-famous CGM Coffee House (no real coffee was served in the making of this production.) All of our youth were able to share their talents with us with everything from drama to singing, piano and more!

Friday morning we woke up and after the daily breakfast and cleaning time, we went to chapel to talk about the light that shines in each of us. Often times it can be hard to see that light in each of us and it was also fun to have our friends help point out that light. We played a very fun game called "Holy One" where each camper has a candle and the counselors (mean ole things!) are trying to blow them out. Don't worry, we played outside as to not risk any buildings! 

Finally the afternoon brought a fan favorite- going to the Res at St. Andrews Sewanee! We can jump from the rock- literally taking a big leap of faith- hang out on the dock, swim around and have tons of fun!

 
Of course at night we had our closing Eucharist, banquet, dance and bonfire. Thank you Father Terry for celebrating a beautiful service!

Thank you to our Camp 2 families and youth for letting us have these amazing youth for a week! We had so much fun with them and they are all so full of light! It was a joy to watch them shine!

Camp 3 is here so we shall be posting about them soon!

Camp 1 is in the house (or cabins?)

Camp 1 has arrived friends! They came with a whole lot of energy and ready to roll. It was a great day of getting to know each other in our cabins, taking the swim test, lasagna and then we had a beautiful Eucharist with our Priest for the week-Kira Schlesinger!

Then we spent a little time in our family groups before we started a big ole game of capture the flag!

We are so excited for our first full day of camp 1 today!

Camp 3: Friday- The last big day!

Well we are so surprised that today was our last full day at CGM! Where did the month go?

Our last day was perfect- from a breakfast of french toast all the way to closing the carnival with Country Roads, today couldn't have been written any better!

After a delicious breakfast of french toast and bacon, we cleaned our cabins- the final Golden Dustpan going to Cabin 5L today! Congrats girls!

Chapel was different than usual this morning as we went off campus to Abbo's Alley in Sewanee! We talked about Jesus walking on water- how Peter went with him and doubted so he fell, but Jesus was there to pick him up. Sometimes it's easy to come down from the mountain and plunge to a low, so we challenged our campers to continue to search for their living water. We loved being outside by the water with a little quiet time to pray and reflect- and then time to play and be crazy!

We got back in time to play everyone's favorite- magic tambourine! The campers had been begging to play, we just hadn't had time, so we made sure it fit today! 

When we got back we had the last lunch- grilled cheese and chili!- and our last mail call! Our campers love getting love from off the mountain!

In the afternoon we went to small groups and planted seeds in our buckets to be a reminder of CGM everyday. Everyday if you put just a little bit of water in your bucket you will make a sunflower grow and how beautiful will that be! 

We then went into afternoon activites- first cleaning and preparing for tonight, and then the slip and slide and pool! It was such a fun afternoon full of water- both living and spiritual!

Tonight was our closing banquet, Eucharist and carnival! We got to say good bye to one of our favorite kitchen lovelies, Ms. Rena, as this was her last meal with us. We love you and we are so grateful for the years and years of scrumptious meals! Then we had Eucharist- which I would love to share pictures of, but it was so energetic and full of the Holy Spirit that none of us stopped to take a picture. It was the most beautiful service we have ever seen and we are so grateful that each parent sent their child to create that Holy space!

Finally we had the carnival, the big party to close out the month! We had peg the counselor (with water balloons), best in the west, a candy walk, photobooth, face painting and 2 guest appearances from the balloon man and Park the park ranger- with his critters! We had an absolute blast hanging out with these campers, they are too cool for words!