GrandCamp At Felsennest 2007

Molly Hoyle

Truly, as Buck has said, this was one of the highlights of our lives!! Invitations were sent out in June (after getting go-ahead from all parents) to our six older grandchildren, ages 8 ½ to nearly 15, from three different states. Our version of GrandCamp was held in our own home here in Colorado.

God has blessed us with beautiful property, and the kids love to play on our huge mushroom rocks. In fact, when there was any “free time” (a rare event), they all wanted to play Cowboys and Indians! We had matching t-shirts made for all of us (and for our 3-year-old twin grandchildren who joined us for a couple of events with their mom and dad.) The t-shirts had our Felsennest logo on them, along with the verse the Lord gave us when we first prayed for guidance for GrandCamp: Dt 26:10a-11 (paraphrased) Worship the Lord and “celebrate all the good things God, your God, has given you and your family”.

Individual daily Scripture memory was required (verses were put on small cards for them to carry with them). The “qualifying verses” (Eph 6:10-18a) were assigned two weeks ahead of GrandCamp. On the evening that they arrived, they each recited the Armor of God for us. (We were so proud of them!!) We told them that they were to be planning a skit (or several), based on GrandCamp themes (training, perseverance, freedom, etc) to perform for our last night. Since they were all to sleep downstairs, we said they couldn’t come upstairs before 7:00 am. any morning (to give us a little breathing room).

At breakfast they were given the Scripture memory verse and the team challenges for that day. For team challenges we divided them into two teams of three each. The following chores had to be done in pairs before leaving for events: 1) empty dishwasher & help in kitchen 2) make lunches (older girls) 3) water plants outside. Most daily rewards for challenges and Scripture memory were picked up at the Dollar Store. The television and computer games were never used! Meals were very simple, and partially prepared and frozen ahead of time. Each day they checked off their accomplishments on a chart on the refrigerator.

EVENING ARRIVAL

Qualifying Verses: Eph 6:10-18a Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray…

(The younger three were allowed to start this passage at verse 13)

Reward: 5 gold dollar pieces (you choose your own reward system!!)

FIRST DAY

Verse: 1 Tim4:7b-8a Train yourself to be godly, for physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.

Team Challenges:

1. Each team to identify 5 different kinds of birds that come to our deck

2. What does “Felsennest” mean? (German dictionaries allowed) & why is our home named this? (God, who provided us with this “refuge on the rocks”, is our mighty Rock of Refuge, and , our grandkids added, “the wise man built his house on the rock”)

Event 1: Olympic Training Center tour, followed by picnic at Prospect Lake

Service Project: Walk for Life (2 ¼ miles at Prospect Lake)

Reward: “Life Rocks” bottle from LifeNetwork

Event 2: Swimming at Wilson Ranch Pool for four GrandCampers; older two girls chose to make cookies and go to the Library.

GrandCamp group pictures taken before dinner in our GrandCamp t-shirts.

Theme Dinner (Global): Italian with decorations

SECOND DAY

Verse: 1 Cor 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Event 1: Hike Rainbow Gulch Trail (Boulders to climb on, gorgeous wildflowers, stream & reservoir)

Team Challenges:

1. Identify at least 5 different kinds of wildflowers on the hike (each team had a flower book to use).

2. What is Granddaddy’s main hobby?

Event 2: Visit Working Cattle Ranch

Service Project (planned, but no time to do it): Outside work at home

Dinner and Show: Flying W Ranch

Reward: Deck of cards

THIRD DAY

Verse: Hebrews 12:1c-2a Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Event 1: Horseback riding at our neighbors

Service Project: Shoveling manure and picking up debris for these dear friends

Team challenges:

1. Find something in our home that depicts “The Mount of the Holy Cross” and what is the significance of where it is located?

2. Where did Granddaddy & Mimi meet?

Event 2: Visit Air Force Academy

Reward: Umbrella for girls--used immediately in torrential storm; tape measures for boys

Event 3: Worship God at church

Theme Dinner (Neighbors): Mexican with decorations (in pajamas for pajama party—the kids idea for this rainy night)

FOURTH (LAST) DAY

Verse: Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Team challenges:

1.Find something in our home that depicts a legacy that is being passed down to all of you.

2. Find 5 more verses regarding training, goals, perseverance, crowns, rewards, freedom.

Event 1: Cog train to top of Pikes Peak (America the Beautiful)--picnic in park, swimming.

Service Project: None; Sunday is the Lord’s Day—a day of rest.

Event 2: Relay race in teams (with Granddaddy joining 1 team & Mimi the other), passing baton

Theme Dinner (Celebration): American; Freedom decorations (freedom in Christ & freedom as a country)

GrandCampers skits! Sharing time—the 5 related verses each team found and the highlights of GrandCamp.

Rewards: A paper crown; a baton for each grandchild with his/her name and Hebrews 12:1c-2a engraved on it; and a generous financial gift as a symbol that God’s eternal rewards are far greater than all His blessings on earth.

Early morning departure next day.

The day after GrandCamp in my Scripture reading from The Message, the Lord gave me these verses, where David is bursting with gratitude to the Lord—as are we! (I’ve used the plural):

2 Sam 7:18ff Who are we, my Master God, and what is our family, that You have brought us to this place in life? But that’s nothing compared to what’s coming… You’ve done all this, not because of who we are, but because of who You are—out of your very heart!...You (are) so great, Master God! There is none like You, no God but You...

And now, Master God …please, just one more thing: Bless our family; keep Your eye on them always…Oh, may Your blessing be on our family permanently.