Mother Buzzard & Christian Wrestling

If you want advice about how to run a top-notch junior high summer camp, I now know who you should call. The guys hosting Breakaway camp thought of everything and went to great lengths to make their camp an experience kids would never forget. Here are some bullet points.

Cool Stuff They Thought Of:
Golf carts were rented for all staff so everyone was mobile. Walkie Talkies complete with "secret service" earpieces were rented for all staff so everyone was connected. They spent a day and a half before kids arrived blacking out all of the windows of the dining hall with tarps and duct tape so as to create the optimal environment for their programs. Normal concessions were set up during free time and an hour at night. Plus catering was offered by both Marble Slab and Braum's. The Iceberg is awesome. They rented one for the lake. They had 6 Nintendo Wii's and other indoor games set up during freetime with tons of games...great option in the Texas heat! There is such a thing as the Christian Wrestling Federation. They brought them in and one of the camp's skit characters was incorporated into the wrestling drama producing an unforgettable camp moment. Junior high talent shows are amazing...especially when they are well-produced as an American Idol parody.

Professional Personnel They Hired:
Chris Turner is a really good worship leader and a really great guy. I'm going to look for an opportunity to utilize his gifts at a Watermark event. Lucas Kitchen offers a great service when it comes to producing camp videos & devotionals. Clint Reiber can produce a great program. Technically flawless with lots of bells & whistles. Another church's high school group were brought in for the week just to focus on the morning recreation. They were over-the-top excellent ("Mother Buzzard" might be the most fun game ever).

Overall, I had a fantastic week and would definitely join them again if given the chance. I connected with tons of kids and had lots of good conversations...especially about community and evangelism. Hope you like the picture accompanying this post. My wife only took 3 during the entire time that we were there and I picked the one with my shirt off. Lucky you.