Camp ZIon 2019 Week 5

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Hello Camp Zion Families,
Bug week was a busy one around camp. Everyone seemed to have a good time with all of our activities especially on our trip to the museum. I love that place.

During this weeks Bible lessons we focused on Psalm 23:4 which says, “He (God) renews my strength”. Just like when we do a lot of physical activity and become tired sometimes the burdens we carry make our hearts and minds tired. When we are feeling weary in spirit God encourages us to turn to him in prayer and He will give us rest from our worries. God is here and available to talk to anytime of day in any circumstance.

I want to give a shout out to Kim, Luke, Olivia, Julia and Mackenzie who in a moments notice took over running all aspects of camp for a couple of days this past week, when I had to leave for a family emergency. Their training and natural leadership skills shined through in bright new ways this week. I am so incredibly proud of them. They are all super heros!!!

Here is what’s happening next week:

Week 5 – Transportation Week
Monday – Soccer Zone.
Tuesday – Movie Day & Slip-n-slide. Bring swimsuits and towels.
Wednesday – Learning Lab.
Thursday – 1st-3rd Grade = Play World. Bring Socks.  4th-6th Grade = Grandville Middle School Pool. Bring swimsuits and towels.

Have a great weekend,
Rachel

Camp Zion Week 4

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Hello Camp Zion Families,
I hope you are all enjoying your holiday weekend. Week 3 was a short one for Camp Zion but still packed full of fun activities, lessons and fieldtrips.

Donations: We are in need of Dixie cups, fast fill water balloons and empty peanut butter jars with lids. If you are able to donate any of these items, we would greatly appreciate it. I have a donation box in the lobby that you can place them in.

Here is what is coming up next week.

Week 4 – Bug Week.
Monday – Maplewood Park & Splashpad. Bring swimsuit and towels.
Tuesday – Kids Unlimited. Dress cool.
Wednesday – Learning Lab
Thursday – Grand Rapids Public Museum. Wear blue Camp Zion shirts.

See you all next week,
Rachel

Camp Zion Week 3

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Hello Camp Zion Families,
Week 2 was a lot of fun at Camp Zion. I was very impressed with everyone’s skating skills and perseverance when we went ice skating on Thursday. I saw many moments of friends helping and encouraging each other on the ice. It was beautiful to see.

Our lessons on Psalm 23 began this week. We started with Psalm 23:1a which says “The Lord is my shepherd.” A really good shepherd knows all of the sheep in his flock. He would recognize right away if one went missing. One missing sheep is a huge loss to a shepherd and there is much celebrating when a lost sheep is found.

Just as a shepherd recognizes his sheep, God recognizes each one of us as his own. He comes searching for us and there is a great celebration in heaven when one of us reconnects with God and makes the decision to believe in Him. No matter where you are, no matter what you are doing, no matter your circumstances or worries, God is always with you. He is ready and waiting to have a relationship with you.

Donations:
Several families have asked if we have any needs at camp. I will have a bin available in the lobby if you would like to donate any of the following items.

Dixie cups.
Fast fill water balloons
Empty peanut butter jars and lids (any size)

 

Week 3 – The 5-senses Week.
Monday: Putt-Putt Golf.
Tuesday: Learning Lab
Wednesday: Visser YMCA Pool. Bring swimsuit and towel. If your child uses and owns a life vest send that along as well.
Thursday: CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY

See you all on Monday.
Rachel

Camp Zion Week 2

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Hello Camp Zion Families,
We had a great time together this past week.  You and your children have been so kind and gracious as we are getting back into the rhythm of our camp routine and as we are trying to remember everyones names (kids and adults).  We appreciate your patience so much.

Our staff members have commented multiple times on how well the entire group is doing at listening during lessons, correcting behaviors as they learn the rules, participating in our activities and just overall being great kids.  We are so thankful for their hard work and good attitudes.

A few reminders:

  • Parents you need your parent ticket at pick up time. If you hate keeping track of the sticker take a quick picture of at at drop off.  That way it is on your phone, which you always have with you.  🙂
  • Please DO NOT send money along with your kids to camp.  They do not need it. Zion covers the cost of all of our adventures. A few of our field trip locations do have snack bars but not everyone is able to afford such things, so in order to keep it fair for everyone I will provide treats if I think it’s necessary.
  • There are plenty of parking spaces around the back side of the building. Please leave the handicap parking spaces open for our Camp Zion families who genuinely need them and have a handicap parking pass.

Here is what’s coming up next week. Remember, all of our outdoor activities are weather permitting.

Week 2 – Weather Week
Monday:  Field Day.  Bring swimsuits and towels.
Tuesday:  Learning Lab
Wednesday:  Movie Day & Slip-n-slide. Bring swimsuit & towel.
Thursday: Georgetown Ice Center.  Bring sweatshirt, long pants & socks.

Have a great weekend.

Camp Zion 2019 Week 1

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Hello Camp Zion Families,
It was wonderful to see so many of you at the Camp Zion open house this week. All of our staff members are excited to spend the next 7 weeks with your kids. I can tell we are going to have an amazing summer together.

Camp Zion begins next week Monday, June 17th. Door A will open at 9:30am. Parents please come in with your child to sign them in. Place their name tag on their back and collect your parent ticket before you leave.

Each week I’ll be sending you a parent email just like this one. The email will include some announcements, a bit of what we talked about during our lesson time, and a schedule of what is to come the following week. There may also be some notes if your child needs to bring anything special along with them on a certain day. Obviously some of our fieldtrips are weather permitting and we may have to rearrange our plans in the case of rain. I will do my best to let you know in advance if I have to make a change.

Here is what’s coming up next week…

Week 1 (June 17-20) Dino Week

  • Monday: Bowling. Wear tennis shoes & socks (no sandals)
  • Tuesday: Wedgewood Park
  • Wednesday: Learning Lab @ Zion
  • Thursday: Tarry Hall Roller Skating.  Bring socks.

I also recommend that your child bring along a water bottle each day. This will cut down on our paper cup usage and also gives your child water to bring along on our fieldtrips. Please label the bottle clearly with their name. We’ll send bottles home on Thursdays to be washed.

If you haven’t done so already, go ahead and “like” our Camp Zion Facebook page and follow our Camp Zion Instagram. I will be posting loads of photos each day so you can see what your kids are up to at camp.

Is it Monday yet? I can’t wait for the fun to begin.
~Rachel

Waiting List

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Space at Camp Zion filled at record speed this year. Registration for CZ2019 is now closed.

If spaces do become available they will be filled first come first serve from our waitlist.  If you would like to add your child to our wait list please send your child’s registration form to our camp director at campzion@zionreformed.org .

Registration is now open for Camp Zion 2019!!!

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Registration is now open for Camp Zion 2019.

Click on following link for a copy of our registration form.  CZ Registration Form

Camp Zion is open to children from Grandville & Jenison school districts entering 1st-6th grade in the fall of 2019.  Spaces are limited and filled on a first come first serve basis. Completed registration forms can be dropped off to our church office M-Th 9am-2pm or emailed to our camp director at campzion@zionreformed.org

Camp Zion 2018 – Week 7

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Hello Camp Zion Families,

Week 6 was a favorite for all of our staff. By choosing to have a less intense schedule of events for our week with no theme, there were so many more opportunities to have lots of good one on one conversations with your kids. We love how smart, creative, funny and kind hearted they are.

During lesson time we talked about our last piece of the Armor of God – the Sword of the Spirit and also about prayer.

  • The sword of the Spirit is Gods Word, the Bible. If we want to know all we can about the One who created us and how He wants us to live, we should be reading the Bible. Everything we need to know is in there. The more we know about God and how he expects us to live our lives, the better equipped we are to fight against the evil around us.
  • Prayer is how we talk to God. What God desires to have a relationship with us. Relationships cannot be built unless the people in them are talking to each other. So we need to take the time to talk to God. He cares about everything on our hearts, big or small. We can talk to him any time of day, in any place, about anything. Even when we can’t get the words out right He understands us.

 

Here is what is coming up next week.

Week 7 – June 30-Aug 3 – Nature Week
Monday: Bowling. Wear socks & tennis shoes – NO SANDALS!
Tuesday: Learning Lab.
Wednesday: Holland Outdoor Discovery Center. Wear Camp Zion shirt, socks & tennis shoes.
Thursday: 8th Ave Beach & Park. Bring swim suits & towels. There is no lifeguard on duty at the beach. If your child is not a good swimmer please also send along a life jacket for them to wear.

 

Lunch Menu
Lunch will be served at church this week. If your child does not enjoy what is on the menu please feel free to send along a sack lunch for them to eat.

Monday: Pasta with choice of spaghetti sauce or alfredo sauce, garlic bread, fruit & vegies
Tuesday: Scrambled eggs w/ cheese and sausage, French toast sticks & fruit.
Wednesday: Hot dogs, mac & cheese, Jell-O & vegies.
Thursday: Hamburgers, chips & watermelon.

 

Other stuff:
Make sure to check the lost & found table in the lobby everyday this week. We have a small collection of items building up. Anything left behind after camp on Thursday will be donated.

Have a great weekend ~ see everyone on Monday.
Rachel

Camp Zion Week 6

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Hello Camp Zion Families,

Carnival week was so much fun. Magic, games, inflatables and so much laughter. Our staff and volunteers had so many sweet conversations with the kid-o’s this week.

This week during lesson time we talked about the Shield of Faith. The Bible says that faith in God acts as a shield against evil. Satan is a super tricky bad guy. We need a shield to protect ourselves from his sneaky evil ways. With faith, we can defend ourselves. We can face any problem because we KNOW that God is always on our side. Faith helps to hold us up under pressure. It helps us to recall times when God has helped us up in the past, and that gives us reassurance that He will do the same in the future.

Here is what is coming next week.

July 23-26 The Week with No Theme.
Monday: Camp Zion Theater
Tuesday: Maplewood Park & Splashpad. Bring swimsuits & towels.
Wednesday: Movie Day (Wonder – rated PG) & Slip-n-slide. Bring swimsuits & towels.
Thursday: Soccer Zone. Online waiver required.

If you haven’t done so already clink on the following link to complete the online waiver for Soccer Zone. Anyone without a completed waiver will not be able to go on Thursdays field trip. https://letsplaysportsinc.waiverapps.com/locations/grandrapidssoccerzone

Code of Conduct update.
I am very thankful and happy that everyone’s listening skills were much improved this week. We do still need to work some more on watching the words we use. Not only with each other, but with everyone we meet throughout the day – at lunch, on fieldtrips and with visitors who stop in at church. Kindness and respect is something I want our campers to be known for throughout the community, but that takes some work on their part to always be using actions and words that built people up & not tear people down. Some more gentle reminders from you about this would be appreciated. 🙂

I hope you all have an amazing weekend.
See you on Monday.

Rachel

Camp Zion 2018 Week 5

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Hello Camp Zion Families,
It is hard to believe we passed the half way mark of our camp season this past week. Our time together is flying by way to fast.

This week during lesson time we talked about two different pieces of the Armor of God. The Breastplate of Righteousness & the Shoes of Peace.

  • The breastplate of a soldier is what protects his heart from being hurt in battle. Our physical hearts are a great reminder of how wise and wonderful God is in creating our bodies. But we also have a different kind of heart – it’s the combination of our personality, our feelings, thoughts, hopes, and dreams that make us the special & unique people we are. Our hearts are very special to God because he thinks we are amazing. He doesn’t like our hearts to feel hurt or broken so he has given us the Breastplate of Righteousness to protect our hearts. You see God knows we are in a battle. A battle against Satan. Satan is the one who loves to cause trouble, spread lies and make us doubt Gods love. When we believe in Jesus, we can know we are right with God and that he does love us. This knowledge is the breastplate that protects our hearts. Just like a soldier will still feel the hurt of battle his heart is protected from fatal wounds so can the knowledge of Gods love protects us from Satan’s lies.
  • Shoes help us to be ready for different situations in our every day life. Are we really ready for school or work if we don’t have our shoes on? There are even special shoes for playing sports, for swimming, fishing, hiking, rain, snow, parties, the beach and so on. We are excited and motivated and prepared to do the thing our feet are ready for. God has a special pair of shoes for us to put on called the Shoes of Peace (also called the Shoes of Readiness). When we have faith in God we are ready to show & tell Gods peace and love to other people.

Here is what is coming up next week.

July 16-19 – Carnival Week.
Monday: Magic Bob & Suzie.
Tuesday: CZ Carnival.
Wednesday: Learning Lab. (Lunch served at Zion. Menu includes: Hotdogs, chips, watermelon & lemonade.)
Thursday: 1st-4th graders = Play World. bring socks.   5th-6th graders = Mystery trip. Bring swim suits & towels

Reminder about the Soccer Zone waiver that needs to be completed for our upcoming fieldtrip. Thank you to those who have already gotten this completed. For those of you who haven’t yet follow this link https://letsplaysportsinc.waiverapps.com/locations/grandrapidssoccerzone When you have completed your waiver for your child please shoot me an email and let me know it has been submitted.

Other stuff:
Please be praying for our CZ staff members Jeremy, Brad and Kim as they are leaving Sat morning on a week long mission trip with the Zion HS youth group to Philadelphia, PA. We hope they have an amazing time serving in the community there, that they have safe travels both there and back, and that they are inspired and brought closer to God through the experience.

See you all on Monday,
~ Rachel