Family Fun Day

This group really enjoys coming out and utilizing the woods and trails for an epic air soft rifle battle!

It's a great way to spend a sunny Saturday. They had a relatively small group (which included the new youth pastor from Whitesburg, Tyler Holland) this time compared to their December visit . . .

They had close to thirty participating in this outing in the latter part of December!  It's a great group and they really have a blast (no pun intended)!

See ya' next time, guys!

Jackson Way Missions Supper Club

We had the pleasure of hosting the Missions Supper Club from Jackson Way Baptist on Tuesday night.  This group meets monthly at various restaurants depending on what country they're discussing in their group.  For example, if they're discussing missions in Mexico, they eat Mexican.  If they're discussing missions in China, they eat Chinese. And when they were discussing camp missions, they called Camp MACOBA to see if they could meet out there.

Of course we said yes!

The evening started with games . . .

Marshmallow games to be specific!

Then a typical camp dinner of grilled hot dogs and chips.

After dinner, we shared with them a powerpoint program on the Camp.  It was nice to be able to share with them about the camp and upcoming events that are planned, like the cabins.  We hope they'll go back to their church and share with others and we'll see more Jackson Way faces!

New Market Baptist -- SS Fellowship

Sometimes, when a particular group visits often enough, they start to feel like family.  That's certainly the case with the group we had on Saturday night -- Mrs. Sarah's Sunday school class from New Market Baptist.  They've been using the camp for their class fellowships two-three times a year since we came to the camp six years ago!

This go 'round the group was smaller than usual, but still enough for a rousing game of scrabble!

And after dinner, Sarah treated us to her review of Sunday School materials from the last quarter. 

Truthfully, this is one of our favorite parts of their get-togethers -- always a lot of fun, spirited competition!  They're already on the schedule for fall -- we can't wait!

Group Family Camping

Ottis came up here a few weeks ago with another group (a Father-Son camp out) and enjoyed it so much, he decided he wanted to come back with the whole family. As a matter of fact he put together the outing and it became a church event for the Madison campus of Willowbrook. 

I would say it was an unusual weekend for April but what is normal for weather around here anymore? It came quite a downpour the night before their event and then came a 30 degree temperature drop. The high on Thursday was around 83 and Friday it was 53 with a frost warning for Saturday morning! 

Ottis brought his RV so I am sure they were quite comfy and a few other families braved it out as well. 

There looked to be about 20 in all at the peak of things, though not everyone stayed overnight. They had a night scavenger hunt which I am sure was a hoot and then a game of kickball the next day.

This was a great group of folks that really seemed to enjoy themselves. Before leaving, Ottis donated three items to our game collection which we appreciate so much. I asked if he had noticed a group of raccoons that tend to wander through the campground on a regular basis and he said no, but indicated that there was a huge rat that made a dash across the pavilion. They mentioned something about another trip in the Fall...personally I think that would be a great idea ! :)

CrossPointe Church - Father Son Overnighter

It's always a pleasure when we have the opportunity to host new groups up at the camp, and that's what happened this weekend.  On Friday and Saturday we had a Father/Son group from Cross Pointe Church.  Their organizer, Amy, had come up to the camp for a tour several weeks prior, and then had brought some of the leaders back with her for a second walk through -- just so everyone knew what to expect.  

The guys got up here around 4ish and got their tents all set up in the main campground.  They may have been newcomers to the camp, but they were certainly not new to camping.  Those tents look solid!

And it's a good thing -- a bit of rain moved in later that evening -- definitely want a secure tent when the rain starts falling!

Amy had planned their activities down to the core and had left them with a great schedule to keep track of things . . .

The rain may have dampened the schedule, but it sure didn't dampen their spirits!  They had a lot of fun stuff planned, including some group time up under the pavilion.

And then that night we heard lots of happy voices and shrieks of laughter.  They had headed up to the large field for a huge game of flashlight tag.  The leaders had asked us earlier how dark it got up here -- they were happy with our answer -- completely dark!

We hope to see them back again -- they were a fabulous and fun group!

Does the "Ringer" Make a Difference?!

The last time Miss Sara's Sunday School class from New Market Baptist Church met up here (and they meet up here regularly, every six months or so), someone commented that they should picnic up here more frequently.  We were all for that idea and very pleased when they decided to have a fellowship up here in August.

The day was a bit rainy and grey, but that sure didn't dampen their spirits.  They laughed, ate, and played games . . . including a bit of a "challenge" game Miss Sara came up with.  It was all questions from their Sunday School lessons over the past few months!  They split into teams and were just about halfway through when a "ringer" wandered over to the pavilion to participate.  The "ringer" (and I won't mention any names here) sat in with one side for a handful of questions, then to be fair, moved to the other side for a handful of questions.  There was lots of good-natured bantering going back and forth!

I believe the next outing will be their fall "around the fireplace" potluck.  We'll be looking forward to their exceptional company!

Day Camp in the Dog Days of Summer

The weather was oh-so-warm on Friday, but that didn't stop the children from Grace Summer Camp (of Grace Lutheran Church) from having a good time!  

When we caught up with them early in the afternoon, they had finished having lunch at the pavilion and were spread out in the upper field, enjoying a rowdy game of kick-ball!

While most of the kids played, some of the younger children hung out in the shade.  

Along with them was the bus and its driver, Richard.  

Richard and Todd got to talking and we found out that Richard drives a tour bus and has taken trips all over the country . . . one of which lasted forty days!

The game was close and the competition was fierce.  

An in-field error allowed this kicker to bring in all four runners and tag home himself, and that won the game.  

There was a fair mixture of cheers and good-natured ribbing as the kids came back towards the bus for a much needed water break.

It was a fun group of kids and they seemed to enjoy having a safe space to roam and play.  

We hope to see them back!

Dual Duty Weekend

A weekend of Scouts.  You never know what the weather is going to do in the month of December but for this past weekend it was not too bad for our guests. 

When a lady from Pack 391 filled out the camp reservation form I noticed under event she listed it as "Winter Freeze Campout".  After asking a few questions I discovered that one of the badges the scouts needed to earn was camping when the temperature dips below freezing. 

Now while the official temperature never quite got that low, one of the dads assured me it was definitely that cold on top of the hill where they were camping.

Usually the scout groups have a good time when they come and once darkness fell there were some night games in the new camp ground area Cedar Top Campground, which is located at the top of the paved hill.  Chris Wilson, who is one of the leaders from pack 357, asked if the boys kept us up at night. I said no and that we actually enjoy hearing them running around and having a good time outdoors.  If things go too late we just turn on our giant fan which pretty much drowns out all the noise. 

Scout groups always come prepared with pack 391 bringing their own firewood and even setting up a screen to watch the SEC Championship game. 

The two groups overlapped their time up here a bit as one stayed Friday night and the other staying Saturday night so for awhile on Saturday everyone was here.  I spent some time with both groups, though not as much as I would have liked, and met some great folks. 

I remember standing around the campfire and asking one of the men about this giant rock about the size of a bowling ball hanging from a rope suspended by three sticks that looked like a miniture teepee set up.  Oh that's our weather rock he told me.  I said oh really so how does it work?  He told me that if it's swinging--it is windy, if it's wet--it is rainy, if it can't be seen-- it is foggy, and if it's covered with ice-- pretty cold.  Hmmm ... I thought to myself ... if the wind is able to move that rock too much, our campers in the tents are in trouble! 

We are always so glad to have the scouts at the camp and when they have packed up and gone they do such a fine job it is hard to tell they were even here.