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!

Annual Pastors' Fish Fry

Each year, to finish out the Minister's Conference schedule, the pastors meet at the camp for a fish fry.  New Hope Baptist, who had been up to the camp the day before for a church picnic, left their nifty fish-frying grill to use, which was very handy!

We had a good turnout and great food.  

Followed by some great preaching by Rev. Troy Garner. 

A couple of the guys headed down to the pond to do a little fishing, but before they trekked out, we remembered to grab a group shot.  Good looking bunch, right?

New Hope Baptist Fellowship

We were excited to have the group from New Hope Baptist up to the camp for a fish fry.  They brought a pretty big group up with them . . . almost fifty folks!

One of their members had a tremendous grill contraption -- one that just made it's way onto the camp's wish list!

Three burners fitted with a three-tank aluminum fry well . . . one for fish, one for fries, and one for hush puppies!  

They also tried (and some of them found) their luck down at the ponds!

They had a great time and we'll look for them to visit again soon.

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!

Mable Hill Seniors

The weather was simply perfect for the senior group who came up to picnic at the Camp on Tuesday. They ventured all the way out from Mable Hill Baptist in Ardmore, Alabama, and were ready for an afternoon of fun, fishing and food!

When they got there, the power was off at the pavilion -- the stars had aligned and we were able to get workers, an electrician and the utility company to all be there on the same day for some work to be done -- but that didn't daunt our Mable Hill group!  They were such troopers!  Someone exclaimed that they didn't need any electricity -- the sun was bright enough to give them the light they needed. They sure were right!

After lunch, they headed off down to the pond to enjoy the 'pond breezes' and to put out some fishing poles. They were a fun group to have around and we hope they'll visit us again soon!

Alert Cadets

We hosted the Alabama 3rd Alpha Alert Cadets this past weekend.  This is their third annual Camp MACOBA camp out and we were very pleased to see them!

The guys set up camp in the area behind the pavilion . . . 

And along with some archery skills practice:

They also did some brush hauling to help clean up around the property.  

 

We really appreciate their hard work!

The group had a great weekend and we look forward to hosting them again next year (if we can't get them here in the fall)!

Two Eagle Projects Completed!

The Camp has been the beneficiary of several Boy Scouts working on Eagle Scout projects this year.  The first project finish was one that's been near and dear to the heart of the camp -- taking the Nature Trail and adding tree/plant identification markers:

and over twenty birdhouses:

to the trail to make it of educational benefit.  The scout, Ethan Canup, has worked diligently for a year, working with a several different people to get this project completed and we're so excited!  We are very thankful for Ethan and Troop 8 for all the hard work and effort that went into getting the project finished.

The second project was completed by Neil Hudson from Troop 7004.  Neil chose a project that benefited the obstacle course.  Most folks when they come up don't even see the course, so Neil organized the building and installation of a large sign at the obstacle course entrance. Neil's troop came out to help him get the sign in the ground:

They did a great job!

So, two Eagle Projects are finished and several more are in the works!  We're so blessed to have the support from the Boy Scout community in Madison County!

Whitesburg RAs

The camp had the pleasure of hosting Whitesburg's annual Royal Ambassador Spring Father/ Son Cookout. Generally it's a overnight camp out, but the weather was not cooperating and so they settled for an evening of food, "capture the flag" and fun!

A pretty good sized group gathered for this shot after dinner was served. Then it was craft time . . .

And then the boys had a rousing game of capture the flag up in the big field. We were sure glad they were able to get in some time before wet weather dampened their fun!  Of course, with a leadership like the Whitesburg RAs have, fun is bound to happen!  We look forward to seeing them again in the fall -- along with Whitesburg's Missions Pastor, Rev. John Crocker, a terrific camp supporter!

Flint River Baptist Community Group

Even though we'd had a little rain overnight and on Friday morning, and the temps were going to dip down into the 40's on Saturday night, that didn't stop the Community Group and their families (and some youth, too) from Flint River from heading to the camp!  

They arrived right around 4:00 and immediately there were tents going up, folks headed down to the ponds with fishing poles, and some *serious* cooking going on!

Y'all . . . that really was *serious* cooking.

I think it may have been the first time there's been a shrimp boil up here. Isn't that gorgeous?? We were so tickled to be invited over for dinner and then Bill, the group's coordinator, also asked if we'd speak a little bit about the camp and about our ministry.  We were delighted!

There was a good sized group that was there for dinner and then it whittled down a little to the serious campers.

And campfire lovers! We have it on good authority that a significant number of the adults spent the entire night around the campfire . . . who needs a tent??

It was the perfect weekend for camping in the elements and suffice it to say, they had a great time. We hope the camp made some new friends!

Trail Life Troop 1613 & American Heritage Girls 3110

This past weekend we enjoyed the company from not one, but two groups!  The first was the Trail Life Troop 1613 that meets out at Southside Baptist Church. The guys arrived late Friday afternoon -- just in time to see the end of the warm temps we'd been enjoying all week and to get in some 'polar' camping!  In fact, it was so chilly Saturday morning, it took a while for folks to start stirring.  It was too cold to abandon those warm sleeping bags!

Along with the guys from Trail Life, we also had Troop 3110 from American Heritage Girls who also meet at Southside. 

A lot of the families are involved with both groups, so the guys graciously allowed the girls to piggyback on their reservation.  The guys just stayed the one night, but the girls were working on a badge that required a two-night stay.  Their leader told us that since there was ice on the ground Saturday morning, she'd also be looking for a polar camping badge for the girls to earn!

Friday evening there was some friendly girls vs. the boys camp cooking competition. Each group fixed a dinner and then had judges decide which was best (1) tasting, (2) looking, and (3) most original!  Not quite sure who the winner was, but both groups did an outstanding job of serving up camp grub!

Saturday the groups enjoyed a variety of activities including hiking the trails and some archery instruction.  While they were hiking down near the creek, one of the girls spotted a 'critter' on the ground, so of course they wanted to bring it back to show us . . .

A fuzzy, little tricolored (maybe?) bat . . . whom they named "Cheeseball".  The cold was probably a bit too much for him and he ended up on the ground.  By the time the girls brought him back up to the campground, he'd warmed up a bit and wanted to get moving.  They let him go on an appropriate (?) tree.

The girls also performed a service project and repainted all the electric boxes in the campground.  

They're now a very bright orange and highly visible!  We really appreciate the girls taking care of this.

Despite the cooler temps and a little frozen precipitation on Friday night, both groups had a wonderful time.  We hope they'll make another trip out, and soon!