Youth retreat, Part 1 - The schedule

So, as promised, here's my post on the youth retreat this past weekend.  Camp was fun. Everyone should go next year.  Actually, there will probably be a couple of posts. One just to summarize the weekend and then one or two more to discuss a few things in more detail.

Okay.  First of all, Echo Ranch Bible Camp is really one of the most beautiful places in the whole world. Seriously. It's about 30 miles from downtown Juneau and a 3-mile hike from "the end of the road." Even on the rainiest of Southeast Alaska days, it doesn't get much better than Echo Ranch.  And this weekend wasn't rainy at all! It was a gorgeous weekend with temperatures in the low 80's, so I hear (and believe).  So, the stage was set with beautiful weather in an amazing location.

Friday afternoon, we hiked out (it was high tide, so probably closer to 3 1/2 miles). Once we hit camp, we went straight to dinner, then briefly to our cabins before chapel. Now, for those of you who know him, our speaker for the weekend was Jon-Michael Gwinnell. As he is fond of saying about himself, "In the body of Christ, I'm the adrenal gland." He's pretty high energy, and the kids love him.  After chapel, we had some time in our youth groups (in our case, me, Hunter and Andrew), then off to the bonfire! 

Saturday was packed pretty full, as well. I hadn't slept super well, so I got up 6:30'ish, got ready, grabbed some hot tea and wandered around camp until breakfast time. I love wandering around at Echo Ranch. No matter how chaotic life is, hanging out there in the quiet definitely calms me down. After breakfast, we headed to chapel and then back to church groups for more small group time. Then, the games began! I'm a little fuzzy on when exactly everything happened, but I'm pretty sure it was Capture the Mitt, lunch, Pirates v. Ninjas, and then... free time! 

The boys wanted to play pool, so I decided to do some quiet time. Then I watched them play carpet ball, then we played cards (Presidents, of course),  and then Andrew convinced Hunter to go tubing! We headed down to the beach and the boys got in the tube. Did I mention it was a gorgeous day?

All was fine and dandy, until SPLOOSH! They hit the water. Everyone was okay, though very wet (and Andrew's toe is a little purple). 

After free time, dinner, then (if I remember correctly) dodge ball, 

chapel, time with our cabin groups, bonfire #1 (at sunset)

Mission: Impossible, bonfire #2 and then bed!!

And then there was Sunday. Breakfast, chapel, pack-up, then lunch! We had make-your-own pizzas for lunch. The boys decided to be creative (sorry, it's upside down... there's one right-side-up here).

 After stuffing ourselves silly with pizza (the three of us tried to eat that whole thing and failed miserably), it was time to hike back around Echo Cove and head home. All in all, it was a beautiful, fun, sweet weekend of enjoying God's creation and hanging out with his people! :)