Camp Report: Junior High 1 - June 9-14
First Week of Camp - 2024!
Tammy Duvanel Unruh and Peter Buller
June 15, 2024
June 9-14 marked the first week of camp at Camp Mennoscah for the summer of 2024. There were 28 Junior Highers (Grades 8-9) at Camp for the first of two weeks for this age group. Program directors for the week were Addie and Jeff Kauffman, who have been directing Jr. High camps for three years, and Greg Shelly-Unruh, who has 12 years of directing this week under his belt. Luke Unruh, pastor at First Mennonite Church in Newton, KS, led the input for the week.
Peter Buller, Camp photographer and Facebook poster extreme is a second year summer staffer and a long time Camp Mennoscah attender and supporter. Peter said it was a good first week of camp - doubtless a good start to the summer.(If you haven't done so, be sure to take at look at the Camp Mennoscah Facebook page to see some of the many, many photos that have been posted for this week and will be posted for the following weeks as the summer unfolds.)
According to the campers, highlights of the week were many. Sophia, a camper from Hutchinson, said, “I had a great time. I met new people and got reacquainted with an old friend. There was lots to do.”
Kip, from Arlington KS, mentioned that he had a good week and especially enjoyed the ever “increasing refereeing” and rules added by Luke to traditional camp activities like four-square.
Hadleigh from Newton said she had a “great week” and really enjoyed carpet ball, and Isaac, also from Newton said “Persecution” - an interactive game involving role-playing, was a good activity during the week.
And Then There was a Twist!!
The last day of camp always comes with surprises. Maybe you are in friendship bracelet debt and have only a few hours to show all your friends how much you care. Or maybe in the middle of recreation a sever thunderstorm forces everyone to the Retreat Center which is undergoing renovations. You put down blankets, make a Madlib, tell jokes, have worship, read a story, and finish the night with campfire and a ride to cabins in Olivia's camp van (a special highlight for some). What a way to end the first week of camp!
The week of June 16-19 will be the first Pre-Junior Camp of the summer, followed by First Camp, June 19-21. Watch this space for more camp reports!
