Week 1 - Stephen

​Week one of Wildheart is the time where all the campers are getting dropped off and the counselors are starting to get our feet wet as to what camp is actually like. The rush of learning all the camper’s names and finding out a bit about them while they are trying to learn a crashing river of information is absolutely crazy! After the first day, which is the campers getting used to the rules and finding out exactly what they are going to be doing, we rush out to the campsites and start the week of base camp. I got to get to know my campers a bit more and see their strengths and weaknesses, which is really helpful to try and build the team as not only a team and a unit, but also to see how I can help them as individuals. Throughout the week, the campers get to learn a variety of skills such as learning knots, building fires, how to campcraft items from tripods to tables, using a compass and map, and getting used to cooking over a campfire. This first week is also filled with fun activities like an obstacle course, games, some free time, and competition with the other team. The high point of the week, though, is the chapel and getting to have time to impact the campers in a spiritual way. Conversing with them and seeking to make a spiritual impact can be both exciting and also gave me a chance to see where they stood spiritually. This week is crazy and gave me a chance to learn how to teach campers and help them grow in outdoors skills and seek to impact their lives spiritually and physically.