CBM Kids Connect Camp

Being an Archaeologist for a Day

Kids Connect camp looked a little different this year with a change of location and a change of format. After 13 years of using the local scout camp for a weekend, we found ourselves in the position of having to choose between no camp at all or a day camp format. As Kids Connect 2022 was cancelled due to Covid, we were eager to hold the camp again, so we chose to run a day camp using the Elevate facilities in Onehunga.

We were grateful to the Elevate team for their support and willingness to help make the day such a success. It was a blessing to use such lovely amenities!

This was our second year of providing experience for a group of students from Kingsway Christian School. A small group of students, plus two teachers, joined us for the day. These students were buddied with children who have disabilities, being a friend to them and helping out with activities throughout the day. For the buddies, this is part of their missions experience. It opens their eyes and fosters an empathy for children and young people living with a disability.

Our camp theme was “Diggin’ It” and many of our activities were theme based. For part of the day, the children became junior archaeologists, exploring the grounds of Elevate for treasure, making fossils and creating their own creatures from discovered ‘bones’. As usual, a highlight of the camp was seeing all of the creative costumes that followed the camp theme. We had many archaeologists, some gardeners and one girl even wore her self-designed t-shirt of a dog “diggin’ it”! We loved how the leaders and buddies enthusiastically joined in wearing fun costumes. It really built an atmosphere of fun for the children.

As well as all the fun activities, Biblical teaching was woven into the day, encouraging the children to dig into God’s Word and discover the treasures found there.

The children all went home with a wide array of activities and artwork that they had completed during the day. We were even able to bless each child with an archaeology kit to take home as a further activity.

We could not run Kids Connect without all of the volunteers. A huge thank you goes to all the leaders, buddies, kitchen staff and all those who worked behind the scenes setting up equipment. All the preparation and hard work is rewarded by seeing happy children leaving at the end of the day, with new friendships formed and many hugs and smiles.

Written by Lyn Anderson

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Lyn is a staff member of Children’s Bible Ministries (CBM). Her husband, John, is a longtime volunteer at the Elevate Drop-in Centre, following a brain hemorrhage 23 years ago.

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