March 2010

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March 5th - Fire and a Movie

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Basically we drag a big screen outside, place a firepit a safe distance from the screen, surround that will chairs, offer s'mores and call it an event.

It was awesome. We had over 30 youth show up and watched "Holes" and played capture the flag. We had fun. :)

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March 12th - Basic Wilderness Skills Clinic

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For any youth that had not been camping, climbing, caving, or hiking before we offered a basic skills class. This covered how to set up a tent, tie knots, dig a cat hole and various other tricks of the trade.

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March 15th - 17th - Spring Break Camping

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This was a fabulous trip. Half of the youth attending had been the year before and loved reexploring the sights and reminiscing. They were able to help the other half who were new to the experience to have fun. On arrival to the first trail head, our trusty bus (Joan of AH) unexpectadly died. Since we had arrived, I sent off the gang, and kept Mitch with me to deal with whatever problems we might have to deal with with the bus. I learned that the trick was to keep power on the engine at all times. When the RPMs drop, the engine would die. Needless to say, Mitch and I drove the bus around to the other trail head and hiked in . . . and had a blast.

We were a little concerned about it raining on us, but by the middle of the first night the stars became very radiant. However it got cold. Luckly a wise parent advised us to bring hand warmers to throw into our sleeping bags. They worked for the most part, however most of the guys and all the girls found themselves cramming their sleeping bags around the fire. Side note: I am very proud of our guys. To be gentlemen they took turns staying up and stoking the fire to keep the AHYEAH ladies warm. Good job men.

On the second day, hiking out was challenging but fun. We got to the bus and headed to HCR (Horseshoe Canyon Ranch). After meeting our rock instructor, Harvey, we spent the rest of the evening rock climbing.

The second night was honestly not as bad, but still rather chilly. Early the next morning we got up, ate, and wrapped up camp. As the year before, we hiked into Eden Falls Cave and explored everything.

The drive home was a challenge with the quirky bus, but after refueling at Buffalo Wild Wings we pressed on and all arrived safely back at the church.

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March 19th - 21sth - Spring Break Camping 2

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So many youth signed up for camping that we had to take 2 trips! Where last year we had to scratch to get 10 to go, this year 20 jumped on board.

We headed out with a newly fixed bus (glory to God) with our new crew and fresh leaders. We arrived effortlessly and dropped off the crew at the first trailhead. The hiking was a little newer for them, but they emerged champions. Jacqui and I were able to teach them from scratch the way we had done last march with the first trip. Chopping wood, pumping water, digging catholes, staying dry, and stoking fires were all very new. We had fun.

Somewhere in the middle of the hike out of the next day, my cell phone caught reception and it blew up with text messages, missed calls, and incoming calls. We were fast alerted that we might get some rather tough weather (snow, ice, wind, not fun camping or driving weather). When we arrived at HCR, our climbing instructor had left to get out ahead of the storm. He had left a voicemail with me which I didn't recieve till 20 hours after the fact.

So a decision had to be made. Skip to exploring the caves and grab a hotel for the night and return tomorrow, or return right away and take them indoor rock climbing tommorow in Tulsa. I left the decision up to them and they voted to get home. It would be an understatement to say that driving home was a challenge. We had sleet and snow and rain and snow on top of rain and wind and whatever else you could throw in there. Once again, we stopped for dinner to go at Buffalo Wild Wings and made it home safe. It was a trip none of us will forget.

The following day we took almost everyone to New Heights Rock Gym in Tulsa and got our rock climbing fix. :)

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March 22nd - Wayne Kerr Concert

Wayne Kerr (Terri's brother) is a stinking talented musician who was passing through on a unique tour. We was recording his doing worship from dozens of churches of different nationalities, cities, and denominations and was then going to overlay them together as 'One Voice' worshiping God. He did an excellent job and the Holy Spirit came and was powerful.