Friday, July 17
 For the past few years I have spent my time with grade-school children at KidQuest. This is always a nice change of pace for me as I have two preschool kids at home and enjoy hanging out with a different group of kids.  However this year, I was on the preschool hall doing many different things which one day included being with the “Turtles”, twelve, darling three-year-olds. They were aptly named because they were the slowest class at camp, but adorable nonetheless. They participated in everything that the other preschoolers did from opening assembly, bible story, the Chadder Puppet Show, crafts, and snacks (of course!) to closing assembly. Just like the big kids in the classroom and going down the halls, you could hear them yell “Fear Not!” (or “Fear God!” from one of our preschoolers who hadn’t quite got it straight yet ).
 I really got to reflect on how special it is to include preschoolers at KidQuest as I spent Friday’s rest time with the “patting posse” (a group of volunteers who go and pat backs during rest time for the 3 year olds in hopes of them falling asleep).  As I patted two precious little ones in the class, they were fighting sleep as they bubbled with excitement about all the fun things they had done that week. Between rubbing their eyes and yawning, they would whisper things they had learned during the week (“God cares”, “parting of the sea”, “locusts”). Their joy and happiness was so pure.
 It is such a beautiful thing to include the preschoolers because their minds are not cluttered yet with the day-to-day stuff. We know that they don’t understand everything that is being said, but they really “get it” more than we know. Whether or not they attend church regularly, we are planting seeds to be cultivated in the future.
Looking out at the group during the final musical performance on Friday, some of the most excited singing, most enthusiastic dancing and biggest smiles came from our preschoolers. THAT is what makes all the extra attention, potty accidents and crankiness worth the work for me. In the end, our youngest kids were reflecting His light brightest of all.
And a child shall lead us…
- Jennifer Gribble (another one of our "Shepherds")
Thursday, July 16
 It’s day 4 and the exciting and equally tiring week of KidQuest (KQ) is almost over. Despite this being the fourth day, and the youth leaders having suffered through a sleep-deprived Wednesday on account of the premier of the new Harry Potter film at midnight the night before, the children and leaders alike made an astounding rebound and started the day filled with energy.
 This morning at the daily ritual known here as “Swamp Stomp,” the kids saw Skeeter once again, but were joined by a new guest—Jacques Le Croc—our mascot for the week (played convincingly by Erin Conaway).
After breaking into the various animal groups and continuing on for their daily activities, the kids had ample opportunity to use today’s catchphrase, God gives us life, to which they respond with an enthusiastic FEAR NOT!
 The school-aged children spent the day traveling between crafts, Bayou Bible Blast (a fun take on Bible Study), Dockside Drive-In (with videos featuring the adventures of Chadder the Chipmunk), Adventure Encounters (in which the children learn about fossils, foreign countries, and many other things), and the two most loved periods of snack time and recreation.
 While the school-aged children do their thing, the preschool children go to games such as duck-duck goose and lily pad hopping. They then journey on to Bible Study, crafts and the wildly popular puppet show with Freddy the Frog, Sally the Squirrel, and Wally the Dog among other animal characters. As we write this, the preschoolers are heading out for their second Splash Day, having just finished naptime.
Of all the exciting activities this week, our favorite thing is interacting and getting more comfortable with the kids! You can see a real difference from day one to day four in the playfulness and excitement of the kids.
To end our blog we would like to thank Dolores Rader (our Barbie Doll) for all her hard work to make this week possible. What would we do without her smile?
- Skyler Inman (assistant crewe leader) and Riley McGann (preschool assistant)
Wednesday, July 15
 As we approach day 3 of KidQuest (KQ), the teenagers find themselves not as bright-eyed and bushy tailed as they were this morning at 12:01 am. Yes, Harry Potter 6 has left its mark on all of those who normally wear contacts and can be found sporting their long neglected spectacles (in other words, glasses).
 Day 3 of the 5 day KQ week seems to always take a toll on its volunteers. This year, however, KQ is surprised to find no real behavioral problems, due to mixed age groups with funky swamp animal names like the Herons, Skeeters, Turtles and the Mighty Snakes (Katie’s group), to name a few. (TURTLES ROCK!!—Sarah)
Today was also the much anticipated Splash Day, when the kids (and crewe leaders…) have fun in mini inflatable swimming pools and a foam ring, where bubbles shoot out of a canon and assault the children with foaming happiness.
The kids seem to be enjoying their days greatly and already have a few favorite daily activities, such as snack, Rec and Bayou Bible Study with the wonderful and charming Ms. Noelle and Skeeter (aka John McCoy in overalls, allowing kids to yell and jump on him and assault his face with boils—one of the 10 plagues).
 GOD IS POWERFUL…FEAR NOT!
Every day, we have a new power phrase, to which to entire camp responds with a robust “Fear Not!” accompanied by a hearty air punch. God is with us—Fear Not!
 These kids are also highly successful so far in learning the songs and moves that the lovely Melissa Scott has been teaching them. The crewe leaders are slowly but surely picking up these complex combinations of acrobatics and tongue-tying lyrics.
All in all this is becoming one of the more successful KQ because of all of the great volunteers and directors. Not only can we see how much fun the kids are having, anyone can see how Crocodile Dock is also a source of joy to its volunteers.
As the kids burst with excitement, while the adults take a breather and the teens finally get some sleep, we spring into these next and final days of this year’s KQ with a mixture of jubilance and relief.
- Sarah Villaseñor and Katie Sayre (crewe leaders)
Tuesday, July 14
 Kidquest 2009, Crocodile Dock, is off to a great start as 182 critters, reptiles, swimmers, flyers and bugs have filled the South Main swamp! All the many hours of preparation by more than 150 adults and youth workers have transformed our campus into an awesome swamp full of moss covered tress, bayou cabins and fishing docks.
 All the Kidquest campers are making their way through a swamp full of fun as they learn more about God's love each day. Every morning we start our bayou adventure at "Swamp Stomp" and the gym becomes a swamp full of colorful t-shirts as the campers sing and dance with "Skeeter" (John McCoy) and the stage is set for the them of the day.
 Monday, through crafts, Bible Bayou Blast, Puppets, Recreation, Snacks, Adventure Encounters and Dockside Drive-In (an interactive video experience) we learned that "God is always with us!" FEAR NOT!
 This year a musical component has been added and on Friday night at 5:00 p.m. all the campers will present a musical synopsis of all they have learned during the week. We hope you will join us for this special culminating event. We also hope you will be in prayer throughout the week for each worker and camper of Kidquest 2009.
- Cathy Edwards (one of our "shepherds" at Kidquest)
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KidQuest 2009 Blog