Hye Camp Week 2 Day 3 - Tuesday's Daily Hye Life Blog

Hi there camp enthusiasts! We had a busy, fun filled and exciting day today at Hye Camp!

We started the day off with new and returning kids coming down to fish at 6am this morning. We had about 20 kids show up catching fish with one camper catching 5 fish!

For morning chapel Der Krikor Zakaryan gave us a beautiful chapel service.  He played Simon Says with the kids to illustrate how God is like Simon and it’s important to follow the word of God, keeping in mind that just as we follow what Simon Says similarly we should do what God tells us.  After chapel we went to breakfast for some warm pancakes, sausage, and cereal.  Our group camp picture was taken right after breakfast.  The campers will be bringing the memorable photo home on Saturday so be sure to ask them to see it.

Our morning was spent in a series of classes including Armenian History, Armenian Dance, Bible Study, and Music. Our campers had a blast learning some (as well as reviewing) dances including the Michigan Hop, Tanzara, and many others for the Armenian Dance on Friday.

Later for lunch we had a hearty sandwich and a beautiful salad buffet followed with refreshing ice cream sandwiches. Just as yesterday, our afternoon was filled with fun activities and sports.  Shortly after 5:00 PM we had our evening chapel service at the arbor. Deacon Artak Khachikyan’s service was about the power of prayer and how God always gives us hope through positive thought.  As an example he talked about Mountaineers that climb Everest, in particular one mountaineer in 1996 who collapsed and had to be left behind and was believed to be beyond rescue.  Miraculously, two days later, he arrived at the camp on his own despite being in a severe storm.  He credited his survivlal to his faith and the power of his prayer.  This experience is the subject of an upcoming movie, Everest.

After chapel, we had a delicious dinner consisting of tri-tip, Armenian style pilaf, vegetables, salad and to finish it off, a scrumptious apple strudel.  Due to rain the night hike was rescheduled for safety of the campers as it is our #1 priority.  Instead we had game night in the Mess Hall followed by campfire.  It was a delight to see a big beautiful rainbow after the rain stopped.  

 

 

 

Hye Camp Week 2 Day 2 - Monday's Daily Hye Life Blog

We woke up this morning to a beautiful still lake and cloudy skies. By 6:00 AM we started with about 15 campers at the lake for fishing.  Many fish were caught and released with one new fisherwoman catching 6 fish! As time went on, we reached to 25 campers fishing. Also we had a pleasant surprise from two deers! In addition to fishing, we had a jogging group of about 4 people. For morning chapel we were joined by Father Yeghishe Ksachikian. Following chapel we went to breakfast for some delicious eggs, bacon, and hash browns! Yum!

Our morning was spent in a series of classes including Armenian History, Bible Study, "Our Armenian Church" and,  “Icebreakers” – an opportunity for campers to make new friends!

Lunch today consisted of pizza and watermelon and some popsicles, followed by an afternoon of the campers spending time playing basketball, volleyball, soccer, archery, creating novel items at Arts & Crafts, and spending time at the lake canoeing and in the paddle boats.

Shortly after 5:00 PM we had our evening chapel service at the Arbor. During Chapel we had a big and beautiful thunderstorm! But staff was prepared with supplying ponchos to all the campers that needed it. Tonight we had some special guests: Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian, former Primate of the Western Diocese, Arch Bishop Hovnan Derderian and Father Krikor Zakaryan.

After chapel, we  had dinner consisting of chicken parmesan, breadsticks , vegetables, and salad followed by some cookies for dessert!

After everyone had a chance to gather their stuff for the evening from their cabins, we headed up to the Mess Hall for campfire due to the rain.  At campfire tonight, each cabin performed their “Brown Paper Bag Skit” – an improvisation based on the items found in a brown paper bag in each cabin.  We also saw another episode of the ongoing skit “Boghos Zilch," and many other fun songs and skits!

Our Tuesday morning again starts at 6:00 AM for the Sports Staff and those campers wanting to go fishing or jogging.  For everyone else it’s up at 7:00 AM, Chapel at 7:30 AM, followed by breakfast at 8:00 AM.  Tuesday is filled with more classes and activities, and we also have the Night Hike for a beautiful view of the sunset with the weather permitting.

Stay tuned for more news from Camp Hye Sierra, where we are remembering the Genocide 100 years later.

Hye Camp Week 2 Day 1 – Sunday’s Daily Hye Life Blog

Hello Camp Fans!  Today’s the first day of camp, all of our campers are checked in, and we’re off to a great start!  Today’s weather was beautiful, with just a very light rain shower for a few minutes during dinner.  Our theme this year is “We Remember’, remembering the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.  As before, we’ll be publishing a daily blog with pictures of what’s happening at your Church Camp.  The blog will contain some of the many pictures we are taking of our campers and their doings, with all of the pictures being made available after camp ends.

The Camp Staff arrived yesterday and this morning, getting camp ready for our 131 campers.  We’ve got an action packed week ahead of us filled with learning, games & sports, arts & crafts, nature hikes, and fellowship. 

Around 1:30 PM, our buses from the San Francisco Bay Area and Angeles area arrived.  Campers checked in with the Camp Staff, received their cabin assignments, checked in with our Camp Nurse Christine, and then proceeded over to Camper Hill.  Shortly after 2:00 PM, Camper Hill was opened and our campers raced to move their stuff into the cabins – after seeing how their counselors had decorated their cabins.  During the afternoon free time, counselors worked with their campers to develop their Cabin Cheer.

Shortly after 4:00 PM we had our fire drill, and then proceeded to the arbor for orientation and chapel.

After chapel, and a little free time playing games, we had dinner consisting of cheeseburgers, corn, salad, and watermelon.  Afterwards we had an ice cream social on the deck combined with taking most of the cabin pictures.  The rest of the cabin pictures will be taken Monday after dinner.

At campfire, with the drought and high fire danger, we still had a very nice simulated campfire.  Each cabin presented their Cabin Cheer, as well as some skits and singing songs.

Our Monday morning starts at 6:00 AM for the Sports Staff and those campers wanting to go fishing.  For everyone else it’s up at 7:00 AM, Chapel at 7:30 AM, followed by breakfast at 8:00 AM.

Stay tuned for more news from Camp Hye Sierra, where we are remembering the Genocide and celebrating 51 years of Armenian Church camping in California’s Sierra Mountains.

Pictures to follow......