This will mark the second year for Kamp Kidd, which more than tripled attendance at the church’s Wednesday night ministry, says Mary Pinley, the church’s co-associate pastor of youth and family. Previously, fewer than 10 children participated in activities. Kamp Kidd was drawing 35 students on a regular basis by the end of the last school year.
The program is geared for children preschool through fifth grade and runs from 6 to 8 p.m. with dinner at the Chow Hall prepared by church member Frank Smillie. The middle school students eat at the same time, but then have their own activities.
Pinley wants the night to be special for parents, too. “We invited parents to come take part in the mealtime, and some of them do,” she says. “Then they go run errands or have date night while their kids are here at Kamp Kidd. We wanted them to feel like they could take part with their kids, or they could have some time with other parents.”
The evening begins with a story, continues with various activities, and ends with a bonfire. This past year, leaders guided the children through the events of Genesis and Exodus. The accompanying photo shows one of the teraching moments presented by co-associate pastor for youth Craig Pinley and the Ranger, played by Kelly Draheim, husband of senior pastor Tammy Swanson-Draheim. To see additional photos of the activities, please see Kamp Kidd Photos.
Leaders designed the curriculum last year, but have purchased material for the coming year because the students will be divided into different age groups. By splitting the groups, story-telling and other activities can be better targeted, says Pinley.
Pinley says she began thinking about the idea after talking with Sherri Erickson at First Covenant Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, who had been doing something similar for one age group. She also adapted ideas from Scott Peterson at Redwood Covenant Church in Santa Rosa, California.
The church publicized the event through Vacation Bible School (VBS) and by distributing fliers. Children also had such a great time that they invited their friends. “That was probably the biggest reason for growth,” Pinley says.
About one third of the children come from outside the church. Some of the participants come from a town 30 minutes away because they were impacted by First Covenant’s VBS program.
“There are always challenges, but the church has bought into this because they know it’s important ministry and it’s reaching people in our community that might not be reached otherwise,” says Pinley. The success of the program has meant that the volunteer who picked up children in his SUV will repair the church bus so that those with the proper licenses can handle the transportation.
Pinley also has designed the program so that volunteers leading crafts and mission moments don’t have to attend every evening session. In addition to the adults, several high school students lend their assistance.
Pinley hopes the success of Kamp Kidd will lead to other opportunities, including a tutoring program in a neighborhood where some of the Wednesday participants live. “It’s a lower income area that has a history of drug and other crime problems,” she says. “They have a huge community building that is hardly in use at all, and we have dreams of doing ministry there.”
To learn more about the ministry, contact Pinley at 641-423-6359 or visit the church website at First Covenant.
