Camp Skillz, an affordable day camp facilitated by G.O.D. International, provides children ages 6-11 with four weeks of fun, skill-based activities and friendship-building opportunities. This year, we brought two local communities of kids to one campus. Camp Skillz Madison merged with Camp Skillz Old Hickory for half days. This coincides with an aspect of our mission for campers to build friendships. In this case, there was a confluence of campers from two distinctly different neighborhoods and school zones. If you were to visit camp, you would hear at least three different languages spoken: English, Spanish, and Burmese. Though the campers represented familial cultural differences, the campers grew in appreciation for one another. It wasn’t uncommon for campers to come bearing cards, beaded bracelets or craft gifts for their new friends they had met the day before.
Bringing our camps together also ensured all campers in our program had access to indoor and outdoor facilities, with a full rotation of 6 skill-building activities each week. During “Creative” week, kids practiced using their imagination to produce creative solutions to problems and order to their environment. They got to redirect water using pvc pipes/fittings, make a mini-movie, and create a land bridge with their team. Then in “Active Outdoors” week, they solved a bigfoot’s scavenger hunt, learned how to shoot a bow and arrow, improved their soccer skills, built waterproof shelters, and learned a campfire cooking recipe. During “Innovative” week campers made their own large wooden dice, took part in the “Angry Birds challenge” (engineering and knocking down structures), and built some pretty impressive floating rafts.
From building to rock climbing to stilt walking, campers were challenged to use both their physical and mental skills, while also having a whole lot of fun!
Our final session, “Adventure”, was a refreshing blast of cool water during a week of excessive heat in the Nashville area. There was an inflatable water obstacle course, a parkour obstacle challenge, pizza making, water volleyball, and a 25 ft. indoor climbing wall. Thanks to the generosity of Nashville Predators who provided a grant, campers were blessed to participate in 4 field trips to waterparks, ice skating, and bowling!
Together, kids experienced the benefits of trying new activities while working through insecurities and conflicts. We were delighted to witness them building a unified dynamic, especially through the activities of acting out a skit, choreographing a dance, and solving a sasquatch scavenger hunt.
And it wasn’t just campers that acquired new skills and made new friends. Camp Skillz had exceptional counselors through our partnership with WorkWell, a program facilitated by G.O.D. International. WorkWell provides meaningful summer jobs for youth to become confident and skilled leaders in the workplace. As camp director, I witnessed the counselors grow in team comradery, unity and teamwork to carry out the expectations of their jobs. This partnership between the camp and the Workwell intern staff enabled us to create a safe and fun environment for the kids.They were compelled to refine their communication skills and value the gifts of their peers. They were then able to transfer the value of these experiences, to the way they guided their campers. It's a blessing to have teenagers devote their energy to making camp ‘awesome’ for younger kids.
Each week, campers were given the opportunity to go on a field trip to places such as the Ford Ice Center, Gallatin Civic Center and Strike ‘N Spare. These fun activities were provided through a partnership with the Nashville Preds Foundation. These field trips were the highlight of the campers’ week and could not have happened without the support of the Nashville Preds Foundation. Thank you Nashville Preds Foundation!
At the end of summer, I am grateful to be a part of a program that prioritizes kids experiencing not just skill development, but the development of friendship and character. Of all the various activities we facilitated, I think it will be the moments of campers extending kindness, hospitality, and friendship that are most memorable to me. I thank God for a wonderful summer of growth and fun for some wonderful kids that we are blessed to serve.
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