Yesterday I wrote about my first week at Silver Lake this summer — and today I bring you a recap and photos from the second week!

I was a counselor for a program called “Amazing gRace” (we pronounced it “gee-race”), which is themed after the TV show The Amazing Race. We learned about different cultures from around the world and participated in a few scavenger hunt activities. We had 23 campers in our program and 7 excellent deans and counselors (the Dream Team!). Here is our group photo, in which we are attempting to stand in a peace sign layout:

The main room of our cabin was decorated with an international flair:

And here’s Jamie and Emalie, our fearless leaders:

Those bursts of color on their t-shirts are from our Holi celebration — the kids learned about this Hindu Festival of Colors, and then took to the ball field to try it out:

That activity was followed up by water games to clean off:

Below is a game of “drip, drip, SPLASH” (a la “duck, duck, GOOSE”)… and the chosen person gets a small bowl of water dumped on their head:

We talked about Dia de los Muertos and the kids got to break open a piñata:

Hanging around at high ropes:

Singing at meal time:

Field games after dinner:

We got really into a game on the volleyball court called “Nuke ‘em” in which each side tosses the ball back and forth, and anytime someone drops the ball they have to step out, until one team gets everyone out on the other side. It’s SO addicting — we played this every night.

Counselors Dan and Tyler!

And one of our kids from the Videos program two weeks ago was a counselor this week for a different program!

Snack time… “one cup, one juice!”

I only got down to the waterfront once this week, but it was lovely.

Friday night BBQ at the lake:

Mudge Madness basketball tournament — campers vs. staff:

Our group led worship on Friday night in the outdoor chapel. We kept the international theme, incorporating all the different world religious celebrations we’d learned about all week. The whole camp participated in making Tibetan prayer flags prior to worship, which we hung up all over the chapel.

Ready to lead worship!

Dancing the Haka, a traditional Maori war cry in New Zealand:

Friday night campfire with s’mores:

Here is my cabin! Each of the cabins were named after a different country, and I picked South Africa.

The girls were adorable as they covered their ears while waiting for the fire drill on Monday:

Here is the Dream Team — the deans and counselors of Amazing gRace!

I’m going to end with photos from our two scavenger hunts — the first was an easier practice one, and the second was a big one that took the kids all over camp. They really got into it.

Here they are reading a clue at the chicken coop:

They had to turn cream into butter for a challenge:

The most challenging part of the race was filling up a bucket of water down at the lake and then taking turns carrying it on their heads all the way back up the hill. This was especially relevant as the day before we’d talked about access to water around the world and how in certain countries people have to carry water on their heads for long distances to bring back clean water to their villages.

Aren’t they just the cutest?!

Our deans! We love you Jamie and Emalie!

The race ended as the kids held hands and walked the labyrinth in silence. There was a twist ending but I won’t reveal it here!

That wraps up my second and final week at Silver Lake this summer. So grateful for this community and peaceful time spent in God’s backyard (as we affectionately call camp). Already looking forward to 2018.