Let the 4th of July Celebrations begin!

It’s 4th of July week and Kamp is celebrating in style. As I write this I can hear firecrackers being set off across the street at K-Kountry during one of their morning skits. Kampers are cheering loudly and you can tell the energy level is rising as we quickly approach this weekend’s festivities.

During the 4th of the July all schedules are changed and we spend the whole day celebrating. The Kampers often have longer “free-time,“ dress in stars and stripes and generally spend the entire day in celebration!

A highlight of the day at K-Seven and K-Kountry is a counselor-constructed parade that goes through the middle of Kamp. Kampers line the streets like NYC on Thanksgiving and counselors hand out icy-juicies while dressed in crazy costumes and riding on floats. This is typically followed by all you can eat watermelon and an old fashion rootbeer for each Kamper.

The day is finished off with all the Kamps coming together in Lampe and in Branson to enjoy a traditional fireworks show under the stars.

Our nations birthday is a big deal at Kanakuk. We love a good reason to celebrate all week long! How are you celebrating this year?

p>

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

"I'm a F-A-N-A-T-I-C fanatic,

I rep Christ til I D-I-E, fanatic"


On Friday night one of Kamp’s favorite rappers, Lecrae, performed for our Kampers out at Kanakuk K-2 and you could feel the energy from miles around.

From this year’s theme song “Game On” to “Fanatic,” Lecrae sang with tons of his fans singing along with him.

We are so thankful for Lecrae taking the time to come perform for us!

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Life Applications

Every day our Kampers are kept busy as they move from one class to the next. Smiles abound as they learn how to sail, blob and canoe for the first time. At the end of every class we circle up and talk about “Life applications.” Life Apps. are an explanation of how we can apply the event we just did to what God wants us to remember in life about Him. During life apps. counselors are often reminded why Scripture says we are to have faith like a child.

A few summers ago I spent a lot of time down at the dock and it was there that I heard my favorite Life App. When driving a group of younger girls on boats one day a little girl shared with me that she already had her Life App. prepared for the end of class. This little girl explained that the boat was God, the tube was her walk with God and the rope in between was prayer and reading the Bible (the things that connect her to God). She said that some days it’s really hard to stay on her walk because the waves (devil) are constantly trying to knock her off. She then said that she trusts the boat and knows it will not leave her alone in the middle of the lake, but that it will always turn around and pick her back up when she falls off. So simple. So true.



There are many many more stories just like this that have been shared by Kampers over the years. Often it seems that we as staff can learn more from kids than we think simply because of their innocent faith.

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Kanakuk Health Centers

K-Kountry Health Center

K-1 Health Center

Collectively, Kanakuk staff and Kampers spend more than 123,000 "days" at Kamp during the summer! Those days are packed with dozens of activities and fun adventures indoors and out. Tremendous importance is placed on safety and healthy spiritual and physical habits. But, with all the excitement comes regular health needs of Kampers, the normal scrapes and bruises, and the occasional activity related injury. Each Kanakuk Kamp maintains and staffs a health center with compensated RN's, volunteer nurse helper moms, and volunteer physicians. These health centers, their equipment, policies and staff are managed year-round by a Kanakuk employed Health Services Director. Kanakuk families help us keep their Kampers healthy and our Health Centers running efficiently by completing health information during the enrollment process and updating us on any changes. Our health center staff understand their care provides everyone a chance to enjoy Kamp to the fullest! We are all very thankful for their service and dedication.


- Living the dream at the happiest place on earth! - Ashley

Kanakuk-isms Monday

Tribals is a term we use quite a bit at Kanakuk. When a Kamper comes for a term 2 weeks or longer, they are put into a tribe that they will compete with during the course of their time here.

There are two girls tribes and two guys tribes and let me tell you competition can get pretty crazy between these 4 groups. But before competition can begin, they must be put into tribes.


Typically the second or third night of Kamp all of the Kampers gather around a campfire where they watch an authentic tribal dance paired with a ceremony where it is announced who will be in what tribe. This is a very special time with Kampers because it’s a tradition but also because it is often unlike anything these kids have ever seen!

During the ceremony, Kampers are placed in the Cherokee or Choctaw tribes if they are guys and the Kickapoo or Kiowa tribes if they are girls.


Then the competition begins. Over the course of their term they will have tons of competitions between the tribes to see who is the stronger team. They learn teamwork, unity, and discipline as they are led by their respective Princesses or Chiefs.

Tribals. just another thing that makes Kanakuk so unique.

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Friendly Rocks

Kanakuk is covered in pea gravel. You know, the kind of rocks that get stuck in your shoes and drive you nuts for days. It does however provide a resource for a Kamp tradition that has been around as long as I can remember. “Friendship Rocks” are rocks with holes all the way through them and they are a hot commodity this time of year. When a Kamper finds a rock with a hole in it they give it to a friend to wear. Believe me, it is a big deal to find a friendship rock. Walking through Kamp it isn’t considered strange to see a few kids sitting down and searching for friendship rocks.



Since there are millions of rocks all over Kamp, finding these rarities is both challenging and fun! As a former Kamper, every time I see a rock with a hole in it a flood of memories fill my mind of Kanakuk friends. It’s the little things that make this Kamp so magical. A place that sticks with you throughout your life...

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Kanakuk-isms Monday - Bumblebee Award

It's come to my attention that we here at Kanakuk say some pretty strange words and expect people to know what we are talking about. So it has been my executive decision to take a little time out of each Monday to define a few of these terms for you! Some times they might even have pictures!

Today's word is "Bumblebee." Some time during your Kamper's term someone will be given the bumblebee award. This award is given to the Kamper who overcomes a challenge they are faced with.

You see, bumblebees are said to overcome impossible odds whenever they fly. Their wings are so small that it would seem they would never be able to get off the ground. They do, however. They refuse to let anyone say they are incapable of doing something just because it may be challenging.

There are many big challenges at Kamp. Whether its a high element like the zipline or slide or something brand new like canoe or kayak. We love to be there to encourage Kampers when they aren't sure if they can do it. We want them to know that God created us each uniquely and just as he helps the bumblebee overcome incredible odds He will be with us and help us through anything we are faced with!

Bumblebees can fly! Just believe in yourself!

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Serving with a Smile

Giving up a week of your summer to go serve in a kitchen seems like a very unlikely request. Especially if you are asking a group of 9 highschool boys. But when the opportunity to come serve at Kanakuk's Family Kamp, K-Kauai, for a week came up for these boys they jumped at the chance!



These 9 boys traveled with their K-Life staff from Conway, Arkansas to Branson so they could volunteer. They have spent the past 4 days serving behind the scenes so the families at K-Kauai can enjoy their vacation. They serve food during the meals, they mop the dinning hall, they wash the dishes and they do the dirty work in the kitchen. On top of that, they do all of this with smiles on their faces because they know they are doing it to ultimately serve God.

For the rest of the summer each week there will be a different group of high school students who come in to serve and if they are anything like this group, I know the guest at K-Kauai are going to receive service with a smile!

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Service with a Smile

Giving up a week of your summer to go serve in a kitchen seems like a very unlikely request. Especially if you are asking a group of 9 highschool boys. But when the opportunity to come serve at Kanakuk's Family Kamp, K-Kauai, for a week came up for these boys they jumped at the chance!



These 9 boys traveled with their K-Life staff from Conway, Arkansas to Branson so they could volunteer. They have spent the past 4 days serving behind the scenes so the families at K-Kauai can enjoy their vacation. They serve food during the meals, they mop the dinning hall, they wash the dishes and they do the dirty work in the kitchen. On top of that, they do all of this with smiles on their faces because they know they are doing it to ultimately serve God.

For the rest of the summer each week there will be a different group of high school students who come in to serve and if they are anything like this group, I know the guest at K-Kauai are going to receive service with a smile!

p>

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Service with a Smile

Giving up a week of your summer to go serve in a kitchen seems like a very unlikely request. Especially if you are asking a group of 9 highschool boys. But when the opportunity to come serve at Kanakuk's Family Kamp, K-Kauai, for a week came up for these boys they jumped at the chance!



These 9 boys from Conway, Arkansas have spent the past 4 days serving behind the scenes so the families at K-Kauai can enjoy their vacation

p>

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Service with a Smile!

Giving up a week of your summer to go serve in a kitchen seems like a very unlikely request. Especially if you are asking a group of 9 highschool boys. But when the opportunity to come serve at Kanakuk's Family Kamp, K-Kauai, these boys they jumped at the chance!

These 9 boys traveled from Conway, Arkansas with their K-Life staff to Branson to serve. They have spent the past 4 days serving behind the scenes so the families at K-Kauai can enjoy their vacation. They serve tables during the meals, wash dishes, mop the dinning hall, and do the dirty work. But they do it all with a smile on their faces!

Next week another group of high school kids will be here to serve and the next week and the next. Throughout the whole summer there will be kids here serving and giving up a week of their summer so that they can help add to the kingdom one heart at a time.


Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Game On Beats

A staple of summertime fun at Kanakuk is the summer theme - and no summer theme is complete without a theme song. The theme song provides the background music to every Kamper’s experience and without it… well Kamp would be much quieter. For the past few years Kanakuk has had the privilege of partnering with Christian Hip Hop artist Lecrae and other members of the hip hop collective 116 Clique to produce our summer theme song. 116-Clique a Christian hip hop collective is named after Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel…” This year’s song Game On, is another awesome track to add to your summer playlist.


(116 Clique pictured above. Tedashii, Pro, Sho Baraka, Trip Lee, and Lecrae)

Accompanying Lecrae on this year’s theme song are artists Tedashii, Pro, and Jai.
Tedashii is an accomplished performer who often works with Lecrae and whose albums have climbed the Billboard Christian and Gospel charts over the past few years.

Co-Founder of Reach Records, Lecrae has established himself at the forefront of Christian Rap. His influence extends into mainstream media and culture, and his albums continue to climb the ranks on iTunes and hit #1 on the Billboard Contemporary Christian and Billboard Gospel albums charts. It is an honor that he chooses to work with Kanakuk each summer.



Pro, the opener for the “Unashamed Tour” in 2010, has collaborated on several noteworthy projects and has watched his album Redemption find itself ranking on the Billboard charts as well.

For Jai, recently labeled a trailblazer for the underground Urban Gospel movement, this isn’t her first collaboration with the men of the 116 Clique. Recently participating in Lecrae’s 3rd album “Rebel” and Trip Lee’s single “The Invasion,” Jai has made a name for herself as a worship leader and speaker.

Download the song and jam with us all summer long.

Check out ReachRecords.com for more on Lecrae, Tedashii
and Pro and JustJai.com for more on Jai



p>

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.

Anticipation and Excitement!!

Arriving at Kamp is like being shot out of a human cannon. From the moment you pull on the road leading to Kamp anticipation begins to rise. You know as soon as the car stops you will be bombarded by counselors dressed in crazy costumes who are super excited you are there! A couple of them will unload all your stuff and take it to your cabin while the others will show you how to find out what cabin you will be spending the next 7,14, or 28 nights in! You get introduced to the entire Kamp and your counselors energetically hug you and quickly whisk you away to your cabin where you can meet all your new cabin mates. And all of this happens in about a 10 minute time period. Talk about excitement!!





Our first batch of Kampers have made it through all of this and are now on their 2nd day of Kamp! The excitement never stops around here! Game On!

p>

Facebook friends make your comments in the original post at Inside Kanakuk.