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!

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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!

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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

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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



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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!

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Hope from Heartache

“Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well: keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:14-17 NIV



When tornadoes came through Joplin a little over a week ago many Kanakuk families were affected. With Kamp in the midst of “work-week,” it just made sense to pack up some staff and head to Joplin to help. So yesterday, we loaded 150 K-Kountry staff into 4 buses, 3 vans, and a truck with everything we would need to try to bring the love of Christ to a place that had lost a lot of hope.



Nothing could’ve prepared us for the day ahead. Volunteering with Samaritans Purse we were quickly put to work with families in need. The sight of the destruction at these homes was unimaginable. Walking down the streets, everywhere you turn you find Legos mixed with tree limbs, house siding intertwined with stuffed animals and cars filled with mud from the whipping winds.

Despite all the destruction, the Lord’s hand was obvious in the smiles on the victim’s faces, in the encouragement they gave the staff and in the love they showed each of us. It was our desire to be Christ’s hands and feet to show His love to individuals One Heart at a Time and our staff did an exceptional job.

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Social Media has hit Kanakuk

In a matter of a week Kamp has gone from a handful of "uncles" (guys who come to Kamp early to help set up) to our nearly 1,200 staff being trained and fixing up Kamp for kiddos to arrive a week from tomorrow. Excitement is building, energy is increasing all because the love of God is truly alive in this place!

This year we want to give you an insiders glimpse to Kanakuk through social media. That's right, each Kamp is officially equipped with an iPad, Twitter and Blog so you can stay up to date with all the excitement all summer long. Follow your favorite... follow them all! And if that isn't enough for you tech-savvy people out there, we are on Facebook too!

It is our desire to keep you updated and it is also our desire to assist you on change-over days when you aren't sure where to go, what the schedule is, or where the bathrooms are. Tweet us (@Kanakuk) and we can help you out.

Spread the word! Kanakuk is having so much fun with social media and we hope you will participate with us!

Twitter:
@Kanakuk
@KanakukK1
@KanakukK2
@KanakukKWest
@KanakukKKountry
@KanakukKSeven
@KankaukKKauai

Blogs:
K1.Kanakuk.com
K2.Kanakuk.com
KWest.Kanakuk.com
KKountry.Kanakuk.com
KSeven.Kanakuk.com

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Kanakuk Favorites: Vaskin's Famous Gyros

Kamp staff, and families often ask where we like to eat, play, and stay so here is the first installment of "Kanakuk Favorites."

Vaskin's Famous Gyros is located at 1015 Highway 248 in Branson. Some of the best Greek deli food you will find. It is just 15 minutes from our offices across from K1 and K-Kountry and is a favorite place to meet and see friends. This is a locals only kind of place that is bit hard to find, but worth it!

favorites: Hot Ham and Cheese with pasta salad, The Firehouse Gyro, The Lamb and Beef Gyro.

Yum! See you there!