Breakaway

*A post written by Molly Schmeidler, Fayetteville Ozone Director

There is something magical about seeing Camp War Eagle in the winter-time. The cabins are locked, the cove is dry, and the intercom hasn’t been used in months. Leafless trees reveal special views of Beaver Lake, normally hidden by the green foliage. Piles of timber and construction bobcats designate new projects the maintenance team is tackling. Going through the gates at camp ignites a special feeling within all of us, and we were just itching to share a winter-spin on the camp experience with our high school students!

Summit students from the NWA area were invited to break away from their typical Friday night routine at our winter Breakaway. For the second time this school year, we packed the 14-passenger vans with high school students and headed out to Camp War Eagle for an evening filled with slurping soup, throwing dodgeballs, and worship among lifelong camp friends.

The Crafts Center was rocking with Chow Hall cheers and hollers from the moment the vans pulled up. Students from the different cities familiar with one another from camp reunited with their former cabin mates, and other students made new friends.

Dodgeball displayed an element of camp difficult to explain to new parents and kids to CWE. Whether you have an athletic arm to snipe a kid diagonally across the court, or are silly and uncompetitive enough to create your own fun, games at camp allow kids to play a role in which they will thrive. Junior Fayetteville student, Katy Beth Ezell, lead her team in strategy, calling out the forward advances and retreats. At the same time Ozone Director Joe Collura caused many to cower and laugh with his fake throwing motion accompanied with a strong efforted sound.

We love all our students, and for the high schoolers particularly, we couldn’t think of a better way to show that love except to step away from the norm, have fun, and give thanks together in our favorite place. With an atmosphere of christmas lights, candles, and songs of praise, we explored the meaning of worship. We taught that worship, ascribing highest value to God, finds its fullness when done with all our being, personally and in community. The entire evening was an example of this: students giving up their normal plans, having fun with one another, learning about the new goals they have set for 2016, and capping the evening with prayer and songs. We are so proud and so thrilled about who our students are and who they are becoming, and we got to celebrate that on January 15th at Breakaway!

Camp to Club: Lifeline

*A blog written by Scott Jones, Springdale Ozone Director

“EEEEEAGLE TAAAALES… WHAT WHAT WHAT”

“EEEEEAGLE TAAAALES… WHAT WHAT WHAT”

Almost every elementary school camper knows this phrase all too well. I’m sure they can all recite the call and response: Christ is our Lifeline so that we never hit…. “ROCK BOTTOM!” Indeed, the joy of Lifeline at Camp War Eagle is forever ingrained in our memory.  From the crazy characters on the Lifeline stage, to the hype of each song sung, to the ever-exciting and bouncy gymnastics mat, we undeniably LOVE it all!

But what if we told you that Lifeline is not just a summer worship service on the shores of Beaver Lake? What if we told you that what happens in the Gymnastics Center at CWE from June through August is just the beginning of something even more awesome? Here, at CWE 365, we look forward to the best Friday of the month, when Lifeline becomes a year-round reality. 

In September, we started exploring the Fruit of the Spirit. Peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and joy were the themes of the fall months. Who would have thought that Kindness and Goodness could be taught through "The Turkey Games," an extreme version of Thanksgiving themed Tribal Competition? The Turkey-Jerky and Gobbler tribes went head to head in a competition to ultimately learn more about our wonderful Good Shepherd, Jesus. Perhaps my favorite of the fall lifelines, however, was the skit performed in honor of the prodigal son. Somehow, the message of these bible stories becomes richer each time they are taught!

Looking forward, we have a semester to remember ahead of us.  Starting off with a BANG, January’s lifeline just might have had the biggest surprise yet: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE! There is no better way at Camp War Eagle to learn about the impossible mission of Joshua and the walls of Jericho than through the beloved tradition of Mission Impossible! God is faithfully miraculous, even now, as he was with his chosen people long ago.

One of our most exciting plans for the spring is Family Lifeline in April! We love welcoming parents and families to our last lifeline of the year, as it helps show our students the importance of a faith family. Celebrating a great year of lifeline in the style of CWE’s Red, White, and Blue is nothing short of AWESOME!

So join us for the final three lifelines of the 2015-2016 school year, as we dive into the Love, Self-Control, and Gentleness! There may even be some exciting and friendly competition coming up in February that your kids won’t want to miss. Lifeline is a reminder that God calls us all, young and old, to follow Him. So let’s do it together!

Behind the Lens: Streetfest

*written by Bethany Meyers |

Springdale Ozone Volunteer & CWE Photographer

    As a Camp War Eagle Photographer for Ozone activities. I get to see our events from a very unique perspective, so I was asked to talk about Streetfest from "behind the lens."

    What is Streefest? Streetfest is the coming together of Camp War Eagle’s Year-Round program, The Jones Center and Fellowship Bible Church to put on a fall-festival. It’s a time where families from all around the Springdale community are invited to come enjoy a night of games, prizes, dancing, CANDY and ultimately, fellowship with one another.

          

    One of the best parts of the night was the dance party. Kids, families, and many volunteers came together under the flood lights, next to the hay-bale-covered DJ stand. For most of the event, there was lots of laughter, dancing, and people breaking out of their comfort zones to have a good time. We love dancing at Camp War Eagle, but it was even more magical to see many different people come together for that same camp-like experience outside The Jones Center, in the middle of Springdale.

    A little over 1,500 people came out to the event. That many people on The Jones Center’s front lawn, along with all the games and inflatables, was an incredible sight to see. I was asked to capture the event in photos and I recorded some of the evening as well. The coolest thing about going through the footage later was noticing how excited all the kids were to be there and how much joy was exuding off of every face that I was able to catch on camera.

    Thank you to all the volunteers that came out to make sure the kids and families had the best time possible and thank you to Camp War Eagle Ozone, The Jones Center and Fellowship Bible Church for making Streetfest happen each year. It is a cherished community event that would cease to exist without your efforts, commitment and passion for serving Springdale families!