Maranatha’s 2009 summer camps concluded with a 13-percent increase in enrollment, an encouraging maiden voyage for some new additions, and a hope for future expansion.
More than 400 high school students participated in athletics, fine arts, and academic camps. Athletic camps director Christopher Maples was surprised, given the poor economy that could have hindered many parents from sending their children to camp.
“We thought that the economy, and having three new camp directors, might have a negative effect,” Maples said. “We were actually very pleased.”
A new educational venture
This year marked the addition of two academic camps—Writing and New Media—to the summer agenda.
New Media campers constructed their own website, wearehis.com, which includes student interviews and testimonies. The video and web design elements were compiled in just a few days by the young people, many of whom came with only a basic knowledge of the skills required for such an ambitious venture. Students also gained practical experience while shooting scenes for a short video feature that took place among curious onlookers on Main Street in Watertown.
Writing campers were taught in a battery of workshop sessions as well as off-campus field trips. The workshops included elements of fiction writing, journalism, poetry, research writing, and interviewing skills. The practical side of camp included a special-project contest, news reporting on a tight deadline, and writing assignments tied to visits to the Milwaukee Art Museum and a Milwaukee Brewers game.
When camp concluded, Maranatha announced an expanded slate of academic offerings for 2010. Writing camp will return, but New Media will be split into two camps, Web Design and Photography/Video. Nursing and Science camps will be added, directed by Nursing Department Chair Kelly Crum and Science program coordinator Dr. Paul Molitor.
Giving Iowa a try
The Fine Arts camp always delivers a big finish. The 12th year was no exception, with campers in the vocal and drama track presenting cuttings from The Music Man on Friday night and those in the string, piano, instrumental, and voice tracks presenting a Saturday morning concert at Watertown’s Calvary Baptist Church.
“We had a very good week,” camp director Dr. David Ledgerwood said. “It was wonderful in every respect.”
Maranatha graduate Matt George returned to campus to reprise the difficult role of Dr. Harold Hill in The Music Man. Marian Paroo, the female lead, was played by incoming freshman Hannah Pill. The remainder of the cast consisted of student actors who spent the week learning vocal and acting skills, stage construction, lighting, and makeup.
Those in the instrumental track devoted much of their week to rehearsals, split into small ensembles to provide music prior to the Saturday morning concert, then performed six songs together. Pianists Bethany Burie and CiCi Liu were selected to perform at the final concert, but all pianists were treated to percussion workshops that emphasized the value of correct counting—then took part in a percussion ensemble piece performed strictly by pianists! String campers practiced and performed songs encompassing a wide range of musical styles, then delighted the concert audience by tossing their bows aside for Leroy Andreson’s “Plink, Plank, Plunk.”
Bible professor Dr. Bruce Meyer conducted chapel during the week, teaching from Philippians. Free-time activities were based on a county fair theme. They included hay tossing, hog calling, and twine stringing.
Getting a kick out of soccer
The return of soccer, increased enrollment, and the energy brought by three new camp directors highlighted the 2009 athletic camps.
“We’ve had camps here for almost 20 years, so we’ve got it down almost to a science,” Maples said. “We just want to make sure our emphasis stays on quality instruction, both athletically and spiritually.”
There was no soccer camp in 2008 as head coach Jeff Pill made the transition to Maranatha. The revival saw 50 players participate, including some members of the Watertown Soccer Club that Pill coached over the summer.
“It was an enthusiastic group, and the level of play dramatically improved over the course of the week,” Pill said.
The program included daily Bible challenges from Pill, 2008 team captain Brian Board, and new graduate assistant Keith Lewis. Three coaches attended to help improve their grasp of methodology and philosophy.
Enrollment in both the boys and girls basketball camps increased this summer. The boys basketball camp director was new Crusaders men’s basketball coach Neal Ring, who conveyed many of the fundamental skills he has taught during his full-time job as an advisor for OnCourt Player Development. Those skills were refined during one-on-one, three-on-three, and five-on-five competition.
“It was a good week, a good start for me,” Ring said. “We were all pretty surprised at the increase in numbers and all the new kids. We utilized the OnCourt Player Development curriculum, and the kids responded to it really well.”
Regina DeLozier acted as director for both the individual and team volleyball camps for the first time. She was joined by former coach and camp director Marsha Jackson, teaching both important individual skills as well as teamwork and communication.
“We had a lot of younger players who were focused on the fundamentals and pushed to learn some new volleyball systems they weren’t familiar with,” DeLozier said. “We also spent time on positional training, introducing the strategies behind each position and why you play those positions a certain way. Our devotions and chapel time focused on Philippians, encouraging the girls to show Christ in their lives.”
Highland (Ind.) Calvary Christian School won the varsity pool competition during team camp, while the junior high pool was won by Oak Lawn (Ill.) Southside Baptist School.
--Posted by Andrew Call, 8-13-09