I probably waited a bit too long to start these recollections. Most of the memories that were fresh over the summer have faded, but still, maybe there are some useful resources out there for someone.

A couple of sites we found really useful in planning over the last couple of years:
Basecamp and Google Docs.
Both allow for collaboration and keeping up with all the notes, to-do's, milestones. Both are free. This year we'll probably be using ActiveCollab, which can store files and do all of the stuff that Basecamp does, without the project limitations and file limitations. Let me know if you're planning a Sumatanga camp and your group would like to use it. From what I understand, the North Alabama Conference HQ started using it after I showed it to Myrle. It's good stuff, especially when you're working with groups that aren't close enough to meet in person.
Download: SH1 2007 Sunday Flowsheet

Sunday Night
Once again this year we started out the week with a banquet of sorts. Because the theme this year (On the Way) was really heavy in journey imagery, we thought that we'd try to shoot for an airport terminal kind of feel. The idea was to convey a sense that you were restless, waiting for something to happen. Some of the campers thought that we took the metaphor a little too far. Maybe. The first night is generally hard.

We had a security checkpoint with some x-ray footage from iStockPhoto running, several airport images and take-off/landing clips running on them.

We had an idea in place for a kick-off video, but we never really got finished with it. The concept was supposed to be of all these different people, who were packing and coming to camp with different backgrounds. All searching for God, but some more lost than others. Then they'd all meet up at camp at the same time and all come into the Assembly Hall and meet up in the middle of the room staring up at the cross. Problem was that we only really got 1 person's story filmed and so it didn't really work. Now that I think about it though, I still like the concept... we may re-do it and finish it for next summer.

Here's the reason we didn't finish that video. We were too busy laughing.

The suitcase relays were kind of fun. There were several teams and you had to run down, unpack a suitcase, get dressed in the clothes that were in it, run back, disrobe, repack, and then the next person went. All you need is some over-sized clothes to go over the campers' clothes.
Here's our brainstorming notes for the evening:

Sunday - Blessed on the Way

Campers will explore the way in which God told Abram and Sarah to take a journey and promised them they would be blessed and be a blessing to others.
Scripture Reference: Abraham and Sarah—Genesis 12:1-2

(The Message)

1 God told Abram: "Leave your country, your family, and your father's home for a land that I will show you.

2-3 I'll make you a great nation and bless you.
I'll make you famous; you'll be a blessing.
I'll bless those who bless you; those who curse you I'll curse.
All the families of the Earth will be blessed through you."

Thoughts on the Scripture (WB)

Story is about going out in faith, being called and trusting in that call. They left everything the knew for a land they didn't know. They left everyone they knew behind. They had moments of doubt, impatience, questions, but they remained obedient. This is the beginning of God's relationship with a specific people, Israel, His chosen nation. They are drawn out into the wilderness and go willingly. What are our fears on beginning new journeys. How will God use this new point in our journey? We might also introduce the origin of the word Sumatanga and how it relates to being on a journey.

Preliminary Plan

We talked about keeping the meal in the Assembly Hall like last summer and having a kick-off banquet. We decided to go with a airport as the metaphor for starting the journey. Buck and Anne would speak during the banquet, we would again sit in cabins. Would have some sort of games as cabins. Robin will speak. Small group time would be mainly get-to-know-you and icebreaker time, last about 20 minutes. Intro of team, directors, adults. Go over the rules for the camp. What if they ate in small group rooms that were set-up as departure gates? That way tables could be set-up and not be in our way in the Assembly Hall. (Ideas for theming the room/evening:

• Have a security screening coming into the Assembly Hall (actual purpose is to check for nametags)
• Have a food court area where they get their food
• Would be nice to have video from a view out of a window at a terminal of planes departing/arriving (check the movie The Terminal for footage)
• Have a departure board listing the destination as unknown
• Have periodic recorded/live announcements that are like the ones you would hear in an airport terminal
• Have tickets which point them towards their small group
• Have luggage piled around the room

Games

• Suitcase relay where they have to open them, get dressed, get undressed, repack
• Human Bingo - go around and sign sheet of people who have been to places, done things, etc.
• Icebreaker games
• Vis a Vis type game with partners and ask questions:
• What is your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
• What is your favorite food and why?
• Who is your favorite band or artist? Favorite song?
• What is the best present you've ever received? Who gave it to you?
• What are your plans for after high school?

Brainstorm

• Where Do You Depart From?
• Airport, train station, harbor on a cruise?
• Packing the bags.
• Suitcases as props?
• Speaker - Yes, after we eat
• Anne and Buck - while we're eating
• Taking a risk, being open to God's promises. Laughing
• Good idea for closing? Curriculum has a section where you read Gen 12:1-2 and then ask questions. What is God asking us to believe or do? What things is God asking you to believe or do that you have a hard time with or are afraid to do?
• Orientation video - to get people familiar with the camp. Showing how to get to dining hall, health lodge, canteen, pool, etc. I'm picturing something with fast-motion trips from the assembly hall to the place. -- Insprired by curriculum which has a time for everyone to journey around campground to get oriented.
• Team Theme Intro? Good responsive reading from curriculum:
• L: We do not come here this week to get all the answers, though a few would be nice;
  C: We do not come here to look good, though we hope to do some good;
  L: We do not come here only to see our friends, though we are glad for those who are here and for those we have barely even met;
  C: We come to listen, O God, waiting to hear how you dare us to move, what way you would have us go;
  ALL: We come to ask you, O God, for the courage to take the first step.
• Hear the Scripture: Genesis 12:1–2
  Respond to the Scripture:
  Have those responsible for worship prepare a skit of packing for the trip to camp, the journey, and the greetings and discoveries and questions upon arrival. Talk about how this compares with journey of Sarai and Abram.
  Close:
  L: We have inherited God’s promises, let them guide us this week.
  C: We will listen for the voice of God and go where God leads.
• Cabin Prayer Time - from curriculum
• Invite campers to take a moment to get quiet. Read or tell Abram and Sarai’s story from Genesis 12:1—-2. Invite the campers to close their eyes and recall the events of their day. On this first day, they might recall the trip to camp, first impressions of the camp and housing and group, and so on. While they still have eyes closed, ask them to silently reflect silently on the following questions: For what are you most grateful today? What were you expecting that you didn’t see or get today? When did you get a glimpse of God today? How did you sense God’s Spirit nudging or calling to you today? After another moment of silence after the last question, allow another moment of silence. Invite the campers to briefly share their answers aloud. Close with prayer.
• Sunday – prepare the campers for the fact that we’re going to go deep, and we're going to be exploring how we can bring about the kingdom

Flow

• Registration
• Icebreaker Games
• Suitcase Relay
• Human Bingo
• Meal
• Anne, Bart and Buck
• Ticketing - receive journals with small group numbers on them.
• Meet in Small Groups (20-25 mins)
  Purpose: Just to get to know your group, play some name games, etc.
  Team breaks down food area during this time
• Telephone pictionary
• Music (20 minutes)
• Presentation of Guidelines for week (In a fun way, flight attendant, purposely dorky video?, vulture horror spoof idea?)
• Presentation of Theme in Creative Way (Team + Adults) (see brainstorm section for possible idea)
• Robin - I'm thinking that most of the push for the daily theme is going to be here.
• Dancing
• Closing
• Canteen