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2018 ACRY Encounter at Camp Nazareth
From Friday, November 9 - Sunday, November 11, 2018, 33 Diocesan children gathered at Camp Nazareth for the annual ACRY Encounter. The weekend was filled with good friends, family, fellowship and a lot of fun. The Encounter is an annual event for all Diocesan children and is a opportunity for our kids to get together, deepen their faith and reconnect with their friends and family across the Diocese.
Registration on Friday evening.
Encounter participants played some games in the ARK during registration.
Or they could just be sisters together.
Or they could just take it all in.
Or see if they had what it takes to become a Giant Jenga Champion!
Or just catch up with old friends...
Or just be one of the guys...
Or become lord and master of Candy Land...
Or pull up a patch of floor and play a game...
And then get together and enjoy each others company.
At the Registration the adults talked while someone else posed for the picture.
Mom and son at Registration!
Encounter participants enjoyed some games as a group in the ARK on Friday night after Registration.
Not sure if you can figure out what they were supposed to be doing in this pic...
And what they were having to do in this one...
but each enjoyed the Friday night games...
And it was great to see the Encounter "pick up steam" as friends and family came back together for the weekend.
Among the games played "Good Luck Finding Your Shoes"!
We'll help you find your shoes if you need us to...
...but don't count on it, because in this game there's no mercy at Camp. It's a "dog-eat-dog" race to see who can find, put on, and finish first!
You can see here how the weekend's Staff were helping the campers to find their shoes.
After Breakfast and Morning Prayers on Saturday morning, Campers gathered in the ARK for the first of two presentations during the day. The first session was offered by Fr. Miles Zdinak.
Encounter participants also had the opportunity to hear His Eminence Metropolitan Gregory address them.
Fr. David Urban offered the second presentation of the day which included a discussion about kindness and compassion.
After the presentations and lunch the Encounter participants could choose to play some improvised indoor Gaga Ball or the variety of games offered in the Rec Room. The weather didn't permit any outdoor activities, but offered all of us the opportunity to stick close together.
The indoor Gaga Ball arena saw some stiff competition...
...while the Rec Room saw some card game, board game, Air Hockey and Pool action!
One of the best parts of the Rec Room are the windows and the tables that allow the campers to enjoy some games "at the table" with no noses down in their phones!
When the friends meet, and no noses are in the phones, you can see the results on the friends faces.
Not sure if the shot went in but the pool table also saw some heated action.
And while the Rec Room's heat was in fact on, some campers needed a few extra layers.
Friends in a candid shot...
...who then posed for a photo-op.
During some extra time, many of the campers opted to help make some cinnamon buns for after dinner. We love child labor at Camp...
...and apparently so do the children!
Later in the day before Vespers on Saturday Evening.
A quick pic of the cantors before Vespers on Saturday evening.
His Eminence during Vespers.
Vespers was beautifully sung.
His Eminence addressing the campers after Vespers. He explained some of what was sung during the service.
The Encounter participants listening to His Eminence talk after Vespers
Moms with their kids at Vespers. This was a beautiful picture.
As part of the Saturday evening schedule there was a "Trivia Night".
Categories of questions at Trivia Night included: Camp, the ACRY, the Diocese and general questions about our Faith.
Teams enjoyed working together to solve some pretty tough questions.
His Eminence addressing the Encounter participants after Trivia Night. He spoke about his Advent Prayer Challenge and gave out the prayer for the Challenge.
The "Campfire" was in the Rec Room on Saturday evening. Campers enjoyed the time together and had a chance to play any number of games.
It was great to see our kids enjoying their time together as they reconnected with others from around the Diocese
The chaperones and volunteers also enjoyed their time together.
This included time by the fire!
The schedule for the weekend was soooo tough it just tuckered some of the campers right out!
While others went mono-e-mono at cards.
Later Saturday evening the Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms. Enjoy looking at the subtle differences in each camper in the next set of pictures. The Youngest Group had "broken out" of the Escape Room in under the allotted time.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
The Youngest Group for the Escape Rooms.
His Eminence delivering the sermon on Sunday Morning.
The Sanctuary after the Divine Liturgy.
A quick group photo in the Church.
A quick group photo in the Church with His Eminence trying to block Joey from seeing!