Soccer Camp 2023 Tuesday Recap

The campers woke up on Tuesday to a day filled with exciting activities and a lot of soccer!

Tuesday was favorite local team day. Everyone was encouraged to wear shirts or jerseys of a local team they play on or enjoy watching.

Following Monday's schedule with a few twists, the campers started their morning with a delicious breakfast of bacon, eggs, and hash browns, followed by some peaceful moments during quiet time.

At 9:15am, they filed into the chapel for the morning service. The morning worship was an uplifting time. We once again live-streamed it on our Facebook and Instagram accounts, allowing everyone to join in and experience the campers' heartfelt praises. Songs like House of the Lord, My Lighthouse, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), and Lord I Need You filled the air with joy and devotion.

My Lighthouse and Soccer Camp go hand-in-hand. While it seemed like the campers would be too tired to do the song justice after a long day yesterday, program director Harry Neil nevertheless requested that it be sung. He knew the campers would sing it energetically regardless of how tired they may seem, and they did indeed! You can continue to watch us live over the next few days at our Facebook and Instagram accounts around 9:15am. Both accounts can be found at the bottom of this page.

Our speaker, Joe Wilbur, picked up where he left off the evening prior with the Lord Jesus' first miracle. Joe then shifted his focus this morning on the campers' personal relationship with the Lord or lack thereof. We are all sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). That means we are guilty. However, God provided salvation to all through His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Each camper must make the individual decision to trust in Christ. They will not experience God's forgiveness through the faith of their parents or grandparents. They themselves need to make that personal decision.

After chapel, the campers began their first of what would be much soccer played on the soccer field throughout the day. They had their skill training at 10:30am for about an hour and a half, had their Dutch Futbol matches at 2:15pm for about an hour, and had extended soccer in the evening starting at 6:30pm for about two and a half hours.

In between all the soccer, campers enjoyed burritos for lunch, a time of rest, opportunities to go to the trading post, free time activities, and a cookout for dinner!

The free time activities ranged from swimming, to fishing, to canoeing, to volleyball, to gaga ball, and more!

For the first time at soccer camp, pickleball, America's fastest growing sport in 2023, became available as a free time activity. As a way of introduction to Soccer Camp, Harry Neil and John Jones played a few games and came out victorious!

The cookout was organized by the Soccer Camp kitchen staff who have worked hard this week to prepare three meals a day for nearly 200 campers, counselors, and staff.

Extended soccer concluded with a campers versus counselors match.

Once the sun set, both the soccer matches and the day came to a close. The campers returned to their cabins where their counselors took the opportunity to have devotionals and meaningful discussions with them. Keep the campers in prayer that they would be open to asking questions on Scriptural topics they are unsure about. Pray also for the counselors that they may be led by the Spirit to deliver Biblically-accurate responses to the campers' questions.

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Soccer Camp 2023 Monday Recap

Monday marked the campers' first full day at camp! 

The theme of the day was favorite club day, with everyone being encouraged to wear their favorite club jerseys.

The campers started their day off with the traditional Soccer Camp flag raising before breakfast.

The campers then went inside for breakfast where they had sausage and french toast.

At morning chapel, the campers' sung How Great Thou Art and Good God Almighty. Their morning worship was streamed live on Camp Iroquoina's Facebook and Instagram accounts. You can expect live streams each morning around 9:15am and during some evenings around 8:30pm. You can find our Facebook and Instagram accounts (along with our other social media accounts) at the bottom of the page.

Our speaker Joe Wilbur followed after the singing, and presented his first full message. He spoke on creation and read from both the book of Genesis and the Gospel of John.

Following Joe's message, the campers went down to the soccer fields for the drill of the day which was dribbling.

At the conclusion of their drill time, all the campers, counselors, and program staff joined together for our annual group picture.

The campers then went up together for lunch which was Philly cheesesteaks. 

Their day progressed with some Dutch Futbol, before breaking for free time.

During free time, the campers had their choice among a variety of activities 

Dinner was next on the agenda, and it consisted of sausage and peppers, pasta, and broccoli.

After plenty of time to recoup between free time and dinner, the campers went down to the fields for their last time of the night for the all-divisions soccer matches.

At 8:30pm, the campers met at the chapel for the evening service. They were led in the singing of This is Amazing Grace, Graves Into Gardens, Song of My Father, and No Longer Slaves.

Joe's message followed the songs, and he spoke on the Lord Jesus' first miracle.

There is much conflicting information competing for the campers' attention in life, and with that, Joe closed by encouraging the campers to share any spiritual questions they may have with him or their counselors.

The night concluded in prayer and with the campers singing Lord I Need You. Each of us need the Lord in our life. Join us in praying for these nearly 120 campers, that they may recognize their need for a Savior, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation.

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

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Soccer Camp 2023 Sunday Recap

The first day of Soccer Camp 2023 was a success! Nearly 120 kids checked in during the afternoon to spend a week learning about the Lord, playing soccer, and having fun at this beautiful camp in Hallstead, PA!

After check-in wrapped up, the campers were treated to a delicious roast beef dinner. Their meal was followed by their first action on the soccer field.

The final event of the day was evening chapel. The campers praised the Lord through the singing of My Lighthouse, Good God Almighty, Open the Eyes of My Heart, and Our God. 

Soccer Camp director Harry Neil then formally introduced the campers to all their 2023 counselors and staff.

This also followed a formal introduction to this week's speaker, Joe Wilbur.

Camp Iroquoina is celebrating its 50th year in existence and Soccer Camp has been around for 45 of those years. Harry Neil, who has been a part of both Iroquoina and Soccer Camp each year since their inception, continues to bring a level of enthusiasm to the program that knows no bounds. Ever since his first year at Iroquoina in which he helped lead one of his campers to faith in the Lord Jesus, he hasn't looked back. 

We pray that this week of Soccer Camp would yield the type of fruit that got Harry fully committed to spend a week in the summer each year to help make this camp session possible!

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

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Soccer Camp 2022 Friday Recap

The final full day at camp has come and gone, and we are so happy with how the Lord worked on Friday and the week as a whole!

Following a breakfast of cereal and muffins, the campers had their quiet time and the morning chapel service. During the service, the music team led the campers in singing Lion and the Lamb, Worthy of Praise, How Great Thou Art, and Lord, I Need You.

Our speaker James Clifford once again kept the campers on their toes with some questions about his Thursday messages. After a few days of this trend, the campers were ready to answer them correctly for some candy.

James' message to the campers focused on eternal security, apologetics, and loving the Lord with all our mind.

With the International Championship Matches planned for the late afternoon, Dutch Futbol was moved up on the schedule and replaced the daily skills training.

The campers followed their Dutch Futbol sessions with a lunch of pizza and salad. After that, they had their free time from 2:00pm-3:15pm.

With skills training skipped, and free time moved up, the International Championship Matches between Spain and Belgium were played earlier in the day than the regular matches from the previous days. 

The opening ceremony took place a little after 4:00pm and was a big spectacle that involved all the campers and staff. Soccer Camp Director Harry Neil was more than prepared for the event and dressed for the occasion.

The teams got through two matches each before breaking for dinner (cookout style on the field) which consisted of burgers and chips.

As dinner was wrapping up, lightning was spotted in the far distance and the International Championship Matches ended up coming to a premature conclusion. The campers made their way to the chapel basement where they played games for a little while as the staff waited out to see if the storm would move away or come closer towards camp. Unfortunately, it was the latter and both the remainder of the matches were canceled, as well as the annual bonfire.

The evening chapel session was the next and final event on the schedule. The session began at 8:00pm and involved the singing of Our God, My Lighthouse, How He Loves, Open the Eyes of My Heart, and Goodness of God.

In between the singing and James' message, awards were given out for the winners of the Pinewood Derby, Scavenger Hunt, and International Championship Matches. As for the matches, it was Spain who beat Belgium once all the points from the matches were added together. 

James' message stressed to the campers just how much the Lord loves them. 1 Peter 5:7 states, "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." We also care for these campers and pray that they all decide to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

As we reflect on this week, we are so thankful for the kids who came to camp, the staff who came to serve, and the Scriptural messages that went out. Organizing a camp is not an easy feat. There are many moving parts that are required to make it successful. This week was an example of the Body of Christ in action; different parts serving in different areas for the same purpose. May the Lord continue to water the seeds planted this week and may all the memories serve as a reminder of His great glory!

STAY CONNECTED WITH US!

Subscribe to Camp Iroquoina's YouTube channel

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Check out Camp Iroquoina's website

Use these hashtags on social media:

#campiroquoina #iroqsoccercamp2022 #summercamp2022