Make Columbus Day Count

School's out on Columbus Day. 

Don't waste your chance to make it count.

     If your kids have the day off from school on Columbus Day, what will they do all day? If you're still trying to figure out what they'll do, or - even more importantly - if you haven't found something meaningful for your kids to do, there's two ways you can make Columbus Day count with COCUSA.

     As a parent, I know we all face a lot of different options for our kids. Choosing the right activity, the right group, and the right program seems overwhelming in a sea of endless choices. Deep down, my biggest fear is that I will have wasted my kids' formative years with meaningless activities. I want the things my kids do to matter in the long term. That's why at COCUSA, we're passionate about giving each child a safe place to grow in their relationship with Jesus while having a ton of fun with their friends.

     The Curless family was looking for a meaningful place to help their kids grow in Pekin, IL. After hearing about COCUSA and giving it a shot, the Curlesses have sent their two children to summer camp for the last few years. Lynn Curless summed up the experience her two kids had this way:

The true value of having COCUSA in [our] children's lives is that they aren't just "babysat" during the summer… they are taught, engaged, challenged, loved, entertained, motivated, befriended, spiritually stimulated each and every day.

The Curless kids are already signed up for Fall Frenzy, and we can't wait to spend some time with them on Columbus Day! 

     If you're like Lynn and want your kids to have a meaningful experience on their days off from school this fall, here's a few ways we can help:

• FLAG FOOTBALL Skills Camp

  Brand New in 2016! Your child will practice some football fundamentals along with a few of their friends from summer camp. Our staff will lead your child through 4 training workshops throughout the day that focus on building their football skills, athleticism, and character. Everyone should walk away with a little better at football and a little closer to Jesus. 

• FALL FRENZY

  If Flag Football isn't your game, we're also offering our traditional Camp experience at Fall Frenzy. Just like a day of summer camp, we'll play some games, make a craft, sing some songs, and hear a story from the Bible. Your child will have a blast doing all the things they miss from summer camp (except swimming 😄). 

• Upcoming - Veterans Day Camps

Camp 11/11 is our traditional Camp experience on Friday, November 11. We'll also offer another Skills Camp to teach your kids more about creativity and different art forms. 

We can’t wait to see how God moves at COCUSA this school year, and we hope you'll be there to see it with us!

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P.S. Columbus Day could pass you by and feel like a wasted day. Don't let this opportunity for your kids grow in their walk with Jesus slip away. Decide now how your family will spend the day off. We'd love to have you join us at one of our Fall Camps.

Summer Camp 2016 Wrap-Up - Stories of God's Kingdom Come

“Wait, what? It’s over?”

     This quote from a Site Director at our Peoria Bethany Baptist location sums up our feelings on this final Monday of Camp. We've already said our goodbyes to those who started school this week, and I'm sure we'll have an emotional send off on Friday as our last three sites close the books on summer camp 2016. As a summer full of discipleship, fun, games, and laughter comes to an end, I'm excited to see how God continues to minister to and through our campers and staff into the school year. Here's are a couple stories that remind us that God is still on the move.

A Prayer Request You Don't Hear Very Often

     Just last week, a Counselor at the Christian Center was asking for prayer requests during his team’s morning devotional time. Most kids ask for prayers to have a good day, to hold off the rain so we can play outside, or that no one at Camp will get hurt. As this team went around the room, one camper raised his hand and said, “My prayer request is that someone will explain to me how to ask Jesus into my heart.” Initially taken by surprise at this request, his Counselor took him aside, explained the Gospel, and led him to Jesus!

Make Disciples Who Multiply

     We talk a lot at Camp about making disciples who make more disciples. A Counselor at Pekin Camp put this into practice by teaching his campers how to share the Gospel with others. Two boys in his group sat down together, and one began to share the Good News with the other. Although the boy listening had heard this message many times before, he decided that today was the day he wanted to put his faith in Jesus. One camper led another to Jesus - disciples making more disciples. 

     God undoubtedly used COCUSA this summer to help staff and campers become more fully developed followers of Jesus. Through our theme of “Kingdom Come", we’ve all been challenged to share the story of Jesus with others and to help make disciples who make disciples. As we a new school year, here are a few ways you can pray:

• Pray that God will continue the good work he started in our campers hearts. Pray that campers and their families would connect to communities of believers who can help them continue to grow in their faith and share it with others.
• Pray for our summer staff members as they transition back into school. Pray that the growth they experienced this summer would motivate them to pursue Christ in their schoolwork, relationships, and activites.
• Pray for the Full-Time Staff at COCUSA as we debrief the summer and help make Camp even better at what's most important: Gospel-centered discipleship, safe & quality childcare, and fun for campers and staff!

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Mid-Summer Update from COCUSA

     We all know the cliché phrase, “time flies when you’re having fun.” Man, has that phrase been true so far this summer at Camp! Believe it or not, the Camp season is almost halfway over. Taking a second to reflect, there have been so many amazing moments that have occurred at Camp this summer. Moments that were eagerly anticipated, moments that were surprising and sometimes perplexing, and moments that serve as daily reminders of how truly special COCUSA is. Here are a just a few of the many cool moments our staff has captured so far.

     One camper positively responded to the Good News for the first time at the end of last summer. When her Site Directors gave her a Bible with highlights of each week’s memory verses, she exclaimed, “Wow! I can’t believe they’re all actually in here!” She begged her mother to let her return to Camp next year and has gotten extremely involved in everything COCUSA this summer. This camper pays special attention to the Bible stories and asks thoughtful questions about God each day. Even more so, she enthusiastically learns each week’s memory verses, not just so she can compete in memory verse challenges against her counselors, but because she actually wants to grow as a disciple of Jesus!

     Another camper told his mother that he wanted a new pair of expensive shoes. His mom told him that he could get his new shoes, but they cost about the same amount as a week of Camp. If she bought those shoes, he'd have to miss a week at COCUSA. Without skipping a beat, the camper quickly responded, “Never mind, I’ll wear my old shoes.” Camp was that much more important to him!

     At the end of one Camp day, a Counselor rushed over to her Site Directors to tell them how much she loved being able to share the Gospel message with her campers each Wednesday morning. During her first time sharing the Good News, three of her campers felt a personal calling to accept Jesus into their hearts. Her soul was overwhelmed with God’s amazing power, and she knew that Camp had provided the opportunity for His love to move through her. The Counselor said she couldn’t imagine anywhere else where she’d rather be this summer than at Camp of Champions USA.

     So many more moments are in store for the second half of the summer, and we can’t wait! Here’s some ways you can continue to pray for the ministry of COCUSA.

• Pray that God would continue to work in mighty ways at Camp. Pray that campers would respond to the Gospel, grow in their faith, and share it with others.

• Pray that our staff would continue to provide safe and quality child care for each kid at Camp. Pray that we would stay focused, positive, and energized.

• Pray that everyone at Camp would have a ton of fun as we enter the 2nd half of the camp season. Pray that our fun would lead to lasting friendships that point us all to Jesus.

     If you also want to get involved with our ministry and partner with us financially, you can check out www.cocusa.org/bowl to donate to our scholarship funds and help even more kids come to Camp.

It's Not Too Late to Make Your Summer Count

     Camp of Champions USA exists to serve families by giving your child a fun, safe, and gospel-centered summer. We hope and pray that you will be able to join us for an incredible ride over the next three months, as we teach from the Bible, lead your kids in prayer and character development, all while singing silly songs, going swimming, playing crazy games, and having a blast! Whether you're looking for child care all summer long, or just want to give your kids a week to remember, we're here to serve you.

     It's not too late to register for summer camp! The deadline to register for the first week of Camp (May 31-June 3) is tomorrow, May 24.  

     Summer camp starts on May 31, and many of your kids may already be done with school! If you are already registered with COCUSA, we can't wait to see you. 

Click the big red button below to register- but hurry, space is limited!

3 Questions Every Parent Needs to Answer Before Choosing Summer Child Care

Summer.

     That means three months away from school, free from homework, projects, and parent-teacher conferences. But it also means different routines, crazy schedules, and figuring out what your kids will do for three whole months!

     There are a lot of options out there for summer child care - park districts, day care services, summer camps, sports camps, college for kids, and even a stay-at-home babysitter. All of these have their pros and cons, so how do you choose between them? Here’s the three most important questions every parent needs to answer before choosing summer child care.

1. Will my child have fun?

     It might seem obvious, but fun is important! Find somewhere that your child will enjoy spending their summer. It should make your kid jump out of bed in the morning. If your son or daughter comes home complaining about how bored they were that day, you’ll have a headache that lasts until school starts again. 

     Fun is important to your child’s development. Fun helps your child grow socially by breaking down barriers to building relationships and making friends. At Camp of Champions USA, we’ve seen firsthand that kids who have fun together can develop close friendships. Fun also helps your child grow physically. Activities like playing games and making crafts help your child to develop their coordination and skills. Fun is also important in helping your child develop emotionally. Playing fair, learning to abide by the rules, and interacting with other kids develops empathy, self-awareness, and compassion for others. Fun is so much more than simply having a good time...

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To learn the other 2 questions you need to answer before choosing summer child care, subscribe to the COCUSA Blog to download the free e-booklet! Fill out the form below to immediately receive your free download.

Summer Camp 2016

     Summer will be here before you know it - warm days, a glass of lemonade, maybe even a dip in the pool! It also means your kids won't be in school for 3 whole months. We know you want your kids to have an incredible summer, but how can you decide between so many different choices for childcare? Unlike some of the other childcare options, Camp of Champions USA offers more than a just fun experience. We're committed to helping your child grow in maturity and integrity. We believe that teaching kids Biblical character traits will help them become leaders who positively impact the world. That's why everything we do at Camp is shaped by these three values:

Gospel-Centered Discipleship, Safe & Quality Childcare, Fun for Campers and Staff

     Every year we hear kids and their parents say the same thing: Camp is awesome! Check out this story below to hear how COCUSA impacted the life of a young boy and his family.

     "Each week of the summer, the Counselors at Camp prepare a skill group to share a personal hobby, passion, or skill with their campers. At Pekin Camp, two of our male counselors teamed up to put on a skill group about manliness. After spending having some fun discussing sports, how to properly tie a neck tie, and showing off with feats of strength, the counselors talked about Jesus' example of masculinity. They highlighted Jesus along with other men in the Bible to show how true manliness is found in humility and service to others. Jacob, a boy brand new to Camp this week, happened to join this skill group and had a blast. On Friday that week, Jacob's mom wanted to talk to the Site Directors about her son's behavior. She said that Jacob had totally changed from his one week at Camp. He cleared the dinner table, held doors for people, and cleaned his room all without being asked. She was so grateful for the life-changing influence those two counselors had on her son. Jacob was only signed up for one week of Camp, but his mom promised he would be back next year."

     Our summer program runs June-August, Monday-Friday, 7:30am-5:30pm. We have 8 convenient locations in communities all across Central IL. Weekly prices start at just $120/camper (discounts and financial assistance available). Register now to take advantage of our early registration discount. Now through the month of February, receive half off your first week of summer camp!

We can't wait to see what God does at Camp of Champions USA this summer, and we hope that your kids can be a part of the story!

Winter Camp 2015

     It's much easier to believe that the holidays are right around the corner with the first seasonal snowfall behind us. Did you take advantage by building snowmen, going sledding, or lighting your first fire under the mantle? Even if you didn't get a chance to enjoy the early snowfall, it reminds us that Christmas break is approaching, and that means it's almost time for Winter Camp!

     Winter Camp 2015 will have two sessions over Christmas break. We'll have plenty of your kids' favorite activities from summer camp, including crafts, Bible lessons, singing theme songs, and classic gym games. We'll also include some fun winter specific activities for your kids to enjoy while on break! Session 1 will run December 21-23, and Session 2 will be December 28-30. You can register for a single day, or get a discount when you register for a whole session. You can choose from one of our three available sites: East Peoria, Pekin, or Peoria Christian Center. Click the button below to start your online registration, or download the paper form if pen & paper is more your style.

Paper Registration Form

     Help spread the word about Winter Camp 2015 to your neighbors, coworkers, and friends by sharing this post on Facebook or sending a quick email. Brand new campers get their first day free! We can't wait to celebrate the Christmas season with you at Winter Camp 2015. 

Fall Frenzy 2015

     In many ways, the fact that we've all made it this far into the school year is quite remarkable. The amount of change that happens in a family between mid-August and the end of September can be staggering - new schools, new schedules, and new friends. Just as we think we've got the hang of this new routine, Columbus Day sneaks up on us. Columbus Day is one of those holidays that's easy to forget about, and it's also a day that's difficult to find someone to watch your kids while they're off of school. Don't worry! COCUSA has your back.

     On Columbus Day, October 12, we will be holding our annual Fall Frenzy. We have a fun day planned that's packed with all of the activities and games that kids loved from summer camp. We're excited about connecting with all of you, and we hope that your kids will look forward to seeing their Camp friends and summer staff. We're even more excited to teach kids from the Bible and remind them of the importance of Jesus!  

     Fall Frenzy runs during normal Camp hours from 7:30am-5:30pm (our program runs 9am-4pm). We have three COCUSA locations to choose from: East Peoria Camp, Pekin Camp, and the Peoria Christian Center. We'll have a cookout at lunch time, but feel free to send a sack lunch with your kids if they're a picky eater. 

register for Fall Frenzy online by clicking the button below. 

If you're a pen-and-paper kind of person, you can download and print off the paper registration form here. Just make sure to fill out a separate form for each camper.

     If you have a friend, coworker, or family member who needs childcare on Columbus Day, share this post with them by emailing the link or using the Share button below to spread the word on your social media networks. We can't wait to see you at Fall Frenzy!