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.

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!