Big Stuf Camps 2004 Internship

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Big Stuf Camps 2004 Internship Panama City Beach,
FL Stephanie Wade
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What is Big Stuf Camps?

• MISSION STATEMENT Big Stuf Camps exist to
  creatively communicate the refreshing spirit of
  Christ, the truth of His word, and the difference
  living for Him can make in our lives.
• The camp is for students in grades 7-12. Each
  day the students are exposed to speakers and the
  Big Stuf band. Time is blocked off each day for
  the students to enjoy the sun and the sand and to
  spend time with their youth groups. Organized
  recreational activities also keep the students
  occupied. Each night after a long day of
  sessions and fun in the sun, groups meet together
  for their church group time. Interns were
  invited in by the youth pastors to speak to the
  students. Interns are hired each year to put in
  countless hours of work without pay. The
  experience itself is rewarding enough to keep
  interns coming back.

Big Stuf interns 2004
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Registration

• Preparation for registration began at 1 pm when
  me and two other interns would count books and
  armbands for the 1500 students that would attend
  camp that week.

Registration began at 4 pm. My responsibility
was to check in youth directors from churches
beginning with N-Z. I offered smiles and water
as I directed them to their rooms and filled them
in on important camp information.
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Recreation Time

• On Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1pm until 4 pm
  the campers were involved in recreational
  activities including volleyball and basketball.
• My responsibility during recreation time was to
  get water to the courts, to get the balls and
  courts ready for play, and to referee the games.

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Front of House
Front of house (FOH) is where the video, audio,
sound, and lighting are controlled during
production. My responsibility when working at FOH
was to make sure the cooler was filled with
drinks for the people working at FOH, to control
the house lights, to put out the armband flags,
and to be the runner of messages and errands
during production.
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Church Group Time

• Began at about 930 pm each night
• Learned to lead discussion
• Learned to get kids attention and keep it
• Connected with students
• Built a foundation that couldnt be built with
  1500 other students in the room

Mountain View Baptist Church
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What did I learn?
I was blown away this summer by the students that
I met and connected with. The middle school
students I worked with showed so much potential.
Their new ideas and free spirits inspired me to
give more in all the work I did.
Each day at 700 pm, students headed to the beach
for quiet time.
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Anxiously Awaiting

• My experience this summer at Big Stuf has me very
  excited about my career as a teacher. I love
  being up in front asking questions and prompting
  students to think beyond what has been given to
  them in black and white print.

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I want to be an intern too
This experience helped me to realize how much
students look up to you when youre in a position
like a teacher or an intern at a camp. Over and
over again I had students tell me how they wanted
to intern too. Students are craving a cool and
positive role model in their life. I may not be
cool to some people, but I definitely want to
impact these students as a positive role model.
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At the end the day

• Working long days as a Big Stuf intern was
  sometimes tiring, but the hard work was worth it
  when I connected with a student and their eyes
  were opened to something they hadnt seen before.
  My experience this summer has made my passion
  for students grow stronger and has me
  anticipating my future as a teacher!!!