‘The Island King’ Comes to California

For the last dozen years, kids from Lincoln, Calif., have converged on Granite Springs Church to participate in a week-long summer Music and Drama camp. “We wanted to do something different and unique. During the week, the children learn an original musical written by Granite Springs’ former music and worship director, Gregg DeMey,” said Lia Harper, director of children’s and women’s ministry.

The camp was held daily from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Each morning started with age-group games in the sanctuary, followed by a mixture of large and small group time. “Large group time includes learning songs and motions, performing skits, and having fun. Small group time includes learning songs, motions, and lines for specific scenes in the musical, along with games and drama exercises,” said KJ VanEk, high school youth leader at Granite Springs. Over 70 kids attended the camp this year; half of those were first-time attendees and another 20 had no church affiliation.

Each year the camp concludes with a Sunday night performance. This year’s musical, “The Island King,” set four stories from the book of Daniel to a Hawaiian theme. The theme lent itself well to costumes and props, said Harper. The 60 volunteers helping with the event ranged in age from teens to senior citizens. “It is especially rewarding to see kids helping as volunteers who were once camp kids,” said Van Ek.

The camp has been well received by community members as well as church members. “One of our church members posted on Facebook about Music and Drama Camp and received an overwhelmingly positive response from other parents whose kids have attended camp in the past. It was great to see social networking in action,” said Harper. “No other church does anything like it.”