Summer Sensation!

Question? What's a kid supposed to do with two and a half months of free time in two different countries and on a ten day sail in the Atlantic Ocean???? Answer? Import some awesome leaders from several different nations lead by the amazing Margo Zupke a veteran of all things summer fun on a ship and create an amazing month long program! Above the kids hang out in a tree at Coco Beach in Togo. There are not many kids in the summer program as many of the families take the opportunity to go home.

Jess and her new friend Rachel whose family came to fill in for another position vacant over summer.

Sometimes I worry about the minds of our leaders-lol. This activity involved chewing up bubble gum and seeing what could be done with it!

Gross! I will save this one for Jessica's 21st!

It wouldn't be summer program without a LOT of craft. Jess and Zodi make a wooden flip flop photo frame.

Games on deck seven also featured heavily especially when we were at sea.

There are always lots of exciting field trips. One such was to the British School of Lome for their athletics day. Jess is participating in the egg and spoon race.

Jess hanging with friends, Zodi and Rachel at the British School playground.

I know this photo is a bit blurry but I had to include it. This is Aussie Day!!! A fellow Aussie brought with her so many donations from Australian organisations such as hats, stickers, flags, tattoos, fake play money, tim tams, iced vovos etc, etc. It was a very special day for Jess and she took along our giant blow up kangaroo to join in the festivities. The kids also baked lamingtons and did a bush dance.

All the kids up on deck eight after a very windy game of a ship favourite, Capture the Flag, made all the more fun playing at sea whilst rocking and rolling and dodging all the land rovers secured on the decks.

 Other games from the sick minds of our leaders- fun with Oreo cookies. They only got a little bit in trouble for sticking them to the windows and having the kids eat them off without hands!

Continuing  with the food theme-jelly games on deck seven!

Marshmellow games-Jessica's poodle made from marshmellows.

Tenerife at last! The summer program went for the first week we were in Tenerife and four of the five days the kids went out-the beach, Train Park, Big Park and Big Pool. Of course these things have proper Spanish names but the crew tends to give things a nick name as the majority of us don't speak Spanish. Above the kids are hanging out at the Train Park climbing frame.

The first week in Tenerife the weather was scorching-the hottest day peaking at around 41 degrees C. The kids cooled off with a visit to Burger King for ice cream after the Big Park. Jess is in the very far right in a green t-shirt.

If the photos were not exciting enough please enjoy this little movie that shows some of the highlights of the summer program this year courtesy of one of the leaders. The accompanying song quickly became one of the kids favourites during the morning devotions and worships times.

Thanks team for another amazing, outstanding, creative, exciting summer program lovingly created for our kids!!! We love you. Please, please, please come back-lol!!!