Kids University - 5th Year -- Our KU Kids Are Growing Up!!!

2015 was the year that hit Kids University the hardest.  With the help of Lora Obert-Thorn and her kids, Caity King and her grandmother, Madge, Terry was able to keep things moving well during the Spring Session.
Terry's health issues were magnified with March thyroid surgery that caused him to have to scale back and my breast cancer journey kept me away from KU for over nine months.  We came back in late Fall to our kids with the strategy that we could best serve them by concentrating our efforts on those students whose mothers were involved in the mother's class led by one of the KU moms, Kim Beard.

Many of these children have been with us the entire five years and we felt that their academic, social, spiritual and physical needs were where we needed to focus.

Elisha started as a 3 yr old 

Mercedes loves cooking and has a special gift for Bible memory

P J wants to take a step up and become a leader.  

You'll notice that our students love the fruit smoothies they make!!!!

We average 8-12 students a night with this new format and we enjoy devoting our entire energies to their growth and development.

Some of our students have graduated to the Jr Hi /High Youth Group which meets at the same time.  Arissa Honore, our first and most consistent attender these past five years and Tiara Watkins joined LPCF's middle school / high school students who meet at the same time as KU.

Arissa and Campbell on that very first day of summer KU June 2012.

Tiara started with us at age 8 and now sings on the Praise Team at LPCF

Always wanting the students to experience the beautiful property that we get to enjoy, Terry with the help of Jimmy Clanton and Eric Miller constructed a Teepee on the property last Fall

Before it was toppled it -- the kids were able to experience what life might have been life on this very property some 200 years ago.

Our activities have a Bibilical application in an effort to help the Kids learn that all of life is about God and enjoying His world.  We believe that where we are located helps us to maximize that concept on these 48 acres.


Encourage one another -- a Teamwork Activity -- using our most positive communication with each other to build a structure using all the PVC pieces.

The students weren't quite sure where to start

Christiana consistently kept them working 

Complete!  Now what is it?  They quickly converted a PVC pipe to a limbo bar and a game was in process!

Christ love compels / controls us:  The forward thrust in our lives is like the power of Jesus love in us -- we took water bottles -- attached popcycle sticks for stabilizers (and the kids had to decide what stabilized our lives) -- poured vinegar and a sleeve of baking powder we dropped in.  Cork it -- shake it and blast off!  We played with our rockets for the longest time!!!

Our Rocket Launchers - we followed it up with ICE CREAM TREATS!

Not every experiment or activity is successful - (last week's Pinterest homemade bubble recipe was a "dud")  but the discussions that come from these projects - bring depth to our relationships with these kids.  Some of them stop by for 2-3 times and then it may be 3-6 months before we see them again as they move often or stay with grandparents only in the summer.

TRUSTWORTHINESS, RESPECT, HARD WORK AND SERVICE are the four core values that this summer session is revolving around.

Our key verse is Col. 3:23 -- Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord.

Our kids are learning to sew on a machine and make a quilt for the homeless in our area.  Guys and girls alike want to try their hand at stitching.

Lora Obert-Thorn has been an integral part with KU for the past four years.  We were thrilled that this last week she was joined by her husband, Keith,who partneredbwith Terry in giving guidance and support for the young guys in helping them set goals and grow into Godly manhood.

After a rousing game of indoor volleyball (sitting on your pockets - using only your feet) - they led the guys in discussion about becoming leaders and taking a step up.

FOOD PREP is always a hit -- filling tummies with something cool and refreshing in this heat is important.  The guys love to get in on helping just as much as the girls.

Spring 2015 In The KU Garden - Up and Growing : FOUR YEARS STRONG!

Fall was Fun and we have had a great Winter / Spring Session at Kids' University.  Health Issues with Dr. and Mrs. Bell delayed the start of KU until mid-February but 20+ TCC interns signed up to be a part of Wednesday nights at KU and a strong support team from Life Park Christian Fellowship where KU meets kicked off our fourth year on Feb. 11.

Our KU kids are always excited to be outdoors and in the garden.  Whether they are rock skipping or tending to plants, life is always better in the garden.
We watch the tension drain from their faces and soon they're enjoying relationships with our KU interns and feeling part of a team.

Amy and Gabby lead activities with the preschoolers

Caitlin King has been a true God-send this semester as she stepped up to fill the position of Assistant Director.  Caitlin wears many hats as she coordinates each week's activites for children on many different age levels and the leads the Eagle Cadets, our girls junior leaders.  

Caitlin's Grandmother Madge Edmundson is such a vital part of welcoming the children and keeping everyone at their post.  She's a dearly loved member of our KU staff!

Reinforcing the character traits and points of honor we seek to instill in the students, Caitlin has created badges for them as they demonstrate these points.  KU concluded the Spring session with a hot dog roast in the garden and an awards ceremony in which the many kids received awards.

Dallas Cooper has been an integral part of leading the older boys and teaching them gardening and construction skills

The guys have enjoyed the bridge, which is an early construction project of Dr. Bell's to span the entrance to the garden area. An activity is planned for this summer to help them learn various ways to construct items with used lumber and other materials to foster creativity and use resources at hand.

Eric Miller loves this garden and has put in countless hours in the past two years on a weekly basis tending to the preparation of the soil and  harvesting of the vegetables when they are ready in the summer. He has enlisted the help of Larry Pitts who has also put in lots of back breaking work this Spring.

Eric and Lt. Col Jim Erb - who serves as our security

Lora and Reyleigh Obert-Thorn have taken charge of the feeding the KU Kids each week.  They make sure all their food is served up with a huge helping of LOVE!

Just a few of our TCC Interns- Alex, Hang, Alondra and Anh

A highlight of the garden this spring has been the geese that have made the pond their home as it filled up with the early rains.  They made a nest, laid their eggs and the Daddy Goose has stood watch for days on end.

Welcome Fall!

Kids' University is beginning a new session and welcoming Fall with lots of time outdoors and a chance to get to know our new interns. So many kids are coming and we are excited with the opportunity to get to work with them.  We've had over 40 different children -- and many come every week -- so we're having 25-30 each week.  Last week we ran out of T-shirts with 38 students joining us for the evening.

Caitlin King. one of our returning Interns has worked faithfully in planning and helping us to create Tribes with a Native American Theme.  She is a resourceful young woman who has experience with childrens' groups in other venues and offers much to our leadership.  Caitlin will be our Tribe leader for our Girls Eagle Cadets.  She enjoys helping these young girls develop skills
in leading and goal-setting.

nutritious snack-time is still KIDS favorite

We are enjoying more space this year as Life Park Christian Fellowship has opened more of their new educational wing to us.

We have spent the last 2 1/2 years in two small classrooms and one open play area --now we're able to utilize the larger teaching space.

Ayanna and her younger elementary KIDS -- she has a way of helping them stay on task and passes to them her spirit of calmness and peace.

An answer to prayers, Kevin and Tom have returned to help our boys ages 10-14.  They named their Tribe "God's Army"  -- They are doing guy's sized jobs keeping up the garden and other "man jobs".

A KU Summer . . .

 Our theme has been critters and plants in God's creation.

We became explorers and searched for all the creepy crawlies we could find - then looked for tracks of bigger critters
that make their way to our property.

Outdoor fun!!!  Thanks Isaiah for being a great sport!

Thai Basil

 We've been blessed with showers and gentle rains which has helped our KU Gardens tremendously.  Special thanks to Eric Miller for his countless hours watering when the rains haven't come and to Kayla and Lora Obert-Thorn and her children for all the help in clearing, weed-pulling and watering they have done.  We're excited about what's growing!!!

Zuchini!!!!

We remember the summer of 2012 and the tiny handful of dried up veggies we harvested!!!

More squash!

Beans in the background

Peppers under the netting

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Corn - -- just enough to taste!

hotdogs and sampling our squash and watermelon for the 4th

Enjoying the harvest and anticipating great pumpkins and watermelons

We are meeting on Thursdays from 10-12 to enjoy outside activities and sample 
 some of the yummy vegetables that have been growing in the gardens.