Canoed on the Nippersink Creek in Sugar Grove area at Glacier Park Camped out at the Chain 'O Lakes State Park.

Kids canoed for about three to four hours, with one boat that capsized while the paddlers were portaging over a dry spot they ran into. All was well and simply made for a little great drama. Four leaders in their 20's were the only adults on the trip. The kids loved it!

At the campsite they were joined by a practitioner. Kids made foil dinners, took a night hike and sang songs by the fire with the practitioner who brought his guitar. All went very well and all the rain and thunderstorms that were expected never came. Instead there was a starry night above. Male leaders and the boys stayed in separate tents on one site and the girl leaders and the girls in separate tents on a site across the road way. On Sunday morning, the lesson was read and discussed together and then another hike was has. After the breaking down of the campsites parents came to collect kids or were taken closer to home by the leaders. Kids said they had a great time and are looking forward to the next event!

The non-scientist, loved the event so much and really wants to take part in other events. He said he'd join the DB Chicago FB page.

Two brothers and a cousin, whom we never seemed to be able to get to our events, came and really enjoyed it and are looking forward to coming again as well. That was a big step! They have more siblings and cousins who now may join us, too. The kids said it is hard to get to activities because of work, and school commitments. Hopefully they'll come to the next teen-council meeting and help find good dates so that they can participate more actively. We were all very grateful for the dedicated and loving support and guidance of our wonderful and energetic leaders. The kids really like them a lot!

by Bronwen Myers

During the last weekend in August, the University of Wisconsin, Madison Student Center Foundation hosted a DiscoveryBound regional event that drew participants from across Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Illinois. On Friday night we enjoyed games, 'smores, and a discussion on how to share Christian Science with others. We rose early on Saturday to drive to Dodgeville, WI where we spent a long, fun day on low and high ropes courses. We enjoyed team-building games like balancing a giant teeter-totter, then walked tight ropes and whizzed down zip lines. By the end of the day we were ready for a big meal, and so grateful to the Christian Science Church in Cedarsburg, WI (north of Milwaukee) that provided it for us! On Sunday we went to the Madison Church and had a picnic and soccer game before heading to a lecture to better understand a spiritual approach to health care. We ate ice cream along Lake Mendota before parting ways.

For many of us, this weekend was a first encounter with DiscoveryBound – and we can't wait for more! It was great to feel the love of a community devoted to Christian Science while having a blast.

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Many commented on how nice it was to see everyone. 
One lady said she loved it and looks forward to the next family activity.

Kids really enjoyed playing Frizbee Golf and Mölkky a lawn game from Finland.

There was a general feeling of happy fellowshipping and a free sense of non-structure. The day was perfect in weather conditions. Couldn't have asked for better.
A lady who at times visits the CS church in Barrington came with her newly adopted Russian daughter and was very happy to meet so many new Christian Scientists.  She loved the event!  It seemed to serve a meaningful purpose for her. It was a great day and we all look forward to it again.

We did a lot of marketing to the churches and individual emails. We asked the churches to announce it from their Sunday desks and provided an announcement for them to read that described the purpose of our organization and the family activity purpose to bring us together for fellowship. I am aware that some churches first readers did read the announcement. I'm sure others didn't feel comfortable.

Our email list grew from this and we're sure the word will spread that the family events are a wonderfully fun way to come together. Someone mentioned that there was too much talking to the crowd about DB. A little long for this event. People felt they couldn't eat while we spoke and others who came just as we began to talk to the group, felt they needed to wait to get their food. We should have told them to feel free to get up and get more food and to continue eating while we spoke to them of the upcoming events. Helpful comment for next time. After we planned our event and sent out flyers the Prin Club got back to us to tell us they had planned their picnic event on the same day but had not yet sent out info. We've talked with them about maybe combining the event together next time. There are people that went to the Prin Club event that would have loved to have had both experiences on different days or to combine our efforts. We'll find out from the Prin Club before we plan for next year.