First Chance

June 14-16 — 2-4 Grades

First Chance is exactly what it sounds like —

a child’s very first chance to experience overnight camp without Mom or Dad.

Designed specifically for campers entering 2nd, 3rd and 4th grades, First Chance is a 3-day, 2-night adventure packed with all the classic Bond Camp activities in a shorter, confidence-building format. Campers will swim, slide, play games, enjoy chapel and worship, make crafts, eat great food, and build new friendships — all in a safe, encouraging environment.

It’s long enough to feel like "big kid" camp… but short enough to help first-time campers

(and their parents!) feel comfortable and excited.

What Goes on at First Chance

Morning: Starting the Day Out

Morning Flag Raising & Prayer

We begin each day as a whole camp by raising the flag and opening with prayer. This sets the tone for the day and reminds campers that everything we do is centered on faith, gratitude, and community.

Breakfast & Camp Cleanup

Campers enjoy a hearty breakfast together to fuel up for the day ahead. Campers take a short amount of time to tidy cabins and shared spaces. This helps build responsibility and care for the camp community.

Mid-Morning: Growing in Faith & Connection

Morning Devotional Time

Campers gather in their family groups for a devotional designed specifically for their age level. This time includes Scripture, discussion, and prayer in a smaller, supportive setting.

Small Group/Family Group Activities

Depending on the week, campers may participate in short classes, Bible-based activities, or group discussions that reinforce the devotional theme and help campers build friendships.

Afternoon: Learning, Play & Rest

Lunch

A shared meal gives campers time to relax, laugh, and connect with friends and counselors

Afternoon Classes or Activities

Campers rotate through scheduled activities that may include hands-on learning, creative classes, or skill-based sessions.

Free Time/Recreation/Swim Time

Afternoons also include plenty of time for fun—organized games, open recreation, swimming, and rest. Campers are always supervised during all activities.

Evening: Community & Worship

Dinner

Campers gather again as a camp family to enjoy dinner and reflect on the day.

Evening Worship & Speaker

Each evening includes a worship service with music and a speaker who shares a message designed to encourage, challenge, and inspire campers in their faith, building on the theme of the week and what campers are learning.

Night Fun & Wind-Down

Each evening wraps up with fun group games and activities, often followed by a campfire, before campers return to their cabins for a short devotion, prayer, and a calm wind-down to prepare for a good night’s rest.

Meet the Deans of First Chance

Tyson & Tiffani Graber

Tyson and Tiffani serve together at Greenville First Christian Church, where Tyson is the Lead Pastor and Tiffani serves as Children’s Minister. As a husband-and-wife team, they bring both strong spiritual leadership and a deep understanding of children’s ministry to First Chance Camp.

Both are creative, gifted communicators who love helping kids experience the joy of camp while growing in their faith. Their heart is to create a safe, exciting, and spiritually meaningful first camp experience that kids will never forget.

Josh & Rachel Hicks

Josh serves as Youth Minister at Tower Hill Christian Church and brings years of faithful ministry experience to First Chance Camp. He also serves as Chaplain for the Pana High School football team, investing in students both on and off the field.

Josh grew up attending Bond Camp and, alongside his wife Rachel, has faithfully served at Bond for over 20 years. His lifelong love for camp and passion for students make him a natural fit as Assistant Dean. Josh is committed to helping young campers feel welcomed, encouraged, and excited about their very first camp experience.