Nearly 300 children ended their summer break with Grace Family Church's Kids Bible Camp, which ran this year from August 10-14.

The annual five-day event, held at the church, was open for kids ages 4 to those who had just completed the fifth grade. They were sorted into groups based on their most recently completed grade and got to enjoy a wide variety of group activities throughout the week, such as singing, skits, arts and crafts, and a special Bible story time.

The theme for this year's Kids Bible Camp was "Kingdom Quest," where kids could explore ancient kingdoms and digital realms to "discover who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him," according to the church's website. Children also attended classes as they rotated between their activities, with each day covering a different theme.

Friday, August 14 was a particularly special day at camp, as the children got to play on bounce houses, water slides, and an inflatable obstacle course set up behind the church. The day ended with a barbecue and ice cream truck; kids and adults alike soaked up the summer sun as they ate hot dogs and their favorite ice cream flavors.

August 14 also doubled as Fun Friend Friday, where everyone could bring in a friend from outside the camp.

Grace Family Church Lead Pastor Adam Fredericks called running the camp a team effort. Almost 50 adult volunteers and over 60 teen volunteers, many of whom attended Kids Bible Camp themselves, were ready to help however they could.

This was especially helpful, considering the camp had so many kids this year that some grades had to be split into two different groups.

"It's just a fun time for everyone," Fredericks said. "We want to make sure the kids have a quality experience, where they can get to know the teachers and make friends, and not just have 50 kids in one big room."

There was also a service component, as Grace Family Church held an outreach project to coincide with the camp. Fredericks said the church wanted to help local children from kindergarten to high school who are in need of school supplies.

Every class at camp had at least two backpacks which kids could fill with ring binders, notebooks, composition books, loose leaf paper, rulers, crayons, glue sticks, and other suggested items. The Grace Family Church community filled 16 backpacks for the Jericho Partnership, a nonprofit alliance of faith-based ministries and congregations dedicated to serving Danbury’s at-risk students.

Adrienne Ventresca, the church administrator and children's ministry overseer of Grace Family Church, said she has been involved with Kids Bible Camp since 1994. She started in the craft room for a few years, taught for a few years after that, and now mostly focuses on organizing the event. Ventresca said a lot goes into the planning process, from choosing the curriculum early in the year and gathering the teen and adult volunteers to setting up registration by the start of July.

More than anything else, Ventresca said that she loves having so many kids come to church every year.

"We get to be able to share God's love with them. They get to experience just how real God can be and, hopefully as they go, it stays with them," Ventresca said. "That's what we believe, that what we put in makes an eternal difference in their hearts that lasts their whole life."

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.