The first major event that was held was a massive Catapult competition. The participants were broken up into groups to collaborate a build a mini catapult. After construction, the participants launched their catapults, competing against one another to see which one shot the farthest. A winner was crowned, and soon after, dinner was served. During dinner, the VOA Program Adviser, Janice Sepcoski was presented with her Woodbadge Beads, an event marking the completion of the intense Woodbadge training experience. All in attendance were honored to observe such a momentous occasion- the bestowing of a recognition that was very well deserved.

After dinner, the ventures divided themselves into six teams and held what was perhaps the most competitive event of the night, the Jeopardy. The venturers gathered around the projector and screen playing a Jeopardy game and listened intensively as the host on the screen explained the rules. The teams then competed against each other in a shouting match for two rounds of yelling out answers to questions about candy, military history, pirates, movies, and many more. A winner was crowned after being the only team to correctly answer the final jeopardy question- name your NEPA VOA officers.

The first major event that was held was a LEGO competition. The venturers divided into four teams and they set to work on creating the most elaborate structure. Teams had just one hour to try and outdo each other with their Lego building skills. In the end, teams built four different structures of very different capabilities and strengths. The structures ranged from very large, to smaller more detailed structures. Then, totally unexpectedly, the teams switched structures with one another, and then were given candy, icing, graham crackers, and instructions to imitate the Lego structure in ginger bread house form. Everyone was totally surprised, but they got to work immediately! In the end, it was a tie between all four teams, simply because all of the creations were very elaborate and unique in their own ways.

By around four or five in the morning, venturers of all different shapes and sizes could be found stretched out or curled up in a ball in different places throughout the room at the church hall. Some brought out sleeping bags and found dark corners to fall asleep in, others just chose to throw on a jacket and fall asleep stretched out face down on the floor. Some fell asleep on a mattress of blankets, others on top of a mattress of backpacks and various objects. Some small faint murmurs of the few remaining awake venturers could still be heard, softly giggling and laughing about the fun night that had just started to come to a close.

At around ten the next morning, every venturer was awake, cleaned up and ready to go. Breakfast had been served, and all that was wished to be accomplished was complete. Rides started to come and venturers slowly said goodbye one by one, giving hugs and saying goodbye to old friends and new ones that they had just met. As everyone was leaving it was apparent that no one left without a smile on their face, and plans to make the next venturing lock in even bigger and better than the last.

If you thought this was a great time, just wait for next year! Come on out to Queen of the Apostles Church Hall on December 13- 14, 2013 for the 2013 Holiday Lock In to have another great night of fun and fellowship. See you there!