'Xtreme Xperience' boot camp begins at Osage center

Starting tomorrow Greater Dimension Ministries will begin their second annual "Xtreme Xperience" diversity boot camp event at the Osage Community Center in Cape Girardeau.

The event, which takes place tomorrow and Saturday, will feature a free concert tomorrow with two Christian bands, choirs and praise and worship groups. Saturday's events feature a string of activities meant to promote teamwork.

"Our main focus is to tear down the racial and economic barriers that exist between people," said Rodney Bird, a member of the church and part of the committee that helped organize the project.

"We want to build bridges for people, especially kids, to be able to come together in worship and fellowship," said Bird. "Each game requires teamwork, so the kids will have to put aside their differences and work in groups. The adults will also have to work together and be role models."

The organizers are anticipating an even greater diversity among the participants this year than last year, said Bird.

The event boasts a boot camp theme with extreme action. The youth participants will engage in activities such as navigating a large maze, a tire-pushing run, hiking with weighted backpacks and going through an obstacle course, with all of the events having a scripture based message.

"In the backpack event the kids will be running toward a cross with weighted backpacks," said Bird. "It's a symbolism of the burdens they carry, which are relieved when the come to the cross."

The event starts Friday at 7 p.m. with live music, and it is open to everyone. Registration for Saturday's event starts at 7 a.m. A seminar follows giving an overview of the day's mission and an explanation of the activities. Participants then break into teams, and the action begins.

Last year between 4-500 people participating in the Xtreme Xperience. This year organizers are expecting a crowd of about 7-800, said Bird.