Does it seem a bit odd for a grown man to be writing about church camp?  Well, remember that my full-time job is in youth ministry.  I know not everyone who reads my blog is interested in this type of material, but if you have kids I challenge you to give this a quick read.  I’m not afraid to admit, I love our week of church camp every summer!   It is a great time for our family and our church.

Today, more than ever, it is important for kids to get unplugged from all the technology and craziness that fills their schedules.  Church camp offers the opportunity for kids to unplug, unwind and just be a kid.  Busy school schedules, extra-curricular activities and a flood of technology and media seem to keep kids constantly busy.

If all has gone as planned, I am actually at the facility where we have our camp session as you read this.  (The magic of ‘scheduling’ allowed this post to go live even though there is no access to the internet at camp.)  I am meeting with the other leaders of our camp and we are planning our session for this summer.  It should be a great retreat, with some amazing friends and that is why I have church camp on my mind in March.

For one week, kids have the opportunity to be surrounded by friends, peers and adults who want nothing but the very best for them.  At church camp every day is focused on learning more about the Bible and building people up.  Camp gives kids a chance to be young and free, and allows adults a chance to have fun too.  At our camp, technology is not welcome and kids and adults are asked to turn their phones in, leave the iPods at home and just enjoy being unplugged for a while.

TV is great, movies are good and video games are fun…but it is good to get away from them for a while.  I have heard a number of the teens talk about how it is nice to get a break from the constant flurry of text messages and notifications they receive every day.  I frankly don’t know how some of our teens survive the pace of school work, sports activities and work that they keep up.  Our goal at camp is to show them a different style of living.  One that is slow.  A day that is focused on God and others.

At camp we try to strike the best balance of structure and free time.  Structure is a necessary component that provides comfort for those who are not used to being away from home.  Having a daily routine also helps to avoid any discipline issues.  But providing free time allows kids the chance to unwind, hang out with friends, meet new friends and get used to the feeling of having nothing to do.

Here are my top 10 reasons why every kid should go to camp:

1) It’s quite possibly the best week of the entire summer!

2) You get a chance to ‘be on your own’ away from Mom and Dad.  Scary for some, exciting for others.  It is a big opportunity to grow as a young person.

3) There are lots of new friends to meet.  Seeing old friends is also great!

4) Camp provides plenty of opportunities to try new things.

5) Days are filled with great Bible lessons and super singing.

6) Being surrounded by loving and encouraging adults who have made a special effort to lead, teach and spend time with them.

7) It may not sound like fun, but it is good to try being unplugged for a while.

8) Sunburns, mosquitoes, camp food and hard bunks…they all make you appreciate the comforts of home even more 🙂

9) Creating life-long friendships.

10) Enjoying the simple things like climbing a mountain, going for a swim or learning something new.

The list could honestly go on for a while….

Here’s an interesting thing – I didn’t go to camp as a kid.  My first year in youth ministry was the first time I ever went to camp.  This will be my eighth year at camp and the fourth year I bring my family with me.  Camp is a highlight of the summer for our young family.  We are blessed with a camp director who sees the benefit of allowing very young children to be at camp.  Our five year-old loves going to camp each summer and I know she can’t wait till she is old enough to attend as a camper.  I believe there is also something special about allowing kids to see how my family interacts with each other at camp.

More than anything, I enjoy the life-changing moments that happen at camp.  A lot can happen in a week.  There is a young man at our church who is our intern this year.  The change for him began one summer at camp.  It is great to know that we are facilitating an event where lives are changed.  Years later I hear teens in our youth group talking about something that happened at camp, or on a mission trip, or at a service project, etc.

I want to encourage parents to sign their kids up for church camp this summer.  Some kids don’t have a real interest in camp…give them a little shove and we will handle the rest once they get to camp.  Some parents are scared to send their kids off to camp…don’t worry, all the staff at any church camp will treat your kids like they are their very own.  If money is tight, let your youth minister know…I bet some assistance can easily be found.  Stop making excuses and get your kid out to church camp this summer!

Church camp is truly a favorite part of my year and one of my favorite things!