How To Prepare Your Child for Camps and Trips
Attending summer camp each year was one of my best memories growing up in a Christian home in Colorado. I remember my mom and I reading through the camp packing list, for probably the 10th time, as I checked that I had everything I needed for my first week-long trip away from my parents.
When I finally arrived at camp, the nervous energy was tangible. I wondered if I'd make any friends, if I would like the camp food, and if I'd be brave enough to do the 1/2 mile zip-line over the lake. The week ended up being a formative moment in my childhood where I took some crucial steps in independence (I got brave and rode the zip-line) and had some of my first moments encountering the presence of God.
During those special days away in the Rocky Mountains, I decided to commit my life to follow Jesus and have a personal relationship with Him. This decision was reinforced and deepened in the following years as my parents continued to invest in my spiritual development at an annual summer camp.
Jumping forward to today, I now have the privilege to plan and facilitate camps just like the one my life was changed at over 20 years ago in the mountains of Colorado. For the past decade, I've led and organized summer camps, missions trips, student retreats, and cross country conference trips. These strategic times away from the normal rhythms and routines of life seem to always magnetically attract God's power, presence, and transforming work.
I say it frequently, but I'm convinced the most strategic thing you can do for your child's spiritual development as a parent is to send them to a camp or retreat.
More than hype, more than just another event, more than youth programming, I believe in camps because I've personally seen hundreds of lives changed in camp and retreat settings.
However, more than just signing your kid up and enjoying a kid-free week of quiet bliss (we know some of you are already dreaming of the silence....), there are some strategic ways parents can engage with God's formative work through their child's camp experience.
Here are some ways you can strategically partner with God's work in your child BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER camp this summer
BEFORE
Share testimonies of how God has worked in your own life
Testimonies are invitations to receive what God has already done in someone else's life. One way you can increase spiritual expectation in your camper is by sharing testimonies of how God has moved in your own life. If you grew up growing attending camp, share ways God impacted you while you were away. Share your salvation experience. Dust off the old miracle stories and share them again with your kids.
Write your child a letter to open at camp
One way you can uniquely encourage your child at camp is through a letter. As someone whose primary love language is words of affirmation, I'm a massive fan of this strategy. Spend a few minutes and write your camper a letter encouraging them in their faith and communicating your heart for them at camp. You can either drop the note off with your child's counselor or ask your child to wait to open it until about halfway through camp.
Build a prayer team
I believe to my core that prayer changes the world. Somehow, our weak words move God's heart and release His power and plan on the earth. With that being said, reach out to grandparents, aunts & uncles, family friends, and build a team of people who will commit to pray for your child during their time at camp. Camp moments are so significant in a young person's spiritual development.
DURING
Make a strategic prayer list
Be strategic in your prayers! Pray for your kid to make godly friends. Pray for their counselor and the camp staff (shameless plug right here). Pray for their Salvation. Pray for life-changing encounters with the Holy Spirit. Pray for healing or restoration from difficulties your kid is facing. Making a prayer list is a practical way your prayers can be directed and strategic for your child during camp.
Fast a day or two during their time away
Fasting positions us to receive what God already wants to do in our lives. The Bible is filled with examples of prayer coupled with fasting, releasing God's breakthrough into the lives of His people. Instead of just checking out as a parent while your kid is away, lean in spiritually and commit to fast for their breakthrough at camp.
Don't text them
Sending a quick "I love you" or "I'm praying for you" text is fine, but please don't ask them if they like their cabin, if they miss home, or if they're bored at camp. You're paying good money for your kid to go to camp. Don't ruin their experience by making them think homesick instead of being present for what God is doing.
AFTER
Don't grill them in the car ride home
I know parents…. this one is hard, but I'm telling you now that even if you ask all the deep, meaningful camp recap questions in the car, most of you will get the characteristic "yeah, camp was good" response. Instead of going deep right away, ask them quickly what some of their favorite parts, let them take a nap, and wait for the days and weeks afterward to ask some more probing, reflective questions.
Buy them a journal
Your student should bring a notebook or journal to camp, but especially afterward, make sure you follow up and encourage them to write down what God did or said to them during their away. One of the enemy's primary strategies is to make us forget or discredit real moments we had with God. Journaling is a practical way we can stir up Faith and be obedient to God’s word in our lives.
Set up a hang out with friends they met at camp
As the classic youth pastor mantra goes - show me your friends and I'll show you your future. Summer camp is a fantastic opportunity for parents to invest in godly friendships and influences for their kids. In the weeks following camp, ask your child who are some of their new friends they made at camp and set up a play date or hangout. Be strategic to invest in the new godly friendships they made during their week away.
Follow up discipleship
This is where you can start asking all the questions! Once you've given them some time to re-acclimate and catch up on sleep, it's your job to begin to water and cultivate the seeds that God planted in your child’s heart at camp. My advice is to bring these questions up in normal and casual everyday settings in your home. Here are some sample questions that you can ask your camper:
What was your favorite part of camp?
What was one thing God did/said to you?
What was your favorite chapel session?
What is something God asked you to start doing or to stop doing in your life?
How can I help you with what God is calling you to do?
I could and probably should write more on this, but as a parent, you have a God-given assignment and responsibility to come alongside the Holy Spirit in His work of grace in your child's life. You are the primary discipler of your child. God releases vision in moments but sanctifies and transforms us over time. Be obedient to the Great Commission and commit the long process of Christ being formed in your family!
Get them to church in the following weeks
As you continue to take on the responsibility of discipling your child be strategic and get them back in environments where God met them during their time away. Getting your family to church helps ensure accountability and further growth in your camper in the coming months.
Lastly, my biggest encouragement to parents for all of this is simply be engaged in your kids camp experience. Signing your child up for camp is great, being involved in the process of spiritually preparing and following through is even better. The Radiant Kid & Students team is praying for you all and your families this summer! Thank you for allowing us to partner with you as you pass of the Faith to your child.
