Here Comes Camp!

A highlight of the 4th-6th grade year is approaching. In late January we will once again trek up to the San Bernardino Mountains for a weekend of winter camp at Forest Home. Whether your child is one of our camp veterans or has never made the trip, or if your family is new to the church, I want to write this as an invitation to make an investment for your child that can pay dividends on many levels.

1. Camp experiences create memories. Last year, on the drive up, we were being goofy in the front of the bus, trying to keep the kids entertained on the 2+ hour bus ride, telling jokes and playing quiz games, when all of a sudden it became very quiet. It took me a few seconds to catch on - we had finally climbed to an elevation where the kids could see snow. This non-native Californian forgets every year what a big deal for these kids to see snow. Their faces reflect their amazement, and the fascination with snow never wears off the entire weekend, regardless of how dirty or wet they get.

Weather is just one of the reasons winter camp leaves a lasting imprint. For 48 hours, they get to exist in a kid-dominated (but still adult-structured) environment. Kids eat great food, sing fun songs, play lots of games, get to commandeer the bunk beds in their room, go on hikes, play outside, stay up late, and experience nature. It is an edifying experience and kids talk about it for months after they return.

Why is this a benefit? Because the week-to-week experience of church tends to blur. But camp is so different, so unique, that it can expose kids to God in a different environment than to what they've become accustomed. Just as kids' faith development is stunted if there is no "God talk" at home, but only in church, it helps kids to have a spiritual experience that's off their normal turf.

2. Camp builds and strengthens friendships. We have kids "meet" each other at camp who have been going to the same church and same class for literally years, yet never had the chance to develop a relationship. We have other kids who encounter kids who normally attend another service, and those kids hit it off with each other. Those relationships wouldn't otherwise happen.

When I was a school teacher, I reflected often how quickly a classroom became an "us". Just by virtue of kids' being in the same room day in and day out, they got to know each other - not just names, but personalities, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, natures and foibles. We enjoy no such luxury in church. Even though we do age groupings, we simply do not meet often enough or have enough informal time to let quality relationships develop. The average kid in our program comes to church about 2 times a month. In a year, that's about 35 hours with the other kids - as much time as they spend with their classmates in the first week of school. Or, in the first day and a half of camp. So, your child can spend as much time around church pals in one camp weekend as they would in nearly a year of coming to church. Sound like a good investment yet?

3. Camp provides opportunities for leaders and kids to bond. On top of time with other kids, leaders get a chance for incredible amounts of informal bonding time with kids. We are responsible for providing our own counselors at winter camp, and it's a responsibility we're glad to fill, as we believe that every kid needs a caring adult leader who is not their parent walking alongside them.

4. Camp is totally unplugged. Forest Home asks that kids leave iPods, video games and cell phones at home (and good luck getting cell phone reception up there anyhow), and the result is a tech-free weekend - for most kids, the first in a very long time. And you know what? Kids survive. They play. They talk. They make up games. They sing. And hopefully, they long for the next chance they'll have to escape modernity and re-enter a simpler environment.

5. Camp is unhurried. There's no practices to make, no homework to schedule, no drive-thru meals on the run to the next appointment. Camp has a schedule, but allows for ample free time too. It lets kids breathe.

6. Camp builds kids' confidence and autonomy. Some parents - and kids - worry that their son or daughter isn't ready for a weekend away. All I can do is refer to past experience, which shows that in nearly every case, kids come through with flying colors. This, in turn, increases their self-confidence and ability to make their own decisions. And you should want that. The way we train kids to make big decisions is to trust them to make little ones. The growing up process is filled with opportunities for parents to share and eventually hand over decision making. How will kids ever make a decision for Jesus when they have no experience managing any other aspect of their lives? They won't, and they can't. What they'll make instead is a decision that they think their caregivers want - but they don't own it. We bless our kids when we give them the space and opportunity to make decisions. Camp does that beautifully.

The nuts and bolts: Camp is January 30-February 1. We leave at 2:30 on Friday, which may necessitate taking your child out of school early that day. Please do this, as a timely arrival at camp is a must, and the later we leave, the more traffic we encounter as we travel north.

Camp costs $160, which includes lodging and meals, transportation, and t-shirt. Scholarships are available if you have a financial need. An $80 deposit is due when you sign up. Please discuss financial arrangements with us, the earlier the better. And if you would like to send a child to camp, please call us about donating to our scholarship fund.

Kids are housed either 7 or 9 to a cabin, with a leader from NCCC (most are leaders in our weekend or midweek programs). They are housed with other kids from our church and you can indicate a roommate preference on the sign-up form.

Camp will fill. We have had a waiting list the last three years, so make arrangements early and get your paperwork in. Once we have filled our spots (92), we can ask the camp if they will release more, however this is not guaranteed and last year we did have kids on the waiting list who didn't get to go. Camp paperwork is available in our classroom and at the church on the weekdays.