I love hanging out at camp and want these students to feel like this is a special place where they are free from expectations, peer pressure, or distractions (Xbox or cell phones). But while I want them to feel free to do a lot of fun and amazing things, I think a couple of times the volunteers and myself need to stand up and say no. Here are three that happened at middle school camp that I have shared with my volunteers:
Don’t Cut Girls Hair
Since we keep different cabins for the boys and girls, after 9PM I have little control over what happens in their cabin. So I received a surprise when the girls came up and each had a new haircut. At the time I chalked it up to crazy girl time that I did not understand, but when the parents saw it after we got home, I received an ear full. Apparently one of the girl’s felt pressured to do it and hated the results. At that point, it did not matter that she rededicated her life or really made some amazing connections.Make Sure They Eat
It was not reported to us that one girl was anorexic, but at the beginning of camp she was not eating much of her meals. After sitting down with her and having he promise to eat, it did not become a problem the rest of the year. It really was not a big deal until her parents talked with us after camp. Apparently, our encouragement and non-judgmental attitudes completely removed her doubt of self-worth. Those few days back, she ate more at family meals without putting up a fight than she had in years.Support The Parents
A lot of junk comes out at camp, in cabin time and one-on-one’s. Some of the time, those conversations lead to how much they do not feel loved by their parents or that they wish thy were around more. This is not the time to give false hope, but we want to support an uphold the family. Reminding them of good memories, love even in busyness, and sharing in what could be after camp is a perfect way to honor the parents.
Jeremy Smith is a 26-year old youth pastor at the Air Force Academy chapel, working for Club Beyond, and attending Denver Seminary for his Master”s of Arts in Counseling Ministries. He has been involved in Youth for Christ for eight years — check out his blog at Seventy8Productions.
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Josh Griffin has been in youth ministry for 16+ years in a small church and a big church. He currently serves as the High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. [
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Geoff Stewart serves the Jr / Sr High School Pastor at Peace Portal Alliance Church in Surrey B.C.
Chris Wesley serves as the Director of Student Ministry at Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland.
Colton Harker serves with Josh at Saddleback Church. He is currently in his second year in youth ministry.
Thanks for the insight! We learned this year at camp to keep all sharpies locked up. We had a few students who decided it was a good idea to write their names on the freshly painted white walls. It is hard to plead innocence when your name and date are on the wall in your handwriting. Needless to say it was a lesson of respecting property for them.
Last camp was filled with medical events. Seriously, a few of my staff thought it was spiritual forces at work… I’m not going to doubt them. We had one student with massive seizures and they spiked in camp, one student got severely dehydrated, needed to do the heimlich on a staff member. bee stings, 3 hospital visits… overall a hectic week… completely slammed with what was going on… the students reported it was the closest they’ve ever felt to god… go figure (http://engagingtheshadowsofyouthministry.com)
For a while, in our youth ministry, it seemed like it wasn’t a trip without someone ending up in the hospital for one reason or another. Nowadays I’ve got a few students who seem to have an unnatural talent for hurting themselves…
As for supporting the parents, this is something I’ve been dealing with right now with a student, and it seems to be compounded by the fact that I have yet to meet his parents, in spite of the fact that he’s been riding to church with me on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings pretty consistently. If anyone has any additional insight to offer, I’m all ears.