[This post is one of many that I will write this spring on summer camps. Having worked in camps for over 20 years, and now with a full house of kids myself, I hope to equip parents across the country that are looking to send their children to camp.]
My first post in this series was: Is Your Child Safe At Camp? 5 Questions Every Parent Should Ask
Summer camp is almost as American as apple pie and baseball. Movies have tried to document the uniqueness of this experience. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to see one that came close to pinpointing why a healthy week at summer camp is so good for a child.
When I simply take the words “summer” and “camp” and use them in the same sentence, my mind quickly jumps to mosquitos, tents, canoes, smores, and Kumbaya. Sadly, I think most picture the same thing, which falls way short of what a week of summer camp could be.
I realize for many with small kids, the idea of allowing your child to camp can be scary. Over the years, though, I have seen far too many success stories. A child who was scared, fearful or just simply didn’t want to be at camp, often turns into the camper who loves it the most. There’s a reason for this.
If I had to narrow it down to my top 5 reasons camp is so great for kids, here is what they would be:
1. It’s an opportunity to disconnect. Our culture is loud. I don’t mean loud as in volume level. Our culture is loud in that there is all sorts of ambient noise going on all the time. Between school, sports, homework, cell phones, video games, Facebook – to name a few – kids today can be spread so thin they are ready to break.
When they come to camp, they turn in their cell phones, unplug their music, and begin to breathe deeply again. It is very fun to see kids surprised by a sunset, or in awe at the sound of crickets at night. Within the first two days at camp, you can begin to see the walls of protection come crashing down.
2. It’s a great place to be known. Most wouldn’t admit it, but we all want to be known. When you sleep in the same cabin with 7 or 8 other campers over a period of 6 days, great friendships can be formed. These friendships can become such a support throughout the year as life unfolds.
The relationship with the counselor should be the best one. I continually hear great stories of campers opening up to their counselors and sharing their souls with them. When they do, there is such a sense of relief. They can be known, and loved for who they are.
3. It’s a new adventure to be experienced. Have you ever: played lazer tag in the woods, jumped off a 25 foot high ropes platform, jumped on a “blob” in a pool, or been on the back of horse? Most would say no. These experiences – done safely – are priceless. And when a child conquers a new adventure at camp, they quickly store it away as a reminder of their courage.
4. It’s a great way to gain confidence. Even high school students can be scared at the idea of going to camp. I’ve talked with seniors in high school that were homesick. However, when they get through it and realize they did it, it is great to see what it does to their countenance. When a child does an activity they never thought they would do, they walk taller, as if they’ve found their new armor.
Being away from their parents, making new friends, trying new activities – these all help in the child gain confidence as they grow up.
5. They just might be transformed. This is the main reason why I would want my child to go to camp. I believe God speaks to us through: His creation, His Word, and His people. When a child gets away from home, is surrounded by God’s creation, and is taught the Truth of scripture, they could be transformed. I tell the staff of our youngest kids camp quite regularly to take care of our future summer staff.
As a parent, I want to fill my bag full of “tools” to help me share with my kids who Jesus is. Camp is one of the tools I plan to use.
What do you think? Is summer camp great for kids? Why or why not?
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We love pine cove and Caroline (9) would love to come to Pine Cove camp this summer for her FIRST time!
Uh oh… can you believe she is actually old enough to attend camp? Wow.
I loved Pine Cove as a camper and staff. I think back on how excited I was to go to camp, the amazing time and lesson I learned when I was there…. and then how much I looked forward to and counted down the days to go back. It is such an incredible place and experience for kids of all ages and absolutely somewhere I look forward to sending my kids and hearing their experiences. Kevin I hope that the children lucky enough to win your week of camp have the most fantastic camp experience and feel the love and movement of God that surrounds those grounds and the staff.
Katharine
Isn’t it so great to bring your kids to the same camp you grew up attending. That is what we hope – that God would move in the lives of these kids.
i never attended a summer camp as a child but always wanted my kids to experience it…i would also be interested in learning about my son training to become a camp counselor…keep up the great work!
Camp is such a great experience. As well, we are always looking for young men who love Jesus to work with us.
My daughter attended camp last year for the first time and all the points you make in this post are spot on for what we saw in her. She was very nervous to be attending a camp out of state where none of her “friends” would be. However she made friends with several girls in her cabin and still stays in contact with one of them now. The growth we got to see in her (and us) through that week was amazing and we hope to work it out for her again soon.
Kevin,
You already know that the Mannings love Pine Cove! It has been one of the biggest and most positive influences in Jeff’s life.
I have an 8 year old great nephew who lives in McKinney. His mom is a single parent, and she would love for him to be able to go to camp at Pine Cove, but finances are definitely the issue. And he is a child who would greatly benefit from everything that is wonderful at Pine Cove.:)
Thank you for all you do! You are a great role model and mentor for our son and many others, as well.
God bless,
Donna
It seems the more and more I hear about these single parent situations, the more I want to get creative in how we can bless those kids at camp.
I enjoyed my few minutes talking with Jeff this past weekend. He is such a good guy.
We love Pine Cove!!!! It would be such a blessing to win a week to summer camp!
Glad to know another family that loves Pine Cove.
My son (7) attended Pine Cove for the first time last summer. As a child who had never (successfully) spent the night out, other than with his grandparents, I was apprehensive that he would make it. Not only did he survive, he THRIVED!! Pine Cove is such a gift & I am so excited to be coming to the mother/son weekend in a few weeks so that I can experience Pine Cove with my sweet boy!!
I love hearing stories like this. On an interview I gave last year for a Dallas TV station, I was asked how to help your child thrive at camp. One of the answers I gave them was helping your small children be away from mom or dad for a night or two before trying to come to camp. So even though it was with his grandparents, I bet that helped him have a great experience at camp.
Kids need time away with God as well. This is a time to reconnect with Him and begin habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Pine Cove is the BEST 6 days of the year!
This summer will my 12 and 10 yr olds 3rd summer! They went to Castle Rock the 1st year to try it out. Last year, they got to go to overnight camp for the 1st time week 1 and they loved it! They are signed up for week 1 again this year and can’t wait! My almost 8 yr old is still unsure so she hasn’t gone yet (which is good because we can’t afford to send all 3..right now we pay for 1 and grandma pays for the 2nd.)
What you guys do at Pine Cove is amazing! Those kids lives are forever changed. You are such a blessing and I am so thankful Pine Cove exists and that you are able to send so many kids on scholarship.
I am proud to be a Pine Cove Ambassador and I share about pine cove and wear my shirt often!
Keep up the good work…G double O D J O B…good job, good job! Blessings,
Donna
I’ve never had someone give me a camp cheer through my blog. Impressive!
Thanks for being an Ambassador for us. I really appreciate the hard work you put into that role.
Please add Cameron East to drawing. He’s 10 and has never had a camp experience!
Hmmm…. That last name sounds familiar. Yes, mom, I’d love to include my nephew Cameron in the drawing. Good thing this drawing is picked randomly by my assistant! :)
We just discovered Pine Cove camps when our oldest of four boys attended Winter Fest this past December. What an incredible experience he had! I have such fond memories of summer camp myself–I hope each of our boys get to have that experience. An experience that includes your top five reasons!!
Blessings!
Kelly
We’d love to win a week at Pine Cove … my oldest went to Winter Fest for the first time and had the time of his life. I’d love for my kids to get to experience more of that.
Kelly & Randi,
Winterfest is such a good front door into camp. I’m glad to hear your boys loved it. If you can believe it, summer camp is way better.
I went to Pine Cove Christian Camp every year from 12 until my Senior year and I can’t even begin to tell you the incredible benefits of it from confidence boosting, discovering talents to finding role models (some who are still in my life).
I am still close to many of the friends I also met there who have been a constant in my life, one from the first week I attended Pine Cove.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned from counselors at PC was service and having a servant’s heart.
The time I spent away at camp are times that I grew as a person and as a Christian. Those weeks helped to mold me as the woman, mother and wife that I am today and are weeks that I consider priceless pieces of my past.
I forgot one thing. Because of Pine Cove I never looked to role models with weird names like Maddona…instead I had role models with weird names like Icy Hot, Opie, Ambush and Chunky Money ;)
Ha. Great names from the past, Jennifer. If I’m not mistaken, that last one is actually Chunky Monkey. She worked with me many moons ago.
Glad to know God used your experience at camp to mold you into the Godly woman you are today. That is why we do what we do.
I never went to summer camp as a camper but once I worked my first summer at Pine Cove, I never left the ministries of Christian Camping! Would love to send our oldest son to experience Pine Cove as he has never lived anywhere but at camp. As you know Kevin, having your kids go to camp in their own backyard just isn’t the same as going somewhere else. We would love for all of our kids to have the PC experience!
So cool. We’d love to have them.
I started going to Pine Cove when I was just old enough to go…2nd grade. I loved my week there so my Mom signed me up for another week that same summer. Those were the days when there wasn’t a waiting list so she just signed me up for a few weeks later! I became a Christian that summer…I remember sitting in a circle on a dusty floor with my cabinmates and counselor. I recognized my sin and asked Jesus to be my Savior!
The next summer my Mom signed me up for 2 weeks in a row. I cried the whole first week b/c I was homesick and couldn’t believe I had to stay another week! I wrote letters to my mom to come pick me up. Thankfully she and my Dad decided to have me stay…I loved my second week and went 2 weeks every summer after that until I graduated! I even spent 4 summers working at Family Camp and Towers!
God used Pine Cove to change my life and now the lives of my 3 (almost 4!) children who get to learn so many of the TRUTHS that I learned at Pine Cove! We would LOVE for Pine Cove to be part of our family memories as well!
Thanks, Opee for serving and making Christ known for His glory!
Wow, what a story. “I recognized my sin and asked Jesus to be my Savior.” -Amen and amen.
The Lord has His hand on Pine Cove! It has blessed so many lives! I remember my summers as a camper and fell in love with the outdoors. By God’s goodness I was able to work many summers at PC…
As my kids are too young, I will be praying for the free week of camp to go to the middle schooler that lives next door to us. He needs to see how much he is loved! And I can’t think of a better place than Pine Cove!
Thanks, Debra, for thinking of your neighbor.
Thanks for your insights on summer camp. I’ve been considering this for my 3 kids and will be looking into Pine Cove.
We won’t disappoint!
I was so worried about sending my daughter to camp last summer, but when I picked her up she asked if she could stay for a couple more weeks! Your top 5 reasons for attending camp were her top 5. She is so excited to go again this year! Pine Cove is everything you hear about and more!
I have many friends who have gone to Pine Cove and now send their children every year. It sounds like a wonderful experience, one my son would love!
Edelweiss’s kids need to experience Pine Cove. This would surely help us send my older boys…
For sure. I’d love to be here to see them experience it.
There are so many reasons why I want my daughter to experience a week of camp at Pine Cove. All of the reasons you’ve mentioned are already on my list…disconnecting from the distractions of life, gaining confidence, being known, and the adventure of it all. But the life-changing, the transformation – that is my heart’s desire for her. She’ll be embarking on the trials and tribulations of middle school this fall, while learning to be a big sister for the first time when her baby sister is born next month. I want for her to continue to learn to stand in Christ, and to find who she is and how she fits in God’s amazing plan.
Thanks for these great blogs, Kevin! I pray blessings for all of you as you prepare for this summer!
Growing up as an only child,I never experienced going to a Christian camp during the summer.The opportunity never came up.Today,our youth has a lot of wonderful camps to be apart of and to have the foundation to become great role models.My son(10) has a loving heart for Jesus and would love the fun at Pine Cove.(so would the whole family)Thanks 4 sharing all the information and the blogs!!
Summer camp is a great way for over-protective parents (like mw) to give their children a bit of freedom and the opportunity to safely enjoy a wide variety of fun activities and experiences.
My children consider camp to be hightlight of their summer!
So true, Tracy. Depending on the camp, I would totally agree.
I’ve been on several retreats at Pine Cove and have heard wonderful things about their camps. I own several PC t-shirts. They are always a conversation starter. It is such a beautiful place. I have several good friends who grew up going to camp there. What a wonderful opportunity!
Glad you’ve heard great things about Pine Cove. We are serious about our mission. Hope to see you at camp sometime.