|
Christian Camping International
| ||||||||||||||
|
Whether you’re a parent, youth worker, prospective camp counselor, or simply interested in learning more about Christian camping, check out these helpful nuggets of information. Discover why so many people have been impacted by an experience at a Christian camp. Gain some tips for choosing a camp for your child and helping them prepare for a great adventure. Examine ways Christian camping compliments and supports the Church in fulfilling the Great Commission of Matthew 28:19-20.
So you are thinking of sending your child to camp this summer. Maybe you just want to be free of them for a few days, or you are looking for a ‘bargain vacation’. Whatever the reason, there will be a number of Christian camps to choose from.
Here are some guidelines for choosing a camp:
s The decision should be yours and not your child’s. He may choose a particular camp simply because a friend will be going there, but that camp may not be right for your child.
s Check to see if your church is running a camp. Most churches do. The benefit of a church camp is that there will be familiar faces (both campers and staff) which will may make your child more comfortable. There is also the advantage of knowing with some degree of certainty what doctrines etc are being taught to your child.
s If your church does not run camps or you choose not to send your child there, then there are many non-denominational camps from which to choose. Some of the major ones are Moorlands Camps, Happy Hills Camps (run by New Generation Ministries) and ISCF Camps. There will be young people at these camps from various backgrounds (and even countries) and your child can benefit from such an exposure. These camps also tend to be smaller and offer a wider variety of programs.
s You should also consider the needs of your child. Will he benefit from a co-ed camp or a single-sex camp? Would she be uncomfortable in a large camp? Does he have a great liking for the outdoors and therefore benefit more from a sports camp or an adventure camp?
Of great importance is the reputation of the camp. What have you heard about it? Do you know anyone who has attended this camp before? Do you know any of the staff, or know anything about the facilities or the program the camp is offe
Many children attend residential camps from as young as 7 years. For many of these kids, it’s the first time away from home ‘by themselves.’ They have never had to pack their bags, spread their beds, or choose which clothes to wear each day.
Here are some ways to make their stay at camp a more enjoyable one:
s Show them how to pack their bags. Give them a plastic bag (a ‘scandal’ bag will do) for their dirty clothes and separate one to put their wet clothes in.
s Separate and label their clothes for them according to the number of camp days. You could even use clothespins to pin the top and bottom for the various days, so they don’t have to try figuring out what they should wear with what.
s Give them some idea of how to monitor their tuck money so they don’t overspend.
| |||||||||||||||
|
©
| |||||||||||||||
