How Can I Help Students When They Return from Camp (Whether I Go to Camp or Not)?

I’m NOT Going to Camp as a Chaperone.

Even if you don’t personally go to camp, you can play a significant role in helping students when they return. Here are 3 simple things you can do:

A - Ask them to share their stories. Here are some good questions to ask:

• What was the most fun thing about camp?
• Who did you get to know for the first time?
• Who did you get to know better?
• Who was your leader?
• What was one tough thing that you had to deal with?
• What’s made you laugh the hardest?
• What was the theme?
• What’s something you discovered about God for the first time?
• What was the most significant thing learned?
• What big decision(s) did you make at camp?

B - Be affirming.

• Laugh with them.
• Cry with them.
• Thank them for sharing their experiences with you.
• If they have something that they complain about, refocus them on the positives.
• Say things like ...
• I’m proud of you!
• It sounds like God was doing some good things in you.
• I’m glad you were able to make some friends/deepen your relationships.

C - Challenge them to keep growing.

• Camp is a great experience. It’s fun to get away from our parents, our every-day lives, and be together with our friends to experience God in a unique way.
• But, remember, camp is meant to move us forward in our relationship with God. How are you going to live out the decisions you made at camp now that you’re home?
• Say things like ...
• Make sure you tell your parents about what God did in your life at camp.
• Who are some of your friends that can ask you questions and help keep you accountable for living out your decisions?
• When will you tell them and invite them to hold you accountable?
• I’ll be praying for you and checking up on you to see how you’re doing.

I AM Going to Camp as Chaperone.

3 Weeks = 3 Personal Touches

We believe Camp is a tremendous time for students to encounter God in a special way. We also know that it’s easy to go home and for the passion to dwindle and to forget what we learned. During the first 3 weeks after camp, here are 3 simple things we would ask you to do to follow-up with the kids in your group:

1. A Note of Affirmation - Write each of your kids a note highlighting something you saw/enjoyed/learned about them at camp.
2. A Conversation - This can be a phone call or a chat with them after service. Ask them how they’re doing, how they’re living out decisions/things they learned at camp, and how you can pray for them. (Oh yeah, and maybe even go ahead and pray for them right there!)
3. A text or Facebook Message - Drop them a line letting them know you’re thinking about them and praying for them, and encouraging them to continue living out what they learned at camp.