Sunday night, my daughter was yelling at me, “I am NOT going to camp tomorrow!” At six years old, it was to be her first camp experience away from mom and dad, and the nerves were real. Somehow, she woke up Monday morning willing to give it a try. As we pulled into camp, she recognized the car behind us as her best friend’s, and the anxiety that had been building up released a little. She got out of the car, waved at me, and walked off with her counselor.
A Very Nervous Day
I’ll be honest—I was nervous throughout the day. Would she eat lunch? Would she try any activities? Would she make any friends? Would I get a phone call to come pick her up? The call never came, and later that afternoon, I went to pick her up. Into my car hopped a happy, sun-kissed girl, bursting to tell me about how much she loved the giant swing on the ropes course.
A Life-Changing Week
The rest of the week went much smoother. Each day she had more confidence in returning to camp, and I had more confidence in her, too. When she played at home, she would sing worship songs to herself, songs she had learned while at camp. By Friday, she couldn’t believe camp was already over. It had been a life-changing week for both me and my daughter.
Kids Need Camp!
Kids need camp. The adventure, the play, the relationships, the hands-on learning and experience—each piece contributes to growth in ways that can’t be manufactured anywhere else. In today’s world, children are busier than ever. Their schedules are filled with school, sports, and technology. Good things, no doubt. And yet many still long for something deeper: a place to belong, to grow, and to simply be themselves. Camp offers that space. It’s more than a program—it’s an environment designed to nurture growth, joy, and faith.
