Camp Letter From A Student

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Jeremy Smith

After camp, I received a wonderful letter from a student who has gone to camp for a second time. I wanted to share it with you:

Thank you for taking me to camp I had a great time hanging out with the youth group. I definitely made some good friends and some good memories like having to maneuver through the ropes course without falling and acting crazy at the dance party with the dream team. Although I lost a good shirt and shoes due to the crud war over all it was a lot of fun.

Also I grew a lot spiritually while at the camp the cabin times really made me think hard about my life and choices that I have to make for God to improve are relationship. Not to mention the stories told to us by different youth leaders made me think a lot about my life because I felt like I could relate to them so much. After hearing about the things that occurred in their lives and how many terrible experiences they had gone through yet still made it back to God it showed me that it’s never too late to ask for forgiveness.

Over all I think I had a very good growing experience at camp that definitely helped me stand firm in my faith. Since back I have been praying multiple times a day and trying to seek after God more. It is obvious that God has been present in life aiding me for a long time but I’m now starting to realize all the things he has done for me.

Sincerely,

[The Student]

Tweets From Camp To Parents

Posted on August 2, 2011 by Jeremy Smith

In June, I shared with you guys what I tweeted to parents while I was at middle school camp. We just finished up high school camp and I wanted to share my tweets while we were at camp:

We made it to camp safely! Zombie apocalypse and hear about taking risks at club tonight. It has been great! #yfcamp @yfcusa
We had cabin competition and went repelling today. Tonight at club we will start in on who we are as Christians in God’s eyes.
Yesterday we talked about how “Jesus notices us” in club and cabin time and afterwards enjoyed a Hillbilly Jamboree. #yfc @yfcusa
Today we did American Gladiators, rifling and archery. Tonight at club we will talk about The Crowd’s Reaction. @yfcusa #yfcamp
Last night we had our wedding and dance. Today we have our famous Crud Wars and then talk about the Mess In Our Lives. @yfcusa #yfcamp
We went deep last night talking about the sin in our lives and shared some deep pains. Today we get into the grace. @yfcusa #yfcamp
Several students accept Christ for the first time and many felt lost and confused. Pray today for all their hearts today. @yfcusa #yfcamp
Back from camp. Many good memories, stronger relationships with students, and heard so much of their hearts! @yfcusa #yfcamp

[POLL] What Is Your Favorite Thing About Camp?

Posted on July 26, 2011 by Jeremy Smith

Camp Prayers

Posted on July 25, 2011 by Jeremy Smith

This week, I am at a week long camp with high school students to share with them the love of Jesus. This time has been long time coming, planning for it started a year ago and I have been looking forward to it since jumping on board. There is so much potential for change in these students.

It is my prayer that God moves here through these students, that they know who He is, and that wounds of these students begin to mend. For myself, I hope that relationships are built, I can leave the school year plans outside of camp and focus on the students in front of me, and that my introvertedness not hold me back.

Cardboard Confessionals At Camp

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Jeremy Smith

Last month, I wrote about how I have pulled a lot of great ideas from Kurt Johnston‘s book, The 9, and elaborated on chapter 5 “Increase the Congregation’s Appreciation of Students“. A second idea I have through together for after camp is a short reflection that I give to everyone on what happened at camp. Here is the letter that went out a couple of weeks ago:

In June, USAFA Club Beyond went with 18 middle school students from the area along with 250 others to five days of camp up in the Rocky Mountains. As with any camp where you take students out of the daily routine of life and its many distractions and present the Gospel to them, you expect there to be transformation. But this year was even more so than normal. At the middle of the fourth day, the camp speaker had just finished a message on where are in sin, headed towards death, and God throw’s us a lifesaver and we can make the choice to grab onto it or not.

This message was followed up with a skit performed by the leaders, one of them being myself. Now, if you have not seen this skit, there are numerous YouTube videos of it. In essence, on one side of a big piece of cardboard you write something you struggle with (not necessarily a sin) and then on the other side how God has redeemed you. Mine started with “Suffers from depression” and on the other side reads “Given endless joy in Christ.”

The response to this from the middle schoolers was more than expected. The next four hours of free time consisted of students coming to me, me getting to listen to their wounded hearts, sharing tears and laughs over memories, and giving them the truth of Jesus in ways that few others could understand. These teens face divorced and angry parents, mean friends, and such low self-worth.

Please continue to join me in prayer for these young hearts that have seen so much hurt. Some are still breaking, others finally mending, but all needing our ears to listen and prays in petition to Jesus.

Thinking Like A Parent While At Camp

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Jeremy Smith

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.

Equipping Student Leaders for Camp

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Jeremy Smith

One of the best parts about high school camp this year is getting to have a high school student leader join us for camp. He has been to this camp as a normal camper, experienced all of the fun surprises, was able to enjoy the place, and great one-on-one times with him last year. But that was last year, this year as a student leader he will be given specific responsibilities to be allowed to attend a second year. Here are a few things that will be expected of him:

Don’t Spoil The Surprises

There are a couple of things that we do that are designed to keep the students guessing what is going to happen next. It’s fun to see their faces light up and enjoy the activities. At the same time, some of the surprises are designed to encourage full participation. If the people do not know about something before hand, they won’t have time to complain or make up their minds that they do not want to participate. Instead, they are there and joining in right away.

Be A Voice

This has many meanings. During free time, don’t just sit around and do nothing. Go play volleyball, swim, karaoke, or basketball. At the same time, when someone wants to do something stupid or break the rules you need to step up and remind them they could be sent home. Finally, during cabin times with our deep discussions, be a voice by sharing when it is quiet, do not follow the crowd and be rude, and just be real.

Share What Happened At Camp

One of the things I am promoting with this ministry is to get these students present before the church. He will be expected to write a letter for the congregation to share what happened as well as be interviewed for the camp video to promote for next year. We are not expecting them to do much, but we want them to be huge supporters and promoters of this event now and in the future.

Balancing Faith After Camp

Posted on June 15, 2011 by Jeremy Smith

Probably the most critical time for a camper that had a great experience at camp is that first week after they get back. Camp is an amazing time, surrounded by leaders that are their for the sole purpose to interact with camper, events designed to keep you engaged, and talks to challenge the camper’s faith. But that time is completely removed from the distractions of life, the problems that arise in every day life, and the realization that the center of attention is something else.

When these teens come back home, our role as youth workers is critical. Here are a few things we will be focusing on:

Contacting the students within 24 hours of being home.
This does not have to be a deep or long conversation, but just checking in on how unpacking is going or if they got all of the shaving cream out of their ears.
Meet up with the students as a group and individually within the first four or five days after coming home.
Again, it does not have to be anything big, a frisbee and pizza could be a great environment to reminisce.
For those that are new believers, connecting them with a church, mentor, pastor, and small group is vital.
We do not want to let this student slip through the cracks or make them think that our faith is surface level. This plan should already be setup before camp even starts and everyone who is a part of that process know their roles.

The environment that these campers felt at camp is real, but balancing that fun and faith with life, school, and family is a crucial part of camp.

So what else do you plan to do that first day after camp?

Encouraging Parents While At Camp

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Jeremy Smith

Yesterday, we posted that we are currently at camp with middle schoolers. As I prepared for camp, lined up volunteers to join us, and ensured that all of the forms by the students were filled out complete, I thought about the parents in this situation. What could I do to help encourage them while we were gone? How could I encourage building relationships between students and parents? Here are three things that we do:

Encourage Parents To Send Gifts.
I do not say that it is something they do, but instead present it as something that is common place and almost expected for the parents to send. We provide ideas to the parents on what to send, including snacks and a page or more of hand written notes of encouragement. Once the presents and letters come in to the students, there is a sense that their parents remember they are there and are loving on them! What a great way to set the parents up for success.

Send Updates Via Twitter and Facebook
One of the biggest concerns for parents is that when we go up into the mountains for camp, we take away all of their electronics, including their cell phones. So parents essentially lose direct contact with their students (though they can call the camp’s land line for emergencies and vice versa). But we do not want to take the students away and bring them back in five days with a new look on life without bringing the parents along in the journey. So we provide them with a Facebook page and Twitter account that we have been updating daily on what has been happening at camp. Obviously this is not to replace needing to contact parents if something unfortunate were to happen, but covers a general update of what students have been experiencing and how God is working through the camp.

Bring Back Memories In Pictures
I am a photographing machine. These pictures are great for graduation gifts, my missionary fundraising newsletters, and posting for students on Facebook. But within 48 hours of returning, I try to have at least 5 pictures per student printed off (from Walmart!) and in the hands of the parents. This allows for those fresh memories and experiences from the students to be visual to the parents and provide great conversations between them. With such little effort, this is probably the MOST effective way to help build relationships between parents and students.