Invest in Kids at Summer Camp

Summer church camp is just a week, and its not cheap to line up transportation, get the kids there, and get enough adults to go too. With all the work involved, summer camp is really a pretty challenging endeavor. I choose to think of it as an investment, not just an expense.

Is it worth the investment? Here are some comments this summer from church leaders who contacted me after their week of camp at CentriKid:

• “Thanks for providing God-centered activities that will be with our children forever!” — Laura from Louisiana.
• “As I type this my child is in the next room singing the theme song she learned at camp. Those truths are deeply ingrained from last week.” — Trish from Mississippi

This is why we need to change our thinking from short-term to long-term — from focusing on a week in the summer to a lifetime of change. It’s all about perspective!

A meaningful family vacation is not an “expense” but it’s a chance to make a lifetime of memories. Camp is an experience to create memories and grow spiritually. Some kids (and adults) make first-time decisions for Christ and many others are challenged to grow in their walk when they return home.

For other ideas on how to invest in kids at camp, read “How to get your Church to Support Going to Camp” and “5 Tips for Avoiding the After Camp Spiritual Slump.”

Jeremy Echols (@coachechols) leads the @centrikid team, finds new camp locations, plans training, and lots of other projects. He met his wife Emily working camp, and their daughter #BabyMadison was born in 2011.