with guest blogger, Micheal Walley:
At CentriKid Camps, we believe that camp is a milestone experience in the life of a kid in your ministry. We see hundreds of incredible decisions for Christ happen at camp. Even as an adult, I look back on my experiences with my church at camp as some of my favorite memories. The impact of camp has the potential to last long after the week of camp has ended. Here are a few tips to help get the most out of your camp experience this summer:
PREP
Before you even arrive at camp, you can start preparing by adequately planning and communicating the details of camp. Take this time to recruit your best leaders and volunteers to join you at the week of camp. Be sure to communicate well with parents about specific deadlines and expectations. We even provide a pre-camp devotional so that you can begin preparing your kids spiritually for an awesome time of retreat at camp. Take care of the details before you get to camp, so that you don’t have to worry about them when you get to camp.
GO ALL IN
At CentriKid, we believe that ministry happens best in the context of relationships, and camp provides an incredible time to build relationships with the kids in your ministry! We take care of the details at camp so that you are free to go all in and invest in the kids in your ministry. During camp, seek out intentional conversations with each kid in your ministry. Take advantage of this time by truly investing in them and getting to know their personalities, what hobbies they enjoy, and even where they are spiritually. When kids see you having fun and even being a little goofy at camp, they will engage with you even better as a leader and minister. When kids hear from God at camp, you are right there to help answer questions, pray for them, and jump into those conversations. Because of the trust and memories formed at camp, you have the potential to build outstanding relationships with the kids in your ministry.
FOLLOW-UP
The impact of camp shouldn’t end after the bus ride home. Be sure to connect with parents and kids about any decisions formed with camp. We provide an after-camp devotional to help continue the content of camp. Throughout the year, continually remind your kids of the fun and celebrate the spiritual decisions. God uses camp to plant many spiritual seeds and help make the gospel clear to kids, so always continue those conversations and help develop the kids in your ministry spiritually based on the relationships you formed with them at camp.
Micheal Walley began working camp in 2011 and joined the office team of CentriKid in 2014. Micheal is a graduate of Mississippi College with a degree in Communication. On Sunday, Micheal serves in his church’s kids ministry by leading large group. He loves coffee, leadership, and his wife, Anne Marie.
