3-Week Camp Trip: We’re Home. Now What?

This summer we returned home from camp thrilled and exhausted - and with new sisters in Christ. For years I’ve taken kids to camp and come home ready to love and care for them only to be overwhelmed by their messy lives and my hectic schedule. Follow-up never went the way I wanted it to. Although not fool-proof, this camp trip was different.

Before we left for camp I picked up some devotionals YL put out a few years ago, arranged meeting space in a local church and set up childcare for our daily quiet time meetings {the last 2 weeks of the 3-week camp trip}.

On the bus on the way home I gave the girls the devotionals, instructing them to do Day 1 right there on the bus, and a schedule of our Quiet Times Meetings. A few days later we gathered to continue our journey together.

We met every day for 10 days from 11:15-12:45 at a local church. During the first 15 minutes girls dropped their kids off with childcare workers. Then we gathered as a group for a few minutes to offer instruction and then broke up to have a 25 minute personal Quiet Time and do the devotional we had passed out on the bus. For the next half an hour we would review the devotional together or simply talk about life. The last 15 minutes were scheduled so girls would have a few minutes to pick up their kids.

The 3-week camp trip is intended to allow leaders to be with kids in a structured setting - like camp - once we arrive home. All of our girls came at least once and none of our girls came every day. But they would all agree that having the time set aside and ready-to-go has helped them create time to be with Jesus now that our camp trip is over.

You’re probably thinking one of two things: “This girl’s a GENIUS!” Or “WOW that lady REALLY doesn’t have a life!”. Believe me, neither of those things are true. In fact, Brian Summerall is the Regional Trainer for North Central Texas and HE is the genius. If you have any questions about the 3-week camp trip or you want to know more GENIUS ideas by Brian feel free to e-mail him at bsummerall@mac.com or check out his website at ministrystrategy41.com. You’re also welcome to e-mail me with specific YLives questions: YoungLivesBC@gmail.com.

-Submitted by Leslie Leicher, YLVS Coordinator in Beaver County, PA