Are you curious about working at summer camp? Or maybe you know a special young person who would make an excellent role model for children? Working 3 summers at a Christian camp is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling things I have ever done. It’s also one the most challenging. Please let me share 5 reasons why that’s worth it!
1. You will help kids know God and grow their faith
The youth pastor at my church once said that kids grow as much at a weekend youth retreat as they do in an entire year of youth group. Something about focused time together away from everyday life, living together, worshiping, and praying together really draws kids out. Before the pastor ever said that, I would tell people I look forward to camp every year because I learned more about God in one week at camp than the rest of the whole year.
Over my three summers as a camp counselor, I saw kids dig really deep into their faith. At summer camp, kids get unique opportunities to ask hard questions and face their fears. Camp counselors have an incredible opportunity to show kids faith that faces questions head-on.
2. You will make a big difference in kids’ lives.
You don’t have to be a cabin counselor to make a difference in these kids’ lives. Camps need program staff to help execute all the fun activities, kitchen staff to keep kids’ bellies full so they can focus on learning about God and having fun, and maintenance staff to keep things in clean, running order. Depending on the camp, you may have the opportunity to work in all those areas.
Camp counselors have an especially involved role with campers. I remember my first week as an assistant counselor, 8 out of 9 girls opened up about incredibly difficult experiences. Young people need a safe place to be themselves and process the things they’ve been through. They need that for normal kid stuff, too. A lot of the time they already have professionals in their corner – but there is great power in relationships where peers and cool older kids they look up to can listen to what they’ve been through and offer empathy and reassurance. (Believe it or not, you may be that cool older kid!)
While you likely won’t get to keep in touch with your campers afterword, you get the privilege of remembering and praying for them long after your short week together. Young folks face so much; you can be someone who cares about them and prays for them over time. Plus, the campers aren’t the only people you’ll grow a spiritual connection with.
3. Summer staff become a tight knit team
Most camps start the summer with a week of staff training. Staff training week becomes a time of deep fellowship as you learn to trust each other, work together, and support each other spiritually. One camp I worked at had little mail boxes for everyone where we would drop little notes of compliments and encouragements. There will be many times throughout the summer that you pray for one another and experience God’s involvement.
I won’t pretend that teamwork on summer staff is always easy – when you’re living with your coworkers for two months, you’re bound to run into some conflicts. You may run into disagreements here and there, or you may get flat-out tired and lose patience. Mature senior counselors and leadership help shape these moments into supportive experiences, where you pray together and bear one another’s burdens through a difficult job. It is SO. REWARDING. when you reach the end of the summer and you can celebrate your teamwork serving all those kids.
4. Your body will love all the activity, and so will your brain
Tired, sore feet at the end of a hard day’s work at camp feel so much better than any other kind of tired! According to this Harvard Gazette article, spending time in nature really does clear your mind. All that exercise, relational interaction, and time away from screens are a boost to your cognitive health. It’s no wonder camp staff gain a certain feeling of confidence and strength at the end of their work for the summer. Even I, the awkward and unconfident camp counselor, got that feeling!
Kids go to camp to have fun and experience something different. Camp staff create that experience week after week. Working at camp disconnects you from a crazy, stressful world by plugging you in to one, simple, fulfilling task: to have fun while investing in kids’ faith. While you’ll mostly be occupied with that role, the freedom from other distractions gives you a special chance to think more clearly about your own life.
5. It will grow you spiritually
When your free time is scarce – like when you’re responsible for 8 crazy kids week after week – time with the Lord becomes a precious commodity. I found that the less time I had to myself as a camp counselor, the more willing I was to give that time to God. Your focus is to invest in those kids, and you can only do that by filling yourself with God’s Word and prayer.
While you’re discipling the campers, good camp leadership disciples you, too. The work will stretch you to your limits – teaching you to be selfless, to rely on God, and to lean on others when you need it. Through the weeks of bible study and focused prayer, you’ll build a deeper relationship with God, right alongside the kids you’re working hard to be a good witness to.
Recap
I hope this post helps you make your decision about whether to work at camp. Ultimately, it’s only for a summer – so if you try it and hate it, you didn’t spend too much time. And if you love it! Well – you will have gained a new family of believers with a heart for loving kids and teaching them about God. Undoubtedly, you will have more epic summers to come.
5 reasons to work at a Christian summer camp:
- You will help kids know God and grow their faith.
- You will make a big difference in kids’ lives.
- Summer staff become a tight knit team.
- Your body will love all the activity, and so will your brain.
- It will grow you spiritually.
What do you think? Leave a comment about your camp experience and sign up for my email list so I can tell you about my future posts.
Thanks for reading, beautiful people!
-Almost a Walrus
