By Jeanette Biesecker, Director of Ministry Advancement
You know there are great reasons to send your child to camp. Reasons such as: how camp encourages physical exercise and fosters independence. Then there’s the whole aspect of learning how to work in a group with others or discovering their own abilities and talents as they try new activities.
But, have you considered that the benefits of camp aren’t just for kids? That’s right—camp is great experience for adults too. In today’s high-tech world where we are constantly connected 24/7 to our jobs, our families, our responsibilities, we adults have lost touch with the importance of solitude and the value of play.
At camp we can find solitude in God’s great outdoors, where birdsong in the trees, the wind in our hair and the sun on our faces reminds us of the loving presence of our Creator. Camp is where we have time to think and pray and dream. It’s place where we can mentally recharge and reset…where we can lay aside the weight of life for just a little while to rest.
Camp is also a place where we can rediscover how to play. In the midst of play, we learn how to not take ourselves so seriously. We let go of anxieties and fears as we experience fun group activities. We rediscover how to connect deeply with others to offer and receive much needed support.
If you haven’t been on a retreat at camp lately, consider signing up for one. Or, if you lead a group, consider taking them to camp. You could find that time away to be a life-changing experience.
