5 Skills to Learn During Summer Camp

Summer camp sounds like something your parents make your little brother do so they can get a break from his hyperactivity and pull him away from the video games. But, summer camp is actually more than just sitting around a campfire singing “Kum ba yah.” Here are 5 benefits to attending a summer camp in your teen years:

Retreat

Get away from your daily grind and find rest and solitude in the Lord. Even if you don’t attend a Christian Summer Camp, you’ll still discover the presence of the Lord in the people and activities in which you engage. Strengthen your relationship with Him by placing yourself in a situation that will provide opportunities for you to grow closer to Him. God will open doors for you to discover new ideas and perspectives about His character.

People 

You’ll discover that most people are rather similar. You’ll meet new people who have a variety of interests, but when you dig into the struggles they face, or how they feel about themselves – they’re really rather similar to you. Since you’re seeing them in a more intimate setting for a length of time, you’ll pull back the layers and discover some of the deeper issues that reside within.

Enhance a Skill

Engaging in any activity for a considerable amount of time will increase your ability to master that skill. When you have something in particular that interests you, it’s a great idea to invest in that interest. Participating in an intensive summer camp allows you to immerse yourself fully into that activity, gaining a more comprehensive understanding of your passion, and seeing more intently how you can utilize that skill for the Lords glory.

Challenge 

You’ll be placed in situations and scenarios that are not your everyday, run of the mill struggles. Adventures throughout the coarse will show you what you’re made of. By making hard choices and facing difficult circumstances, you’ll stretch yourself and build self-efficacy – the belief in your ability to succeed in challenging situations. You’ll be able to take these lessons home, so when you face more routine difficulties, you’ll lean in and face them rather than run away.

Find your voice

By stepping away from your secure surroundings you are placed in a situation in which you need to learn to stand on your own two feet. Since you won’t have your parents to lean on or other family members to help define you, you’ll discover who you are apart from your family. You’ll also be able to discern where you exist in a community. Embarking on your successful paths and learning from your unpleasant failures will show you what makes you unique.

By engaging in summer camp activities, you’ll return home a little more resilient a lot more self-assured and definitely more self-confident. After your experience, you’ll know that you are indeed capable and strong enough to tackle anything that God places before you. So, sign up for a summer camp and have a summer to remember.