Parents

Following Up After Camp is Over

Camp is one of those places where kids can eliminate the distractions created by video games, television, cell phones, etc. This being such a unique environment today, kids have the opportunity to really connect with other kids their age and God in a different way at camp. For this reason, it is important to process through a week of camp with your child.

How can I help my son or daughter process their week of camp?

Processing:

A great way to help someone process an experience is to ask them a series of thought provoking questions. Here is a list of examples:

What was the best part of your week?
What was the most exciting thing that happened this week?
What was your favorite activity?
Did you learn anything this week that you didn’t know before?
What had the greatest impact on you this week?
Did you make any commitments during your week of camp?
What did you learn about yourself this week?
What did you learn about your relationships with others this week?
What is the one thing you are going to take home with you from this week?
Is there anything in your life that you will do differently after being at camp this week?

Other ideas:

Look at the curriculum materials they bring home from the week of camp and continue to discuss the concepts over the next few weeks after camp or create ways of reminding them of what they learned, i.e. framing an important scripture and hanging it on their bedroom wall.
Help them maintain their commitments with encouragement. Leave them little notes, give them inspiration though scripture, or help them be accountable or encourage them to find someone to help keep them accountable for those commitments.
Talk with their Sunday school teacher or youth leader to give them insight in a direction they could take or can continue to take that would benefit your child.

Troubleshooting:

If you are finding it to be a challenge to get your child to open up and discuss their week of camp try:

Telling them about your week
Tell them that you missed them & why you missed them
Allowing them to sleep a little before you talk
Taking them out to eat
To do something they enjoy doing with them
Have their Sunday School teacher or youth leader contact them to go through the process with them.