Are you looking for a week of camp that accommodates your youth group’s size? If so, what does that mean? Is this even the right question?
Could I ask you to consider another question? At camp, will your church be a group at all or will your church teens be absorbed into other groups which define the experience for you that week? The truth is, the choice for summer camp is not between a week that accommodates big church groups and one that favors small church groups. The choice is between a week that accommodates church groups and one that does not.
Am I saying that it is intrinsically and always wrong to disband your group for a special event? No. I am asking if it is always helpful and if so, why? Why are we doing what we are doing, and what are our highest values as a group of local church young people?
May I give you seven new questions to consider?
1. What will do the most to ensure that revived teens do not go back home to lifeless adults?
2. How could you involve more of your church in more of your camp week?
3. What will put your church in the strongest position to follow up on summer decisions the rest of the year?
4. What will do the most to help your teens identify as a local church group before, during and after their week at camp?
5. What will do the most to endear teens to their church and to bolster their confidence that the people in their church can help them?
6. What will do the most to encourage your teens to invite their lost friends to camp, and what will best draw those new teens into your church even while at camp?
7. What will provide a catalyst for your church youth group to grow in the fifty-one weeks between summer camping experiences?
Perhaps we should focus more on the group we want to be than on the group we currently are. God made us to grow, and camp can help.