Camp Wartburg Is A Christian Camp  The first afternoon of camp parents register their children, seek out their assigned cabin and claim a bunkbed. Many children often spend their first nights away from home at summer camp. Kids are quiet - a little anxious about meeting new friends. Moms and Dads may be a bit reluctant. At the end of the afternoon there are lots of hugs and a few tears. The parents drive away and the adventure of summer camp begins.
On the last day of camp, the sound of chattering kids is thundering. After five days separation, parents and children reunite and again there are hugs and a few more tears. Watching their children laugh, interact with other campers, sing songs and perform skits...parents feel a little overwhelmed. Singing about God seems fun! Testing yourself through new activities is - like - soooo cool. Campers fall asleep in the car before they are out the driveway. Things will return to normal, but each child has had an experience he or she will remember forever...an experience that will shape them as they become adult Christians.  Camp Wartburg is a camp with Christ at the center. The Word is spoken. The Savior Son is praised and worshipped. Learning about nature provides an “up-close-and-personal” study of the Father’s awesome creation. And through college-age Christian counselors, the Holy Spirit fans the flames of faith. Along the way, a variety of programming builds self-esteem, develops leadership, nurtures positive values and teaches respect for self, others and nature. There’s a lot going on in a Christian summer camp!
At first glance, the immediate impression of camp is the overriding cacophony of noise…and the abundance of fun. Children are shrieking and giggling and yelling and laughing and singing. Campers are swimming, canoeing, shooting arrows, creek walking and studying nature, playing games and sports, participating in high and low ropes course experiences, riding horses, caving, fishing, building with hand tools, flying in an airplane, painting pictures and sketching animals, producing theater skits, “giving back” through community service, bicycling at Kickin’ It at Kickapoo, backpacking and rappelling in Colorado, and more and more and more. A wide variety of camps appeal to every age (grades 1-12) and every child’s interest. Amid all this fun is a myriad of opportunities to learn new skills - an important ingredient to building self-esteem. There are so many things at which to succeed. Urban kids find themselves in a totally new environment. Success in sports, good grades and cool clothes are no longer the measuring rod. Now it is curiosity, tolerance of others, teamwork and testing yourself in new situations.  Campers eat, sleep, play and study God’s word in small groups of six to ten, depending upon the age of the children. Developing leadership is a part of the day-to-day process. Young people of high school age volunteer to serve as “junior counselors” and learn by assisting paid staff. Those who show promise can apply for paid counselor positions after graduation.
Is everything perfect at a Christian camp? Unfortunately, no. There can still be the occasional loss of temper, kids gossiping about other kids, sulking and moodiness. However, these and other instances become teachable moments where positive behavior and respect are stressed. What about learning?
God’s outdoor laboratory is waiting to be explored! Pond ecosystems are studied and much is discussed related to the assets of a healthy environment. Trees and birds are identified. Poison ivy is number one on the “do not disturb” list. In some camps, survival skills are learned and cooking may include edible roots of the forest. Campers marvel at the intricacies of a spider web in the dew of the morning. They point in awe at a large heron taking flight. In all things, children learn to appreciate the diversity of life - both critter and human.  What about worship?
If children have ever appeared bored with church, there is a certain energy they will discover in a Christian camp. The church organ is replaced by guitars and bongos. The sanctuary is an outdoor chapel, a roaring fire in front of the altar and a million stars overhead. The Word is spoken and acted, emphasizing a piece of Bible-based curriculum each day of the week. Singing is loud and joyous. Surrounded by the noises of nature and the wind in the trees, camp becomes a place where heaven and nature sings.
In a world where so many activities compete for a child’s time, a quality, Christian camp experience should be high on the list. Away from home for perhaps the first time, children receive positive feedback from adults other than their parents. They experience worship in a new and exciting way. They are asked to take the lead in daily activities. Summer counselors are positive role models kids want to emulate. There are adventure and new things to learn from sun-up to sunset…and an endless variety of camps to match your child’s interest. Surrounded by God’s wondrous creation, your child will have an experience that will last a lifetime.
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