Children, Youth and Families blog: Summer Camps

Published: Tuesday February 4, 2025

ConnectSenior Connector Barrie Voyce blogs on the value of summer children’s and youth camps.

Driving a minibus full of teenagers over 160 miles on your birthday might seem like a ludicrous idea, but as a youth minister it was an annual ritual I very much looked forward to*.

The journey itself wasn’t really the best bit, but the destination made it all worthwhile. In fact the journeys could be a nightmare, travel sickness, squabbles over choice of music, running out of sweets. There was even one time I crashed the bus in a service station car park, but we won’t go into that.

Spending the best part of a week in a field with the youth group isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and coercing volunteers to come along was often a bit of a challenge, but after doing it once they were hooked.

 

Taking a group on a residential, whether it was something planned and organised for “just us”, or going to one of the big national camps, is an extraordinary experience. I quickly coined the phrase “more happens in a few days on camp than in the rest of the year”. Certainly not all those things are amazing, but I’m not going to dwell on the challenges too much. The experiences, relationships and spirituality just can’t be beaten. I’ll sum it up in three ways:

Part of something bigger

No matter what size your church group, young people will always feel that being a Christian is a bit niche – most of their friends and peers don’t do it, and some of the others at church can be a bit weird. Standing in a big tent with thousands of other young Christians worshipping together is a breath taking reminder of just how big the church really is. It builds confidence and deepens their own belief.

Making connections

Having whole days together with the group and leaders give much more time and space to just be. You learn so much about other people when the trappings and busyness of the world are stripped away, and you’re standing in your pyjamas in a queue for the shower together. Whether it’s between the young people, or with you as leader, that time on camp is a precious relationship builder. Something about it makes us ponder on what it must have been like to be a disciple, living, eating, sleeping and travelling together.

Holy encounters

Whilst we know that God is present in all places at all times, we also understand that there are “mountaintop moments” and “thin spaces” where we seem to experience more of God. Camps are these. Young people’s lives are transformed in these spaces – I have seen them pray out loud or in tongues for the first time, prophesy, make commitments, join in worship, I’ve even seen chains broken and demons retreat. To be alongside those moments as a leader is a real privilege and honour.

 

I know for many of our children and youth ministry leaders, the thought of organising a residential, let along doing one, can be daunting. You do not have to do it alone, there is experience and expertise across the Diocese. So this year, why not take the plunge?

If you want to explore taking a group of children, youth and/or families on a summer camp with or without others, do join us at one of our information sessions.

*(obviously it wasn’t my birthday every year, but I was normally on camp for it)

Barrie leads the growing network of deanery youth connectors, enabling and equipping effective youth ministry across the diocese.Barrie Voyce

The word Leadership spelt out, with Committed to Transformation written underneath.

One thought on “Children, Youth and Families blog: Summer Camps

  1. Excellent summary of Camp value. May I recommend SU camps for wide age range. SU have v informative leaflets for parents. These are smaller focussed camps.
    Soul Survivor ( or whatever it’s name now) and Urban Saints worth looking at. Viney Hill?
    Worth highlighting local Holiday Clubs too all year.
    Thanks to you and Jo.

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