CentriKid

Camp Basics

How to Get Your Church to Support Going to Camp

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If you’ve ever said (or thought)  your plans for camp are “to survive it” and somehow bring home the same number of kids you took…then this is for you.  Here are 5 ways to make sure your church will support going to camp this summer.

  1. Talk about your goals.  You should have goals for camp related to attendance, spiritual conversations, and follow-up after camp.   Aim for something and pray expectantly for God to work in the hearts and lives of your group.
  2. Involve the church in supporting camp financially and spiritually.  Fundraising is a common part of preparing for camp, but don’t settle for simply covering the logistics.  Involve the church body in praying for camp and involve them in spiritual conversations with kids after camp too.
  3. Share the spiritual direction.  Make them aware of the fun things that will happen but also explain to the church the spiritual content that kids will learn over the course of the week at camp.
  4. Tell stories from previous camp experiences.  Get testimonials from kids who went last year, adults who went last year, youth who went a couple of years ago, and even share from your own experience as the group leader.  From every vantage point, you can talk about the life change that takes place at camp.
  5. Connect to the overall ministry goals at church.  Make sure your camp can align  with your church’s goals for ministry.  At CentriKid, we provide an experience that allows opportunities to focus on goals that your church may have for kids ministry:  evangelism, discipleship, clear presentation of the Gospel, age-appropriateness, family involvement, easy ‘first event’ for visitors, learning spiritual disciplines, worship for kids, and missions understanding.

The most supported future events are the most successful past events.  You can have a big part in making sure camp is a successful milestone in the lives of your kids.

10 Ideas to Make the Most of CentriKid

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After a few years (ok 10) of going to CentriKid, these are things I’ve learned. Some may be universally true, some may just apply to my group, but I’ve learned that my attitude, understanding and preparation can really shape the experience our campers have!

1) Create care groups. Care groups of 5 kids can gather at your church group time to discuss questions and report on the day. Care group leaders can help you count the group quickly. Care group leaders can listen for spiritual decisions or struggles in your kids lives too.

2) Make your own “mobile SPOT.” When you need to gather your group, it can be easy to waste time looking for the stragglers. Put up a flag, a balloon on a stick, a blinking LED on a pole, or a poster board with your church name. If it sticks up above the crowd they’ll know where you are.

3) Backpack for each kid. Plan to buy the CentriKid backpack or get your own. There are cheap options out there that you can get imprinted with your ministry logo. Write names on the packs or get kids to decorate their own. It helps to keep up with their bibles, sun screen, bug spray, water bottle, etc.

4) Show grace. It’s important to realize you and your group aren’t the only show in town when you get to camp. Treat other groups with respect and some grace. Some groups are just mannered differently than yours, be patient.

5) We are all guests. It’s important to realize Centrikid is a guest and partner of the site of camp. Your camp site provides housing, food, and facilities.

6) Be the bank. Are you tired of “MR KIDMIN, I’M OUT OF MONEY” or “SOMEONE STOLE MY $20?” At your meetings, have parents deposit a max of $30 with an adult you’ve recruited to be the banker. Write an envelope with the kids name in it and the total they have in the bank. Bank will open before hang time and kids can pull money out. Banker can gently remind kids of how many days of camp they have left, how much they’ve spent, and to consider saving some for the missions offering.

7) Prepare for a rain forecast. Provide each adult a small umbrella or poncho. Provide gallon size ziplocks to protect Bibles and a dry shirt. Get kids to pack two pairs of shoes. Oh, and as to Bibles, don’t take the engraved one handed down through generations in your family, it won’t come back the same.

8) Prepare for OMC. Kids get hyper excited when they see their church leaders excited. Go to a party store and get crazy orange stuff for your adults. Get fired up. It’s SO fun. The more jazzed you are, the more jazzed the kids will be.

9) Make Wednesday Super Happy Nap day. During track times, catch up on the sleep you’ve missed. (Don’t tell the kids… or camp staffers.. oops!)

10) Encourage your camp staff at every moment. These students do camp, pack camp, travel with camp, get soaked, get gross, eat camp food, walk everywhere, and deal with hundreds of church groups ALL SUMMER. Hook em up with some treats. Help them with track times. Have a conversation with them at meals. HUG EM. These students deserve every ounce of care we can share with them.

Chris Giddens is a self-proclaimed nerd. He’s also a husband, Dad and Children’s Minister at Pleasant Valley South Baptist. He generally does all this in Silver Creek, GA, unless he’s at CentriKid. He’s also been known to play with LEGO.

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Safety Tip for Bunk Beds at Camp

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Here’s a safety tip for parents who are worried about their child sleeping on the top bunk at camp.  Some kids have bunk beds at home so its no problem, but there are others who have never been on a top bunk before.  If you are concerned about your child rolling off the top bunk, we’ve got a nifty solution that can help.

When making the bed, use a fitted sheet with a pool noodle along the edge of the bed.  See the picture below for an example.  When the sheet is in place, the pool noodle is held snugly, creating a bumper for your kiddo in the night.  There are no guarantees, but hopefully it can help give the parent and the child a bit of comfort about being on the top bunk.