It’s that time of year! Summer!! A glorious time in childhood! School’s out! The possibilities are endless. The structure of school and being told what to study and read and do day in and day out are over. Every kid loves summer! I’ve never had a child say to me that they were not happy for summer to start or not happy that school was out! Parents on the other hand, vary. Some are excited the routine of school is over, at least for a while. Some fear not having a routine and are scrambling to figure out how their children will spend their summer days. Either way, summer for children is typically a time for children to be children again. It’s a time to remember how to play again after all the structure of school and activities, a time to dream dreams, a time where visions of what might be begin to be birthed.
This month we have a word from Ashton McIntyre, a missionary in Southeast Asia. He shares with us how God used King’s Camp to draw him into a deeper relationship with Himself and give him a dream of the world where Jesus really is King. I want to invite you to read his story. You can hear his heart in his words...And I want to invite you to consider why this summer the very thing that may bring your child back to herself/himself and back to the God that calls your child "His Beloved" could be a week at King’s Camp.
Why Camp?
Summer camp has many benefits for your child in general. Here’s what the experts say:
"The building blocks of self-esteem are belonging, learning, and contributing. Camps offer unique opportunities for children to succeed in these three vital areas and even beyond home and school."Michael Popkin, Ph.D., family therapist and founder of Active Parenting
"The biggest plus of camp is that camps help young people discover and explore their talents, interests, and values. Most schools don't satisfy all these needs. Kids who have had these kinds of (camp) experiences end up being healthier and have less problems which concern us all.”
"At camp, children learn to problem-solve, make social adjustments to new and different people, learn responsibility, and gain new skills to increase their self-esteem.”Peter Scales, Ph.D., noted author/educator, and Senior Fellow, The Search Institute
Bruce Muchnick, licensed psychologist who works extensively with day and resident camps, says, "Each summer at camp a unique setting is created, a community is constructed that allows participants to get in touch with a sense of life that is larger than one's self. The camp community seeks to satisfy children's basic need for connectedness, affiliation, belonging, acceptance, safety, and feelings of acceptance and appreciation.”
Bob Ditter, licensed clinical social worker specializing in child and adolescent treatment, adds, "It is in the crucible of this community that children gain self-esteem with humility, overcome their inflated sense of self, and develop a lifelong sense of grace and wonder."
Why King’s Camp?
With many camps available why choose a small camp on the edge of Mer Rouge, Louisiana nestled between Bonne Idee Bayou and McVae Lake? God-filled Community!
King’s Camp was built on the prayers of a community led by the Spirit of God with a vision of God’s Kingdom here on earth, now. Every summer that vision renews itself. Staff and children come together to enjoy the presence of God in the beauty of nature, the joy of celebration, the birthing of talents and gifts, the glory of worship, and the awareness that we are all connected and belong to a Story that is grander and more beautiful than we could ever imagine.
Here is Ashton’s remembrance of King’s Camp.
“King's Camp is a special place to me. King's Camp is where God really got my attention when I was a teenager. It's where my relationship with the Lord "took off.” God used King's Camp to change my life for the good. As a teenager attending King's Camp I said, "One day when I'm older, my kids will go to King's Camp." Now, I'm 40 years old and both of my kids have been to King's Camp. We now serve the Lord by spreading the Good News in Southeast Asia. I have lived in 4 different countries and have been to over 20 different countries. I have seen a lot of places but there is no other place I would want to be or I would want my kids to be than at King's Camp.”
You can contact Ashton at ashton@willingtogo.com
To read more of about King’s Camp and the story of our beginnings and others like this one click here:
If you are interested in signing your child up for camp click here:
If you have a story about King’s Camp that you would like to share click here:
Enjoy summer!!! Take time to have some days that you do nothing but dream new dreams. In the words of C.S. Lewis, “You are never too old …to dream a new dream.”