Section 8: Spiritual Development of Campers and Staff

Section 8: Spiritual Development of Campers and Staff

Section 8:

Spiritual Development

Of Campers and Staff

Lord, help me to serve, not just shine. Help me leave them empowered, not just impressed. Help me make a difference.

Terry Paulson

Planning for the spiritual component of camp should take place throughout Orientation. A single person needs to take responsibility for coordinating this area of camp programming, whether it be the camp director, the camp director’s spouse, a DHQ officer or cadet assigned to the camp, or a hired Christian Education Director (see sample job description in Appendix A). That person, in turn, may wish to form a committee to assist in planning. Too often, however, the lack of a single person with an overall vision for the summer leads to half-hearted, uncoordinated efforts that fail to effectively minister to either staff or campers.

In most Army camps, the spiritual component can be seen in the following areas:

· orientation themes, (8:2);

· weekly devotional themes, (8:2);

· morning devotions (usually united), (8:3);

· evening devotions (usually divided by age group or cabin), (8:4);

· prayers at meals and united programs, (8:6);

· program areas devoted to Christian Education, such as JAM (Jesus and Me) , (8:6);

· teachable moments in other program areas, (8:6);

· Sunday camper worship services, (8:7);

· Sunday staff worship services, (8:7);

· Bible based evening programs, (8:8);

· Sunday evening staff vespers, (8:8);

· staff Bible study groups, (8:9);

· staff prayer groups, (8:9);

· staff worship teams (drama, puppets, musical, song leading), (8:10);

· staff role modeling, (8:10); and

· discipling by camp leadership staff, (8:12).

Orientation Themes

A unifying, spiritually connected theme is an excellent idea for Orientation. It can, in fact, be carried out through the entire summer. Some ideas for themes include:

· Start with the Heart

· Mission Possible

· Strength in Numbers

· You’ve Got to Be In It to Win It

· It It’s to Be, It’s Up to Me

· Succeed with Hearts, Not Smarts

· Take Time for Today

· Living at See Level (stressing that we are very visible role models)

· Cower or Tower?

· CLEAR Vision (Commitment, Leadership, Excellence, Attitude, Responsibility, or another combination of attributes/skills you would like to see developed in and exhibited by your staff)

Implications for Orientation:

Leadership staff should choose a theme which can be integrated into many sessions, and understood on many levels. A “thought for the day,” shared at each morning session or following breakfast, can reinforce this theme. Staff can also be provided with photocopied devotional booklets containing a scripture passage and thought for the day. Small mixed groups, led by leadership staff facilitators, can meet prior to each day’s workshops to share their thoughts on the personal devotions.

Weekly Devotional Themes

In the same way that staff see a unified theme throughout Orientation, campers should see a unified spiritual theme throughout each session. In many camps, the theme may relate to the Sunday evening program (Walking with Jesus, or The Miracles of Jesus, or Heroes of the Old Testament). In others, the theme may be one word (Peace, Love, Joy, Faith). Weekly themes can also be connected to daily scripture passages, which might be introduced and perhaps memorized in a morning devotional period, and then revisited during cabin evening devotions. This provides a nicely structured format, so that even the busiest or most reluctant counselors will have no excuse for neglecting devotions.

Implications for Orientation:

· Decide on themes for each session. This might be done by the leadership staff or the Christian Education Director. Present these to the staff, and allow them to brainstorm songs, skits, mimes, scripture verses, devotionals, evening programs, etc. that relate to the theme.

· Prepare lists of scripture which will be presented to campers during the week. This will help counselors to plan for their own cabin devotions, even if no other resources are provided to them.

· Decide how at least one evening program of the session might relate to the theme (see Bible Based Evening Program).

Morning Devotions

Morning devotions should be a standard feature in any Salvation Army camp. The easiest way to conduct these is immediately after breakfast, when all cabin groups are still in the dining hall. Most camps, however, prefer to convene their devotions at a later time, in a place which offers a better environment for singing and drama. Some, in order to address the issue of age appropriateness, conduct two different programs, one for campers ages six through eight, and another for campers ages nine and above.

Regardless of the venue, morning devotions should include the following attributes:

· A Unifying Theme

All devotions throughout the week, including evening devotions, might tie into this theme. Bible-based evening programs (see 8:8) can help to reinforce these ideas.

· A Single, Articulate Facilitator

A consistent leader will help campers to quiet down more quickly, and will ease the transition between elements in the program. This leader may serve the sole function of introducing others taking part in the program.

· A Variety of Staff Members

All staff should be used to lead songs, act out skits, teach the scripture lesson, etc. Using counselors engages campers’ attention, and holds the staff up as models.

· A Daily Scripture Verse

Whether memorized or read aloud and illustrated, the Word should be a pivotal part of the program. Many excellent methods exist for reading aloud and memorizing scripture. Daily portions can be posted in the dining hall as the week progresses, and reviewed as campers stand on line for meals.

· Songs

Songs should be repeated throughout the week so that all campers can become familiar with them; it is also highly suggested that the words to the song, and possibly pictures that help to illustrate the words, be made available. These can be displayed via overhead transparencies, Power Point presentations, or simple charts.

· Personal Witness

Staff members with a strong testimony should be encouraged to share it with the children. Some camps have even allowed their International staff to share their testimonies in their own language if there are campers present who understand it. Others ask bilingual staff to translate. Leadership and support staff, who may not always be present at devotions, should also be sought for their testimonies.

· Scripture Portions, Especially Stories from the New Testament

Stories of Jesus and His work here on Earth may not be familiar to many of your campers. Staff should tell or act out these stories, or they may be interpreted through puppetry, dance, or mime (a good way to share parables).

· Opportunities for Interaction

Children absorb better what they experience through all the senses. Stories involving choral response, simple challenges, echo-type scripture verses, impromptu theater using children as actors who are then fed their lines, all create a more interactive, engaging program. One camp, for example, presented their scripture verse “Wheel of Fortune” style, slowly turning over the letters to the verse as they were guessed. One camper, when asked if he learned the scripture verse for the day, replied, “Yeah, I learned it. And I learned how to read, too!” Recurring characters, such as a staffer dressed in red long johns posing as the Devil, increase camper interest over the course of the week. Campers at one camp loved to drive the Devil crazy by being able to quote scripture, when he taunted them time and again that they couldn’t.

· A Chance for Commitment

Clearly this would not take place in the first devotional session. In the case where Sunday occurs very early in a camp session, however, it may make more sense to have a time for commitment during one of the last morning devotions, rather than so soon after the campers’ arrival.

Implications for Orientation:

· Weekly themes (see page 8:2) should be determined early during Orientation, and worship teams (8:10) should also begin to form at this time.

· Songs which will be used during morning devotions should be introduced and practiced during Orientation (use your return staffers here). Songs which involve movement are more likely to be retained by staff and campers alike. Again, provide the words in visual form!

· Provide sign-up sheets for assisting with morning devotions. Consider assigning units to participate on given days.

· Draw upon the diversity of your staff. Seek out international staff members and staffers who have worked at other camps for ideas. Songs in a foreign language make a wonderful addition to the camp program if their meanings are made clear.

Evening Devotions

As mentioned above, evening devotions should be directly linked to morning devotions (8:3) through a Theme of the Week. A number of options are available for conducting these times:

· Evening devotions can take place immediately following a united evening program while all campers are still gathered. The Program Director, Christian Education Director, or other staff member can share a story, scripture, or devotional thought. (One camp’s tradition was to use a Native American Spirit, who would relate a tribal legend with an ethical message. The campers respected this person because the staff did). Songs with a slower tempo can begin to set the mood for getting campers to bed.

· Cabins can individually conduct their own devotions using materials provided by the Christian Education Director. An example of such theme-related evening devotions is provided in Appendix Q. Counselors may also choose to create their own devotionals, or to conduct read-alouds which lend themselves to spiritual teachings (fables would fall into this genre). Especially useful are wisdom books (see below).

· Evening devotions can be conducted by age group in a predetermined location. This is especially effective with teen campers. Several get-acquainted and values clarification games (Appendix F) used in Orientation can be used effectively with these groups. Some camps conduct an After Glow program, which allows older campers to enjoy one late night activity (such as volleyball, a night swim, or a campfire), followed by snacks and devotions.

· Program staff members can be required to conduct cabin devotions. If each program staff member creates two or three basic lessons, they can rotate among cabins to provide variety for campers. This allows counselors to focus their energies on getting campers ready for bed.

· If the camp has a radio station, age-appropriate devotions can be conducted on the air at predetermined times each evening. Counselors will have the option of tuning into these programs or conducting their own. This format allows devotions to be prerecorded, and also allows for the inclusion of music.

Counselors who can’t find the time to plan and conduct devotionals should be provided with plenty of resources. Several series of books incorporate simple object lessons with related scripture. There are also many excellent children’s Bibles, as well as bedtime story books which teach a moral. Fables and parables can be used with great success.

Another fantastic idea for devotional time is to use “wisdom books.” Wisdom books are simply picture books whose themes and narratives teach the life skills, character traits and attitudes which we want our campers to practice, such as Patience, Empathy, Teamwork, Cooperation, Forgiveness, Fairness, and Christian Love. When sharing a wisdom book, an adult reader would read to no more than twenty children at a time (so that illustrations can be shared). As the book is being shared, children have two jobs:

1) Listen for the main events. By the story’s end, a child should be able to retell the story in two or three sentences.

2) Listen for the “wisdom” in the book. What can we learn from this story?

(A complete, up-to-date list of themes, wisdom books, and suggestions for their effective use can be obtained by emailing the author at ).

One way to build an impressive library of devotional ideas is to solicit them from past staffers. Additionally, chief counselors can require that all devotionals be recorded during the first week. These can then be shared and swapped at later counselors’ meetings.

Implications for Orientation:

· Provide numerous resources for devotionals. Establish a check-out system in order to hold staff accountable for the return of materials.

· If the staff has access to the Internet, the Christian Education Director should bookmark a number of sites containing devotionals, illustrations, object lessons, and searchable online Bibles.

· Teach new counselors a step-by-step method for conducting devotions. Veteran staffers can model devotions in the cabin.

· Have leadership staff plan weekly themes during leadership staff orientation, and begin to collect relevant scripture verses, illustrations, object lessons, etc.

Prayers at Meals and United Programs

In addition to mealtime prayers (which are often sung), camp leaders may wish to have a “thought of the day” shared at breakfast.

Implications for Orientation:

· If counselors are expected to conduct prayers with their own campers at the table, then a number of models should be provided during Orientation. Creating a number of examples which can be adapted by counselors is far better than having an uninspired counselor begin to pray with, “God is great, God is good...” or “Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub.”

· Well thought out prayers may prompt campers to want to say the blessing. This is encouraged, although counselors should be ready to step in if a camper begins to have trouble.

Christian Education as a Program Area

Many camps, taking a cue from Vacation Bible School, have incorporated formal Christian education into the program area rotation. Time is this area might be spent further exploring the devotional theme of the week, or may be spent acting out parables or readers theatre plays. Singing and the creation of simple crafts are other ideas for this area.

Implications for Orientation:

· During Orientation, the role of the counselor assisting at program areas must be defined. Too often, counselors sit idly by, unsure of how to help the program specialist.

· Leadership staff should investigate Vacation Bible School curricula. Excellent ideas found there can be adapted to the camp setting.

· Consider including skits, mimes, and short plays into the Christian Education program which can later be presented in morning devotions or Sunday worship services.

Teachable Moments

Spiritual education should not be limited to a single program area. Teachable moments can occur daily in recreation, crafts, nature, and outdoor living skills. The ropes course, for example, in addition to teaching cooperation, also teaches trust, a concept that can easily be related to a weekly theme involving faith. A discussion of a raccoon’s traits in Nature can lend itself to discussion of how God has provided for each type of animal in a unique way.