Camp.
If you have ever experienced a week away from home, meeting new
friends, creating new experiences, then you probably have pleasant
memories of camp. I have been blessed to participate in camp as a
child, teenager and adult. My very first camp experience, though, was
not the best.
I was 8 years old and very shy. The church camp had a
tradition of allowing you to "find" a date to walk up the side of the
mountain to three crosses at the top, have a short devotion then eat ice
cream at the bottom of the excursion. In order to find a date, the
girls got to pick who they wanted to walk up the mountain with by
chasing the boys until one was "caught".
So
the boys lined up a few yards in front of the girls. This was
terrifying to me as an 8 year old kid who had no intention of holding
any girls hand up and down a mountain! So when the word "go" was
announced, I ran like there was a mountain lion chasing me. For 5
minutes, I zigged and zagged and stayed clear of any female coming
close. I did notice a young girl approaching me. She tried but could
not get me. Then she huddled with her two older sisters and all three
came at me. I know I was sweating bullets, but for another 3 minutes I
managed to escape them all. With great relief I thought I had dodged
the biggest trial of my 8 year old life. Then out of the corner of my
eye I saw the three sisters approach my camp counselor. Oh no, now
their evil plans included an adult!
Needless
to say, within one minute he had grabbed me and held me until the
menacing, younger sister touched my shoulder and yelled.."caught!" Yes,
I was forced to hold her hand up and down the mountain but the minute
we were at the bottom, no amount of ice-cream would keep me hanging
around to be seen in the "light" with my arch nemesis..my date.
Is
there a moral to this story? I've not been able to find a deeper
meaning, but if I had not given camp another try two years later I would
probably would not have darkened the door of a camp again. (Yes I did skip a year for fear that she might be there, but by the time I was 10, girls didn't seem as scary.)
Other
than my first year at camp I have some very wonderful memories. As an
adult who has seen camp impact teens and adults in so many positive and
spiritual ways, I am excited that FCA provides young athletes an
opportunity to experience a life-changing week. And you can bet, while
I'm the leader, there will be no girls running down boys for a hike up a
mountain!
Here
is an example of the impact of camp from a Dad who sent this to me
about his son's experience at our Sports Leadership Camp last year at
Dallas Baptist University.
“Brad
had a great time at FCA’s Sports Leadership Camp last year. It was a
wonderful experience for him on several levels. He got to spend some
time with an FCA staff person and really enjoyed getting to know him.
He gave Brad some great spiritual and football encouragement and it
definitely made an impression on Brad. Brad also had a good huddle group
and he enjoyed getting to know some Christian athletes from other
Dallas area schools. Additionally, Brad said that the speakers,
musicians and worship sessions were great. And finally, he really
enjoyed the athletic competitions. Overall, I do not think it could
have gone better. Brad was challenged to “step up” in his faith and he
was surrounded by a relatively small group of athletes who also
personally experienced that same challenge during their time at camp. I
think the FCA Sports Leadership Camp is a great concept and it
fulfilled its purpose with Brad." K.L.
Visit www.dfwfca.org for all the details on registering for this year's camp.