Good News Florida

CAMP GUIDE 24 APRIL 2018 Good News • South Florida Edition Unlike the traditional class- room setting or family weekend get-away, summer enrichment programs and camps present unique opportunities for your child to mature from a state of parental dependency toward healthy self-efficacy, developing the necessary grit to live a life worthy of their calling. In short: summer enrichment programs and camps should be recog- nized as an opportunity to in- vest in your child’s future. Here are five reasons to enroll your child in a summer enrich- ment program or camp: 1.It’s a place where a kid can be a kid (outside of Chuck E Cheese’s of course). You and I woke to cartoons and silly gameshows; this cur- rent generation wakes and im- mediately checks their social media where they are bom- barded with violence, sex and political division. Summer en- richment programs and camps provide an outlet to experience life beyond the screen. They might resist at first — as any addict does — but a good, old- fashioned shaving cream war will do the trick because fun (play) is an important construct for healthy social and mental development. 2.It’s a place that inspires new ideas. Comedian Nate Bargatze says when it comes to dining out, he struggles to think out- side going to a chain place. I can relate; I’ll drive past forty unique restaurants on my way to Chipotle. It makes sense; we’re biologically wired to con- serve energy and survive, so we develop habits and patterns in an effort to maintain control. However, this births a going- through-the-motions lifestyle in deed and thought. Getting away is the perfect antidote to invigorate new ideas and process through fears, hopes and dreams. And this happens because students’ defenses are weakened during summer enrichment programs and camps that offer vulnerable and safe — trustworthy — environ- ments necessary for their thoughts to be openly shared and discussed. 3.It’s a place where life-long decisions are made. When students are having fun and accept a new state of vulnerability, they explore parts of themselves they’ve long since hidden from the public domain. Their world is largely superficial, abounding in selfies and likes, which fuels the com- parison game. From social media to standardized testing, students are continually being corralled toward conformity and are rewarded for compliance. Their decisions en masse are parroted replies, not owned re- sponses. Yet at camp, when faced with choices like eating a gigantic chocolate-coated doughnut or king-sized Reece’s Cups for breakfast, freedom feels real. And then they get real, discovering something deep within themselves that needs to change; and since this thought materialized fromwithin their own consciousness, it stands a chance to last beyond the momentary epiphany. 4. It’s a place where lasting relationships are forged. It’s been said that our sto- ries — our shared experiences —get better with each retelling. And that happens thanks to the neurochemical oxytocin which, when released, bonds us with others—these being the very people who help us experience fun, embrace our new ideas and hold us accountable to de- cisions we make. Additionally, for students that identify as out- siders, enrichment programs and camps allow them to en- gage with new, like-minded friends, which helps them feel connected to something larger than themselves and no longer as detached from the universe as originally believed. For everyone camp is a place to sense belonging. 5. It’s a place where their mettle is tested. Dr. TimElmore writes in his book Three Huge Mistakes We Make Leading Kids and How to Correct Them that while he ap- plauds the level of engagement from parents and youth work- ers, he warns us that an over- protected and over-connected approach to leading students negatively impacts their ability to succeed. As such he says students risk too little, are res- cued too quickly and are praised too easily, leaving stu- dents with a high arrogance but hollow confidence. They are ill- equipped for a world full of risks, challenges and conse- quences. Enrichment programs and camps move lessons from the lecture hall to the laboratory where students can put their skills to the test in an environ- ment that stretches them to- ward their capacity, and allows for debrief and growth. It’s here where students learn what they’re made of and what that looks like for their future; they learn to believe in themselves. Having attended many camps that shaped my life, and now having for over a decade either participated in or created and led various summer enrich- ment programs and camps, without hesitation I implore par- ents to make this investment in your child’s life. To maximize the return on investment, ask this question upon their return: What was most useful for you? Asking this simple question, au- thor of The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever, Michael Bungay Stanier sayswill validate that the camp was use- ful for the student, as they iden- tify a take-away that will outlive the event and add a personal value for the them, while provid- ing the parents with meaningful feedback and assurance that it was money well spent. C.J. Wetzler is the youth pastor at The Message Church. He loves to mentor the next generation of leaders and con- siders himself a fast food con- noisseur. For questions or comments, connect with him on social media: @thecjwetzler. Five Reasons Camps Are A Must for Every Child C.J. Wetzler Good News Pastor Luke Still , his father and Dakoda Brisco launch water balloons soaring through the sky toward students attending the REVIVE summer camp. John Melo using his creative abilities in development of his team’s flag during LaunchCamp.