So, you sent your child to Bible camp each summer…and it impacted her life! Now she wants to work there for the summer. Should you let her? She’ll make very little (or no) money, does this even make sense? YES!
Working at a Bible camp is one of the best experiences your teen (or young adult) can have. It will impact the rest of their life AND teach them invaluable skills benefiting them in whatever they choose to do later in life.
I spent five summers working on staff at a Bible camp. These summers of service and ministry impacted my life in amazing ways AND taught me skills that are applicable to every area of life. While working at camp I:
1. Developed a Strong Work Ethic
While working at a Bible camp is tons of fun, it’s also hard work! I washed dishes, worked in the kitchen, cleaned bathrooms, served as a cabin leader, and many other random jobs. Working at a camp requires the willingness to work hard, at all times, and in non-glamorous ways. This experience develops into a heart of service and a strong work ethic.
2. Developed Leadership Skills
While working at camp as a high school student, I gained valuable experience in peer leadership while working closely with my peers in the kitchen, doing dishes, and cleaning bathrooms. Being a junior cabin leader also challenged me and strengthened my leaderships skills in ways babysitting had not.
The most difficult summer of my life was the summer between my junior and senior years of college. I was serving at camp as the coordinator for young camp staff (ages 14-17). I was in charge of planning all work projects and activities for this group as well as mentoring their college-aged leaders. While this summer was very exhausting and difficult in many ways, it was also a wonderful summer of growth and memories for me. I returned to college and my professors instantly noticed a difference in my confidence and abilities.
3. Learned (unusual) life skills in an unusual environment.
Camp is a great place to lean unusual skills:
- drive a manual transmission pickup truck
- start a campfire and cook over it
- shoot a bow and arrow (and teach others how to also)
- lead small group Bible studies
- plan and cook meals for small and large groups
- use power tools
- help remodel a bathroom
- write lesson plans for a variety of camp activities
- drive a pontoon boat
- how to canoe, kayak, paddle boat, waterski, etc
- trouble shoot a copy machine
- create and build stage props and other camp “stuff”
- lead large group activities
- how to groom and tack a horse (depending on the camp)
- basic horseback riding skills (depending on the camp)
- how to safely belay at a climbing wall or high ropes course (depending on the camp)
- how to lead team building exercises
While many of these skills are no longer things I do on a regular basis, the main thing I learned was that I CAN learn new (and strange) things! Working at camp gave me the confidence to jump in and try (and learn) new things.
4. Solidified My Faith and Life-Long Commitments
Having to explain my faith the others and having to teach about God, Jesus, and salvation to others caused me to think about what I believe and why I believe it. This caused me to develop a deeper level commitment to my faith and the ministry in all areas and stages of life. Many young adults are called into various life-long vocational ministries because of their time working at a Bible camp.
5. Made Friends for a Lifetime.
Because working at camp is life encompassing, the relationships developed there also last a lifetime. Being involved in intense ministry, work, and life together grows friendships much faster and deeper than in “regular” life.
I encourage you, as a parent, to do everything you can to support your teen or young adult in his or her desire to spend the summer working at a Bible camp. While he or she may not make much (or any) money, the life-long impact of the experience is invaluable!
