We leave for camp on Friday and have been in thick of camp training. One of the universal things YL leaders learn in training is that camp is (at minimum) a two week commitment… the week of camp and then follow-up.
Many of us are spent when we get back from camp, but we must have a plan in place before we leave. In case you are looking for some content ideas, here are some for you to consider:
My 1st 30 Quiet Times – Ty Saltsgiver
This is tried and tested resource that continues to be a great tool. It is a great resource to give a kid and just say, jump right in! It has a short reading and relevant scriptures in an easy do-able format for teenagers and beyond. I’ve had to rework it a bit to use as a guide to “teach” at campaigners, but this is an easy task. You can find this and many more resources by Ty HERE.
Beginnings – Jim Branch
I’ve heard more and more about Jim Branch and his great writing and work with YL. He has a great devotional blog called the Blue Book Blog. Beginnings has two parts to it, one part is meant to do solo, so on your own. The other part is meant to be done with a mentor or in a small group. You can find this and other writing by Jim Branch HERE.
Cabin Time Continued
I know it might be a bit tacky to recommend something I put together, but wouldn’t you be worried if I didn’t think it was worth recommending?! I wrote this booklet as a follow-up to camp as it mimics the traditional club talks we hear at camp, and then follows up with several of what I think are the most essential topics to think about immediately after hearing camp talks. You can find more on this resource and a sample lesson HERE.
Wyld Questions
Wyld Questions is aimed creating junior high school conversations covering eight questions many junior high students ask. The Bible study portion of Wyld Questions could be done by people of any age, but the format, the dice, the visuals, and the object lessons have been intertwined in this study to engage junior higher students right where they are at. You can find more on this resource and a sample lesson HERE.
Live Like This
This is a study through the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus’ teaching in this section is radical and counter-cultural. Part 1 & 2 provide 20 studies that can easily be adapted for campaigners, either following the lessons in a teaching format, or a do-it-on-your-own and compare notes each week format. You can find more on this resource and a sample lesson HERE.
Mark in a Month
This is a study through the Gospel of Mark in 30 days. This study includes minimal commentary other than a few thoughts for each passage. The emphasis in this study is the process of working through the carefully crafted questions and the daily repetitive questions meant to draw ones attention to the Lord’s activity in daily life. You can find more on this resource and a sample lesson HERE.
Please pass along any other resources for camp follow up or campaigners in general and I’ll do my best to get the word out to help us all.
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3 thoughts on “Camp Follow-Up Resources”
Can you add a resource or two for follow up with our Capernaum friends?!!! These are great and are super with some of our friends.
I would love to add some Capernaum resources! Please share with me any of your recommendations.
Sean
Here is what David Thames, a veteran Capernaum staff person told me he does…
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We have a camp reunion club within 1 week of returning from camp – we gather together with campers, leaders and family members of campers and watch the camp video, look at a slideshow of pictures, munch on left-over cabin snacks and recall all the fun things about camp and finish up with what we learned about Jesus during the week. We use a set of questions that have been refined over the years.
The last thing we do is talk about 2 Cor 5:17 – what it means to be a new creation in Christ.
During the year in our club messages, we try to use examples and props that the speaker used in the camp message.
I have attached the questions we use – as well as listing them below.
1. What are some things you did at Young Life camp that you’ll never forget?
2. What’s the first thing you did when you got home?
3. What’s the first thing you told your friends/parents?
4. What surprised you most about Young Life camp?
5. What is something you did at camp that surprised you about yourself?
6. What are some things you heard at Young Life camp that you’ll never forget?
7. Have you talked with someone about the “God and Jesus” part of camp?
8. What did you think about Jesus before you went to Young Life camp?
Is there something new you learned about Jesus at camp?
9. What did your learn about Jesus that helped you to follow Him for the first time or recommit to follow Him?
10.What is something about you that has changed since you got a good look at Jesus?
What is something about you that you want to change?
Then we challenge them to memorize 2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”