The suitcases and sleeping bags are being dragged out of the closet. Names are being Sharpied onto shirts, socks, and towels. The camp packing list has been printed and hung on the fridge: Sunscreen? Check. Extra flashlight batteries? Check. Enough t-shirts to survive a week of creek stomping and hiking and paint wars and pedal karts? Hopefully.
As parents, we are experts at the logistics. We make sure they have the gear to stay dry, safe, and hopefully, showered and teeth brushed. But as we prepare to drop our children off for a week in the woods, there is a different kind of preparation that often weighs more heavily on our minds: preparing their hearts.
At Camp Bear Creek, our mission is to provide a place of sanctuary and inspiration. While the gear helps them navigate the physical trails and spontaneous adventures, it’s their internal readiness that helps them navigate the spiritual and social ones.
Here are four ways you can help prepare your child’s heart for their journey at Camp Bear Creek:
1. The Gift of Authenticity
One of our core values is Be Authentic. In a world of social media filters and the pressure to “fit in” at school, camp is a rare space where children are invited to be exactly who God made them to be.
Before they arrive, have a conversation with your child about what it means to be “real.” Remind them that they don’t have to arrive with a certain reputation or a specific set of skills. Tell them, “I’m so excited for you to just be you this week.” When children realize they are entering a community that values their true self, their anxiety often transforms into a sense of freedom. Talk about who they want to be and how they might want to challenge or stretch themselves at camp.
2. Preparing for Sanctuary (and Unplugging)
We live in a loud, digital world. Moving from a screen-filled environment to the sanctuary and sacred space that is camp can be shock to the system. You can help bridge this gap by starting the “unplug” a few days or even weeks early.
Encourage a little more quiet time or a few extra hours outside before camp begins. Be intentional about having time away from the phone, video games, and screens, whether this is around the dinner table, in the hours before bedtime, or for extended periods on the weekend. Go on hikes and find ways to enjoy natural settings and observe the world. Help your child look forward to the sounds they will hear—the chirping of birds, the rustle of leaves, and the crackle of a campfire—rather than the notifications they won’t hear.
3. Normalizing the Jitters
Growth rarely happens inside a comfort zone. It is completely normal for a child (and a parent!) to feel a mix of excitement and homesick nerves.
Instead of promising them they won’t feel homesick, validate the feeling. Tell them, “It’s okay to miss home while having the time of your life.” Remind them that our highly-trained counselors are there to walk beside them. At Camp Bear Creek, we believe that overcoming these small challenges is exactly how children build the self-confidence and resilience to navigate the bigger challenges of life. Express how much you want them to have fun at camp, even though you will miss them while they are gone. Affirm their jitters and their anxieties, tell them it’s normal and natural, and practice some strategies to help them live in and love the moment, even if they’re missing home.
4. Praying Through the Wait
Finally, as a community of faith, we invite you to pray with and for your child. Pray for the friends they haven’t met yet. Pray for the counselor who will be their mentor and role model. Pray that they would feel God’s presence in the quiet moments of worship and the exciting moments of color wars.
When we pray for camp, we remind our children that this isn’t just a vacation—it’s a formative faith experience. We aren’t just sending them away; we are sending them toward a deeper relationship with their Creator.
The Journey Begins
The packing list is important, but the heart is where the transformation happens. We can’t wait to welcome your camper to Camp Bear Creek, where they can live in the moment, grow in faith, and return home with a heart that is a little more full, a little more confident, and a lot more connected to God’s grace.
See you at camp!
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Special Persons Week (July 2nd-7th)