As we prepare for camp, we come knowing that each of our campers comes with a different background in faith development that is influenced by their past experiences. We also know faith is developmental in terms of their age and how they view life in general. This blog post from last year gives a good description of how important community is in faith development by stage.
Go to this link: http://www.youthandleadership.com/blog/brian-pingel/faith-development to read the article and then consider the age group you work with. What aspects of their faith development do we tap into well? In which areas could we grow?
This is an interesting piece - I don't remember reading it last year. It was good to have the reminder of how our kids' faith develops, from the loving environment of mom and dad, to the imitative stage in preschool years, to the very concrete in elementary school, and finally to figuring out who you are, especially based on relationships with peers and family. I liked the quote about a more mature faith at the end of the article: "They realize that they are one person who experiences different life issues continually. When that convergence takes place it is crucial that their faith is not compartmentalized, but integrated into their being." I think that's what we're all working toward, in ourselves and in the youth we work with - a faith that is integrated and becomes the essence of who we are.
ReplyDeleteI would fully agree with that, and I love that it was brought up. In a day in age where teens are asked to compartamentalize so much of their lives, school, sports, dance, social, family, and many others, God should not be one of those compartments, but should be a part of their full being. I think that if the community that they identify with can add God into their being, this will help. If we can also help show the younger ones this so that they learn it early, this would be a good thing we can do at camp as well
DeleteI think this has been an area that we have done well. I think in the past we have done a really nice job with developing the comunal and social interactions that is required. I think as a staff we do a nice job demonstrating our own faith for the younger campers and allow them to imitate our own actions.
ReplyDeleteFor the social development, as a camper-counselor, I have seen first hand how the community develops around campers, and with this strong, faith based community, I think this is one of our strengths.
I think we could use to grow, at least in the junior high and senior high areas with becoming more a part of their community rather than a guide to it. I know that I have a habit to demonstrate my faith, but rarely do I take the opportunity to discuss it. I feel like I could use better guiding and discussion questions during input time to allow for discussions with my entire cabin in which I am a part of the community, rather than the teacher to the community.
I also think this would be an area in which one of my other suggestions from last year would work well. Last year, during one input session, Tammie and I switched cabins for input and it was very interesting, and I think that this experience was good for me and good for the cabins. I think this would allow to develop an additional member in the community for the cabin, which would only help in this faith development.
Oh my! I appreciate your mentioning what you want/need from the Input. I will make sure I include discussion questions!
DeleteI agree with the elementary kids's focus on communal and the youths social.
ReplyDeleteI recall joining our youth group at church well after I was in high school years; we did lots of fun stuff together. It was especially cool for me because I didn't go to school with any of the other youth group kids. Therefore, I got to meet and socialize with kids I didn't know at first; every week and over time felt very comfortable with them. Even today I hold a special place in my heart for them and see them whenever there is an occasion (like a funeral, unfortunately). We reminesce about the cool stuff we did....Easter Sunrise Service, Camping over the weekend, ice cream at Ferrells (I had never been so far from home for an ice cream before!)
When I translate this to Choir Camp, these youth kids have more time to socialize while in the same cabin, same contract classes, same rehearsals that the bond becomes stronger that much faster. Then, when you add in the social networking of today, they stay in contact with each other throughout the year. If used in a postitive way, this is a wonderful tool to support your cabin friend who's having a rough time with Math or who might be their date to the prom when no one else will go with them or maybe they aren't able to confide in a parent, maybe another adult in their life, a couselor, can be a listening ear.
If I think of the elementary kids with the focus on communal I smile. Often the week at camp is the first time away from home or away without a sibling. It can be very trying for them. I see the cabin mates developing as a community as the week unfolds, it is really delightful. We are there to help them gain independence and confidence and keep them occupied with fun-filled days to get to the next one and then it's time to say good-bye to all your new friends. They learn to listen to new points of view, maybe disagree, but most of all learn to get along. --Margaret
Great insights, Margaret, especially about our elementary kids. And to digress - I loved Farrell's ice cream shop! I went there with my youth group too!
DeleteSince I work with the 12-19 year age group mostly through the choir, I probably can address those areas of the article. I understand the social aspect of their faith development. At camp kids might be hesitant at first to share their faith experiences, but as the week goes on, they understand that they are accepted no matter what.
ReplyDeleteIn their youth groups, the social part is always a good thing, but most youth groups also offer the multi-generational approach by working on mission trips, work parties, etc. that get them into the community and relating to all ages. I can remember my 19 year old son always being able to relate to kids younger than him (i.e. teaching a younger child how to ride his bike) and helping his grandmother with her walker at church. He recently (in February) helped almost every night at our church with MCREST where we housed 30 homeless women and children for a week. He spent entire nights there 3 times, helping out wherever he could, whether it be moving things, playing on his African drum with the children, playing cards, or generally just helping out. This age group likes to feel needed and it is a way for them to share their faith journey with others.
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DeleteI enjoyed this article very much and it helped me to think about what I want and what should be in the Input curriculum. It's exciting to think that this year in addition to the modeling of good christianship and discussion of what that means we will be helping kids connect with the bible as a resource for their daily lives. I don't read the bible nearly as much as I could/should but I am grateful that I know as much as I do about the stories and supportive messages and where/how to locate them.
ReplyDeleteI can not emphasize enough how much I agree with the idea of communal development- it is so helpful for kids of these age groups to *see* and observe others all around them interacting with faith and God on a regular basis. As a new councilor this year, I am not sure how this has been in the past, but I have a strong feeling that it holds true for everyone on staff. If we show the kids how we interact with God and infuse Him in our regular lives and interactions, they will more easily be able to make connections with Him in their lives. They will see that it isn't just a "program" or and "act", but rather a very real, very positive life choice that we have made and that they can make as well. It's much more difficult when you are surrounded by others that make different life choices, but knowing that there is always a community of people to which you belong that will support you is huge.
ReplyDeleteI am also new to the staff this year, but as a past camper I can say that one of the things I love most about this camp was the community with God. It was an escape and a rejuvenation every summer for me as I know it has become for my little sister who now attends. I don't know how I survived without it all of those years in between being a camper and now. It is so nice to have a community where kids and teens can come to escape the pressures of living in this fast paced world. I try so hard to demonstrate it for my kids at my church but I am competing against school, friends, and sports. They have so many other influences that they are also copying and trying to emulate that a week away maybe isn't enough anymore...Anyone want to try for two weeks of choir camp?
ReplyDeleteFirst of all-sorry Christie-I'm behind on my homework. Life kind of got in the way. I'll have it done before camp.
ReplyDeleteMy reaction to the article-It was good to be reminded how children "learn", kind of back to ed. psych. 101. But what first came to mind was the "nature/nurture" thing. Environment is so important to what a person can become and/or experience. In relation to camp, this means that we must provide a safe and welcoming place where the campers will feel God's presence. The camp is in a beautiful physical location that reminds of us God's creation, but it is up to the people of the camp, staff and fellow campers, to create an environment where each camper can feel God's love in other people and their interactions.