Creating an idyllic world for children’s spiritual formation

Abstract

Christian camps claim to create spaces where children and youth are more likely to encounter God and experience spiritual living, and yet contemporary camp ministries in the United States struggle to distinguish their environments from the cultural contexts in which their campers usually reside. This article reflects on the practices of 23 diverse camps in Indiana, USA, and the pervasive cultural captivity that hinders their facilitation of children’s spiritual experiences. It questions common assumptions about the efficacy of camp ‘mountaintop’ and day‐to‐day experiences for long‐term spiritual formation and challenges current practices of counsellor training.

Keywords:

• Spirituality
• Camping
• Leadership
• Formation

Notes

1. Reported by Mary Harris, Associate Dean for Student Services, Christian Theological Seminary, June 2004.

2. All quotations are taken from materials submitted by camp organizations participating in the ICMEP; camp names have been omitted to protect their privacy.