Relationships That Matter
We cannot begin to think about Camp without our Coaches. They are the key ingredient to what makes camp matter: relationships. Our coaches desire greatly and remained focused on two relationships: their relationship with God and their relationship with others.
It is a fact that our coaches are useless if they are not pursuing a relationship with Jesus. When they walk closely with Jesus, the steps they take are amazingly impactful.
… the overflow of a coach’s relationship with Jesus flows right into the coach and camper relationship.
Our alumni coaches will quickly say to this day that their time with Jesus while working at camp was both a necessity and a blessing beyond belief. It is why we purposefully give our staff time to dig into God’s Word, to deepen their relationship with Him, because this relationship matters most.
Then the most natural thing occurs, the overflow of a coach’s relationship with Jesus flows right into the coach and camper relationship.
And man, it is awesome!
From Coach to Camper
Camper/Coach relationships are built on truth and trust, purposeful play and problem solving, sitting still and playing hard together. They are fostered around a dining room table, in a huddle in the cabins, encouraging one another on the ropes and fields and all the while looking closely at the ultimate relationship with Jesus in His Word and the example of the coaches.
It is not uncommon for a camper/coach relationship to have longevity. It simply might be the words of encouragement that linger in a campers hearts for years. It could be the example of how to serve even when exhausted that prods a camper to make a difference at their school. Picking up a conversation with a coach years later can be as natural as the day you sat on the swings together.
They are the key ingredient to what makes camp matter: relationships.
And Beyond
Then, a camper becomes a coach and this coach becomes the blessing they received to a camper. And the most important relationship is made great again… God with us. He is with us through these heroes of college students we call coaches.
You see… when a coach’s relationship with God is foundational, it overflows into the lives of our campers. And when camper’s lives are filled with God’s love, their relationships and opportunities get immersed in it also.