Revolutionary Leaders

20 Ways to Keep Your Camp Fire Burning
by Teri Modisette (OnCourse, Summer 2006)

You had the time of your life at church camp and you'ld like to hang on to your new commitments, your spiritual high and the golas you made while you were there. Here's how:

1. Be Realistic. Life won't be the same when you go back to school/work/church, but that doesn't mean what happened to you at camp wasn't real. Think of your experience as a launching pad rather than a new place to just hang out.

2. Stay in touch with those camp buddies through email, blogs or webrings. Chat about the camp vibe, and cheer each other on as much as possible.

3. Have other camp attendees from your youth group come over to your house. Share the notes you made during that special week and bond all over again. Or if you're more digital, watch that camp DVD together.

4. Forget about the annoyed counselor, the icky food ro all the trouble you got in for dropping a lit cherry bomb down the toilet. Focus on all those good revelations that stuck in your spirit.

5. Teach your worship leader all the new songs you learned.

6. Read your Bible. If even the thought of that even annoys or intimidates you, check out reader - or listener - friendly versions of the Bible, like NCV on CD or the new Biblezines. Warning: This stuff can be addictive.

7. Pray as much as you can. If you get stuck, make a prayer board out of pictures, headline clippings, missionary cards or anything that helps you remember people who need help from God. Paste it all to a piece of posterboard...

8. Share your camp photos with friends through a blog or photo sharing site, like www.snapfish.com

9. Plan a bonfire service for back to school while your camp afterglow is still fresh. Chances are you'll be full of rockin' ideas, and the best part - no homework yet!

10. Rock your youth group. One of the things that makes camp so powerful is that somebody planned it out for you. Someone cared enough to dream, create and then do the fun parts along with the dirty work. If you make your mind up that your youth group will be just as God-loving, rock-concert-exciting and life-changing as camp, then YOU'LL make it happen.

11. Become a seeker. Get your hands on a concordance and dive headfirst into everything that blew your mind at camp. Dig in - the supply of good stuff is endless.

12. Sign up for the next statewide church youth event, and go with your eyes on helping all your freinds get the most out of the experience. Keep the focus off of yourself.

13. Go on an AIM trip. You'll deeper in love with God while eating some of the freakiest food on the planet.

14. Make a compilation CD for yourself from the worship music you heard and bought at camp. Pplay it on repeat until you turn absolutely blue.

15. Remember all those stacks of books and CD you wanted to buy, but you spent your moolah on burers instead? Christmas is coming sooner than you think. Online media seelers have a Wish List feature that allows you to put books, CD and DVDs into a nifty little list, complete with images. Send that to anyone who typically leaves you a present under the tree.

16. Get creative. Write a song, play, poem ro some choreography inspired by your week at camp. Make a painting or sculpture. Your mind is so open to God right now, so take that momentum and run with it.

17. Take the occasional break from outside influences. Turn off the Xbox, the TV and the radio. Clear your headspace of extra clutter and worry, and put that energy in the important stuff - not distractions.

18. Apply for a job at camp next summer or become a counselor. If you're the giving type, you may find it's more meaningful.

19. Put your youth pastor's undergarments in the freezer in the church kitchen. You'll all feel like you're back at camp already. (NO!)

20. Don't worry about anyone who expects you to lose the post-camp spark. What you experienced was real, despite your mood swings. Spiritual things are stronger and more enduring than your changing environment. Don't let anything stop you from growing - and going back next year.