After going to youth camp as a teen in the early 1970s, I chaperoned as a brand new pastor in 1990. Recently, after a 27-year hiatus, I returned.
Why would a 58-year-old aging Baby Boomer who still likes to preach in a coat and tie endure late nights and early wake up calls with over 600 students one-fourth his age?
There's nothing like staying with seven guys in a space smaller than a bedroom to create a bonding opportunity. I even took a top bunk, which made middle of the night restroom breaks very interesting.
Going to camp gave me a chance to reconnect to a segment of society. I needed some fresh exposure to what they were saying, how they were acting, and who they were modeling, etc.
That said, I'm not sure I'll go back next year, though I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. Not only were the campers themselves wonderful, those awesome, tireless young people who led the event were well-trained and mature beyond their years.
We've got some top notch people spearheading youth work in our state and national conventions. Better yet, we have an up-and-coming band of youth that feeds on authenticity and stands ready to share the love of Christ to the next generation.