Avoid the "after camp slump" that churches sometimes experience. Here are some ideas and resources to help you:LET THEM SHARE...Plan a share time where students and adults can process their experiences out loud. You can do the traditional model where students/adults get up in front of the church and share stories with the whole congregation. Or you can try something a little different and set up opportunities in Sunday School or Home Groups where a few students can share pictures and stories with small groups of adults at a time. This method allows more students to share and creates a less intimidating environment for them to process what they've learned.
GET THE CHURCH INVOLVED...invite members of the congregation to pray for and encourage students as they live out what they've learned at camp. Designate a wall or bulletin board in your church as the "Here's what God is teaching me..." canvas. Allow students to share what they've learned at camp or other events this summer by writing on index cards, butcher paper, poster board, etc. Encourage adults in the church to walk by that board each week and pray for a different student.
Another way to get the church involved is to tell them about the FUGE Missions offering emphasis (show the missions videos that are on the End of Week DVD you purchased at camp) and challenge them to match what your students gave this summer - that money can be sent to LifeWay now or brought to camp next year and given to the offering. For more information about FUGE Missions, click here.
Post pictures your adults took at camp to a social network your church has set up. Invite students to comment on pictures so everyone from the church can catch a glimpse of the fun, group bonding and spiritual growth that took place.
FOLLOW UP WITH STUDENTS...assign each adult that came to camp several students to follow up with in the weeks to come. Encourage them to go for ice cream or coffee with several at a time just to hear how things are going and ways they can pray for those students.
Use the after camp resources we have provided to help students continue to work through lessons relating to this year's theme: CONNECT.
Thank you for coming to camp! We consider it a huge honor to partner with you each summer! To register for 2012, click here or call us at 877-CAMP123.
Your FUGE Family
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