The trunk is home and unpacked. The water bottle still somehow has its nametag. And your camper? They’re back! After a week (or two!) of serious fun, they’re probably still glowing from the sun, perhaps a little tired from dancing the Monkey nonstop, and maybe even quietly humming ‘Camp is Here’ under their breath.
So now what?
We know that getting more than a “Camp was awesome!” out of your camper isn’t always easy. But the stories? They’re in there. The spiritual growth? It happened. And the best part? It doesn’t have to stay at camp.
As your camper heads back to school, here are some fun and thought-provoking questions to help them reflect on their experiences, what they learned, and how God worked in their lives—and to consider how they can live that out all year long.
Starting with the fun stuff:
What was your favorite meal you ate at camp?
Did your cabin have any fun inside jokes or crazy spirit stick ideas?
What was your favorite theme night, and what made you love it?
What was the funniest moment of the week? (We know there were many.)
Talking about friendships, new and old:
Who was someone at camp who really encouraged you?
Is there a new friend you want to keep in touch with?
How did you see God through the people in your cabin?
What kind of friend do you want to be this school year after experiencing that kind of community?
Getting to the heart of it all:
What’s something you learned about God at camp that surprised you?
Was there a moment you really felt God’s presence?
Did your counselor share anything that stuck with you?
What did you learn about yourself this week?
Connecting camp to real life:
How can you live out what you learned at camp this school year?
Is there a Bible verse from the week you want to memorize or write somewhere as a reminder?
Is there someone at school who could use the kind of friend you had at camp?
What’s one way you want to grow in your faith this semester?
Some of our favorite pro tips:
Ask these questions during moments that feel natural. Your camper will be aware if the conversation feels forced. Try to connect with them over a shared activity, meal, or during a moment when the family is all together.
Don’t worry if they don’t share it all at once. Sometimes the best stories come out weeks, or even months, later when they are reminded of something spectacular that happened during their week at camp.
Celebrate the little things: maybe they memorized a verse, maybe they conquered their fear of the blob, maybe they prayed out loud for the first time. It all matters.
Camp may be over, but the impact isn’t. The same God who moved at camp is with your camper, today and every day, as they walk through school hallways, sit at lunch tables, and face real-life challenges.
So keep the conversation going. Keep cheering them on. And keep reminding them that though camp may have only been one week, life with Jesus is the adventure of a lifetime.
