Church of God youth camp is an experience that eludes all standard definitions. Either you’ve been there, or you haven’t; as Judge Danforth would say, “There be no road between.” The memories made during youth camp are unlike anything else. The discipleship that is cultivated and stimulated throughout the experience truly is life-changing. The encounters with God cannot be extolled or explained with words. But one of the most important and life-altering aspects of youth camp is something entirely different. The importance of the friendships made during youth camps cannot be overstated.
I’ve had the privilege to work two different Church of God youth camps nearly annually for quite a few years now. I grew up attending and working South Georgia youth camps every summer. Three years ago, I began working Pennsylvania youth camps as well. The campgrounds and camps in general could not be more different. I’ve endured many comments and questions about my accent and origins during my years with Pa youth camp. Albeit, despite these apparent differences, I’ve found something both camps and campgrounds have in common: some of my greatest friendships have started with them.
Youth camp is a crazy, hectic time. Everything is sort of a blur; you live just trying to make it to your next good meal (which can be very distant, depending on the quality of your campground's food), you barely get any sleep, you attend some of the greatest church services of your life somewhere in the midst of the chaos and honestly it’s a wonder anyone manages to survive these conditions for weeks on end. But you do. Somehow, you actually manage to thrive on these conditions. You embrace the craziness, and you just have fun. The people you have that fun with often end up being your friends for life.
Last summer, I cracked my skull at Pennsylvania youth camp. The camp nurse actually did the skull cracking, but that’s another story for another day. In the aftermath, a new friend I had made just that day brought me her laptop so I could watch Netflix during my otherwise boring recovery. We talked about our “Squad” we had formed that day (This was the summer of 2015, the term “Squad” was still cool. At least in our minds it was), which happened to include the aforementioned camp nurse. In talking about our friend group and other notable relationships, this new friend looked at me and said something I’ll never forget. She told me, “You know how when you make friends over a God thing like camp or a missions trip and it’s just easier and faster? You just click instantly, and it’s really easy to get really close. It’s like because you’re doing something ministry-related, it just works. Like look at us. I met you today, I was with you when you hit your head, I met your parents and here we are just talking. Friendships don’t move that quickly outside of God things.”
The more I think about that quote, the more I realize how right she really was. Friendships can progress quickly outside of youth camps or similar environments, of course, but few have the staying power of those friendships. It’s just easier to form a lasting relationship with people when you have the common denominator of your strong faith. The “Squad” I referred to earlier still has an active group text to this day, over a year later. The camp nurse who may or may not have been responsible for my head injury? We’ve got a very special, unshakable bond. The new friend who imparted the wisdom about camp friendships to me? She’s one of my very best friends. It just happens.
There is something extremely special about friendships forged in the crucible that is camp. “Squad” is far from my only example of that fact. I’ve met so many of my best friends through youth camp, it’s hard to keep an accurate count. I met one of my very best friends at South Georgia youth camp about five or six years ago, and within ten minutes of meeting we were sitting on her bunk talking like the oldest of friends. We talked for over three hours. She’s still one of my favorite people to this day. At Pennsylvania youth camp this year I was blessed to make two amazing friends who I know I’ll have for the rest of my life. Every night since camp concluded, I’ve had long, meaningful conversations with one of these friends. We just click.
Camp friendships aren’t just about the long, soul-bearing talks in cabins, though. They’re also about fun recreational competitions, races down waterslides, Snapchat streaks that you dare not break, smuggling food into camp on late nights (or leaving for a much-needed Sheetz run), staying up until all hours trying out your best sermon material, golf cart joyrides, staff game nights, movie marathons that turn into all nighters and so much more. Much like youth camp itself, camp friendships elude a certain definition or checklist. Each one is completely unique and special.
The one factor all camp friendships share is the fact that their ease and enjoyableness stem from a common yearning to love and serve the Lord. Sharing that makes sharing memories and conversations with someone seem like the most natural thing in the world. That is the secret to maintaining lasting and life-changing friendships. When everyone is like-minded and like-hearted, everything else falls into place. All the aforementioned memories and parts of youth camp friendships are valuable, but right now, my reigning favorite youth camp moment is talking with a dear friend about the power of the Holy Spirit. We just stood outside of service right after its conclusion and shared our experiences. Teenaged girls don’t typically talk theology, but that’s exactly what we did. Those moments don’t just happen outside of youth camp. They’re only possible because of the environment carefully cultivated through months of prayer and because of the presence of God.
All of my camp friendships truly mean the world to me. It hurts my heart to think about the fact that youth camp is nearly a full year away now, but I am comforted by the fact that the Lord who brought these amazing people into my life is with me, and that just because these friendships originated at youth camp does not mean they are confined to it. They very much exist outside of camp, and I love having this awesome assortment of people to turn to for conversation or whatever other adventure I have in mind.
