How do you choose?

Shelley Pearson • April 28, 2022

There are 8,000 opportunities for youth every summer (maybe a slight exaggeration, but only slight):

Club sports (amateur, traveling, city/town, county, etc.)
Sports clinics (basketball/soccer/lacrosse/football a few days a week at the high school)
Private coaching
Sports Camps
Church Camps
Mission Trips
Driver’s education
Theater/music/art camps
Music lessons
Summer jobs
Education enrichment
Vacations
And on and on and on

So how do our youth choose the best things to do? How do parents/grandparents/coaches/teachers/ pastors/other caring adults steer youth in meaningful ways? If we are smart, we don’t let them choose one thing from each bullet point above so they fill every moment of their summer with structured events, but instead help them prioritize where they most want to grow. As we do this, we also consider the short-term and long-term impacts.

Consider FCA Camps

FCA sports camps have been changing lives for 60 years. They are often a highlight of the summer for campers. Throughout the years, we have heard many stories from adults of all ages who tell us how camp helped form who they’ve become today. Each summer, we hold three regional camps (Sports Camp, Golf Camp, Leadership Camp). Today, we want to share the impact of Leadership Camp on two young men and their campus.

Leadership Camp 2021 – Engaging Athletes

Nathan and Shane attended Leadership Camp at the University of Northwestern – St. Paul in 2021. They knew each other before they went but weren’t close friends. Camp provides space for deeper relationships, and they grew much closer during the four days at camp. During one of the devotional times, they felt God leading them to start a Bible Study with their soccer team back at Armstrong High School in the northwest metro area of the Twin Cities. Shane said, “We prayed about it a lot. We set out a plan. There was a fire, a passion, and a desire to want to do it.”

They took that passion home and followed through. Each week, they held the Bible study before practice. Chris Hunt, Nathan’s dad, said, “It was impactful to hear him come home from practice and be as excited (or more) to tell me about who showed up for Bible study as he would about making a great play in a game.”

Where they Owned their Faith

Both Nathan and Shane have been around FCA for years. Nathan began attending Sports Camp the summer before sixth grade and said, “That really started my personal relationship with God.” Shane’s dad has helped with FCA Golf Camp for years, and Shane remembers tagging along when he was a young boy. When he was finally old enough to become a camper, it was a huge highlight for him. In fact, he said, “Golf Camp was the turning point in my faith life.” Wow. Those phrases - “started my personal relationship with God,” and “turning point in my faith” are strong indicators that FCA camps change lives.

Equipping them to Lead

Prior to 2021’s Leadership Camp, both Nathan and Shane served as huddle leaders at Armstrong, but Leadership Camp prompted them to start the soccer team Bible Study. Not only that, but they received valuable tools in the devotions they did at camp that they could then use for their team study. This has allowed God to move in greater ways than He had after camps in the past. Shane said, “My biggest issue I had when I was younger was that after I left FCA camp, I was so lit up and excited but then you go home and are no longer surrounded by amazing people. It’s about staying connected with Nathan and other FCA people,” people like the two students from Anoka that they still connect with today.

Empowered for a Lifetime of Leading and Growing in Faith

Nathan and Shane now have the skills to lead a Bible Study anywhere, but they learned so much more at Leadership Camp that will go with them as they graduate from high school. Shane said, “It’s about the people who I surround myself with and getting into the right crowd.” Nathan agreed: “I want to surround myself with Christ-followers who want a relationship with God. I love being at these camps where everyone loves God. I want to get in with kids in college like that and have a tight group so I can talk with anyone about what’s on my mind.”

Still undecided about camp? Nathan and Shane leave you with some parting thoughts:

Shane: “I’ve been around FCA my whole life. FCA is, in my book, one of the best organizations I’ve ever been part of.”

Nathan: "I recommend everyone try to get to one of these camps. Then get involved in your school afterward. Talk to people and invite them. You might be surprised at who might want to come."

Sign up Today!

After reading how God moved in Nathan and Shane at Leadership Camp and through them as they returned to campus, it’s clear why FCA Camps are a great addition to any young person’s summer.

What are you waiting for? Registration is open now! (Scholarships are available. Please contact us for more details).

Leadership Camp: minnesotafca.org/leadershipcamp

Golf Camp: minnesotafca.org/golfcamp

Sports Camp: minnesotafca.org/sportscamp