Daughter 11 wants to go on a Christian camp

fashionlover10

I went on one of those camps with my local youth group when I was about the same age as your DD and loved it.
We had about 30 minutes each day after dinner of 'church stuff' but the rest of the time was spent doing camp things. We went gorge walking, swimming, clay pigeon shooting and did loads of other activities (forgotten most of them now as it was 10 years ago).
I made loads of friends and had a great time despite the fact me and my family weren't religious at all.

GlasweJen

I have friends who volunteer to do scripture union summer camps. They do pray and stuff but they also cycle, hill climb, wind surf and get up to all sorts of cool stuff. The religion is mostly in the background though they do encourage participation in prayers and discuss religious life - they don't go baptising them all at the end of the week or anything!

kingfisherblue

Lots of things influence girls of that age, but I can think of plenty worse than a Christian camp. She is at an age where she may be exploring her thoughts and feelings about religion, but that doesn't mean to say that she will be brainwashed. And if she does decide that she would like to be a Christian, is it such a bad thing?

I think that the best thing to do is to request a meeting with the leaders of the camp and ask for more information. You will probably find that there will be grace before meals, perhaps some other prayers and stories, and maybe a couple of discussions. The rest of the time is likely to be spent doing other stuff, like swimming, nature walks, crafts, etc.

Personally I would have no problem with my children attending a christian camp, but I would want more information from the leaders first.

Skintski

I think she's probably old enough to explore these things and if she wants to follow a faith then perhaps she should have the opportunity to.

From the ages of 12 to 22 I helped out once a year with a week long Christian camp and in the couple of years previous to that I attended that came camp. To this day I'm still not a believer so they failed miserably on me. Having said that, I at least had the opportunity to make up my own mind.

Brighton_belle

suki1001 wrote: »

Did it happen to you?

Yes.
I think it depends on what sort of child your DD is. Is she self confident and able to express her own opinion?

OllysMum_2

Let her go.

I used to run our church youth group and we had an annual camp. it was great fun, and the kids loved it. Some drifted away as they got older, some stayed. Kids make up their own mind, but as well as the spiritual development, there is a lot about caring and sharing and living to some sort of moral code. We also did stuff like abseiling, gorge walking, orienteering etc. There are worse ways to spend a weekend. This was Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

When my DDs got to teenage years, they went off, separately and autonomously, to our local Baptist (happy clappy!) Church and went away with their youth groups. They had a great time. One is now a devout atheist, the other is an infrequent churchgoer.

Personally, I find it difficult to understand parents who say kids can make up their own minds about religion, yet don't provide any kind of background for their children to make informed decisions.

now having read the rest of the posts, can I retract my first line?! This group sounds a bit ott.

meritaten

perhaps you had best arm yourself with some facts about this camp?
talk to the group leaders and ASK how much time is spent on activities etc.
oh and from what I have read about 'brainwashing' - it takes weeks, sometimes months or years to 'brainwash' a person, and depending on that person, it doesn't always work.
besides which - she is probably only hearing the 'fun' aspects of this camp! and if she doesn't object to saying Grace or singing hymns or listening to Bible 'Stories' - it doesn't mean she is going to immediately join a religious order and become a nun!

pigpen

5 of mine go to church groups and 4 have been away to camp with them several times from being aged 8 (I have known the group leaders for many many years and trust them to take care of my girls.. and the boys too) .. they sing and play games and do outdoor things and eat cake.. my very very quiet 17 y/o loves going, he is even without his pc for a whole week!!!!

They say grace before meals and do a Bible study for about an hour before bed which promotes healthy discussion and teaches them the art of conversation and debating.. mine have always loved it and come back full of it. Where is it the group are going? It may be the same place.

One of mine went to Lourdes with her catholic school, she isn't catholic but she wanted to go and to date it has been one of the most rewarding, fun times in her life and she had an amazing time.. just because they say a few prayers doesn't make them brainwashed cultists!!

dad is being a twit!

Let her go, she will have a fabulous time

Violet8

I would find out a little more before making a decision. Per some of the other experiences posted here I'm sure there are lots of super camps that are great fun and have a lovely atmosphere and the opportunity to try lots of new stuff without any pressure ref: religion. On the other hand, an old friend of mine from school is a leader and goes off to run camps several times a year and she has some very funny ideas- some of the little things she lets slip about her time there have convinced me noone should be sending their kids off to the camps she goes to. For instance, I don't think any kind of curious questioning minds would be tolerated or answered in a healthy way. I'd maybe go along as a couple and have a chat with the leaders and hopefully it would put your mind at rest and she could go and have a great time. (P.S if it matters this post is coming from a huge agnostic :rotfl:)

thegirlintheattic

Let her go and make her own choices.