Camp Fire Stories: A counselor's point of view

Counselor: Heidi Peters

 

Camp History:

She has worked at Winkler Bible Camp for 7 summers, 3 springs, 1 year all year round, and went to Bible School there for another one year.

I've been a Jr. Counselor, Sr. Counselor, Lifeguard, Cross View Assistant Director, and Cross View Director. Cross View is one of our two sites at WBC.

What Heidi has to say about Camp:
 
"Camp, well to say it short and sweet, camp changed my life!

Camp is a place where children and staff are safe. They have the opportunities of a lifetime and I believe not enough children in our world get to experience camp. Camp is where children can learn to have fun, try new activities, make friends, and learn about God! I have worked at camp for seven summers and I would never trade any of those summers to work anywhere else. I love working at camp! Seeing the children's faces when they come back from an activity, or when they have learned something new about God, cannot be put into words. Camp changes children's lives forever! I know some of our staff at camp would not be where they are spiritually if it were not for camp. I would not be where I am today if it were not for camp.


I have learned so much at camp. I have learned how to teach others about God, I have made lifelong friends, and I have learned how to have a real conversation with God. I really cannot put into words what camp has done for me. It has been so much a part of my life. Although I have learned so many things at camp, camp has not always been easy for me. I have had to learn how to deal with misbehaving children, which has taught me patience and I have had to deal with situations that I never thought were possible. Camp was not always easy for me, but I would not trade it for anything! I have learned so many lifelong morals and skills through camp.

I love camp! I love the children, I love the staff, I love the activities, and most of all I love God! Seeing the children's faces running through the playing field, swimming in the lake, or just hanging out in their cabin makes me love my job. I also love seeing the campers grow up and become counselors and seeing their relationships with each other. I remember seeing a female camper at camp and wondering why she was at camp; it seemed she was there just for the boys. However, as the years went by she became a counselor and today I would say she is one our most mature female counselors we have.

My favourite part about camp is when I get to hear of campers that made their first time commitments to asking Jesus to become their personal Saviour. It makes me so excited just thinking of it. Just to think that because campers have the opportunity to go to camp, I will one day see them again and they can live eternally in Heaven with God.

Another huge highlight for me is seeing the campers connecting with their counselors. They look up to them so much. I know some of the campers go back to broken homes and I can only hope that those couple days at camp can show them that they are loved, even if they do not see that at home.

I am not sure what your background looks like, I am not sure what you have done, but I know camp can make a difference in a child’s life.

Thank you so much for everyone who has helped a child go to camp and if you have not had that opportunity, just talk to a child who has gone to camp and ask them about their experiences; ask them if they would like to go again."
 

The Canadian Summer Camp Research Project

The Canadian Camping Association (CCA) has partnered with the University of Waterloo to create a research project that shows how camp affects children and what the benefits are (if there are any).

This research shows that in fact there is a positive outcome for children who have gone to an accredited summer camp in Canada.

Direct interviews with Canadian camp directors revealed five themes in the outcomes they witnessed in their campers:

1) Social integration and citizenship,
2) Environmental awareness,
3) Self-confidence and personal development,
4) Emotional intelligence, and
5) Attitudes towards physical activity.increase in their attitudes by the end of the session



The statistics reveal that at camp children experience a sense of belonging.  In this comfortable environment, new friendships are made and at times these friendships are with persons seen as different from themselves.  Results showed that campers resolved personal conflicts in a positive manner.  Over half the campers in the study showed improvement in learning how to protect the environment and developing environmentally friendly attitudes and behaviours. Almost two-thirds of the campers demonstrated improved attitudes towards physical activity by the end of their camp session.  Amid growing concerns regarding sedentary lifestyles and childhood obesity, this result is significant.  Almost seventy percent of the campers showed positive growth in the area of emotional intelligence, the ability to recognize and deal with one’s own emotions and the emotions of those around you at an age-appropriate level.  Sixty-seven percent of all campers demonstrated growth in their independence and self-confidence.

Click HERE to read the rest of the study or visit the Canadian Camping Association's website.