While we believe our ministry is very effective in teaching the Gospel and encouraging campers in their faith, we know that camp is not a standalone event. When campers go home, they need support from their parents and their churches in order to continue their growth. 

We encourage parents to quiz their children about their camp experience so you know what to do next. So take your child out for supper, ice cream, or a walk and start asking questions. Notice we didn't suggest take your family out, let this be a special moment for you and your child by taking them out individually. We suggest you start with general questions, then as your son or daughter loosens up, get more and more specific. 

Remember; when your son or daughter arrives home, they will likely be exhausted. If they have a cell phone, there is a good chance they will be fully glued to it after going a week without it. This should be expected. Give them some time to rest and decompress and then take them out to for a meal or grab some ice cream. Get them away from the TV and the distractions around the house to get them to talk to you about camp. 

Camp has the power to change lives. We are confident that if you take the time to recap the week with your child, you will see the value and benefit Lost Timber has on your family. We have included 10 questions that you might use to get your child talking about their camp experience. 

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Important Note: Do your best to avoid yes or no questions. If you get caught, try to come up with a follow up question that allows your child to expand on their thoughts.

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10 Questions to Ask Your Child After Camp

 

1. Tell me about your week.

This question is designed to just get your son or daughter to talk to you. Your kids will come back from camp full of emotions. In addition, they might have doubts and they will ask themselves questions like:

• What just happened?

• Can I live up to the commitments I made?

• How can I survive apart from the camp culture?

By getting your son or daughter to start talking about camp you can help them work through some of those questions, and you can also show your support for whatever God is doing in their lives.

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2. What was your favorite part of camp?

As a parent, you need to know what things got your kid’s attention, what he or she enjoyed doing and what really excited them. When you know what they really like you can follow up with family activities or find ways to help your kid network with church groups or school clubs that will help them to grow.

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3. What was your least favorite part of camp?

While we think our camp is awesome, we know that we can always become even more awesome. We want to hear from parents if there are things at camp that are out of order. Your child may provide feedback that other campers are thinking, but unless we hear from you, we don't know what needs to be changed. 

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Beware: Your child only sees things from one perspective. Before you jump on the bandwagon, ask some more questions. What was bad about the food, or the counselor, or the meetings? If it is just a matter of preference, talk through that with your kid, but if your son or daughter had a bad experience that you think is more significant, please let us know. Perfection is an impossible goal, but that doesn't stop us from trying.

 

4. What activities did you enjoy the most?

At our camps, we try to have as many different activities as possible so that our Cabin Leaders can help campers find something that interests them. It is good for you to know what your son or daughter really enjoyed doing. Kids change so fast that sometimes you don’t realize that their interests have changed. Camp also is a great place for kids to try new things, you might be surprised what your child got excited about.

 

5. What was the schedule like?

This is a question you need to keep pursuing. Dig deep – what was your normal day like? What time did you get up? When did you eat breakfast? What did you do between breakfast and lunch? What happened after lunch? Ask enough questions to be able to imagine a day of camp, that might help you think of other questions you can ask your kids.

 

6. Tell me about the speaker.

Remember, camp is a place where many kids make significant decisions that shape their future. It would be good for you to know about the speaker, and his/her topics, style and the subjects of the talks.

 

7. Tell me about Chapel.

While you might think of Chapel as just another church service where kids are bored out of their minds. Don't be fooled! Chapel quickly becomes many campers favorite part of camp. Was your son or daughter excited about chapel, the music, the skits, etc.? Find out the subjects and ask about the style.

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8. What stories or lessons stood out to you the most?

Now we are starting to get really personal, but keep digging. What was said that struck a chord in your kid’s heart? What connected? What made him or her think about priorities, mission, character or their relationship with God? What inspired them or motivated them? If you can get a glimpse into what stirred them you can follow through with prayer, advice or even a plan.

 

9. What did you learn at camp that made a significant difference in your life?

This question will really show you how God worked in your child's life at camp. You can then take that information and find out ways to continue to develop it through church, service projects, or more camps.

 

10. Did you make any decisions or changes to your life?

Ultimately, the goal of Lost Timber is life-change. We want to be a catalyst for change in your child's life, then when they get home you can continue to nurture that growth.