Young Life camp is something students look forward to every year. There are no phones, no distractions, just you and your friends in your own world for a weekend. In the midst of a hectic school year, Fall Young Life camp is a great time for students to unplug and reset. Recently, students returned from a long weekend at Sharptop Cove and couldn’t wait to share their experiences.
Eva Mizer (11) is an experienced Young Lifer. She has been to four Young Life camps and says they are highlights of her year. She is always impressed with one aspect of the camp.
“The young life camp skits are so funny. Teenagers are the hardest people to make laugh because teenagers are so judgemental, but they are genuinely so funny that everyone can’t stop laughing,” Mizer said.
Many students grumble when they have to hand in their phones all weekend. However, it turns out that disengaging from technology is just what some teenagers need.
“[Taking a break from social media] is my favorite part of camp. Just to be able to get my phone away and feel the immediate relief of stress. It is easier to unplug when you are around your friends. The only people that you really want to talk to are already there so it does make it easier,” Mizer said
Unlike Mizer, many students go to a YoungLife camp for the first time and do not know what to expect. This was the case for Anlee Armstrong (9), but she was pleasantly surprised.
“This was my first young life camp and it was really fun. I liked being able to spend time with my friends and not have my phone on me all the time,” Armstrong said.
As a Christian organization, YoungLife camps’ main goal is to give students a reset and grow them in their relationship with God. Eva Mizer shares her thoughts on the speaker.
“I thought the speaker this year was the best speaker that we have had so far, just the way he kept all of the student’s attention. I feel like you could hear a pen drop in that room. He was an amazing storyteller. Every story he told he could relate back to the word of God and I thought that was amazing that he was able to do that. He could make it so relatable. He was probably sixty years older than me but still made it so relatable to all of us teenagers,” Mizer said.
Many things bring students back to camp, and it is always amazing to hear what keeps them coming back.
“I definitely am going to go to more young life camps in the future because I love just getting to spend quality time with my friends. I am normally on my phone all the time, so I loved being in the moment with everyone without my phone. It was really fun and I can’t wait to go back,” Armstrong said.
Next time, it might be you ziplining into the water, swinging across the lake, or screaming all the words to a karaoke tune. If you ever need somewhere to escape all the noise or just have a great time with your friends, YoungLife camp is always a blast! As Larry Potter wisely said, “Reach for the stars because the stars don’t have arms to reach for you.”
