Each summer at Triumphant Love, our Children, Youth, and Family Ministry offers a day camp program for children age 4 – 6th grade. But this isn’t your traditional VBS program, this is a full day of singing, worship, crafts, games, snacks, skits, bible lessons, science experiments, and more.
There are water slides, shaving cream, themed dress-up days, and pizza!
Camp Hope is also unique in that it is an adult-mentored, youth-led ministry! All of the camp staff with the exception of the director and manager are teenagers! Youth start training to be staff in 7th grade (support staff) and by the time they complete 9th grade they become paid staff. For some of them this is their first summer job. This is where the Camp Hope Mentor Program becomes so important.
Each camp staffer (support and paid) is assigned an adult mentor. These are TLLC members who have expressed a desire to participate in this program, passed a background check, and completed child safety training. They are paired up based on mutual interests and hobbies.
What do Camp Hope Mentors do?
- Build a relationship with their mentee
- Check in before, during, and after camp to provide encouragement and support
- Help them achieve their potential and discover their strengths well beyond serving as camp staff
- Pray regularly for their mentee and for Camp Hope
What does this look like?
- It takes time to build meaningful relationships, but with everyone’s busy schedules, we don’t always have a lot of that. We rely on technology a lot to make and keep connections, but nothing develops a strong relationship better than actual face to face connections. So, we plan two lunches prior to camp where mentors and mentees spend time getting to know each other. Mentors are prepped with information about their mentee such as their favorite hobbies, TV shows, music, etc. so they are able to seed conversations and build rapport.
- Mentors/mentees also exchange contact information so that throughout camp, they can discuss topics such as the camp curriculum, ideas on how to communicate themes to young children, clever ideas on managing behaviors, and how to navigate interpersonal differences among fellow staff.
- At about mid-week of camp (when energy tends to fade!) the mentors provide a special treat chosen from their mentee’s list of favorites and it is delivered to them around lunch time on that day “Christmas morning” style. This little boost of sugar, caffeine, salt, etc. is just what they need to get them through the last half of the week.
- Once camp is over the mentors continue to keep in touch with their mentee by checking in with them on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings, meeting for coffee, or attending their mentee’s hockey game!
If you are interested in learning more about the Camp Hope Mentor Program or any of our other Youth Mentor programs, let us know. Background checks and child safety courses are required to participate in any of the youth programs. We conduct child safety classes twice a year in the fall and the spring. Even if you aren’t sure about participating, go ahead and sign up for a class. It is good for two years.
Here is what some of our mentors and staffers had to say…
It was so wonderful to watch our youth use their unique gifts and talents to serve our congregation and community as they gained leadership experience and had fun doing it! – Mentor
I like the mentor program a lot! It is so fun to have small notes and treats throughout the week and it is also so fun to have someone you can talk to about whatever you want to! – Staffer
One of my first mentees is now in college. I remember how touched I was when she recently texted me and asked for my opinion about a college matter. We still catch up when she comes to church on her visits home. – Mentor
My mentor was a wonderful mentor. I felt appreciated and the treats certainly helped me to get through the week. – Staffer
Being a mentor was such a fun experience, not only did I get to know my mentee, I also got to hear directly about camp from a new perspective. 10 out of 10 would recommend! – Mentor
I had the best mentor! My mentor was so nice, checked in on me, and gave me sweet, surprise gifts and cards! – Staffer
It was so nice to connect with the kids and get a little glimpse into how camp impacts the staff. It is as much a ministry to them as it is to the actual campers, and I hope they all walk away feeling seen and cared for! – Mentor
The first week of camp I was very nervous. I didn’t know what to expect, but when I thought of all the campers that maybe felt the same way, like they didn’t wanna be here, I thought to myself, “Hey! I’m gonna make these kids have an awesome day of camp with so many fun games and songs.” By the end of the day, they had so much fun and didn’t want to leave. I think we (my co-leader and I) truly made the campers’ day and rest of the week memorable; so memorable that one child kept clinging to me and said he didn’t want to leave this place. I cried right then and there because it was so heart felt. – Staffer
Camp Hope Mentorship was a new experience for the CDC leadership, and we truly enjoyed the opportunity to connect the two ministries in such a meaningful and special way! – CDC Staff and Camp Hope Mentor
As a parent, I know that it takes a village to raise a child into adulthood. Being a Camp Hope mentor gave me the opportunity to be part of the village for a young person. I was so lucky to mentor my mentee, and it took no time to realize how incredible he is. What a joy to get the chance to get to know him better before he heads off to college. We share a love of hockey, and I got to join his cheering section and watch one of his games. – Mentor
I love Camp Hope! I was a staff member in the early 2000s and now my own daughter is a camper. Serving as a mentor this year was a wonderful way to support this amazing ministry. The staffers give so much care and energy to the campers and it was a privilege to encourage the staffers. The joy from Camp Hope is contagious! – Mentor
It was a great opportunity to support our youth, and was a treat to have my mentee come over to my truck when I dropped off my little one and tell me about how excited he was to transition to working on the newsletter and taking Photos. – Mentor
The meaningful part for me was getting to know my mentee after seeing her at church and youth events, but not at that time really getting the chance to interact with her directly. I enjoyed spoiling her a bit, observing her in action with her young charges, and the friendly smile I now get when I see her. – Mentor