As someone who attended Christian summer camps throughout my childhood, I truly believe in their power to transform young lives and set teenagers on the right path.  Lifelong memories are made at summer camps for Christian youth, but unless you attended one as a child you may not realize how important these experiences can be.  It was at a Christian summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains of New York where I dedicated my life to the Lord Jesus Christ, and I remember coming home and telling my pastor all about it.  Even though this happened just a month before I left for college, and my life would take many twists and turns after that, the experience left an indelible mark on my life and kept me anchored to Christ in my heart.

As a parent, I’ve witnessed the transformational effects of their camp experiences at various summer camps for Christian youth.  Whether attending Camp Sandy Cove in West Virginia or a youth retreat camp with our church, they always returned with stories about how the Lord had worked in their lives and the lives of others.

There are three common characteristics to the best summer camps for Christian youth –

1) A Christian youth summer camp instills values in kids without being “parental;” in other words they do it in cool ways.  Psychological research has shown that the core values of young people are formed during adolescence, but these beliefs are often “caught” rather than being taught.  A good Christian camp experience does more than teach great lessons about God and life, it also models these values in the way they serve and care for the teens.  Christian camp counselors, worship leaders and speakers all have an enormous impact on how children and teens view themselves and see their faith.

2) Summer camps for Christian youth help kids form their own faith.  Kids hear teachings and new information and then they spend valuable “alone time” with God.  By actual practicing some of the basic spiritual beliefs, young people can form their own faith and begin to see themselves through the eyes of God.

3) A Christian summer camp lets young people create lasting relationships with other Christians who share their beliefs.  It is a safe environment for talking openly with their peers and counselors about God while growing into more mature believers.  When a camp employs leaders who can disciple kids with a scriptural reference, and take them under their wing, kids want to become more like them.

If you are looking for summer camps for Christian youth that are specifically geared toward teenagers, check out the list of Christian camps run by Student Life Ministries throughout the country.