Creating an idyllic world for children's spiritual formation

Author: Yust, Karen‐Marie¹

Source: International Journal of Children's Spirituality, Volume 11, Number 1, Number 1/April 2006 , pp. 177-188(12)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

Christian camps claim to create spaces where children and youth are more likely to encounter God and experience spiritual living, and yet contemporary camp ministries in the United States struggle to distinguish their environments from the cultural contexts in which their campers usually reside. This article reflects on the practices of 23 diverse camps in Indiana, USA, and the pervasive cultural captivity that hinders their facilitation of children's spiritual experiences. It questions common assumptions about the efficacy of camp `mountaintop' and day-to-day experiences for long-term spiritual formation and challenges current practices of counsellor training.

Keywords: Spirituality; Camping; Leadership; Formation

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/13644360500504496

Affiliations: 1: Union‐PSCE, Richmond, VA, USA

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