Why we do it

Our hope is that the Camp Watermelon experience would teach kids about Jesus and about loving others well while having fun in a community of new friends.  The good news of the Gospel often begins to grow roots in the lives of young children when they know they are loved and enjoyed.  It is our mission at Camp Watermelon to know and enjoy each of the campers and to reflect back to each child something uniquely wonderful about him or her.  Counselors are encouraged to relate to the kids as incarnation witnesses, reminding campers of their preciousness as children of God.  We want to love campers well because Jesus first loved us.  We also want to love campers well so that they might be swept into the beauty of being a part of Christian community.  And last but not least, we want to love campers well so that they might be drawn closer to God’s heart.

Another reason we do what we do is because play is so important in ALL of our lives.  Play is vulnerable and fun and messy and good.  It is creative and delightful and risky and natural.  Kids speak this language so very intuitively, but as life gets busy and as technology is so easily accessed, creative, life-giving play with friends and family is not a consistent part of our kids’ stories.  Camp is a place where we, campers and counselors alike, are blessed by the joy of playing together and of connecting in this uniquely wonderful way with each other.  We host Camp Watermelon to enjoy recreation together, for there is something about being present with one another that invites us into knowing what is dear to the heart of God more fully.

And so therefore we have Camp Watermelon not only so that elementary aged kids will taste the goodness of the Gospel through teaching and through intentional experiences with others, but we also do it so that the next generation of youth leaders have a place to practice pouring out their hearts and energy into those just a touch younger than they are.  What a gift for teenagers to have a place to help plant seeds in the lives of the next generation as a result of the fruit of their own faith!