This just isn't my thing!

Summer Camp is now in full swing at HoneyRock.  In fact the first sessions of several programs are coming to a close this week.  My role lately has been primary centered around coordinating between all of these programs to schedule and staff ropes course activities many of which i have also been facilitating.  I have also been busy trying to complete the coursework and projects for the class that i took this spring, Adventure Challenge Education.  On one level this has made life more stressful.  On the other hand, I am studying the things that I am doing each day.  It is exciting to read about facilitation and leadership, write about it, and then go try out the things that i learned the next day with a group.  Many times this has made me a better facilitator and more aware of what how I contribute to the groups that I am working with.  So I have spent many hours helping groups and individuals grow in self-awareness, self-confidence, and in their relationship with God.  Sometimes these things happen more directly than others, but I had the unique opportunity to share the gospel with a girl on top of the zip line platform last week.  It didn't go through (neither did she jump off the platform to ride the zip line), but many seeds were planted.  This last week, I also had the wonderful blessing of having a very dear friend of mine here visiting and volunteering :).

Here is a glimpse what I do:

As you can see contrary to the title of this blog, this clearly IS my thing.  I really do enjoy working with groups and encouraging them to grow.  Yet, "This just isn't my thing" or some variation of this statement in an  increasingly popular method of dealing with or running away from challenging situations.  I have been hearing this statement out of campers mouths almost every day.  I estimate based on my experience that 1/8 of girls respond this way and 1/4 to 1/3 of boys.  This estimate is not age specific, but rather I have observed this in elementary, middle school, and high school.  The real challenge for these young persons in not doing a challenge, but being willing to even try a challenging or new experience.  These persons lack confidence, courage, and often physical ability as well.  In much of my previous experience working with youth, this type of person would typically try things and then with some encouragement pull through to complete the challenge while gaining confidence, courage, and often physical ability.  The challenge for me has been more with getting people to try, rather than encouraging them to succeed.  Often the reasons behind such a statement are usually very deep and are often related to home environments.  As for the ratio difference between girls and boys; read the book, Boy's Adrift by Dr Sax.  Guys are currently struggling to cope with the pressures of American culture more than girls while many of both genders are not equipped to deal with life.  Pray for the youth of our nation.  Encourage your friends and children to try new things, take risks, and not back down when things become uncomfortable.