May 25, 2023
“Since it is so likely that children will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage” – CS Lewis
OR, give them a hero.
A real, in the flesh hero that offers their summer to pour into the lives of children!
Why Are Camp Heroes Important?
That was what I first experienced nearly 25 years ago when I arrived for a week of camp in the woods of Arkansas. Men I admired surrounded me. They were fun, athletic, kind, strong, and humble. All things that (outside of my own father) I didn’t really see in the world. I couldn’t yet see them in myself. It was in these early years that I caught a vision for the kind of man I wanted to become.
These men who took the time to teach me powerfully influenced me. They treated me as one of their own. They sacrificially gave their time, energy, attention, and wisdom to meet me where I was. As well as challenging me to grow into the man I was called to be.
Now as the President of Skylark, I pray every day that our staff will take the same intentional steps to become camp heroes. I hope they will influence and inspire our campers towards what matters.
Who Are Skylark’s Camp Heroes?
I love calling our summer staff “heroes”, because in my eyes that is exactly what they are. Someone we want our kids to look up to and model their life after. Every time people ask me what I do for work, I tell them “I’m in the ministry of giving kids heroes.” And my work won’t be done until every child has a hero!
In fact, heroism is one of our core values at Skylark. It is our hope and prayer that it’s not just one in a list of philosophical values, but it’s at the core of who we are as an organization. We pray it shapes how we impact the life of every child that comes to camp.
This week Skylark’s camp heroes arrive to begin our week-long staff training for summer camp. Please keep us in your prayers as we develop these leaders for their summer and life of ministry! We will see you all on May 29th when Week 1 of camp gets underway!
Luke 17:10,
Jake Collins, President
Skylark Camps