The Virtual Power of Summer Camp

By Kamie Dixon

Summer Camp!! It is the highlight of the summer for many teens, and YoungLives teen moms are no exception!

YoungLives Summer Camp is touted as possibly “the best week of your life!” But due to the pandemic, in-person camping with hundreds of other teen moms, kiddos, mentors, and childcare helpers was put on hold out of loving care (and government mandates!).

Even with these challenges, we know that Christ can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine (Eph 3:20). So camp was reconfigured and rolled out as YoungLives Virtual Summer Camp 2020 – #YLVC2020. In July, camp t-shirts, camp bags stuffed with swag, treats and toiletries for 13 moms and 17 kids were personally delivered by mentors. Teen moms were paired with a “camp-mentor” and walked through a 5-day virtual camp experience, complete with entertainment and music, moving personal testimonies and a powerful bible message. #YLVC2020 is transforming the hearts of our teen moms here in Hamilton. Spending time with our teen moms at virtual camp was a gift, straight from the heart of God, who is not limited by pandemic, but powerfully at work in all things!

The sweet young mom I got to “camp with” summed up the #YLVC2020 experience best….