 |
BENEFITS
TO THE YOUTH
A workcamp is a life changing experience for teenagers. They learn through
their week of hard work that real, hurting, loving people live behind what
seems to be the immovable barriers of poverty. A teenager will no longer
look on the needy with a casual glance. A workcamp enhances the teenager’s
faith and provides them with the opportunity to experience the empowerment
that comes with making a difference. A workcamp enables the youth to create
changes in their lives and in their world.
- Teenagers
will learn new skills.
At the workcamp, you will hammer, measure, paint, hang drywall, repair
roofing, caulk windows - the list goes on. New skills will be learned
during this week of work. Through the activities and programs, teenagers
gain valuable relationship skills - meeting new people, giving and receiving
encouragement, making lasting friendships. Living together with other
students for a week, they will have the opportunity to learn from and
about each other.
- Teenager’s
self-esteem will be enhanced.
Through the workcrews, the program activities and the making of new friends,
teenagers discover new strengths and talents. Through this weeklong experience
teenagers will begin to look at themselves in new and life-giving ways.
- Teenagers
will have a unique opportunity to think about their values.
A resident asks, “Why did you come all of this way to work on my house?”
A new friendship is made - an evening program touches a teenager - all
opportunities for a person to think about his or her value system. The
workcamp also provides an opportunity for a person to think about establishing
and prioritizing goals.
- Teenagers
will develop reflective skills through journal keeping.
Each individual at the workcamp is provided a workcamp journal and is
encouraged to keep a reflective, guided journal of their experience
during the week of the workcamp. This experience will not only help
them to process the many different activities and experiences they have;
it will provide something to reflect on after they have returned home.
BENEFITS
TO THE ADULT LEADERS
Reach requires each youth group to bring 1 adult leader for every 5 youth.
If both male and female youth are attending with your youth group, then
at least one adult is required for each sex. Many adults attend the workcamp
with expectations of simply being a helpful chaperone, but they usually
leave with much more.
- Deeper
relationship with Christ built through the Evening Programs, On-Site
Devotions, and Youth Group Reflection times.
- Better
knowledge of everyday construction projects, which tend to be helpful
around their own homes.
- Stronger
friendships with their youth groups, other adult chaperones, and the
resident of their worksite.
- A
"relaxing" week of vacation from the normal 9 to 5 routine.
BENEFITS
TO THE YOUTH GROUP
Youth groups are becoming an important part of many teenagers' lives and
Reach provides an environment suited for strengthening each youth group.
It all begins with the infamous road trips to workcamp in the tightly packed
15 passenger vans. The daily devotions, program dramas, praise and worship
music, and Youth Group Reflection times are all focused to build up youth
groups and the youth. Youth pastors are able to learn more about their youth
through the week at workcamp than the rest of the year (maybe excluding
Lock-Ins). Here are what some youth pastors have said about their experience
at previous Reach Workcamps...
- “The
workcamps tend to foster servanthood within the youth group.”
- “Reach
Workcamps is an actual hands-on experience of the body of Christ in
operation…by meeting the needs of others.”
- “Each
individual’s personal relationship with Jesus is strengthened.”
- “It
is a spiritual experience that has ripple effects the next 51 weeks
of your ministry, Reach doesn’t end after the workcamp is over!”
|
|
