Camp Confidence
What Girls Learn When They Try Something New
There is a special kind of confidence that grows at camp. It may not be something you can see right away, but by the end of the summer, you can feel it. It is in the way a girl walks into her cabin on the first day, introduces herself to someone new, raises her hand to try something she has never done, or decides that she is going to give something one more try. Camp has a funny way of taking girls just a little bit outside of their comfort zones and showing them that they are capable of so much more than they thought.
At Skyline, girls get the opportunity to try new things every single day. Maybe she has never ridden a horse, climbed the tower, canoed, played a particular sport, performed on stage, picked up a bow and arrow, or created something with her hands. Maybe she has never been away from home or had to walk into a room where she doesn’t know anyone. Camp gives her the chance to take that first step. And sometimes that first step comes with a little nervousness, a few butterflies, or even an “I’m not sure I can do this!” But that’s where the magic begins. She tries anyway.
Confidence doesn’t come from being perfect. It comes from trying, making mistakes, learning, and realizing that you can keep going. At camp, girls get to be beginners. They get to miss the target at archery, forget a dance step, struggle with a new skill, or discover that something isn’t as easy as it looked. And instead of giving up, they have counselors and friends cheering them on. They learn that it’s okay not to get it right the first time. Sometimes you just have to laugh, take a deep breath, and try again.
Camp also gives girls a chance to experience the confidence that comes from being part of a community. There is something incredibly powerful about having your friends and counselors believe in you. At Skyline, girls cheer each other on, celebrate each other’s accomplishments, and help one another through the hard moments. They learn that confidence doesn’t always mean doing something by yourself. Sometimes confidence is knowing you have people around you who will say, “You’ve got this!” when you aren’t quite sure you do.
For many girls, camp is also a chance to discover their own voice. Away from the routines and expectations of everyday life, girls have the freedom to explore who they are. They can try an activity because it looks fun, discover a new talent, make a new friend, lead their cabin, participate in a camp tradition, or simply be silly and enjoy being a kid. They begin to understand that they don’t have to be the loudest, the fastest, the most athletic, or the most talented to have something valuable to offer.
And then there are those moments when a girl looks back and realizes just how much she has grown. The girl who was nervous to come to camp is now more confident when she returns home. The girl who didn’t think she could make a new friend has found someone she can’t imagine her summer without. The girl who was afraid to try something new returns home more confident in so many ways.
Most importantly, we hope the confidence girls build at camp reminds them of who God created them to be. Camp gives girls a place to discover their strengths, grow in their relationships, experience new adventures, and learn that they are deeply loved and wonderfully made. We want them to leave the mountain not only with camp memories and friendships that last a lifetime, but with a deeper confidence in themselves and who God created them to be.
