Work Camp For Middle School Students

Today we wrap up another year of SMILE Work Camp.  This camp is a week filled with service and fellowship for middle school students.  For a long time it was a struggle to find service opportunities for middle school.  So, 6 years ago I got together with 3 other youth ministers and we created a work camp where middle school students could serve in Baltimore City and it’s surrounding areas.  When we first started it was hard to get participants, today we fill up in a matter of days.

When it comes to getting middle school students involved in service there are a lot of challenges you will face.  There are age restrictions and extra precautions.  Doesn’t matter if it’s a day of serving or a week long work camp the idea of coordinating a group of middle school students to serve can be overwhelming.  To approach it properly and fold service into your middle school ministry’s DNA, you should:

• Partner Up: Find one or two other churches who are willing to share their resources with you.  They will share your burden and have contacts that will help you build an incredible experience.  Not only will it lighten the load, but give your teens the opportunity to work with students from other churches.

• Start Small: Do not be afraid to create a test group of a few students.  Create an application process, find the teens and families that are most committed (For more on who to take, click here).  It’s easier to coordinate and empower a small group of teens than mobilize a large one.   If you find success in the first year you can always build on that number.

• Keep It Structured: Build a template for each day of your camp.  It could start with prayer and a message before you engage in the work.  You could build in reflection time at the end, personal testimonies or team building activities.  Make it an opportunity where the teens are not only serving but remembering the impact that God has made on their lives.

• Make It Relational: Relationships will have the largest impact when it comes to work camps.  While it’s great to repair a house, or clean a school, if they aren’t meeting the people they are impacting it won’t affect them deeply.  Have them meet the families, residences and clients they are serving.  Have them witness Christ through the relationships they build.

Doing a middle school work camp takes a lot of patience.  The first year you’ll find many different places to improve and that can be frustrating.  Work with others, embrace the journey and make tweaks.  Each year you’ll find a groove and see a service opportunity for middle school students turn into a life changing event.

How do you involve middle school students in service?