Learning How to Have “Healthy Minds” at Camp

I’m at camp for the week. As I type, all of the campers are in sessions called “Healthy Minds.” I thought it would be the perfect time to step away and work through my emails, connect with the office, and get a few phone calls made.

But, camp has had Wi-Fi issues, and everyone I need in our home office is in a meeting. Which leaves me sitting in the dining hall contemplating if I want to walk, uphill, in 90 percent humidity to my meeting space and prep for my afternoon group time.

Until I realized that two of the “healthy minds” groups are meeting in the dining hall where I thought I was going to work for a while. (For reference, if I get up and leave now, I have to walk through the middle of both groups and will absolutely interrupt what the cabin leaders are discussing. And my momma raised me better than that!)

So, I’m sitting here, listening to these discussions, and writing this note to you at the same time. I’m doing this because I think that you, Leader, need to know what these girls are experiencing at camp.

The group on my left is discussing the positives and negatives of social media. The leader started the conversation by explaining how to put limits on your phones/devices even if your adults have not put limits on it for you. Several of these young women do have restrictions on their devices, but many do not.

The conversations have included physical and emotion stress from cellphone/device usage, mindless scrolling, who you follow on social media, and why it’s important to monitor what media you intake. These girls are riveted to this conversation.

The conversation on my right includes giving thanks through art. Everyone was given the same yellow paper and markers, the same Scripture verse (Psalm 136:1), and told to incorporate the sun into what they are doing, but, as you can imagine, all of the art is different. The discussions in this group include taking time to be creative and being intentional in finding things to be thankful for. The girls are also creating gratitude lists.

There are 12 of these groups meeting all over campus this morning. I wish I could hear all 12!

National WMU’s Project HELP: Mental Health encourages the church to help members and their community understand that mental health issues can affect anyone, regardless of race, gender, age, or beliefs.

Through this past year, the children’s team has been stressing the importance of teaching children how to have a healthy mind. Our goal has been to draw awareness to the skills leaders can teach children to protect their minds and maintain good mental health.

Having an attitude of thankfulness (through art) and understanding how social media can positively or negatively influence our lives are two steps toward helping Gen Z and Gen Alpha know more about taking care of the beautiful minds God gave them.

It’s a great reminder for this adult, too.