As we enter the month of May, and the end of school is in sight, it becomes the prime season for a roughing it at church camp cartoon.
This cartoon was in a magazine that focused on summer activities and missions. They were talking about Vacation Bible School, camps, and all-around summer fun.
Some of my earlier memories were when my mom took some kids to church camp in Northern Indiana. The camp seemed rustic even to a kindergartner. It didn’t look much better when I was old enough to go camping.
When Grandpa Was a Kid…
Here I was a shy, small-town kid meeting other kids from different backgrounds while adjusting to being by myself for the first time. Was it a traumatic experience? To my ten-year-old mind, you bet it was! Was I glad I went? It was worth it. I survived and I discovered for the first time I could exist apart from my parents.
What? No Cell Phones?!?
Several years later, as a dad, I volunteered to join my son’s group and experienced camp for the first time. The emotions came flooded back as my ten-year-old struggled in a new world. I thought it wasn’t all that bad. The bathrooms flushed, our cabin had electricity and on a clear night, I had a cellphone signal.
Was I cheating? Sure I was. I discovered the privileges camp counselors everywhere have enjoyed. They actually get to keep their cell phones. Of course, when I was a kid, counselors had no such privilege. Cell phones wouldn’t be around for another twenty years. And forget about wifi!
So as summer and church camp approach, kick back, find the best spot for a cell signal, and enjoy this roughing it at church camp cartoon.
I drew this cartoon for Kidzmatter Magazine.
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
