God’s creation has healing potential for our lives. I have heard countless stories from people at Lord of Life about how their “healing place” is a cabin on a lake, fishing in a stream, sitting on a beach, or biking through the woods. I have talked to people who have said that all their anxiety melts away when they are surrounded by nature and they feel spiritually closer to God when they are able to view a sunset, a rainbow, or a picturesque landscape. But is there any evidence to back up these claims?
In 2005, child advocacy expert Richard Louv published a book entitled, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. It was the “first book to bring together cutting-edge research showing that direct exposure to nature is essential for healthy childhood development-physical, emotional, and spiritual. What's more, nature is a potent therapy for depression, obesity, and ADD” (book description). It started a movement throughout the US called “No Child Left Inside,” whereby organizations promoted increased outdoor activity for children throughout the country.
Research didn’t stop there. A PhD student at Luther Seminary embarked on a project in 2015 to obtain data that supported the long-held claim that Christian Summer Camp Programs had long term spiritual benefits. The Effective Camp Research Project is a multi-year study examining the impact of the Christian summer camp experience on campers, families, and church communities.
Here are a few of their findings:
- The Christian summer camp experience impacts campers in positive ways that extends to their families, churches and others.
- 90% of those attending a Christian summer camp like ours report that they grew in faith.
- 97% of those attending a Christian summer camp like ours report that they had fun!
- Kids report that by growing in faith at camp it helps them in their daily life back home.
- Camp doesn’t end when the week is over, research shows that it has lasting effects. Many campers read their Bible more, pray with their family more, and attend church more. (www.vibrantfaith.org/effectivecamp/)
One of the critiques of Louv’s book is that he missed one of the key reasons that children no longer play outside. He attributes it to the lure of electronics, but critics say it is because the children’s parents don’t spend time outside in play. During my time at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio, I witnessed first hand how life-changing a week at camp can be for adults, families and youth. Yes… camp can be for adults and families too!
Our stewardship theme for 2019 at Lord of Life is “Growing,” and I encourage you to think about how you can grow in your appreciation of, and time spent in, God’s wonderful creation. This summer LOL will be offering a mission trip experience as well as encouraging families and youth to experience one of our Ohio Lutheran camps (www.lomocamps.org). Through a special partnership with LOMO (Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in Ohio), our congregation will be able to offer subsidized rates for people who want to experience camp this summer. More information about the mission trip and summer camp opportunities will be coming out later this year, but you can begin prayerfully considering now how you might want to plug into one of these opportunities to experience God’s creation in a new way.
Longing To Be In A Hammock Near The Lake,
Corey Wagonfield