An Adventure Camp Story…
Elliot* lived most of his childhood with his fists up. Self preservation was always a driving force for him. Combative. Competitive. Aggressive. Resistant to authority. And… it didn’t help his rapport with adults that he often swore like a sailor. Despite the countless positive inputs his Rebalance coaches made all year long, Elliot’s behaviors would often make it downright difficult for YFC staff to manage his classes effectively.
And yet, beneath his fighting front, our team was occasionally able to detect a soft, sensitive, dare I say, open heart somewhere way beneath the tough exterior. Still, as of last spring, we were never able to imagine that Elliot could be ready to attend Adventure Camp with us in Wyoming in July. It always felt like too much of a stretch… too much of a risk.
That is, until he had a chance to join Band of Brothers and attend our downsized and local version of Adventure Camp—Kickin It Cloudside. As Elliot became immersed in an environment of affirmation and adrenaline-producing sports alongside older boys who were more mature, stronger, and yet kind… something clicked for him. By this time, we could also begin to tell that his year-long-journey in Rebalance and its strategic use of trust-based-relational-interventions had taken hold. Elliot was beginning to put his fists down and trust others… even when fear threatened.
As a result of his improved behaviors as witnessed at Kickin It Cloudside, along with his new-found genuine interest in outdoor adventure, we decided to extend an invite to him to join us at Adventure Camp. Predictably, the Life Stories, the big mountain environment, and the many new faces all produced an intense fear in him. What was unpredictable for us was to see Elliot, when desperately provoked by anxiety, confess to a trusted adult leader that he needed help and then receive her comfort and encouragement. This led to his eventual return to normal camp engagement. No cursing—no fighting. We were dumbfounded. Elliot went on to have an incredible week. At points, when our competitive games got too heated, Elliot was able to de-escalate appropriately, trust the staff and friends around him, and eventually find peace.
At our midweek campfire, Elliot made a new profession of faith in Jesus Christ and confessed to a staff person that he wanted more of this kind of living. By the end of camp… and the end of the summer, we were experiencing a new kid. The long, slow work of relational trust, prayer, and love, eventually gave way to a newfound faith in Jesus. What’s great is that these same trusted adults will continue to be the ones who lead Elliot on a true life-long adventure with the One who loves him most.
Matt Hebert
Ministry Director
*name changed