Would you send your Catholic child to a Christian camp?

[katie111]

My DD11 really wants to go to sleepaway camp for the first time this summer. I am having some trouble finding one that is

1) reasonably priced (under $2,000 for 2 weeks)
2) is not yet full
3) has the activities she wants (mostly just traditional camp stuff)
4) has nice facilities & good reviews

So, I finally found a camp that meets the above requirements but it is a Christian camp. My DH & I were both raised Catholic & our kids are too. We go to church most Sundays & my kids attend CCD. However, we don't do Bible studies & we honestly don't spend a lot of time discussing religion. We live in MA near Boston so most people we know are Catholic or very "casual" Christians (they occasionally attend some church). We don't spend much time talking about religion with our friends or families.

I've spoken to the camp director and he said that the religious portion of the camp consists of a bible study session in the morning in their cabins, some Christian pop music played during activities, and weekly chapel services. I know Catholicism is a branch of Christianity but I know from reading the internet that Christians can sometimes be a lot more vocal about their faith than we are as Catholics. He did mention that because they are in the northeast they get a fair amount of Catholic girls each summer.

Any thoughts from those who have been to a Christian camp? Let me just say that I have no issues with her learning more about God & the Bible but I just don't want it to overshadow the rest of her experience. Thanks!

 

[soccerdad72]

No

 

[Janepod]

My DD11 really wants to go to sleepaway camp for the first time this summer. I am having some trouble finding one that is

1) reasonably priced (under $2,000 for 2 weeks)
2) is not yet full
3) has the activities she wants (mostly just traditional camp stuff)
4) has nice facilities & good reviews

So, I finally found a camp that meets the above requirements but it is a Christian camp. My DH & I were both raised Catholic & our kids are too. We go to church most Sundays & my kids attend CCD. However, we don't do Bible studies & we honestly don't spend a lot of time discussing religion. We live in MA near Boston so most people we know are Catholic or very "casual" Christians (they occasionally attend some church). We don't spend much time talking about religion with our friends or families.

I've spoken to the camp director and he said that the religious portion of the camp consists of a bible study session in the morning in their cabins, some Christian pop music played during activities, and weekly chapel services. I know Catholicism is a branch of Christianity but I know from reading the internet that Christians can sometimes be a lot more vocal about their faith than we are as Catholics. He did mention that because they are in the northeast they get a fair amount of Catholic girls each summer.

Any thoughts from those who have been to a Christian camp? Let me just say that I have no issues with her learning more about God & the Bible but I just don't want it to overshadow the rest of her experience. Thanks!

I would not. The most offensive things I have ever heard about Catholics have been from the mouths of "Christians." Kids and adults alike.

I am not saying all Christians do this, obviously. But enough have that I would absolutely not send my child to a Christian camp. And that goes double if the camp is in the south.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[luvmy3]

I'm pretty sure Catholics are Christians

To answer your question, yes I would. I was raised Catholic, and my dd was baptized one. When I needed to find a daycare center for her the only one that had all I wanted was Christian center. Sure there were some "extras" that came with it, but she loved it.

 

[Christine]

I think there are a lot of good Christian camps. You seemed to be more concerned, not about Christianity, but the "evangelical" type of stuff. You can usually get a sense of that right away. Do you know anyone who has gone to this camp?

I don't know if you can really generalize. We are not Catholic but my son attends a Catholic high school and so did my daughter (but a different one than my son did). The school my son attends is very "vocal" as you say but my DD's school was very quiet/laid back. Believe me, some Catholics can be quite fervant!! I think your main concern should be what type of things are they doing--normal Bible stories or are they pushing some agenda that you may not agree with.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Isn't Catholicism a subset of Christianity? And I've had the opposite experience. The Catholics are way more vocal and pushy about their religion. I'd be more worried about sending my Christian child to a Catholic camp. So everyone has a different experience. And one Christian camp can be totally different than another.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I think it depends on what kind of Christian. I was raised Episcopalian, and educated in Quaker schools. I went to camps affiliated with both religions. In my experience, neither the Episcopalians nor the Quakers are evangelical, and would be very respectful of a Catholic in their midst. However, also in my experience, no Quaker camp would describe themselves as generically Christian.

There are other Christian denominations where I think you'd feel similarly welcome. However, I'd stay away from any group that considers itself evangelical or talks of being born again. This isn't because I think these groups are wrong, or that their camps are bad, but they tend to come from a perspective that there is a single correct path, and that's what they teach. Your daughter would likely be made to feel singled out if she expressed other beliefs than what the religion taught.

 

[Kristibo42]

I tought Catholic's were Christian's?

 

[lovemygoofy]

As someone who was raised outside the Catholic faith but then converted to Catholicsim, I don't know if I would.

I have received so many insults and backward comments since converting. Is your daughter prepared to hear comments and insults or answer questions about her faith? Would your daughter be comfortable with bible study and the kind of services they would be participating in? If she has never really been exposed to other denominations, it could be quite the eye opener and really awkward for her.

 

[superme80]

You can always ask the director about the Bible study. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Janepod]

I tought Catholic's were Christian's?

Catholicism is a subset of Christianity. However, I have met many Christians (primarily Southern Baptists) who do not consider Catholics "real" Christians.

 

[Christine]

Catholicism is a subset of Christianity. However, I have met many Christians (primarily Southern Baptists) who do not consider Catholics "real" Christians.

I know someone who was raised Catholic, coverted over to an evangelical Christian, who told me that Catholics were not Christians. I just laughed.

 

[design_mom]

I tought Catholic's were Christian's?

They are... Catholics are the original Christians. But there are certain other "Christians" who don't think Catholics are the "right kind" of Christians and are happy to tell you so.

I would be leery but might consider it *if* I could get more info about exactly what would be taught during Bible study and/or I knew some people who had attended in the past and could tell me about it.

 

[Christine]

They are... Catholics are the original Christians. But there are certain other "Christians" who don't think Catholics are the "right kind" of Christians and are happy to tell you so.

I would be leery but might consider it *if* I could get more info about exactly what would be taught during Bible study and/or I knew some people who had attended in the past and could tell me about it.

Yeah, I agree. Most Christian run programs/camps/daycares are VERY well done. My cousins attended many of these run by various organizations and, while Christian camps, they took kids for many different denominations and it was never a problem.

I think it's important to try to get another parent's review though.

 

[Janepod]

I know someone who was raised Catholic, coverted over to an evangelical Christian, who told me that Catholics were not Christians. I just laughed.

Yep. I have been told that I'm not going to heaven because I'm not "saved." Never mind making all my sacraments and going to church every Sunday. The first time I heard this was in fifth grade from a classmate; the last time was last year from a woman in her 50s. 30+ years of hearing this.

Before I say something that gets this thread closed let me leave it at this: I would not want my child to have to defend his or herself against statements like this.

 

[Southernmiss]

I think it depends on what kind of Christian.

There are other Christian denominations where I think you'd feel similarly welcome. However, I'd stay away from any group that considers itself evangelical or talks of being born again. This isn't because I think these groups are wrong, or that their camps are bad, but they tend to come from a perspective that there is a single correct path, and that's what they teach. Your daughter would likely be made to feel singled out if she expressed other beliefs than what the religion taught.

Is your daughter prepared to hear comments and insults or answer questions about her faith? Would your daughter be comfortable with bible study and the kind of services they would be participating in? If she has never really been exposed to other denominations, it could be quite the eye opener and really awkward for her.

Catholicism is a subset of Christianity. However, I have met many Christians (primarily Southern Baptists) who do not consider Catholics "real" Christians.

These are my initial thoughts. Been Catholic all my life. But I have visited some Southern Baptist churches with friends and people there were ready to ostracize and convert me because I was Catholic.

My oldest DS could hold his own with a very forceful group, however, I don't know if my middle son could.

I would probably not send my child to a "Christian" camp unless I really looked into it and felt completely comforatable.

And yes, Catholics are Christians--we were first!! But many denominations have chosen to forget that.

 

[Ginny Favers]

Catholicism is a subset of Christianity. However, I have met many Christians (primarily Southern Baptists) who do not consider Catholics "real" Christians.

Yes, and this would concern me. As a Catholic, I've avoided Christian day camps and preschools around our area for this reason.

 

[RitaE]

Okay, the problem with this is just as being Catholic is one set of Christianity, there are many OTHER types of Christianity.

Is it a Lutheran Camp, if so --- what flavor of Lutheran?
Is it Methodist? United Methodist? Free Methodist?
Presbyterian
United Church of Christ
Southern Baptist
Pentecostal?
(and imagine a list of about 50 more here)

Because saying "Christians are more vocal than Catholics!" is about as broad and false of a brush of generalization as saying "Christians don't believe Catholics are really Christians!"

And more importantly, how pissy are you going to get if your daughter hears a bit of theology which doesn't meet your beliefs? Because if it is going to upset you to have your daughter get pulled into a conversation about the real presence of Christ at Communion and Infant Baptism or whatever --- then don't send her.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Can the director get you in touch with one or two families that are Catholic and attend that camp?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I tought Catholic's were Christian's?

Not according to Archie Bunker