The Great Camp-Out
Mysterious moments at Camp Rockmont
By Andrew Ginn
Photos: CharBeck Photography
Camp Rockmont for Boys is nestled in a valley in Black Mountain, N.C. Since 1956, its 600 acres have been a place where the sound of children playing, growing, and camping echoes off the surrounding trees and mountains.
As an Assistant Director, I believe in the power of a night spent camping in the woods. The camp’s mission is to give children the chance to get tangled up in the beauty and mystery of God by interacting with the wildness around them, while also gaining tactile skills that begin nurturing their unique outdoor faculties.
Breaking The Barrier
Preparing for a camp-out is one of the more mysterious camper moments. As a former director of the 6- to 10-year-old age group, I have seen hundreds of kids leave for this real adventure, many of them setting out to spend a night in the woods for the first time. Amidst the head counting, water-bottle filling (and refilling), and pre-dark flashlight tag, there’s a wonderful barrier to be broken—taking the first step into the unknown.
From the beginning, campers know something new is ahead of them. On the roughly one-mile hike to the Adirondack shelter, campers learn to hike together, identify helpful and harmful plants, and properly hydrate while conserving water. Campers might not feel like they’re breaking through the barrier of the unknown because the experience is a lot of fun. But the very fact that they are setting off into the woods is an extraordinary accomplishment. And they are not alone! Counselors and other mentors are also there to celebrate the journey ahead.
Campers learn how to start and safely maintain a fire by gathering kindling and fuel, while also being aware of the suitability of burning fires in the area. They cook over the fire, arrange their own sleeping bags, and pack out what they packed in. They are guided into what feels like a vast wilderness, and at this age the hope is for them to embrace the wildness.
Key Takeaways
While campers learn certain tangible skills (i.e., building a fire, disposing of waste properly, conserving water, etc.), they also gain two important abstract benefits:
Encountering and overcoming discomfort. On this trip, they camp in solidarity, navigating the natural and wild world together, realizing they can grapple with the discomfort that life can bring. There is no bed, no indoor bathroom, and no refrigerator They learn to start a fire and to make do with what they have. This is good news because boys are getting used to “threshold space,” where things aren’t easy—and that space is a part of life.
Learning that “the world is bigger than just me.” This is an ancient hope. In the creation stories in Genesis, there is wild imagery that comes before humans: vastness, darkness, deepness, light, and life. When campers venture into the woods, they learn about who God is and the origin of the wildness. Campers become aware of their responsibility to care for the world and to bless and keep it safe and wild.
Going on a camp-out means engaging in mystery, an uncomfortable feeling for most of us, no matter our age! We know what’s around us when we’re home, in our constructed and comfortable world. For well over a century, summer camps have been a vehicle for helping children overcome nervousness, learn new skills, and see what the land looks like out beyond the groomed and manicured. And Camp Rockmont for Boys is committed to growing this legacy.
At Rockmont, the hope is not to turn every camper into a rugged outdoors person or a survivalist. Rather, the hope is that, when campers find themselves engaged in the beautiful mystery of God in the natural world, they will feel a sense of responsibility to protect it and celebrate it, and God’s people in it, in all its forms.
Andrew Ginn is Assistant Director for Staff Development at Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain, N.C. Reach him at andrew@rockmont.com.
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Camp Basics
Name: Camp Rockmont for Boys
Location: Black Mountain, N.C.
Type: A Christian summer camp for boys
Cost: Prices range from $1,700 to $6,500, depending on the length and type of the session chosen.
Ages: 6 to 17 years old