Volume 6: Rest in Middle Schoolers

 

Titus sitting in front row of every club audibly gasping and "oohing" during the talks. 

David laying down in the middle, drawing a photo of a muscular guy and then holding it up and showing everyone in the middle of JR speaking. 

Carolina showing up to camp late but still packing a bag that was bigger than her. 

Boys hitting each other with pool noodles and towels and running around yelling. 

Ames painting on a canvas singing every word of "We Don't Talk About Bruno" with full confidence.

A kid walking around with a snake skin around his neck. 

A camper ringing the dinner bell early which led to full stampede of kids into the dining hall. 

All of the campers around the fire roasting marshmallows and having sword fights with the wooden sticks.

There's nothing better than middle school CHAOS. 

Every time I'm in the midst of middle school age kids, I look around and it never fails to make me laugh. Because what is their life! Eleven to thirteen year olds can definitely be mean, yet at the same time, they are the most welcoming. 

They're not afraid of being weird; they are uniquely themselves. They don't question what others are doing around them. In middle school world, you have permission to simply do your own thing. 

It was so refreshing to be at the Jr High Fall Retreat this weekend at Camp Vesper Point. There is always a lot of power in getting middle schoolers out of their routine for a weekend and creating a safe and uplifting environment. Between speed ball, blow up movie, Hobbit Hunt, blobbing, and Slip-n-Slide kickball, kids were able to let down their guards and have fun. 

In working full time for a camp, it was nice to have the reminder that kids are genuinely thankful to just be out of their house. Yes, we want to provide a lot of fun experiences for them and prepare activities, but at the end of the day, they are glad to be with friends and doing something. 

Whether it's in a classroom, at camp, or on a sports field, middle schoolers are the best. May we learn from their confidence and freedom that they exude, even in the midst of some hard years of figuring out who they want to be.