Bonding in Chaos By Andrew Quick

The Youth Fall Retreat was a wonderful time. It had been five years since my last Youth Retreat, and I was excited. What fueled my excitement even more was returning on the other side, this time as a sixth-grade boys’ leader.

The drive to the ranch was almost exactly how I remember a bus full of energetic youth. Kids were turned around in their seats, everyone was talking over each other, and fun games were being played. One gripe was that the bus had a movie system that was eventually used after the pleas of the children won out. This inspired me to consider how important it was to unplug when I was a youth—and how different things are now.

Once at the camp, we kicked the night off with games. We played capture the flag, carpet ball, nine square, and Gaga ball. It was a wonderful time of managed chaos. The group ended the night with a campfire, where we roasted s’mores, sang songs, and worshiped the Lord. While the larger group dispersed, my co-leader and I herded the 12-year-old boys toward bed. But before bed, the boys had the great idea of a pillow fight. As I watched the boys play, I realized how meaningful this time was for them and for me. While the boys were beating each other up, they grew closer with every hit, and the boys who left the camp were not the same ones who came in that night.

The next day was full of activities, such as bubble ball, zip lining, paintball, a ninja course, and so much more. The sixth graders did it all, and I could see relationships forming, not only among themselves but also with my co-leader and me. I watched as the boys faced their fears of heights and pain, becoming stronger for it. I also watched as they discussed the theme for the weekend: Behold, Belong, Become. These boys really sought to take the message to heart and grow from it.

The weekend’s peak came when we were preparing for bed again the second night. The boys had once again started a pillow fight. During the fight, one of the youth leaders found out and brought the seventh and eighth graders in for the fun. This brought the sixth graders together like nothing else. They quickly closed ranks to work together and launched a counterattack against the older boys. I truly believe that in a few years’ time, the boys will look back on that night and remember the bond that was forged.