4 aspects to know about CrossWalk youth camp

Teenagers worship at one of the sites from this summer’s CrossWalk 2021.

When I was a student myself, summer meant two things: no school and CrossWalk! And for New England students, this year was no exception. 

CrossWalk is traditionally a week-long sleep-away camp for 6th-12th graders. The staff, curriculum author, and students are all from New England, making this camp exceptionally impactful! At camp, students follow a purposeful schedule that incorporates the best of camp activities with the growth and encouragement of Bible studies and worship!

With over 275 participants, CrossWalk was in full swing this year and provided students with gospel-centered experiences to positively impact the next generation of Christian leaders. While my former student experience at CrossWalk may have looked different, God was no less present in the form CrossWalk took this year. Students had the opportunity to gather at one of four strategically planted locations across three New England states to learn about the truth found in Scripture, to laugh and to enjoy a shared experience, and to loudly lift our voices together in worship.

As I think about my CrossWalk experiences as a student and as a CW staff member, four specific aspects of the CrossWalk week stand out, making it unique: community, silliness, worship, and perspective.

Attendees at CrossWalk youth camp this summer.

Community

One of the things that makes CrossWalk unique is the community it provides. As a student from the northwest corner of Connecticut, youth events like CrossWalk and YEC allowed me to connect with students and leaders from all over New England. This opportunity allowed me to see that Christianity was not just something my family and church believed, but a belief and way of living that has impacted people worldwide. I recognized that though we were many diverse groups, we were unified because of the Gospel.

Silliness

One often underestimated aspect of camp as adults is the outright silliness that students can experience: silly songs, silly games, silly skits, etc. Looking back, one of the most common struggles for students in 6th-12th grade is identity and insecurity. However, at camp, students are encouraged to let their guard down, be themselves, and have some fun. For students with extra energy, “Rec” (recreation) provides a venue to be productive with that energy and approach nightly worship more focused and calm, ready to be challenged by the message each night.

Worship

Many of the youth groups do not have the opportunity to have worship as a part of their weekly youth gatherings. When students arrive at CrossWalk, they are welcomed into worship and have a worship service every evening. The gift of being able to worship with other teenagers from all across New England encourages them to worship with reckless abandon. As a student, I remember taking a moment of pause just to listen to the hundreds of voices crying out to God, in multiple languages and styles, singing the truths found in Scripture back to Him. What a gift. What a gift to be able to look around at the sea of faces, all unique and united under the preaching of God’s Word, singing of His Praises.

Perspective

Additionally, CrossWalk has been a consistent “time-out” in my life. CrossWalk offers a unique blend of learning through Bible study groups and evening worship. As a student, camp was a week without the distractions of the mundane, where time spent thinking about school, extracurriculars, or myself was replaced with time digging deeper into Scripture and worshipping under this newfound framework of truth. While the hustle and bustle of everyday life was certainly no excuse for neglecting time spent in the Word, this time-out revealed what a Scripture-focused life could produce.

I am so grateful for the constant that CrossWalk has been in my life. It is my prayer that this next generation of New England students that took part in CrossWalk 2021 have had the same life-altering experiences that have fostered a greater love of God, the Gospel, and His Church that will have an impact for generations to come.

Savannah Morzella is an active member at Friendship Baptist Church in Litchfield, Connecticut where she serves as a youth leader. Savannah has been attending Crosswalk for 20 years as a student, chaperone, and staff member.