• Camaraderie of being a part of group—teens love to be an integral part of something; they love being on team and being part of a cabin, they like their youth group and best friends, and they love to do things with their friends; but they will spend as much time talking about what they did as doing what they did.
• Flexibility of choosing your own activity—teens develop interest in areas where they enjoy the thrill of skill; the activity becomes more fun when they get better at it. A few will still enjoy the adventure of discovery, so something that is new and different is premium.
• Relationship are built by being with them—teens want friends who care about them and who love them; if relationship becomes a task, they will resist you. The fun of friendship grows throughout their teen years.
• Decisions that deal with lifelong situations—biblical answers for everyday problems are solutions that teens can use for the rest of their lives; habits both good and bad begin during their teen years. Teaching biblical principles becomes critical to know some of the whys behind the whats.
• The advantage of a second voice—teens are trying to figure out what they believe, and they are beginning to explore beyond their family and close friends; meeting new friends and staff who believe the Word of God strengthens the voice of their own parents and pastors. Our goal should be to encourage the discipleship process by constantly sending people back to the Bible for their answers.

Closing Thoughts

• Don’t be shocked by teens with adult problems or teens isolated from any worldly influence.
• Be prepared for wide spreads of physical, mental, and social maturity; protect the weak.
• Teens are listening and watching more than they let on; keep being a good example