Turning Camp Courage into School-Year Strength

How to live out CMW's daily themes in the hallways.

When camp ends, it’s easy to feel like the magic of the week gets packed away along with your duffel bag. But here’s the truth: the confidence, courage, and friendships you built at camp don’t have to stay at camp. They’re tools you can carry with you into the school year that can help with the tough stuff like peer pressure, fitting in, and those “what if I’m not enough?” moments.

At CMW, each day focused on a theme that told a bigger story: you are valuable, you belong, and you are capable of leading with love. As you head into a new school year, here’s how those themes can show up in everyday life.

I Am Special

On the first day of camp, you were reminded that you are one-of-a-kind. Your personality, talents, and quirks make you special. Middle school can be a time when it feels easier to compare yourself to others than finding comfort within yourself—wishing you had someone else’s clothes, grades, or talents. But CMW taught you that you don’t need to copy anyone else to be valuable or likable. The best thing you can bring to school this year is your authentic self. Remember, in all rarity, there is great value!

💡 Try this: Think of one thing you bring to your school community that no one else can. Maybe it’s your humor, your kindness, or your creativity. Hold onto that truth when you feel pressure to be someone you’re not.

Inferiority

Feeling “less than” is something everyone experiences, even the people who seem the most confident. At camp, you discovered that inferiority doesn’t define you. Your worth isn’t measured by your test scores, the number of friends you have, or whether you get picked first in gym class. When you find yourself in canyons of inferiority, remember that you are not alone and there are tools to help. There is no normal; normal is just a cycle on the washing machine!

💡 Try this: When you catch yourself thinking, “I’m not good enough”, stop and replace that thought with one strength you do have. Confidence grows when you choose to believe the truth about yourself instead of the lies of comparison.

Conformity

Peer pressure is real in middle school. The pressure to fit in, laugh at the same jokes, wear the same brands, or even act a certain way. At CMW, you learned the value of standing out by staying true to yourself. You are enough just as you are; you are BELOVED! Be who you are, not who they think you are!

💡 Try this: Before going along with the crowd, pause and ask yourself, “Is this really me?” Sometimes strength is as simple as saying no to what doesn’t align with your values and yes to what does.

I Am Loved

One of the most powerful truths you learned at camp is that you are loved—by God, by your family, by your friends, and by your CMW community. School can sometimes feel lonely or discouraging but remember that love can anchor you in tough moments. You are lovable and capable!

💡 Try this: If you’re having a rough day, write down one way you know you are loved (a friend who listens, a parent who cares, a leader who believes in you). Gratitude for those relationships can remind you that you’re never truly alone.

Friendship

The friendships you built at CMW were real, filled with laughter, honesty, and encouragement. Those same qualities can be carried over into school. Friendships aren’t about popularity; they’re about connection, trust, and showing up for each other.

💡 Try this: Be the first to say hi to someone new. Invite someone to sit with you at lunch. Look out for classmates who seem left out. When you choose friendship over cliques, you’re creating the same sense of belonging you felt at camp.

Leadership

Leadership at CMW wasn’t about being in charge—it was about setting an example, being kind, and lifting others up. At school, leadership can look like speaking up when something isn’t right, encouraging a classmate, or showing responsibility in your work. You don’t have to be “the boss”  in order to lead—you just need to live out the values you believe in. You can make a difference in this world! You can! You will! You must!

💡 Try this: Pick one small way each week to lead by example—help a classmate, thank a teacher, or stand up for someone. These small acts add up to big impact.

Bringing It All Together

As you step into a new school year, remember camp was more than just one fun week of summer. It was training for real life. You learned that you are special, that you don’t need to compare yourself to others, that you don’t have to blend in, that you are loved, that real friendship matters, and that you can lead with kindness.

The new school year will bring challenges, but you can face them! Your CMW toolbox—filled with things like your binder, Bible, friends, camp family, and God—is something you can carry with you wherever you go.

CMW might be one week of summer, but its confidence can last all year.  

No matter what you're going through, remember that God and your camp family are always with you. The world needs your light—go shine in the darkness!