Thanks for the article. It brought back a flood of memories of church camps and conferences and the good memories associated with them.

For all the challenges and obstacles with church and organized religion, it does have built in rhythms and opportunities for connecting with others. After leaving church 4 years ago, I realized that I missed the experience of regular events, like yearly conferences or retreats. There is something comforting in the routine and reconnecting with familiar acquaintances to hear their stories and path in life.

A few adults have told me that they feel like it was easier to build lasting friendships as a kid or in college, when there was more proximity to other people, more time for connection, and more shared experiences. It is probably harder as an adult to create relationships and these type of routines (camps, retreats, etc.) are helpful.