To put it bluntly, yes, it can be. You're being pushed to your limits, physically and mentally, and that can be frightening. BUT safety is paramount at CHALLENGE, and you can trust that we wouldn't ask you to do something that you are not capable of doing. All of the staffers have been through CHALLENGE before, and they want to pass on the legacy of growing boys into strong Christian men. A few notes to help ease your mom's fears (or yours):
- Recruits are issued meals 3x/day and eat the same food as the staff (the staff have latitude to supplement with some snacks, which recruits don't, but we are *not* starving you or feeding you something we don't eat ourselves).
- Recruits are scheduled to sleep a minimum of 5-6 hours each night throughout the week.
- There *is* yelling, but not to the degree or cutting tenor of what the military does. It would not be a military style bootcamp without rigorous discipline, but it is not personal, it is not profane, and it is always for the education and edification of the recruits.
- There are planned low-intensity periods cycled in each day to give a mental break and allow staff and dads to check on recruits and ensure they aren't dangerously overwhelmed.
Even with all proper precautions taken, an adventure camp like this will always have some risk. Appropriately used, danger can be a tool that speaks to a young man. All that said, our goal is for your experience to be intense but safe. We want it to be an environment where you are pushed to grow in your walk with the Lord and realize that you can do and be better than you thought possible.
Our FAQ Page and Other FAQ Posts: Is This an Event for Troubled Youth?Do You Have Payment Plans or Scholarships?My Son is 11. Is He Too Young?