There’s a good chance that right now, somewhere, a kid is getting life advice from a stranger on the internet.

Not a teacher, coach, or parent, but a stranger.

This is the world we live in. Algorithms are quietly doing the work that mentors used to do. They study what kids watch, what they pause on, what they rewatch at 2 a.m. — and then they serve up more of it. More content. More creators. More voices filling the space that a real, present, caring adult used to fill. The algorithm doesn’t know your kid’s name. It doesn’t know what they’re struggling with. It doesn’t know what they need to hear. It just knows what keeps them scrolling.

And here’s the honest truth: it’s pretty good at its job.

That’s what makes this moment so important for camps like ours.

Every summer, something happens at Camp Victory that no algorithm can replicate. A counselor — a real, live, imperfect, joy-filled human being — sits with a kid who’s having a rough week. And in that moment, they become something more: a role-model.

A model of what faith looks like when it’s lived out loud. A model of what it means to be a good friend — patient, honest, fun to be around. A model of what it looks like to enjoy your life and point other people toward something bigger than themselves.

Research has consistently shown that mentorship from a trusted adult is one of the most powerful forces in a young person’s development. Kids don’t just need content — they need contact. They need someone who remembers their name from last summer, who high-fives them at the Black Hole, who talks to them around the campfire like they matter. Because they do. 

That’s what our counselors bring every single day. It’s not flashy. There’s no subscribe button. But the impact? It lasts. 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to guide a kid in 2026. It would be easy to feel like we’re fighting an uphill battle — and in some ways, we are. But I’d also argue we have something that no content creator can replicate: relationship. 

Counselors at Camp Victory aren’t just activity leaders. They’re faith exemplifiers. They’re friends who choose to show up, even on the hard days. They’re the reason kids come back year after year — not because of the High Ropes or the river (though those help), but because of the person who cheered them on when they finally got to the top. 

That’s the thing about authentic mentorship. It gets in kids. It shapes how they see themselves, how they treat other people, and what they believe about the world. And every single thing our counselors model — the faith, the character, the genuine fun — only benefits the kids in their care. 

No algorithm required. 

Written by Ethan “Squid” Wood

Media and Communications Specialist