Dear Ministry Leader,

What could your camp or congregation do if it were truly well-informed by actionable research and well-equipped by quality training?

Finding Direction in the Midst of Covid-19

In the midst of a global pandemic, camp directors and parents are looking for answers. We at Sacred Playgrounds are working to support the ministries that we love so dearly. We joined together with our partners at TicTacToe Marketing to survey camper parents about their perspectives of summer 2020. Follow the link to the survey report. Check back on the blog for updates and recommendations.

View the Report!

The Importance of Being Day Camp

by Amber Hill Anderson | Apr 20, 2020 | Camp Research, Camp to Congregation

Traveling Day Camp is a partnership ministry between the camp and congregation in which trained summer camp staff members are deployed to lead interactive programs in the congregational setting. Traveling Day Camp has evolved over the decades and become a staple for...

Finding Direction: Data for Camps in the Midst of a Pandemic

by Jake Sorenson | Apr 15, 2020 | Camp Research, Parenting

As the Covid-19 pandemic sweeps across the nation and world, leaders have been hampered by uncertainty. It is a new virus, meaning there is uncertainty about infection, treatment options, and death rates. Inadequate testing means we cannot effectively track the...

In a Post-Covid-19 World, We Will Need Camp More Than Ever

by Jake Sorenson | Apr 8, 2020 | The Logic of Camp

Social distancing is not what humans were made for. In fact, we were made for just the opposite. We need face-to-face contact and human touch. Newborn babies come pre-programmed to track and respond to faces. We need to be held and be near one another for our...

Welcome to Sacred Playgrounds

Jake Sorenson spent his early career in congregational youth ministry and camping ministry. A lack of research on Christian camping and a general disdain for camp among some of his ministry collegues led him to dive deeply into research. He earned a PhD in practical theology from Luther Seminary and an Mdiv from Princeton Theological Seminary. His research and insights into ministry spaces that serve as sacred playgrounds, such as camps and campus ministry centers, have appeared in numerous ministry publications and academic journals. He has participated in and directed multiple research projects and is a contributing author to the book Cultivating Teen Faith.

More About Jake

Meet the Staff

This organization was formed to bring current and upcoming research on what is truly effective in key ministry spaces like outdoor ministry, confirmation ministry, and more. The team is experienced in and passionate about academic and action research, training, faciliation, and adult learning. Use the link below to meet the staff and contact us.

Ministry Partners and Current Projects

The Confirmation Project is a nationwide study of educational ministries in 5 denominations. With our help, it is the first major youth ministry study to take seriously the role of camp in Christian education and faith formation.

Effective Camp began in 2015 with 3 Lutheran camps in Wisconsin. It has since expanded to dozens of camps across the country and in Canada.

The Camp2Congregation Project, funded by the Lilly Endowment, is examining the impacts of Christian Traveling Day Camp programs on congregations, families, and young leaders in the church.

Let's start with a conversation.

Send me an email to schedule a 30 minute introduction conversation. I’d love to hear about where your ministry could go when informed by actionable, localized research and well-designed, well-facilitated training experiences.

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