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? Let's talk about how we can help
New Research Published!
The Sacred Playgrounds team partnered with other camp researchers, through the leadership of the American Camp Association, to examine the similarities and differences of various camp types. All types of camps have proven effective in achieving certain camper outcomes, but unique program priorities and camp mission also impact camper outcomes. Faith-based camps are one of four camp types examined in this peer-reviewed article.
Surprise! The Most Influential Ministry Space
We set out to study the impacts of working on camp summer staff. In our survey of more than 3,000 pastors and deacons, we made a surprising discovery about the most influential ministry space.
COVID-19 Slams Outdoor Ministries Like Steel on Flint, Sparking Innovation
COVID-19 devoted camp and retreat ministries in terms of guest numbers, revenue, and staffing. In the midst of the pandemic, directors have used their creativity to survive and set their ministries up for new life in a post-pandemic world.
There WILL be Camp! 5 Reasons we will have summer camp in 2021
Millions lost out on summer camp in 2020. Amidst the ongoing uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic, there is great hope for summer camp 2021! Camp staff are deemed essential workers, half of U.S. adults will be vaccinated by summer, and people are clamoring for camp!
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.
Ministry Partners and Current Projects
The Camp and Church Leadership Project seeks to cultivate church leadership among young adults who have been engaged in camping ministries. This project has a special focus on examining the key characteristics and impacts of serving on summer camp staff. It centers on camps and congregations in the ELCA.
Since 2015, the Effective Camp Project has been gathering data on the key characteristics and impacts of the Christian summer camp experience. Through 2020, we have gathered data from more than 7,000 campers and more than 2,000 parents at dozens of camps across the USA 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. The project gathered data from campers, parents, camp staff, and pastors throughout 2019.