Blog
STORIES FROM SACRED PLAYGROUNDS
The Fundamentals Part 5: Camp is Relational
We close this series on the 5 fundamental characteristics of Christian camping with the one that is most prominent in camper descriptions: Camp is relational. This does not mean that it is more important than the other four. It is, however, the most valued. Let’s hear...
The Fundamentals Part 4: Camp is Participatory
The research is screaming at us from nearly every academic field. We nod approvingly, feeling that we are wiser. And then we go on doing exactly the same thing. We sit at our desks in front of computer screens. We demand more automation in our homes and our modes of...
The Fundamentals Part 3: Faith Centered
Remember, these five characteristics have no particular order, but I thought it poetic to cover this one in the middle. This is the characteristic that sets Christian camps apart from all other types of camps. Every well-run camp in the country has the other four...
The Fundamentals Part 2: Unplugged from Home
This might be the most recognizable characteristic of camp. Think of the most iconic mental pictures of camping: a tent, a campfire, a grove of trees, a body of water. The philosophy of summer camp, from its beginnings in the late 19th century, has centered on...
The Explosion of Camp Research
“The research is out!” “Research says that…” People use these phrases all the time, often to justify their own entrenched viewpoints. We have all heard people speak passionately about something (like camp!) and then throw in the phrase, “Research says!” without...
The Fundamentals Part 1: Providing a SAFE SPACE
It is the number one concern of camp directors. It is the most anxiety-producing element of the experience for parents. When this characteristic breaks down, it has the clearest consequences for camp outcomes. Let’s talk about SAFETY at camp. Camp directors get that...
Footprints in the Snow
Morning at the Sorenson household. Pandemonium. It is a school day. And it is the middle of winter. Dry skin, tired eyes, and noise – lots of noise. Where’s the coffee? Watch out for running children as you move about the house, trying desperately to reach the sounds...
Give the Gift of Camp
“It's that time of year when we need Christmas wish lists from the kids.” The email arrived from my children’s grandmother in early October. It is indeed that time of the year when we often buy gifts for people we love. You have children in your life that you love....
The Ride Home
The windows are down. The country air mercifully streams in the vehicle as you drive away from the camp property. There is nothing quite like the smell of a child after a week or more at summer camp. There is something wild about that smell. There is B.O., to be sure,...
Never alone
When I was a backpacking guide at Sky Ranch, I often read from Deuteronomy to help my campers prepare themselves physically and spiritually for life in the backcountry. You see, it is important for a Christian to understand when to read scripture literally and when to...
Searching for OUTCOMES at Christian Camps
“Camp changed my life.” I have heard this (or something similar) over and over again from staff members, campers, parents, and church workers. I have even spoken these words about my own camp experiences. Some camp professionals speak about camp as a “mountaintop...
Introducing Anna
It is early September. Most students are back in school. Most churches are easing into a program year, many restarting Christian education programming like confirmation and Sunday School. At camp, the summer staff have departed, the retreat season interns have...