Blog
STORIES FROM SACRED PLAYGROUNDS
Emerging from the Data
Sorry for the long delay in communication! We have been immersed in data from all the camps who participated in various studies with us in 2018, including 10 new camps in the Effective Camp Project and 9 in its related study, the Power of Camp Study. It has been a...
Thinking about Safety at camp
Dear camp professionals, This week, Don Johnson at Lutheran Outdoor Ministries brought this disturbing news report to our attention. “Hundreds of sexual abuse cases reported at children’s camps across US,” the headline screams. That’s scary! A closer read shows that...
Cultivating Teen Faith
Cultivating Teen Faith has finally hit the bookshelves of libraries across the country, and ministry leaders are digging into this resource’s valuable findings and insights. The book cover shows many hands of diverse types, looking ready to start some game or...
Fall is here!
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." - Ecclesiastes 3:1 I have always loved the fall season. Here in the Midwest, the humidity drops and the leaves begin to change colors. It is harvest time, with plenty of fresh berries,...
New Experiences and Camper Growth
We were on the ledge. The Going-to-the-Sun Road was a dizzying 100 feet below us. I tried to exude confidence, but I was, in fact, a little nervous. We were on the first mile of our hike on the famous Highline Trail at Glacier National Park in Montana. The ledge was...
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...