We've said it before and we'll say it again, camp is a critical part of the ecosystem of faith formation. We learned that in the Camp & Church Leadership Project and Episcopal Church Leadership Project. We continue to learn that through Effective Camp. We're...
Campy New Year! Our 4th annual New Year's resolutions for camp episode is here! We have a blast with this each year, and we've got 5 fresh data-backed resolutions for camps and their leaders in the year ahead. Here is your keyword teaser: Scripture Enthusiasts Cabin...
Happy Advent and Merry Christmas from our sacred playgrounds to yours! We're donning Christmas hats and embracing Advent as we prepare for Jesus to come...to camp! This season reminds us that our ministries have audiences of influence - those we serve, those who serve...
Leaders who thrive learn from other leaders. Recently, Jake and Jared got to participate in and lead workshops at annual camp conferences for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries and the Campfire Collective (PCCCA, OMA-UCC, OMI, + more). They had the chance to sit down with 4...
We're hitting rewind on an episode from last season where we broke down some of what we know about emerging adults today. Knowing who they are, what they care about, and what motivates them makes a big difference in how we connect and communicate with them, especially...
Camp builds the skills and attributes most needed in the 21st-century workforce. We have all witnessed the life-changing impacts that camp can have on campers and summer staff members. Many of us have experienced these impacts personally. We now have reliable studies...
Camp staff outcomes align remarkably well with the top skills employers identify as most important for the 21st century workforce, including teamwork, communication skills, leadership, and problem solving. Being a member of a Christian summer camp staff builds vital...
by Dr. Jake Sorenson Sunday school. Summer camp. Campus ministry. The Gathering. These are the Big 4 Ministries, the ones that have proven most consistently impactful for developing young disciples and nurturing leaders in the ELCA. They are keystone ministries,...
We're honored to share this article from Word and World on, Luther Seminary’s quarterly journal of theology, in which Dr. Jake Sorenson and Dr. Rollie Martinson share findings from the Camp and Church Leadership Project and why they matter in theological perspective....
The relationship between your Executive Director and your Board of Directors is a vitally important - maybe the most important - relationship in the infrastructure of your ministry. There are ways to keep it healthy and thriving, giving foundation from underneath,...
This summer, thousands of young adults will serve at Christian camps across the United States and around the world. Serving on summer camp staff will be one of the most rewarding and highly impactful experiences of their lives. They will walk away from the experience...
There are four key ministry spaces that are particularly important for faith formation and call to ministry. I focus a lot of my writing on camping ministries. I do this because camping ministry has gotten surprisingly little scholarly attention over the years. This...
Join us March 3-4, 2026 at Camp Wapo for CampWell x Sacred Playgrounds, a training experience for Christian camps and their leaders to create and sustain a difference-making culture of well-being in campers, families, staff, and beyond. Learn more & register at sacr.pl/campwellxsp or enter your email and we'll send you to the registration page.
