by Jake Sorenson | Apr 24, 2018 | Camp Research, Outdoors and Wilderness
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...
by Jake Sorenson | Apr 3, 2018 | Camp and Congregation, Camp Research
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...
by Jake Sorenson | Mar 21, 2018 | Camp Research, Outdoors and Wilderness
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...
by Jake Sorenson | Feb 28, 2018 | 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...
by Jake Sorenson | Feb 13, 2018 | Camp Research, The Logic of Camp
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...
by Jake Sorenson | Sep 26, 2017 | Camp Research
“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...
