by Sacred Playgrounds | Apr 13, 2021 | Camp and Church Leadership, Camp Research
Not all pastors value camp. Some are benignly dismissive, while others are almost hostile. We collectively call this group the camp skeptics. In our recent survey of ELCA pastors and deacons, just under one in five (18%) were categorized as skeptics. These folks do...
by Sacred Playgrounds | Mar 30, 2021 | Camp and Church Leadership, Camp Research
Most congregational ministers recognize the value of outdoor ministries. When we probe a little deeper, we reveal three categories of pastoral connection to camp. We uncovered these categories in a large survey of pastors and deacons in the Evangelical Lutheran Church...
by Sacred Playgrounds | Mar 23, 2021 | Camp and Church Leadership, Camp Research
The Christian camp experience depends on congregational support and recognition. If church leaders are skeptical of camp’s benefits or ministry methods, they will be less supportive. This has two critical impacts. First, it means fewer people experience camp, since...
by Sacred Playgrounds | Mar 3, 2021 | Camp and Church Leadership, Camp Research, Rethinking Church
Looking to have the greatest impact, to generate the most bang for your buck? You may need to shift your gaze. Whenever I go over the findings from a new study, people always ask me if I found anything surprising in the data. I usually have to make something up or...
by Sacred Playgrounds | Feb 16, 2021 | Camp Research
In our recent survey of Christian camp directors, Sacred Playgrounds asked a pretty blunt question: “How confident are you that your outdoor ministry center will be operating two years from now?” It was a question born out of sadness, with a touch of despair. COVID-19...
by Sacred Playgrounds | Feb 1, 2021 | Camp and Culture, Camp Research, Parenting
2020 was a disastrous year for summer camp. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the closure of schools, day care centers, and numerous small businesses. Parents were not only at their wit’s end trying to find childcare and facilitate at-home learning, they also desperately...
