Peer-Reviewed Article in the Journal of Youth Development
Promising Strategies for Impacting Youth Development Systems From Christian Summer CampsJacob Sorenson, PhD, Sacred PlaygroundsRachael Botting, Wheaton CollegeKaren K. Melton, Baylor UniversityRob Ribbe PhD, Wheaton CollegeAbstract As research on summer camp continues...
Get On The Same P.A.G.E. with Church Leaders & Parents
This is a cutting edge for outdoor ministry right now, and camps, when we understand our role as a catalyst, is poised to have an outsized impact on faith lives of countless campers and families. The connectivity in three sacred spaces - camp, church, and home -...
Connecting Congregation & Camp
"Take them to camp." The very first thing I ever did as a pastor was go to camp with a group of kids. Well, that is not entirely true. I wasn’t actually a pastor yet. I was still a month away from my ordination, and about seven weeks from my start date as pastor of...
Church Camp The Book: Guest Episode with Author Cara Meredith
On this episode, we're excited to sit down with Cara Meredith, a lifelong camp enthusiast, experienced camp speaker, and author of the book Church Camp. This book has been stirring in many ways for Christian camp and camp-connected leaders, and we are grateful for the...
The 5 Fundamentals: Camp is a Safe Space
“You are on God’s belay.” My friend and mentor Paul Hill always signed his emails and letters this way. Even in retirement, Paul has always been a self-proclaimed “adrenaline junky,” feeling most at home paddling through a surprise rainstorm in the Boundary Waters of...
Camper Confidence Over Time: Summer 2025 Insights
Each fall, early in our podcast season, we try to spend time talking through some of our, really your, learnings from the summer. We aggregate data from Effective Camp and Power of Camp projects - those that focus on campers and families - and run it through a variety...
5 Fundamentals Series & Self-Assessment Tool Launch
Start here. Camp has the potential to be deeply impactful. Many of us have seen it with our own eyes and felt it in our own souls, having had personally transformative or life-changing experiences. Yet, camp doesn’t always have the same impact on everyone. Sometimes...
Behind the Scenes of the #OMCGG & Why Cross-Denominational Camp Partnerships Matter
If you've ever planned an event, fundraiser, conference, or other significant gathering, you know that there is so, so much that goes on behind the scenes to make that happen. On this episode, Jake and Jared are joined by the Co-Directors of the Outdoor Ministries...
The State of Camp Staff 2025
How's your "heart" health? The American Heart Association (AHA) introduced its Heart-Check Food Certification Program in 1995 to help consumers identify foods that could be part of a heart-healthy diet. This program created the now-iconic red-and-white Heart-Check...
Season 5 Kickoff & Camp Leader Pulse Check Insights
Welcome to season 5 of the Sacred Playgrounds Podcast! We're back! On this episode, we've got some words of welcome, a quick summer in review from our Sacred Playgrounds team, and what to expect from this season. Then, we dive right into some impactful insights from...
Bonus Episode for Summer Camp Staff!
Bonus episode of the Sacred Playgrounds podcast! Summer camp staff, this one's specifically for you! It's mid-summer for many camps, or will be soon, so we're taking a few minutes to offer 3 things specifically for summer camp staff to encourage, equip, and embolden...
Have an Amazing Summer
These are good ways to practice rejoicingto notice Christ in the mud on your feetand on the face of friends with flashlightsand the steady buzz or a bug in your ear. This life is a gift. This faith is an adventure.Blessed are you, who explore with awe. Excerpt...
