S3 E17: Camp Research Chat with ACA’s Laurie Browne, PhD
On this episode, we're sharing the mic with a good friend and camp research colleague! We're deeply honored to chat with the Senior Director of Research and Education for the American Camp Association (ACA), Laurie Browne, PhD.Laurie joins us to unpack some key...
S3 E16: A Total Eclipse of the Heart of Camp
Every now and then, I get a little bit restlessAnd I dream of something wild- Bonnie Tyler "Total Eclipse of the Heart" Eclipse week! Epic, singular experiences are our specialty at camp, and yet, how we prepare campers and families for integration of faith in the...
Unplugged and United: Exploring the Transformative Benefits of Family Camp
According to the American Camp Association, The number of family camps have doubled over the last 15 years In 2022, The Skit Guys released the movie, Family Camp. That same year, I published my memoir about my family's experience at Deer Valley YMCA Family Camp,...
S3 E15: How We Holy Ground (w/ Special Guests)
It's launch week for Holy Ground 2024! It's no secret, so says the research, that summer staff are the heart of camping ministry. We know they need support, agency, and faithful community to thrive. That's why we constructed the Holy Ground summer staff guidebook for...
A Step with Jesus this Holy Week
Jesus took so many consequential steps this week. He stepped onto a road covered in palm branches and cloaks to resounding hosannas. He strode into the temple and braced his stance as he turned tables. He climbed the Mount of Olives. He ascended the stairs to the...
S3 E14: Staff Training Checklist
Check! We're gearing up, camp family! For many, it's time to begin forming our plans for staff training, even as we continue to recruit and hire staff. We're bringing you 8(+1) items on a summer staff training checklist to help you frame up a successful, impactful...
Remember the Sabbath and Keep It
A few weeks ago I was visiting with a camp director who expressed their deep weariness. Their camp was in transition with key staff positions needing to be filled. Their personal life included grieving. And they wondered about the future of the camp – with fewer...
S3 E13: Learned This. Do That. Actionable Findings from Summer 2023
We're constantly learning. Every season, we take care of each individual and/or group of camps we work with - creating reports, digging in with consults about the findings, and creating ways to help those insights tell stories. And, we take that data and compile it,...
Planning it Out
Life can be busy beyond imagination. We can get stuck in the mode of just making it from one day to the next. There may be moments we are able to come up for air. Moments we feel everything is caught up and then we get bogged down again. I have had many of those...
S3 E12: Family Camp: S’more Than a Vacation
We're making a new friend in this episode as we talk with author Maria Warner who wrote a book all about her family's transformational experiences at family camp, a specialized kind of camp that can, as Maria passionately shares, help families thrive. Listen as we...
Getting Honest About Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Camp & Communities of Color Summer camp is a transformative space for both the children and staff alike. These young people (and their families) put their faith in us to be supportive and intentional. As camp leaders, we have a tremendous responsibility to give...
S3 E11: Rewind on Recruiting Emerging Adults
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...