Effective Camp
for outdoor ministry professionals
Camp Wisdom Speaks
What you do as a leader in outdoor ministry is a critical part of the ecology of faith formation. The experiences and encounters you dream up, create, and execute for campers serves to nurture faith, build character, strengthen families, and support congregations for the sake of each camper and for the sake of the world.
The wisdom of camp works when 5 Fundamental Characteristics come together in balance.
Share the story
When the 5 Fundamentals of Effective Camp come together, outdoor ministires become an integral part of faith forming experience. Use the resources below to tell the story of effective camp, and the difference it can make in the lives of campers. These resources help you make the case for camp.
Shareables
Below you’ll find your easy button on things to share about effective camp. These graphics and written statements help you tell the story of camps like yours and the depth of impact your ministry can offer in partnership with churches and families. The images are downloadable just by clicking. They are sized ideally for Facebook, work great in Instagram and Twitter, and can be embedded in your websites and emails as well.
“The Christian summer camp experience impacts campers in positive ways that extends to their families, churches and others.” Learn more at effectivecamp.com
“90% of those attending a Christian summer camp like ours report that they grew in faith.” Contact us at ______________to learn more and go to effectivecamp.com
“97% of those attending a Christian summer camp like ours report that they had fun!” Contact us at ______________to learn more and go to effectivecamp.com
“Kids report that they feel safe at Christian summer camp because of the powerful relationships they form.” Contact us at ______________to learn more and go to effectivecamp.com
“Kids report that by growing in faith at camp it helps them in their daily life back home.” Contact us at ______________to learn more and go to effectivecamp.com
“Camp doesn’t end when the week is over, research shows that it has lasting effective. Many campers read their Bible more, pray with their family more, and attend church more.” Contact us at ______________to learn more and go to effectivecamp.com
Articles + Blog Posts
Feel free to use and share these posts on your websites, in your newsletters, and in conversations with other leaders, pastors, parents, and supporters.
New Publication: Christian Camp Shines
Sacred Playgrounds collaborated with other researchers on a new publication about the impacts of summer camp (see the article HERE). Those of us who have experienced the power of camp and witnessed the impacts on hundreds of campers and staff over the years know that...
Camp: A Calm Port in the COVID-19 Storm
Summer camp looked different in 2020. For hundreds of camps across the country, it looked empty and quiet. Many were forced to make the difficult decision of cancelling their in-person programs. Millions of young people missed out on camp this summer, part of a...
Impacts of the Summer Camp Staff Experience
When we think about the impacts of summer camp, we most often think about the camper experience. Indeed, the lion’s share of camp research has focused on the campers (e.g. the Effective Camp Project and ACA’s Impact Study). The research provides compelling evidence...
The Importance of Being Day Camp
Traveling Day Camp is a partnership ministry between the camp and congregation in which trained summer camp staff members are deployed to lead interactive programs in the congregational setting. Traveling Day Camp has evolved over the decades and become a staple for...
Finding Direction: Data for Camps in the Midst of a Pandemic
As the Covid-19 pandemic sweeps across the nation and world, leaders have been hampered by uncertainty. It is a new virus, meaning there is uncertainty about infection, treatment options, and death rates. Inadequate testing means we cannot effectively track the...
In a Post-Covid-19 World, We Will Need Camp More Than Ever
Social distancing is not what humans were made for. In fact, we were made for just the opposite. We need face-to-face contact and human touch. Newborn babies come pre-programmed to track and respond to faces. We need to be held and be near one another for our...
Going Beyond Physical Safety
The Effective Camp Project has helped us expand our understanding of safety at camp. The findings have revealed that it is not enough for camps to focus on the physical safety of participants. When it comes to positive experience and camper outcomes, emotional and...
Introducing the Camp2Congregation Project
We are excited to announce that Sacred Playgrounds is directing a new research project on a ministry program called Traveling Day Camp. In these intentional partnerships between a camp and congregational ministry, trained summer camp staff travel offsite to bring the...
Graphics
You are free to use the 5 Fundamentals of Effective Camp and the Effective Camp Research Project graphics and logo whenever you are sharing about Effective Camp or the Research Project in your communications. The download package is a .zip file with a variety of logo styles and colors. For questions about style and brand standards, contact Jared.
Maximizing Your Impact
The 5 Fundamentals work. When each of these pillars are intentionally planned and faithfully practiced, the faith forming impact of camp is realized in the lives of participants, and extends to their families and communities back home.
Where do we go from here?
Below you’ll find your easy button on things to share about effective camp. These graphics and written statements help you tell the story of camps like yours and the depth of impact your ministry can offer in partnership with churches and families. The images are downloadable just by clicking. They are sized ideally for Facebook, work great in Instagram and Twitter, and can be embedded in your websites and emails as well.
Conduct research at your camp
Talk with a Team Member
Take the E-Course!
Gather your outdoor ministry team and engage the Effective Camp research through an interactive E-Course! This will guide you through intentional reflection on the five fundamental characteristics in your specific context.
