Episode 18: Conflicted.
Meet Amber Hill Anderson, a professional mediator and conflict resolution specialist, not to mention former camp staffer and current ongoing enthusiast. Here's the reality, camp won't be all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes people see and experience things...
Episode 17: Preview! Holy Ground: A Guide for Summer Camp Staff
Spoiler alert. The key ingredient in the secret sauce to an effective summer camp experience is a well-equipped, well-trained, faith-filled camp staff. It makes so much sense to give them the support they need to thrive. That's what Holy Ground: A Guide for Summer...
Episode 16: 4 Steps to staff mental health
There's a path for summer camp staff to be well, really well, in body, mind, and spirit this summer. When they, and you, are supported in mental wellbeing, it lays a foundation for a season of less staff attrition, more energy, and incredible ministry. On this episode...
Episode 15: So, how Christian are you?
So, wow Christian are you? That's a real question, one that camp leaders get. It's a question that parents are wondering when they're making choices about the kinds of experiences to say yes to for their kids. They wonder what happens to their kids if they send them...
Episode 14: The State of The Screen
99% We share some statistics and such on this podcast, and that's one we don't share very often. 99% of parents say that camp is a place to unplug from technology. What's even more interesting - the kids like it. On this episode, we're giving a bit of a State of the...
Episode 13: Summer Staff: Finding them in the Findings
Camp leaders - looking for summer staff? What difference would it make in the recruiting and hiring process if you knew what motivates people to say yes to working at camp? What about in how we support and retain these staff?Church leaders - wonder what difference a...
Episode 12: Canceled! Pivoting when plans Change
We've been there. Everything is prepared, deposits are made, details are nearly sorted, lodging and transportation and meals - and then the message comes - canceled.Whether it's something epic like the recent cancellation of the ELCA National Young Gathering, a band...
Episode 11: Enthusiasts, Accommodators, & Skeptics
Which are you? More importantly, which are they.They are your pastoral partners in ministry, and they've got a POV on camp. What does that look like and why does it matter. In the Camp and Church Leadership Project, we uncovered something we weren't necessarily...
Episode 10: 5 New Year’s REsolutions for Camp
Happy New Year camp folks! Let's kick off this year with 5 resolutions for camp in 2022. In this episode Jake and Jared offer 5 things camp could focus on this year, based on research, current events, and what might matter most in the months ahead. This episode...
Episode 9: A Campy Christmas Episode
Merry Christmas (and Happy Advent if Jake has anything to say about it)!It's a Sacred Playgrounds podcast Christmas episode. We've got a story or two of our own family traditions to share, and then we explore how ritual and tradition, something that camp is incredible...
Episode 8: Democracy, HIstory, and Camp
We're getting a little historical and a little political this episode, and we're not sorry. Camp is rooted in democratic process - one built on participation, shared decision making, and shared outcomes. The space we create has the potential to actually impact...
Episode 7: Conference Recaps + Why In-Person Matters for Camp
Did you make it to the UMCRM or LOM Annual Confererences? The Sacred Playgrounds team did, and in addition to hearing valuable things from conference presenters and conversations, we paid some attention to the spirit of camp leaders right now, and how important it was...