The Podcast
We're exploring the horizons of outdoor ministry from behind the mic. We're turning the latest research and insights on camp into stories and action steps for camp and connected ministry leaders and enthusiasts like you. subscribe
S4 E5: Scary Stuff from Camp
What's your favorite scary movie? This week, we're embracing the spooky season with our #QuickQampQuestion. Post yours in the comments on our website, Facebook, or Instagram! On this episode, we've got 3 "scary" things to share about traditions we prioritize and the...
S4 E4: Camper Recruitment & Retention with Special Guest Travis Allison
"The most effective way to get campers this summer is to get last summer's campers to come back." On this episode, Travis Allison from Go Camp Pro joins us to talk through what's actually effective in recruiting and retaining campers and their families. Built from a...
S4 E3: Promising Strategies for Connecting Camp, Church, & Home
A meaningful camp experience can be a powerful catalyst for family faith formation. That truth is at the heart of the Rhythms of Faith Project, the Lilly Endowment, Inc. funded project that Wheaton College/HoneyRock and Sacred Playgrounds are partnering on. We've...
S4 E2: 3 Major Factors that Affect Camper Outcomes
Ministry is about impact. It's what we hope for, plan for, program for, recruit for, market for, evaluate for, and pray for. It's maybe the one thing that aligns the entire outdoor ministry industry. We may not even define impact in the same way (fyi, we don't!). Yet,...
S4 E1: Season 4 Kickoff 6 Post-Summer Pulse Check Results
Season 4 of the Sacred Playgrounds Podcast is here! We're back behind the mic and behind the research for another season of camp-centric content focused on leaders like you. On this episode, we'll share a quick what-to-expect from this season, and then dive into what...
S3 E1: Season 3 Finale
finale {n.} the last and often climactic event or item in a sequence It's the last episode of season 3 of the Sacred Playgrounds Podcast! Whether it's your first time or you've been along for the ride since our first episode, thanks for listening! It's an honor, and a...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
