Looking for answers?
the Research hubMaybe you’re getting ready for staff training, or wondering about connections between camp and church leaders. Maybe you’re planning next summer’s program and are looking for innovative ideas based on current culture. Whatever you’re looking for, this ever-growing body of research projects, articles, and resources is designed to lead you there.
QUICK CAMP DATA · PROJECTS · ARTICLES & RESOURCES · ACADEMIC
Quick Camp Data
Use the arrows to navigate through the graphics below, then select an image to view, download, and share! These graphics are free to use for your camp or connected organization. Tag @sacredplaygrounds if sharing online.
Research Projects
Use the filters below to find a project, view the latest findings, and see how you can engage with and apply the research to your own context.
UMCRM Summer Staff Impact Study
The Episcopal Church Leadership Project
CCCA Compass Survey
OMC Compensation Survey
Camp Builds
OMC Director Survey
Lutheran Campus Ministry Research Project
The Confirmation Project
Effective Camp
Camp and Church Leadership Project
Camp 2 Congregation
Articles and Resources
Use the filters below to find a relevant article, podcast episode, or resource to help answers your pressing questions.
Summer Prep Tips in 150 Words or Less
S4 E17: More or Less? 7 Insights from the OMC Director Survey
3 Things to Give Church Partners Before Camp
S4 E16: Trending, Bending, or Ending: Camp Trends Over the Past 25 Years
Biblicize Staff Training
S4 E15: The Key to Fostering Faithfulness in Summer Staff
Staff training as a little Lent
S4 E14: 10 Tips for Pre-Camp Prep That Impacts Experience & Outcomes
What is Camp Really About?
S4 E13: Tips for Summer Staffing in 2025
S4 E12: People Skills & Peer Ministry at Camp with Lyle Griner
S4 E11: Character at Camp
Academic Articles & Major Projects
Scholarly Publications
The Role of Chrisitan Summer Camp Staff Experiences in Faith Formation and Leadership Development (Journal of Youth Ministry, Fall 2023)
The Unexpected Positive Outcomes for Summer Camps in the time of COVID-19 (Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 2023)
Similarities and Differences in Summer Camps (Children and Youth Services Review, 2021)
The Logic of Camp in Christian Education (Theology Today, 2019)
The Fundamental Characteristics and Unique Outcomes of Christian Summer Camp Experiences (Journal of Youth Development, Spring 2018)
A Theological Playground: Christian Summer Camp in Theological Perspective (PhD Thesis, 2016)
Transforming the Spiritual Storehouse: A Portrait of Confirmation Camp in Finland (Journal of Youth and Theology, Fall 2015)
The Summer Camp Experience and Faith Formation of Emerging Adults (Journal of Youth MInistry, Fall 2014)
Current and Recent Research Projects
Rythms of Faith: a project seeking to develop effective, replicable systems for camps to partner with congregations to empower families in developing spiritual practices (2023-present)
Episcopal Church Leadership Project: building from the CCLP, this project provides insights to for developing programs and initiatives to raise up a new generation of Episcopal leaders (2024-present)
Camp and Church Leadership Project: a study of the impacts of working on Christian summer camp staff on faith formation and leadership in the church (2020-2022)
Camp2Congregation Project: a study of the impacts of Christian traveling day camp ministries (2019-2021)
Effective Camp Project: a study on the impacts of the one-week Christian summer camp experience (2015-present)
Lutheran Campus Ministry Research Project: a study of the characteristics and practices of faithful, effective, and sustainable young adult and campus ministries (2016-2018)
The Confirmation Project: a study on confirmation and equivalent practices in 5 denominations (2014-2018)
Other Articles and Writings
Camps as Catalysts for Family Faith Formation (Living Lutheran, October 2024)
The Big 4: A Roadmap to Revitalizing Ministry in the First Third of Life (Connect Journal, January 2024)
"Applying Research at Your Camp: The Power of Numbers in Telling Your Story" (InSite Magazine, March/April 2023)
"Using Data to Empower" (InSite Magazine, Feb/March 2020)
"Assessing the Power of Camp" (InSite Magazine, Feb/March 2019)
"Ministry at the Crossroads: Lutheran Campus Ministry's Power and Peril," with Rollie Martinson (Word and World, Fall 2018)
"Finding Space and Time Through Confirmation Retreats" (APCE Advocate, 2018)
"Rethinking the Classroom: The Logic of Camp in Educational Ministries" (Word and World, Winter 2018)
"Christian Summer Camp has Lasting Impacts" (Episcopal Teacher, 2017)
"Turning to Scholarship in Christian Camping" (Connect Journal, 2014)
