Leadership

Simple planning, shared leadership, and a Christ-centered focus make church camps meaningful and memorable—without burnout or cringe. Artwork by Emily Harper Mention “church camp,” and adults often react in extremes. Some light up enthusiastically, recalling joyful memories from their youth. Others groan. “I LOVE camp.” “I HATE camp.” I’ve heard both—almost equally. Those reactions, and my own experiences, have led me to this question: How can we make church camps spiritually

It can be easy to see an unhappy camper as a problem to fix rather than a person to love. But what would Jesus do? Church-camp goers come in all forms—some youth count down the days to go, while others count down the hours until they can go home. Emotional stress at camp can come from changing friendships, shifting hormones, a faith crisis, or simply physical and social exhaustion (especially for introverts!). Whatever the reason, here are a few practical ways to anticipate a