How Do I Choose a Youth Camp?

“Scroll to read how this summer camp will change your students FOREVER!” “How this camp sparked revival in one youth group.” “Prepare your students for a LIFE-CHANGING week!” I have lost count of how many emails I get like this. On one hand, I understand the people running these camps are well-meaning and just want students to come to their camp. They are passionate about their camp, often because they either had their life changed there or they truly believe their ministry will bring spiritual growth to those students who attend. 

On the other hand, they frustrate me. How many youth workers - who want to see their students grow and are frustrated at the spiritual complacency in their group - hop from camp to camp year after year, hoping this summer will be the one that changes everything, only to be back at the start once again as soon as the mountaintop experience is over. 

I love summer camp, and I look forward to our group’s annual trek. I also look back fondly on my own memories from church camp. I’m not a hater or a critic; I simply want God to work in the lives of my students in a way that leads to long-term growth rather than chasing mountain-top experiences. I’m pretty sure most readers want the same thing. 

So, how can we develop a mature vision of summer camp? How do we weed through the various options, understand how they can help us fulfill our ministry goals, and build a strong summer calendar? Here are a few principles to think about as you prepare for summer camp.

Remember Your Goals

Whatever the goal, it should be bigger than “it’s what we have always done,” or “the kids enjoy it.” Ask intentional questions about your goals, so you know what type of camp experience to pursue. 

• What do you hope to accomplish by taking your group to camp? 

• Do you want unchurched friends to come and hear the Gospel? 

• Do you want students to grow closer to one another through the activities? 

• Do you want them to hear the Word and be led by people they are not usually taught by? 

At my church, our goals are to give students a change of scenery away from the pressures of home, a space to intentionally focus on a Scriptural theme, and strengthen the relationships between students and their adult leaders. In short, our hope for camp is that our students will return with a deeper love for Jesus, for each other, and for their local church. 

Your goal will directly impact what kind of camp you go to. When I was a teenager, my youth group went to a service-oriented camp every summer where we would roof, paint houses, or do similar projects. There are other camps that are more recreation-oriented, where youth spend most of the day participating in fun activities like kayaking, flag football, and ropes courses. Both of these approaches to Christian camping will usually have a worship service in the morning and at night. The difference is what these students do during the day. 

My youth ministry goes to a more recreation-oriented camp because it helps us achieve the goals mentioned above. Also, there are plenty of service opportunities for our students throughout our church calendar. We think it's good for them to get a chance to simply have fun together and learn about Jesus. Your choice will depend on your ministry’s goals, context, and calendar. Perhaps you could ask more seasoned youth workers in your area which camps they recommend for your specific goals. This way, you can learn from their experiences and know about any potential red flags. 

Remember What’s Most Important

Be careful not to pick a camp solely because of its amazing facilities, activities, and production value. I once interned at a church where the conference had some of the most amazing production and games I have ever seen. The problem: they were actively and consistently teaching things that contradicted our understanding of the Bible! We even had to leave the conference early one night because of what they were doing.

There should be no tolerance for false doctrine at camp. It doesn’t matter how amazing the production value is, how fun the games are, or how beautiful the views are. If the camp speaker teaches false things about God, or if the camp is run by a suspect organization or church, then you should not take our students to that camp. Admittedly, you will not find a camp speaker who agrees with you on everything. However, quick research on the camp speaker or camp organizer should give you enough insight into their theological leanings. This also comes with a disclaimer: second-tier issues are likely not worth abandoning a camp setting for. One year, our camp speaker said something that I thought could cause confusion. So, I simply clarified the issue during our group time that evening. 

Another concern for some youth workers is music. What sorts of worship songs will the band be playing? I admit that this was my concern when I started taking groups to camp. Church camps typically sing more mainstream songs that are more upbeat and high-energy than what our students experience on Sunday mornings. However, a helpful way I have explained it to our group is that there is a difference between teenagers gathered at camp and the gathering of saints at a local church, just like there is a difference in the way you eat on Thanksgiving than you do your daily meals. Worship at camp can be different because it is a different type of gathering than what we experience every Lord’s Day. If there are small theological disagreements that arise at camp, take those teaching opportunities to expand your group’s knowledge of the Bible, the Church, and make them more confident in their beliefs. 

Remember the Parents

You don’t want camp to be a burden on parents. Financially, you want to make sure camp is accessible to the students in your group. You can do this by fundraising or by letting members of the church contribute money towards the camp. Consider opening an account at your church that members can donate to throughout the year to lighten the financial load for parents and their teenagers. 

You also don’t want camp to be a burden emotionally. For many parents, especially for those whose children are attending for the first time, camp is nerve-wracking. While the child may be having the time of their life, some parents will be at home, worried all week about their child. Consider attending a camp that’s reasonably close to your town. I was once at a camp in Georgia where one of the groups had driven all the way from Michigan to attend. I could only think: “What happens if a student has a medical emergency? What if a student needs to be sent home due to disciplinary issues and picked up by parents?” Try to pick a camp that is close enough for parents to feel comfortable while also allowing the students to truly get away from home. 

Remember your Leaders

Your camp experience is greatly enhanced when you have well-trained volunteers going with you. Identify those in your church who you think would be great in a camp context and talk to them about camp, your hopes for it, and what you see in them. Train them to have good spiritual conversations, spot and address bullying or exclusion, and to know their duty as mandatory reporters. Leaders are not just attending an event; they have a responsibility to protect and care for the students entrusted to them.  

This is a lot of work that will bear fruit not just at camp but in the years after as those relationships between students and adults strengthen. I won’t ever promise you that one week on your church calendar will change the entire course of your ministry. That is ultimately up to the Lord, not the camp organizer. However, I can say from experience that when you are intentional about your camp experience and make your goals known, you will see the Lord do some cool things not just for that one week, but throughout the rest of the year.