Happy Advent and Merry Christmas from our sacred playgrounds to yours! We're donning Christmas hats and embracing Advent as we prepare for Jesus to come...to camp!

This season reminds us that our ministries have audiences of influence - those we serve, those who serve with us, and those we impact, sometimes without even knowing it. On this episode, we'll break down how Jesus comes to camp through these different perspectives and connect those audiences to characters in the Christmas story in scripture, being reminded that whatever we do for these who enter our sacred playground, we do for Jesus himself.

Plus, a #QuickQampQuestion on our favorite camp skits. Add yours in the comments anywhere!

> Download the #StatOfTheWeek

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Leaders who thrive learn from other leaders.

Recently, Jake and Jared got to participate in and lead workshops at annual camp conferences for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries and the Campfire Collective (PCCCA, OMA-UCC, OMI, + more). They had the chance to sit down with 4 camp leaders from different locales and traditions to gather insightful perspectives and stories on 3 key questions. We asked these leaders to:

• Share something unique or something you love about your camp and/or your role
• Share what might be different about camp ministry in 10 years
• Share about a time when you learned something new, applied it to your ministry successfully, and the impact it made

These leader perspectives and stories match many of yours, and we'd love to hear your answers in the comments on our website, Facebook, or send us a message.

Plus, since it's near Thanksgiving in the USA, we've got a whole "pie" chart for the #StatOfTheWeek. Download the graphics here. 

Come help camp thrive with us on Facebook, Instagram, or at sacredplaygrounds.com.

Sometimes we love to hang out in our camp bubble, don't we? Sometimes even so far as to, at least in part, shut out the outside world. It makes sense, because there's something special about camp being set apart. And yet, we're part of an ecosystem, a culture, a community.

Last week, election day in the United States brought on emotions and actions and reactions across the spectrum. Many have been wrestling with where we stand, what we stand on, and who we stand for.

On this episode, we explore some scripture-based truths around God's call on our lives and ministries, and explore how we lead a Christian camp after an election season like this one.

Links Referenced:
Article - Treat Camp Conference Like Weddings
Romans 12
#StatoftheWeek Download

Come help camp thrive with us on Facebook, Instagram, or at sacredplaygrounds.com.

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 wellbeing of those we serve. We're sharing one scary story about a still-common camp activity, a scary truth about the campers and staff we work with, and a scary stat about the media and tech-driven realities of adolescents.

The truth is, when we create camp spaces that are safe and unplugged, we give campers and families a gift they sometimes didn't even know they needed, or how deeply they needed it.

Quick Links:
#StatOfTheWeek
Campwell
CDC Mental Health Stats

Come help camp thrive with us on Facebook, Instagram, or at sacredplaygrounds.com.

"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 sense of frustration that so many camp leaders spend so much time, energy, and money on things that don't work, the Camper Recruitment & Retention Playbook by Travis Allison and Joanna Warren Smith lays out why, and most importantly how, to get campers and keep them coming back through clear, effective communication and intentionally improved experience.

Plus, we've got a Quick Qamp Question answered from Jake and Travis' decades of camp experience on the strategic focus of staff versus camper experience, and an eye-opening Stat of the Week on professional leadership turnover from the Foundation on Jewish Camps. Note: The context of the statistic quoted in the episode is clarified in the graphic below so be sure to download that!

Download the #StatOfTheWeek Graphic
Read More in Our Review of the Camper Recruitment & Retention Playbook
Get Your Copy of the Playbook

Come help camp thrive with us on Facebook, Instagram, or at sacredplaygrounds.com.

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 spent the last year taking in current and past writing, qualitative and quantitative data, and powerful stories about the impacts of camping ministries on families and the faith formation rooted in home and church life.

On this episode, co-directors Dr. Rob Ribbe and Dr. Jake Sorenson break down 6 promising strategies uncovered in this first phase of the project and share some stories and ways any camp can apply what's been learned so far.

We'll also share a deep #QuickQampQuestion about the risks of camp and if they are worth it. Plus, be sure to download our #StatOfTheWeek sharing parent perspectives on if camp should be equipping and influencing faith at home.

During the episode, we share one ready-to-take action step is to use the promising strategies infographic as a tool to consider what you may be able to apply in your ministry right now and in the months ahead. Download the infographic kit and read more about the promising strategies here.

The Rhythms of Faith Project Phase 2 Sub-grant Request for Proposals is live! Proposals are due October 15, 2024 so be sure to get your camp's submitted to be one of the 9 camps we'll equip and follow for the next 3 years.

Come help camp thrive with us on Facebook, Instagram, or at sacredplaygrounds.com.

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, we're aligned in that our deepest foundational mission is to impact lives for the sake of the Gospel.

So how do we measure impact? We assess outcomes, and that's what we're breaking down on this episode. We've taken multiple data sets and layered the learnings to identify 3 major factors that affect camper outcomes, in particular, outcomes that last beyond camp.

Plus we've got a quick qamp question about camp becoming church, and be sure to download this episode's #StatOfTheWeek!

Quick Links Referenced:

• Sacred Playgrounds Research Hub
• Rhythms of Faith Project
• Rhythms of Faith Findings Webinar
• Rhythms of Faith Request for Proposals
• Effective Camp Project

Come help camp thrive with us on Facebook, Instagram, or at sacredplaygrounds.com.

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 we learned through the Post-Summer Pulse Check survey we launched a few weeks ago. Plus, we've got a quick qamp question about "bugs."

This episode is chock-full of stats, so be sure to share and/or download the Pulse Check Results infographic you can find here.

Come help camp thrive with us on Facebook, Instagram, or at sacredplaygrounds.com.

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 lot of fun, to talk camp with you and for you.

On this episode, we'll run through our season 3 episodes with a quick recap and call to listen back to one or more if there's an idea you're focusing on for the summer ahead. We'll also share some of the most helpful stats about what camp is and the clear impact it has. We've got an entire set of shareable graphics for you on this one, designed to be used as either a swipe-style carousel post great for spaces like Instagram, or to be shared individually.

Thanks for listening, see you soon for SEASON 4!

DOWNLOAD THE #STATOFTHEWEEK GRAPHICS

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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 camp research learnings from the big picture at the ACA including important projects like the ACA Youth Impact Study, the Character at Camp Initiative, and the National Economic Impact Study. Not only does she have incredible insight into our industry and ministry, but also makes it accessible and applicable in how she shares it.

Listen close, take notes, and know that you, camp friends, are part of an elaborate, impactful ecosystem of youth development, and the research says your role matters.

Learn more about ACA Research and get involved at acacamps.org/research.

Come help camp thrive with us on Facebook, Instagram, or at sacredplaygrounds.com.