Sacred Playgrounds Podcast

Eat. Let go. Grateful. Jesus. Giggle.

No, it's not a silly camp word game. Ok, maybe a little. The season 2 finale is here! We'll look back at some of the numbers and share our favorite episodes of this season. Hear our longest, shortest, and most listened-to episodes. Any guesses?

Then, we beseech leaders to remember some things for the summer ahead as we launch, encourage, and bless you into this season of ministry.

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Special guest day! We've got two special guests with direct, experiential perspective on the seasonal migration that is about to or recently has happened for thousands of college students (and many high school too) on their way in to serving as summer camp staff. 

We'll hear from Jenna, one of those students in the midst of such a transition, and from Pastor Dominique Bucholz who serves as a Campus Pastor at the Minnesota State University Moorhead in Minnesota.

Then, Jake talks us through the study we did a few years ago with a campus ministry organization, what we learned, and why is matters. You can check out that study here.

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Staff training is identified by many leaders and summer staff members alike as their favorite part of the summer. There must be something going on here.

There is. Something that matters. Your camp culture starts here. The creativity, clarity, and community that is gained in these training and orientation experiences set the tone for the summer, impacting campers and families every week.

So how do we do this really well? We use what we've learned to frame staff training in a way that begins to give staff the three things they need to thrive in a summer of ministry: support, agency, and a faithful community. We'll also share stories, ideas, and tips on how to get there.

PS, here are some of the resources and projects we refer to in this episode:
The Camp & Church Leadership Project
Holy Ground: A Guidebook for Summer Camp Staff
Training Throughout the Summer by Kelsey Blinn
BRAND NEW! Sacred Playgrounds Staff Training Opportunities

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These are some of the most impactful findings on the pulse of outdoor ministry today, draped in a really hopeful outlook. We unpack things like the biggest threat to outdoor ministry this year, what we're learning about director demographics, the four types of faith-focused camps, and more.

We just finalized the report on the 5th OMC Director's Survey, a biennial study of camp leaders and the ministries they serve, effectively telling a story of where we've been and indicating trajectory for where we're going. These are the kinds of findings any camp can use right now. In this episode, we're sharing some of the most interesting headlines and why they matter. Learn more and access the report at sacredplaygrounds.com/omc.

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To know and listen - these is the best gifts we can give our camp community. This applies throughout our ministries, from the connection between a counselor and camper, to how we engage our trusted supporters, and everything in between.

Life is loud, input is constant, and expectations of production are high. It's part of why set-apart experiences like camp are so vital right now. Sometimes it feels like no one listens anymore. When we listen, and listen well, then act based on what we hear, we offer something far too uncommon these days.

In this episode, Jake and Jared talk about intentionally identifying the unique, contextualized audiences that make up our camp community. Then, we'll talk about why and how listening well to them makes all the difference. We'll hear a story of how one camp listened well, and what they heard brought them insight that turned to action that turned to incredible ministry. Anna sat down with Brent Seaks, Executive Director of Badlands Ministries in western North Dakota, during last year's Lutheran Outdoor Ministry conference.

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In 2018, after hearing about some of the data from the first Power of Camp Study with Christian Camp and Conference Association ministries, Camp Judson and Executive Director Kevin Saxton decided to join the project.

After their first year of data, they were struck with what they learned about where their campers were coming from, and made intentional program choices to meet them where they were at. What they did and what they saw change in subsequent years writes a clear story about the value of using insights to generate missional impact.

Kevin joins the podcast to share his unique, circular journey into outdoor ministry and how their project turned into measurable faith practice.

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Walking in the steps of Jesus is no small thing. True pilgrimage spans the preparation and prayer before, wide-eyed wondering during, and intentional processing and application after these holy experiences in these holy places.

We'll hear from Jake and Anna from our Sacred Playgrounds team who recently got to do just that, embark on a long-awaited pilgrimage to the Holy Land. They'll walk us through some of the most impactful places they visited, what struck them, what changed in them, and how we can walk in similar steps.

Episode References:
Elias Tours
Augusta Victoria Hospital

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We're in it. Recruiting season.

When we know the systems, life stages, situations, and motivations of the emerging adults that will soon become this summer's incredible staff, we can recruit in a way that sets both the staff member and the ministry up for the best summer ever.

In this episode, we'll break down some research and resources that give us all insight into these emerging adults. Plus, we'll talk about some recruiting tactics that come right out of these insights.

You'll also hear some info about a chance to dive deeper into recruiting, as well as staff training and support in our All Things Staffing Webinar. Sign up here to join us!

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It's here! Holy Ground 2023 is available for pre-order, and we couldn't be more excited. We know these staff are the heart of your summer ministry, and we've learned and learned again that supporting them is absolutely vital. That's why we created Holy Ground.

This year's edition comes complete with 12 weeks of brand new for 2023 devotions, updated training and resource content, and a pretty new cover. Holy Ground is a practical, inspirational, and deeply useful companion for every single one of your summer staff.

In this episode, we'll hear from two special guests. Our friend Gretchen Bachman, whose initial idea to support summer staff with a devotional became the heart of Holy Ground, co-hosts with Jared sharing the origin & framework of this resource. Plus, we'll hear a conversation Anna Sorenson from our team had with Tom Powell, Executive Director at Caroline Furnace Camp & Retreat with some stories and specifics for how their team and summer staff found value in Holy Ground and how they used it in a variety of ways.

Want to hear more? Listen to last year's Holy Ground preview episode.

Two steps to take out of today's episode. First, check out sacredplaygrounds.com/holyground to download a sample and learn more. Then, estimate how many copies you'll need for your staff team and submit a pre-order today! You'll confirm numbers and complete your order this spring prior to staff training.

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Happy New Year camp friends! It's here - one of our favorite and most downloaded episodes of season 1 gets a 2023 reboot. These 5 New Year's resolutions were built directly from what we heard over the last year and see unfolding in the year to come.

Here are your resolution key words to listen for in this episode: identity, hire, mom, agency, & insights. Happy listening, and happy new year. It's going to be a good one for outdoor ministry.

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