Effective Camp Phase 2 Learnings Webinar

Impacts of a Christian

Camp Experience

Jacob Sorenson, [email protected]

Paul Hill, [email protected]

www.effectivecamp.com

#effectivecamp

Thank you ECRP supporters!

Jeff Bluhm: Lutherdale

Penny Christenson: LOMO

Dave Coker: NLOM

Margie Feilder: Flathead

Jerry Fritsch: L. Lakeside

David Holtz: Luthercrest

Layne Nelson: LOSD

Marv Nysetvold: Shetek

Jim Schmidt: Onomia

Don Shunkwiler: Sugar Creek

Russ Senti: LOMC

Brent Seaks: Badlands

Lake Wapogasset LBC

Dr. Roland Marinson

Jesse Weiss

Amber Hill

This one time, at Bible camp…

Peer Relationships

Independence

Social Comfort

Friendship Skills

Environmental

Awareness

Leadership

Self Esteem

Adventure and

Exploration

Values and Decision

Making

SpiritualityACAcamps.org

Fun and Games? Camp High?

Theologically shallow?

Question: What is the impact of the one-

week Christian summer camp experience

on the lives of the primary participants and

their supporting networks?

Church connection?

All Camps in USA(11 million summer campers)

Profit Non-profit Religious (25%) Agency

Jewish Christian Muslim(2 million campers)

Conversion Nurture

UMC PC(USA) Lutheran UCC

(175,000)

VA WA WV WI WY

Age 11-14

6 CAMPS

Narrow

Focus15 groups

386 parents

1200 camper

surveys

Target

Major finding:The Christian summer camp experience

had positive and lasting impacts that

extended well beyond the week of camp,

affecting family devotional practices, church

participation, personal well-being, and faith

commitment.

Impacts Centered on:

5 Fundamental

Characteristics

5 FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

PARENTS:97% “My child had fun”

92% “It is clear camp impacted

my child”

81% “My child grew in self-

confidence”

90% “My child grew in faith”

CAMPERS:97% “I had fun at camp”

92% “My questions about faith were

taken seriously”

93% “I was strengthened in faith”

95% “I learned more about God”

< 2% “I was picked on or left out”

42%

60%

61%

65%

65%

67%

76%

88%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

The Bible studies and lessons

The worship services

Spending time in nature.

The music, songs and singing

The large group games/activities

The other campers in my group

The whole camp experience

My cabin counselor/group leader

Strongly agree Somewhat agree

What Campers Enjoyed MostBased on 1,134 last-day camper responses

73%

74%

75%

77%

80%

87%

19%

19%

11%

18%

16%

10%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strongly Agree Somewhat agree

I had a lot of fun.

I plan to attend this

camp in the future.

I tried something new at

camp.

I was strengthened in

my faith.

I learned more about

God.

Last Day of CampBased on 1,134 camper responses

My ?’s about faith were

taken seriously.

34%

45%

50%

53%

69%

39%

37%

31%

33%

27%

Strongly agree Moderately agree

Camp had a significant

impact on my life.

Camp helped me grow

in independence.

I feel more confident in

myself since camp.

I want to spend more

time in nature.

2-3 Month Follow-upBased on 278 camper responses

I was strengthened in

my faith.

We asked campers 17 identical questions

on the first day, last day, and 2 months after

camp.

They showed growth during camp in

16 of these items.

6 reverted to pre-camp levels.

10 remained high 2-3 months later

The “Camp High”

Excitement about Worship Participatory Learning

Increased Positivity “Vertical” Faith

Lasting Impacts of Camp

Devotional Practices “Horizontal” Faith

Engagement in Church Self Confidence

LASTING CHANGE

I know that I can make friends.

I am good at solving problems with a team of people.

I am happy about my life and who I am.

I like going out of my comfort zone and trying new things.

Self Confidence

Religious Practices Before

and After Camp250 Campers: 2 months before and 2 months after camp

64%

26%

61%

80%

43%

72%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Attend church 2+times/month

Read Bible 2+times/week

Pray with family 2+times/week

Before Camp After Camp

Faith in the Home

I have conversations with my family about God and faith:

Often or Always Sometimes Rarely or never

BEFORE CAMP

2 MONTHS AFTER CAMP

26%42%32%

Had 2 or more conversations with family about God and faith

LASTING CHANGE

Faith in God helps me in my daily life.

It is important for me to belong to my church/congregation.

I have important things to offer the church and the world.

If I have personal problems, there is an adult in my church I could turn to.

I have Christian friends that I can turn to in times of need.

Horizontal Faith:Faith that is Relevant

National Study of Youth and

Religion 2003-2008

Camp has lasting impact on communal spirituality 5 years later!

Those who attended camp as youth were over 3 times more likely to remain religious five years later than those who did not attend.

Source: Sorenson, “The Summer Camp Experience,” Journal of Youth Ministry 13 (2014).

Vertical FaithHorizontal Faith Self Confidence

All 6 camps

Camp regulars

First-time campers

Confirmation camp

Girls AND Boys

Kids who didn’t

enjoy:

Group Games

Bible studies

Being in nature

Different

from Home

Camp

Participatory

RelationalFaith

Centered

Safe

Space

Relational

Different

from Home

C

Faith

Centered

Participatory

Campers felt they had to “hide their true

selves” (8% of campers) or were “picked

on or left out” (7%)Space

PartCampers did not agree with “I tried

something new” or reported having

difficulty being away from technology

lationalCampers did not agree that they

enjoyed their counselor or they did not

enjoy their fellow campers

No evidence for harmful impacts, but no growth when the model breaks down.

Factors that Show Impacts: Faith and Self Confidence of the camper on day 1:

lower starts show higher growth

First timers affected more than Camp Lifers

Different weeks of camp show clear differences. Camp is not a magic formula!

Responses to weather and other unexpected factors can show clear positive impacts

Overwhelmed staff, especially on overfull weeks, tend to show clear negative impacts

STAFF TRAINING!

5 FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

Major Implications We have compelling evidence for lasting impacts of

the Christian summer camp experience!

Attend to the 5 fundamentals of the camp model

Camp is not a magic formula!

Camp does not stand on its own. It is part of a larger

ecology of personal support and faith formation.

If we want to have lasting impacts on campers, we

need to have impacts in the home.


What’s Next?Effective Camp @ YOUR CAMP

Spread the word!

Expand the data pool

Help camps implement the model

Go to website or contact Paul Hill: [email protected]


Contact us:

Jacob Sorenson, PhD

[email protected]

Paul Hill, DMin

[email protected]

@effectivecamp

#effectivecamp