Whether it was a moment of truth around a campfire or a life-changing mission experience, camp has a way of making its mark on the lives of young people (and the adults who accompany them).

What is it about camp that makes all the preparation worth it? What draws students to climb on that church van and make the journey over the mountains or through the woods? What awaits those who sign up for the adventure of camp?

The simple answer: While there’s nothing necessarily magic about a week of camp, extraordinary things happen when students step out of their normal routines and focus more intentionally on God and each other. They become more aware of God’s presence and God’s desire to move in and through them; they see more clearly the beauty of relationships and how they’re connected to each other in the body of Christ. And for most, they leave with a renewed sense of purpose and passion.

So how do you make the most of summer camp? The following words of wisdom were compiled from a series of conversations with student ministers as well as the (Centri)FUGE Camps team—part of LifeWay Christian Resources—which has hosted camp for more than a million students over the last 30 years.

Choosing a Camp Program
The primary concern for many student ministers is finding the right camp program for their groups. There are several factors to consider in this process.

1.    Goals. What do you hope to accomplish with your group over the course of this week? Team building? Mission experiences? Interaction with other churches? Block some time in your schedule to pray specifically about camp. Ask God for a clear sense of direction and write down the goals that come to mind. Based on these results, begin searching for a camp program that fits what you’re led to accomplish through the experience.

2.    Destination. Pull out a map and mark the distance you’re willing to travel to get to camp. Be realistic based on what you know about your travel budget, the personality of your group, and the openness of parents to extended trips. Save yourself a lot of unnecessary homework by narrowing your search to camps within the region(s) you’ve mapped out.

3.    Reputation. Ask around and find out where other student ministers you know and trust go to camp. If you find a program that looks interesting, check to see how long that organization has been hosting camps and what kind of reputation they have with groups who’ve attended.

4.    Timing. Make a master calendar of events happening in your community over the course of the summer that might impact your students’ availability. With today’s technology, you can even create an online calendar so students in your ministry can update you on their own summer schedules. Try as best you can to find a week that works for the majority of your group.

Preparing for Camp
Once you’ve registered for the week and location of choice, you can begin preparing. It’s never too early to start this process! The sooner you start planning, the less stressful it will be in the weeks and months leading up to camp. There are several factors to consider in this process.

1.    Preparing Spiritually. Designate a prayer team that will commit to you and your students before, during, and after camp. This is a great way to get your church involved. Provide a monthly prayer calendar to Sunday school classes or individuals on your prayer team. Have your prayer team meet you on the day you leave for camp and pray over your group.

Challenge your students to pray and prepare for what God desires to do in their lives through the camp experience. Encourage them to write down some reasons they’re going to camp and what they hope will happen over the course of the week. If possible, communicate the theme and familiarize them with Bible passages they’ll be studying.

2.    Preparing the Details. Check to make sure you’ve received confirmation of your camp registration. Some programs fill up as early as the fall, so get your reservations in as soon as possible. Contact the organization or location hosting your week of camp and request any information that’ll help you in the preparation process. Most organizations offer some sort of group leader resource to get you ready for camp. Organize the forms and information you gather and lay out a plan of action for the months leading up to departure. Be sure you know when deposits and other payments are due.

Recruit a team to help plan and promote camp. This will save you from wearing yourself out in the preparation process and allow you to fully engage and be energized for camp week.

Schedule a parent meeting as early as possible to cast vision for camp. This can help in the communication of important details and deadlines as well as in the recruitment of adult sponsors willing to accompany you on this adventure. A good goal to shoot for is an initial meeting in January to share basic information and a follow-up meeting in April or May to nail down details.

Make sure students know what to bring and what not to bring as they prepare for camp. Each program will require different things, so it’s important to communicate these details ahead of time. Not having essentials such as a Bible, sneakers, or medication can greatly diminish the camp experience for a student. By the same token, leaving at home anything that could potentially distract them from getting the most out of camp is a key to effectiveness.

3.    Don’t be Afraid of Fundraising. Most groups have at least a few students who need financial assistance for camp. There are many ways to approach this issue, so don’t let it be a source of stress for you. Consider setting up a special fund for camp scholarships to which church members can donate throughout the year—you may learn of adults in your church who’re looking for ways to invest in a ministry beyond their normal giving. As for a fundraising plan, consider low-maintenance, year-round projects instead of sporadic bigger events. For instance, a new idea for today’s culture of coffee drinkers is partnering with companies such as Ugly Mug Coffee to generate proceeds for camp.

Making the Most of Your Week at Camp
All the preparation leads you to this point—now, how are you going to make the most of the time you have with your students at camp? Here are some basic principles that will set your group up for success.

1.    Be Relational. Remind your adults (and yourself after each sleepless night) that one of the primary goals is to build relationships with students. Camp is a unique environment that opens the door to a variety of relational opportunities, from playing games with students to having intentional conversations about spiritual things. One way to ensure that all students get the attention they need is to assign a specified number of students to each adult. Ask adults to pray for and check on those students throughout the week.

2.    Encourage Unity. Plan several group-building activities that allow your students to bond with each other. Some programs will equip you to do this, but if you’re on your own, make sure you block out time in the schedule and have the necessary materials on hand.

3.    Debrief Each Day. If you have a large group, you may want to consider splitting into several smaller teams for this time of open discussion. It will be incredibly beneficial for you and your students to hear what God is doing throughout the week. It’ll also allow your adults to listen for ministry opportunities.

4.    Build Leaders. Camp is a great place for students to take some leadership roles without feeling pressured. Allow students to share devotional thoughts, pray, or lead activities during group times.

5.    Capture Moments. Take lots of pictures (or video) of your students engaged in camp activities; you can use these images throughout the week as well as in the months to come to remind them of what they experienced.

6.    Be Observant. Keep notes as you see your students doing extraordinary things. You can encourage them by highlighting those moments in conversation. Also be aware of any young person who seems discouraged or lost in the fast pace of camp and make it a point to spend time with that student.

7.    Do the Unexpected. Challenge other adults (and yourself) to look for ways throughout the week to serve students. There are all kinds of ways to do this in the camp environment, but here are a few ideas: Write notes of encouragement, pray for and with each camper, operate in support roles during activities.

Taking the Camp Momentum Home
The very thing that makes camp so effective can also leave students feeling a bit let down when they return home. The transition from this extremely relational and spiritually focused environment back to the summer routine can take its toll on your students’ emotions. Be prepared to walk them through this transition and use the momentum from camp to spark growth in your ministry. Here are some ways to make the most of camp at home.

1.    Develop a Follow-Up Plan. With the help and support of your adult sponsors, you can develop ideas such as an after-camp e-mail to students with pictures from the trip (if possible send individual e-mails with pictures and highlights that would be meaningful to each student). You can also schedule times to meet with any students who made spiritual decisions or shared personal struggles; if possible, meet them at a coffee shop or other casual environment so they feel like they’re picking up where they left off at camp. Help plug in students to small groups or discipleship classes that will promote continued growth.

2.    Encourage Your Prayer Team to plan a “welcome home” party at the church. They can interact with parents until your group arrives, then give hugs and high fives as kids get off the vans. This will create a sense of energy and help students immediately reconnect with their church family.

3.    Offer a Follow-Up Bible Study. Do this the week after camp and have it wrap up the theme (some camp programs will equip you with after-camp Bible studies). Help students make connections between how God worked at camp and how God desires to move within their own church and community.

4.    Plan a Sharing Time. Let students who went to camp share with the rest of the youth group (those who didn’t go) what they learned at camp. Avoid letting them share inside jokes or exclusive memories that might make others feel left out, but give your students a chance to share the passion they’re feeling with their peers.

5.    Plan a Church-Wide Testimony Time. Have students share how God worked in their lives at camp. Some camp programs will provide an end-of-the-week video that can be an effective visual tool that gives supporters back home an idea of what students experienced.

6.    Plan At-Home Activities. Encourage students to participate in (or initiate) activities back home that they enjoyed at camp. If they discovered new talents while at camp, then help them find a way to foster those new interests. If they were moved by service projects, then encourage them to find similar ministry opportunities within their own communities.

Whether you’re planning your own program or joining other churches for a week of adventure, make sure you take advantage of every opportunity that summer camp provides. This one week can be a catalyst for new ministry ventures and can foster deeper, more authentic relationships within your group. The week can also be a significant spiritual marker in the lives of your students. So load the church van, grab a book of travel games, and pray with expectation.

Also, don’t let the pressure of preparation rob you of your own experience. Jump in and make new camp memories for yourself!