The presentation slides from the Effective Camp Research Project Phase 2 findings presented by Dr. Jacob Sorenson, Lead Researcher.

1. Impacts of a Christian
Camp Experience
Jacob Sorenson, PhD
jake@sacredplaygrounds.com
Paul Hill, DMin
paulghill@me.com
www.effectivecamp.com
#effectivecamp

2. 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

3. This one time, at Bible camp…

4. Peer Relationships
Independence
Social Comfort
Friendship Skills
Environmental
Awareness
Leadership
Self Esteem
Adventure and
Exploration
Values and Decision
Making
SpiritualityACAcamps.org

5. 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?

6. 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
Focus
15 groups
386 parents
1200 camper
surveys
Target

8. 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

9. 5 FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

10. 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”

11. 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 Most
Based on 1,134 last-day camper responses

12. 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 Camp
Based on 1,134 camper responses
My ?’s about faith were
taken seriously.

13. 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-up
Based on 278 camper responses
I was strengthened in
my faith.

14. 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

15. The “Camp High”
Excitement about Worship Participatory Learning
Increased Positivity “Vertical” Faith

16. Lasting Impacts of Camp
Devotional Practices “Horizontal” Faith
Engagement in Church Self Confidence

17. 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

18. Religious Practices Before
and After Camp
250 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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).

22. 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

23. Different
from Home
Camp
Participatory
Relational
Faith
Centered
Safe
Space

24. Relational
Different
from Home
C
Faith
Centered
Participatory

25. Campers felt they had to “hide their true
selves” (8% of campers) or were “picked
on or left out” (7%)Space
Part
Campers did not agree with “I tried
something new” or reported having
difficulty being away from technology
lational
Campers 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.

26. 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!

27. 5 FUNDAMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS

28. 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.

29. www.effectivecamp.com
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:
paulghill@me.com

30. www.effectivecamp.com
Contact us:
Jacob Sorenson, PhD
jake@sacredplaygrounds.com
Paul Hill, DMin
paulghill@me.com
@effectivecamp
#effectivecamp