4 Camp Takeaways from My First 4 Years in Ministry

Camp is, without question, the most impactful rhythm in our ministry. It creates a space that students simply don’t get anywhere else. For a few days, they step away from the chaos and noise of school, family, phones, and drama. At camp, our students enter an environment where their attention can shift because they aren’t being pulled in ten different directions, and they can be fully present.

Camp opens the door for something deeper. Students can see Jesus more clearly or encounter Him in a way they might not have before. It allows our students to experience faith not just as something they hear about, but something they see firsthand. Camp creates moments that are both heavy and impactful and genuinely fun. That combination lowers walls and creates a setting where students are more open than usual.

Some things happen at camp that don’t happen anywhere else. Conversations happen because a student is sitting in a hammock and a leader comes over to check in on them. Maybe you have a volleyball tournament, and then quiet girl in your youth group comes out of her shell as a volleyball star, and everyone cheers her on! Camp is the place where worship impacts a student, and the students around him hug him and encourage him. It’s where that one adult leader who’s kind of quirky kicks a grand slam in the kickball game. Camp creates memories that last for years.

A Moment From My First Camp As A Youth Pastor

At my first summer camp, I thought it would be a great idea to get our students to take a picture. Our youth group logo is made by extending your arm and making a “U” with your hand. I thought it would be fun to get a picture of everyone making the “U”. The photographer was taking a little while to get set up, so I had the idea to, from the stage, tell a room full of teenagers: “Turn to the person next to you and give them a little tickle under the arm.”

The room immediately erupted into chaos. Everyone was going crazy. There was way too much tickling. It was a terrible, horrible idea. I will NEVER do that again. But for the people in the room, it created a memory that our current college students still bring up. In fact, I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but the recent Barbie movie even had a scene where Will Ferrell’s character says, “Have you ever been in a meeting and just wanted to turn and tickle each other?” The number of times students sent me that clip was ridiculous.

Camp is always one of the highlights of the year. For me, it’s a consistent reminder that no matter what we plan, God shows up in the unexpected, and He is faithful. He uses small moments in meaningful ways. He helps create a culture where students feel welcomed, included, and that they truly belong.

I’ve talked about why camp matters and why it’s one of my favorites, but here are four camp takeaways from my first few years of ministry.

1. Stress in the prep, so there’s no stress at camp

Planning a youth ministry camp requires a lot of prep. You have to create the theme, plan response times, organize games and supplies, write small group questions, collect medical forms, design and create or order the merch, and handle all the extra necessities.

Just listing that makes me tired. I get into the rhythm of prep for camp, and it’s always stressful. Our ministry has built a checklist to stay on the same page, divide responsibilities, and keep track of what still needs to be done. Even with that, I find myself dreading the prep because I want everything finished, in its right place, and fully organized.

The prep is always stressful. I said it before, and I’ll say it again, because it is. Camp excitement can get overshadowed by the amount of prep it takes. Some ministries don’t even do camp not because of budget concerns, but because of the planning involved. I get that, but the prep is worth it.

I take on the stress during prep so that I have zero stress at camp. When we have free time, I’m not stuck organizing game supplies. I get to be with students. I get to play. I’m not worried about what isn’t getting done while I’m sitting at a table playing cards, because that work was already handled. Everything has a place, and if a leader needs something, I can point them to it and move on.

I’m always thankful for the prep before camp because it lets me actually be part of the moments that matter. The reason I’m not carrying that mental load during the camp week is because it’s already been handled. I’m also really grateful for our team because their prep makes it possible for all of us to be fully present with students instead of being distracted by the details.

2. The moments you can’t manufacture are the ones that matter most

We all make a camp schedule. Every minute the students are in our “care,” we have something planned. We use the schedule to give our students a clear idea of what the week (or weekend) will look like.

Schedules are great, and I need them. I need a schedule to keep me on track. But outside of the schedule, more happens in those moments than what we plan.

There are moments we all want to see at camp: a student finally “gets it,” a student feels seen by others in the group, or a student forms a cool bond with their small group leader over something as random as Pokémon.

These unexpected moments, the ones outside the schedule, are what make camp what it is. They stick with me more than even the best sermon from session two. Those are the moments we’re really hoping for.

My biggest takeaway from these camp moments is that, most of the time, they have very little to do with the leaders and everything to do with the students. My favorite moments are the ones that happen without a plan, without a pastor trying to manufacture something.

The Legend of the Holy Stick

A few summer camps ago, our youth group started doing morning devotionals at camp. It was simple. We shared a short devotional and encouraged students to find a quiet spot around the campgrounds to spend time with the Lord. One student went out into the woods and, during his time, found a large stick—a staff, if you will. That stick became the “holy stick” for our youth group. He took it upon himself to “bless” everyone with it—especially first-time camp students. He’s brought the stick back every year, and when we’re not at camp, it sits on display in our hang space.

Fast forward a few years, and now this student with the holy stick is a graduating senior. So this past winter camp, that student asked if he could have a few minutes on stage at the end of the night to talk about the stick and crown a new Carrier of the Stick for our youth group. He got to “bless” the entire camp from the stage, and he also got to “bless” his best friend—the one he had personally invited to camp. At the end, he ceremoniously crowned a sophomore boy the new Carrier of the Stick.

It was a great moment. Completely unexpected. It became a memory that had nothing to do with leaders and everything to do with students building culture and connection.

It started with a random stick in the woods, and now it’s something our students all recognize. It’s part of the culture.

The moments you can’t manufacture are the ones that matter most.

3. Your presence matters more than your performance

Camp gives an incredible opportunity for us as leaders not only to shine in our preaching, but also to show students that we can still play. Having a squad of leaders who don’t just stand on the sidelines, but actually get in the game, is key to creating a strong environment at camp.

I used to be a P.E. teacher before becoming a middle school pastor and so, subsequently, free time is one of my favorite parts of camp. I get to jump into all kinds of athletic activities with students: beach volleyball, the blob, pickleball, or basketball. Every camp, there’s a moment where I go from just another person on the court to someone students respect athletically. There’s always at least one student who goes, “Wait… you can play.” It’s such a cool moment because it shows them that I’m there with them not just to preach at them but to play with them. It lets students see me differently. I’m their pastor, but I’m also willing to get dirty and sweat in a competitive 3-on-3 basketball game. It helps them see me as a three dimensional person.

It Trickles Down To Your Adult Leaders, Too

We start every camp with a set of rules that students need to follow. Some of these rules, though, are expectations we’ve set for our adult leaders at camp as well! Three such rules are:

1. Sing loud
2. Play hard
3. Don’t be lame

These are rules that even I, as the pastor, need to be reminded of. At camp, I need to model what it looks like to sing loud, play hard, and not sit on the sidelines.

Here are some things that have helped me stay present at camp:

• Sit with a different group of students at each meal
• Play when you can, or stay involved (referee, keep score, etc.)
• Be where they are so you can support them and step into unexpected conversations
• During rec time, go play—don’t stay in your room
• Show up for them beyond sessions and stage time—be present the whole weekend
• Make yourself available when students need you

These moments don’t immediately lead to a student seeing Jesus or experiencing Him, but it does help lower walls. And when those walls come down, it opens the door for the conversations that matter.

4. Camp is a catalyst, not the finish line

A lot of things happen at camp that are incredible and amazing. These are moments I have a hard time communicating to my family when I get back. Most of them are things you just have to be there for. Camp creates those moments. It also gives a great glimpse into what your students are capable of in their walk with the Lord.

Camp gives that exposure, but it shouldn’t end at camp. Students should be able to experience Jesus at camp in the same way they do in your Sunday and/or weeknight programming. Let camp be a steppingstone in their walk, not the end-all be-all.

Camp can be the motivation students and leaders need to pursue God and recognize they’re capable of having a deep relationship with Him.

Here are examples of ideas I’ve tried in my ministry to help students continue the journey after camp:

• Have a camp meet-up a few weeks after camp to check in on how students are doing with what was taught
• Give students space at camp—and after camp—to process and write down what happened
• Include follow-up questions and conversations for parents and students after camp
• Have small group leaders check in with students after camp and offer encouragement

Camp moves our students forward and, to be honest, it moves us too. I walk away from every camp feeling blessed and impacted by what happened, just as much—if not more—than the students.

Camp is a tool in our ministry that allows students to see Jesus and take ownership of their walk with the Lord. It’s a great thing to see in our students, and I’m excited to watch how the Lord continues to use camp in my ministry and in ministries all over the country.

As youth pastors, we plan to plant seeds and wait to see that fruit grow into something real and meaningful. Camp is one of the few places where we can be in the same room and look around and see it fruit being planted, fruit still developing, and fruit that has already grown.

Conclusion

Camp does more than just fill a weekend. It moves students forward, and it moves us as well. When I look back at my takeaways, I’m reminded of what really matters. The prep is worth it because it frees you up to be present. The best moments at camp aren’t the ones we plan for, but the ones we make space for. Our presence matters more than anything we say on stage.

If you’ve been around camp, or even attended as a student, you know the impact it can have. When students take steps in their faith that they wouldn’t normally take, it can surprise you—and even them. Camp allows walls to come down. Students become more willing to go all in during worship, all in on friendships they might not have pursued before, and all in during small group time.

Keep doing camp. Keep doing the prep. Continue showing up. Keep being present. Camp is a tool that God can use in powerful ways, and because of it, we get a front-row seat.