Camps that were most heavily engaged with the project, such as Redwood Glen, implemented action steps focused on specific areas for improvement.
Collecting data to learn and improve Camps that have participated in the project have been able to identify areas where their camp shines in comparison to the other camps. Much more than providing an opportunity to pat themselves on the back, these data give them valuable marketing tools to engage donors and enroll more campers. But the project does much more than affirm what
we are doing well. Reliable data can challenge our assumptions and help us identify key areas for improvement. At the end of the day, our ministries are here to positively impact people for the sake of Christ. We all want to get better at this, though it is sometimes difficult to take an honest look in the mirror because we get so invested in our particular ways of operating our ministries. 2019 was the first year that we had repeat camps
involved in the study, and all five of them were CCCA camps participating in Te Power of Camp Study. Tis allows us to do something known as action research. Tis means that we gathered baseline data in 2018 that identified key areas for program development. Camps that were most heavily engaged with the project, such as Redwood Glen, implemented action steps focused on specific areas for improvement. Te data we gathered in 2019 is now offering insights into what impacts, if any, these action steps had on the summer camp experience. Te case of Redwood Glen is instructive and inspir-
ing. Importantly, their staff did not try to explain away the challenging survey findings related to safe space, and they did not bury their heads in the sand. Tey took the findings seriously and charted a course that they hoped would lead to greater feelings of camper safety. I also applaud Ed for his vulnerability in liſting up to his colleagues one of the specific areas they identified for improvement. Before going any further, it is important to clarify
what we mean by the characteristic safe space. Camp directors prioritize camper safety among all other camp goals. However, they are usually referring to physical safety. In our research with campers, physical
safety is seldom a major concern because they oſten- times take this for granted (a luxury afforded to them by stringent policies and attentive camp staff). For campers, safety at camp means emotional and psycho- social safety. In effective camp environments, campers feel safe to be themselves, sometimes in ways that they do not feel comfortable at home or school. Importantly, they also feel safe to try out their faith
in new ways, noting that in other places they might be judged by peers for their beliefs or Christian practices. Camp becomes a place of self-discovery and trying out new ideas of self and faith because the campers are given space to do so and trusted support from their counselors and fellow campers. Campers are also safe from emotional harm that is so common in other areas, where they might get picked on or leſt out. When campers feel unsafe emotionally, they are closed off to the potential for growth. Even though safety is the No. 1 concern of camp
directors, it is the characteristic of camp where we see the most frequent breakdowns. It takes constant super- vision and intentional conflict resolution to maintain camp as a safe space because for some campers it only takes one mean comment to fracture trust and feelings of safety at camp. Campers that come from broken homes or are frequently picked on at school are the most susceptible. Redwood Glen was one of many camps that were dismayed to discover a higher than normal frequency of breakdowns in safe space. Tey decided to act upon the findings, and these action steps improved the camp experience for many campers. Te instances of breakdowns in safe space at Redwood Glen decreased dramatically from 2018 to 2019. Fewer campers reported feeling picked on, leſt out or having to hide their true selves, and more campers reported that they felt supported and happy at camp. Tis is one key example of how reliable research
data can directly impact our ministries. I am excited to hear about new ways that camps like Redwood Glen are engaging research findings to more effectively tell their stories and improve their ministries. Te work continues in 2020!
Dr. Jake Sorenson is the founder and director of Sacred Playgrounds, a ministry offering research and training to camps and congregations. He directs the Effective Camp Project and Te Power of Camp Study, in partnership with CCCA. He has more than 15 years of experience in camping ministry and congregational youth ministry. Jake lives in rural Wisconsin with his wife, Anna, a Lutheran pastor, and their two boys, Elijah and Nathanael.
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