Sacred Playgrounds Podcast

A question from a camp leader: "How are faith-based camps navigating changes to their denominations and churches as they decline in health and vitality? What novel ways have camps/conference centers found to help bolster those congregations, or train/equip them for more vital ministry?" We had a number of questions like this from camp leaders after the summer of 2026. The hard, all-too-common truth is that camp leaders and church leaders, on the whole, may be moving apart rather than closer t...

What if camp is life as it should be? What if camps are places and spaces where the veil is thin and the inbreaking of the kingdom of God feels close? What if the way we live and breathe and have our being at camp is exactly who we were made to be as people of God, community of Christ, and the whole of creation? On this episode, we'll begin to break open some of these theological and philosophical ideas that give foundation and relevance to outdoor ministries. We'll talk about 4.5 of many cri...

Season 6 is here! Welcome to the playground, whether this is your first time or you've been around for years. We're so excited to get back behind the mic for a season of camp-y conversations, stats and stories, and difference-making insights. On this episode, we'll kick off season 6 with gusto as we share some of what you can expect from this podcast in the months ahead, including new pop-up segments like Camp Nerd Trivia, More or Less, Got Skills, and Trending, Bending, or Ending. We'll also...

Summer is here! Camp leaders, your staff have arrived, or are arriving soon. This episode is designed specifically for them. We're speaking right to those emerging adult summer staff about to make ministry happen at camp this summer. On this episode, we'll take a minute to share some of what we know about summer camp staff, and contextualize it for this summer's staff teams. They'll hear some words of encouragement, motivation, connection, and, some critical information about the fundamental ...

It's the season 5 finale! Summer is almost here, and for some, it feel like it's time to PANIC! We get it, you get it, your fellow leaders get it. The sprint up to staff arrival and camper arrival can get overwhelming. On this episode, we'll talk through seven things you, your staff, or your colleagues may be starting to feel panic about, and how to find some focus amidst the "too much." In our #QuickQampQuestion, we'll also share the single most-impactful thing executive/director-level leade...