Youth and Recreation Activity Resource Center
Activity and Resource Center
A Guide to Church Recreation: Camping
CHAPTER FiVE
Church camping is "camping that utilizes the resources of the natural environment for Christian education, fellowship, evangelism, ministry, and personal growth experiences. It also uses the creation to teach about the Creator."1
Romans 1:20 (TLB) states, "Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day2
The foregoing definition relates church camping to the ministries and programs of the church, but as such it is not intended to be an exhaustive definition of camping in general.
History
The history of camping is concurrent with the history of man. Camping, as old as man himself, has a particularly significant place in the entire history of both Old and New Testaments.
"Some may wish to cite Adam and Eve as the first campers. Undoubtedly they were the first to learn 'survival techniques' after their banishment from the Garden.
"Abram camped along the way as he led his troop westward. Later Moses for forty years was 'camp director' for possibly the largest encampment in history, as the Israelites spent time in the wilderness in 'trail camping' - family style.
"On the mountainside or along the shores of Lake Galilee, Jesus instructing his followers set the pattern for present day campers, who retreat to the out of doors to learn spiritual truths”3
Camping has been used by Christians through the centuries as a necessary but ancillary technique for the spreading of the gospel in primitive or unsettled areas. In more recent history, camping was used for extended periods of worship and fellowship in the "camp meeting" type revivals.
In the early 1900's camping came to be accepted as legitimate recreation. Reynold E. Carlson, in a monograph entitled "The Values of Camping," provided this information.
"Organized camping is part of the American heritage. Camps began to develop in the United States over a century ago to provide experiences related to the environment and to our historic past, different from experiences offered by other educational media. The romanticized stories of the westward movement - of explorers, Indians, pioneers, and cowboys - cast their spell on the new movement, and many camps kept alive these themes from American history.
"Perhaps parents who themselves had their roots in the soil felt that their city born children needed the contacts with the basics of life that had been common on the farm. A further influence in the expansion of camping lay in the widespread conviction that the camp was one of the finest settings possible for character development.
"Religious organizations saw in camping an ideal educational setting in which to propagate their faiths. Many private camps were established, and parents found that these camps helped to develop desirable physical, mental, social, and spiritual qualities while appealing to their children as centers for exciting outdoor experiences."4
During this period, as Dr. Carlson stated, churches began having summer camps for church youth and general camps for all ages. Raymond Peters wrote about the first modern, permanent church camping effort: "The first permanent camping program sponsored by churches had its beginning at Lake Geneva, America's Blue Galilee, in Wisconsin in 1914. This date may be taken as marking the beginning of the religious camping movement in America."5
Church camping as a tool helps fulfill the spiritual and physical needs of individuals, both Christian and non-Christian, and in so doing it helps. the church reach its objectives. These objectives are to win the lost to Christ and to guide persons in a progressive develop,ment toward Christian maturity.
Violet Carlson has given the following definition of church camping:
What Is a Church Camp?
· A place where campers become aware in a new and beautiful way of the presence of the Creator as they see Him behind the beauties of nature.
· A plan where Christ is brought out in every element of the program.
· An experience whereby old lives are made new by the power of the Lord Himself, manifested in the lives of the campers.
· A solution to problems that only can be solved in actual life situations rather than in formal teaching situations. 6
This kind of church camping meets the needs of campers. And in our form of fast-paced living, individuals develop real spiritual, emotional, and social needs. Church camping can provide isolation from the usual pressures of daily life, allowing a person to slow down and think; the camper can develop a life plan of action rather than let life become a series of unplanned reactions.
Forms of Church Camping
The term church camping as used in this book includes all forms of camping which may be promoted by a church in its ministry to members and/or to the non-member. Church camping includes the following categories:
Retreat Camping7
Retreat camping is a short-term (one-to three-night) camping experience designed to include assembly, decentralized or wilderness camping and to provide a temporary withdrawal from the normal routine of life.
The purpose of a retreat is singular: to provide personal, spiritual renewal in Christ.
Jesus used the retreat method frequently in the training of his disciples. The Gospel of Matthew records these retreats:
Matthew 4:1 ff. - Jesus withdrew into the wilderness for a forty-day fast before beginning his public ministry.
Matthew 5:1 ff. - Jesus retreated to a mountain for purpose of teaching his disciples through the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 14:13 . -Jesus went to a desert place for a retreat when he heard of the death of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:1 ff. - Jesus took Peter, James, and John on a retreat to a high mountain where they were isolated or "apart," as the King James Version states it. It was there the transfiguration of Jesus occurred.
These "withdrawals" of Jesus usually preceded an important spiritual event or victory in the life and ministry of our Lord.
Types of retreats are as varied as the needs for a retreat, or as varied as the needs of the retreatants. Some retreats are strictly for spiritual renewal; some may add program-planning time to this purpose. Some may be planned to meet a particular person-or church-centered need. Some retreats are seasonal, while others may relate to a particular age group or be designed to meet work-related needs of leaders of a particular church organization. (See chapter 6 on retreats for an example of retreat camping.)
Travel Camping
Travel camping may be a short- or long-term camping experience which combines living outdoors and traveling by any conveyance (bus, car, canoe, horse, motorcycle, bicycle, and so forth) from place to place.
The purpose of the travel camp may be spiritual growth, Christian development, and/or Christian service. The technique may be used for missions education, choir trips, youth trips, and many other activities where adventurous or economical travel is desired.
Moses conducted a type of travel camp during the exodus from Egypt. This style of camping provided not only a way of living while on the trip but also a means of teaching and training the traveling Hebrews. It was a time of physical and spiritual conditioning which would enable the people to face the problems of the future with success.
Church groups and various youth organizations are currently using travel camping in their programs. This style of camping appeals greatly to youth. However, it has a strong appeal among all ages. The proliferation of commercial campgrounds supports this statement.
Day Camping
Day camping means camping basically in the daytime or evening with no overnight stay at the campsite.
Day camping involves teaching children about the Creator through the use of his creation. Campers are learning about the out-of-doors, seeing God's creative work in nature, and then seeing this same creative power at work in their own lives. Day camping is an outdoor experience of learning by doing.
Day camping is both an educational and an evangelistic tool for the church. For these reasons it has an important role in the program of a church.
The basic goals of day camping are these: (1) to reach children and their families for Christ; (2) to help children develop new friendships, good life habits, sound ecological practices, a love for nature, an understanding of God's plan for all of life, and God's plan for their own lives; (3) to prepare children for participation in a resident camping program when they are older.
Following is a typical example of a camper's day in day camp. The curriculum materials and program activities illustrated here are taken from the "Forest Ranger Series" by Bob essoms, and include resources from the Counselor's Guide, Camper's Book, Unit 1 (Grades 1-3), and Camper's Book, Unit 2 (Grades 4-6). Because of the extensiveness of the materials, not every activity has been included only some of them.
Schedule, Second Session
9:00-10:00 Arrival Activities
1. Have campers work on memorizing Psalm 8.
2. Have campers study rules for outdoor safety.
3. First Names - Game K
4. Picture Puzzle - Find Them in the Forest
5. Flag Ceremony
10:00-10:45 Nature and Conservation Activities
1. Collecting Hike
2. Giggle-Wiggles - Nature Craft
3. Puppets
4. Rest and Relaxation
5. Match Game
10:45-11:15 Game Activities
1. Fox and Squirrel
2. Bean Bag Activities
3. Huntsman
11:15-11:45 Worship Activities
1. Jesus and His Special Helpers
2. Continue to work on Psalm 8.
3. Music Activities
11:45-12:15 Lunch, Rest, and Relaxation
1. Your State
2. Words in a Word Game
3. Rope Craft
12:15-1:00 Nature Craft Activities
1. Unit 1 - Sunprints
Unit 2 - Diamete Tape and Cruising Stick
2. Litterbags
1:00-2:00 Nature and Conservation Activities
3. Study First Aid
4. Litter Collection
5. Tree Talk, "A Tree Tells a Story"
2:00-3:00 Closing Activities
1. Unit 1 - Things I Like Best at Day Camp
Unit 2 - What Does Not Belong?
2. A Hunting Hike (Nature and Conservation Activity)
3. Unit 1 - Work on Psalm 8.
4. Flag Ceremony
5. Closing Circle
PSALM 8
This is one of David's most beautiful psalms. This week take time to memorize it. Follow the suggested schedule.
FIRST DAY
1. 0 Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
SECOND DAY
3. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
THIRD DAY
5. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
FOURTH DAY
7. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
FIFTH DAY
9. 0 Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Outdoor Safety
Forest Ranger Jon wants us to learn some basic rules for outdoor safety. These will help you all through life, so learn them.
Rules for Fire. Safety
1. Abide by the local campfire laws.
2. When building a fire, select a level site that is away from trees, bushes, and dry grass.
3. Clear a circle ten feet in diameter of leaves, sticks, and other materials that might burn.
4. Make a fire hole,
5. keep your fire small,
6. never leave it unattended.
7. Always break your match.
8. Have firefighting materials handy (water, sand, and so forth).
9. Always make sure that the fire is out before you leave
10. Never play with matches.
This is what you should do if you spot any unattended fire:
1. Be calm.
2. Call the fire department and tell them, "I want to report a fire.
3. Tell them where you saw the fire and when you saw it.
Note: This represents only one area of concern in outdoor safety. Also included are: "Rules for Playing Safely in the Woods," "Rules for Safety If You Get Lost," and "Rules for Hiking.”
Flag Ceremony
The flag ceremony is usually the first activity of day camp. Upon arriving at the campsite, all of the campers gather at the flag pole. A fun way to line up by dens or nests is for each group to play follow the leader and end up at the flag pole.
Pledges to the flag of the United States and to the Christian flag are recited. A typical ceremony would have the following order:
1. Flags are raised, placed on walls, or held by the day campers. If the flags are held, let different campers hold them each day. If the flags are raised, let a different camper raise and lower the flag each day. A rope over a tree limb will do for a makeshift flag pole. If there is a shelter or a fence, you may want to display the flags. Follow Government regulations, whatever you decide to do.
2. The day camp director should call the entire Forest to attention. With right hands over their hearts, all recite the pledge. "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
3. After the flag of the United States has been raised and the pledge recited, continue to stand at attention. With right hands over their hearts, the campers recite the pledge to the Christian flag: "I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag, and to the Savior for whose kingdom it stands, one brotherhood, uniting all mankind in service and love."
(Optional: If you desire, appropriate songs may be sung after the raising of each flag.)
4. At the close of each day, the campers should gather for the lowering of the flags. The Christian flag is to be lowered first; the flag of the United States is to be lowered last.In case of rain, the flags should be lowered and placed in a dry storage place.
5. After the flags have been lowered, they should be folded in a special way. First fold the American flag lengthwise in halves, then in quarters with the blue field on the outside. Finally, while one person holds it by the blue field, another person makes a triangular fold in the opposite end. He continues to fold it in triangles until the flag resembles a cocked hat, with only the blue field showing. The Christian flag is folded in the same manner. Begin with the white end and conclude with the red cross on a blue triangle.
Note: At the end of the day when lowering the flags, meet in a circle that includes all the dens and nests. Have one camper from each den or nest share some good thing that has happened during the day. These experiences can be shared by a different camper each day. Lower the flags and close with a prayer.
Giggle-Wiggles8
Take the campers on a hike to collect any of the following items of nature: leaves, sticks, twigs, small limbs, roots, dry grass, seeds, pods, acorns, pecans, feathers, moss, berries, pinecones, sweet gum balls, and bark. Other materials that will be needed are white glue, string, yam, thread, wire, pins, tacks, construction paper (different colors), clay, and masking tape.
Use items from -the city if you're on a parking lot instead of in a forest. Cans, wild flowers, and junk of all kinds can be used. If you're on the seashore, shells, sand, driftwood, seaweed, weeds, and grass are excellent materials for this craft.
Giggle - Wiggles are created by the children using their imaginations. Make a model the day before for display. Suggest to the campers that they make a bird, an animal, or whatever else they want to make. Show them how to paste, tie, and tape the pieces together to form an imaginary animal, bird, or fish. Let the campers describe their creations. If time permits, let them make up a story about their giggle-wiggles. (See illustration.)
Puppets
With brown paper bags, cardboard, or paper, create puppets. These can be animal puppets, bird puppets, or people puppets. Use them to dramatize a story on ecology, conservation, or outdoor safety. (See stories in the worship section and in the campers' books.) Campers can make a paper bag puppet using small paper bags, crayons, felt-tip pens, and construction paper.
To make a stick puppet, use construction paper or cardboard. Have the camper draw a picture of an animal, a bird, or a forest ranger and attach the picture to a stick.
Bean Bag Activities
These games can be played after the den or nest has made its bean bags.
1. Faba gaba.-You will need a piece of heavy cardboard or plywood three feet long and two feet wide. Cut five holes, each six inches in diameter, in the cardboard. Place a number beside each hole (i.e., 5, 10, 15, 20, 25). Then prop the cardboard or wood against a tree or bench for support. Each player stands eight to ten feet away and takes five to six tosses with his bean bag. You may want to let each player use all the den's or nest's bean bags on his turn. The highest scorer wins.
2. Bean bag throw.-There are eight to ten players on each team and as many teams as necessary to give all the campers an opportunity to play. Draw a small circle (twelve to eighteen inches in diameter) on the ground in front of each team of players. Each team should have the same number of bean bags.
The players on each team line up in a single file. The first player of each team is at a starting line which is six feet from his circle. At the signal "Go," the first player of each line tosses each of his bean bags toward the circle. He scores one point for each bean bag that land within the circle. A bean bag on the line of the circle does not count. The player runs to pick up the bags and then runs back to the back of his line, handing the bags to the second player as he passes. The second player now moves up to the starting line and tosses the bags at the circle.
All the players have an equal number of turns to throw. The line which has the highest score when all have thrown wins the game. It will be necessary to have someone to keep score for each team.
Worship
The following worship activities are designed for the purpose of helping children discover biblical truths which can be applied to everyday living. The Bible stories are to convey facts and truths. There are some campcraft-related activities which demonstrate biblical principles.
The pastor should be used at day camp. He can tell the Bible stories about Jesus and relate to the campers as the worship leader. If he can be present for the closing circle each afternoon, he can share in the experiences of the campers. The final closing period should be led by the pastor. Any type of decision service should be left to his discretion.
Jesus and His Special Helpers
Ask the campers how many special helpers Jesus had. Wait for an answer. You will probably get different answers. Then tell the campers that Jesus had twelve special helpers called disciples. The disciples went with Jesus to help him preach about God's love.
Prepare ahead by writing the names of all the disciples on poster board or cards. Ask: "Can anyone name the disciples?" Wait for answers. Write these answers on another piece of poster board. You will probably get a variety of names as answers. Circle or underline the correct names of the disciples the campers have given you.
Show the campers the names of the disciples you have on the poster board or cards. All the names can be found in Mark 3:16-19. They are Simon (Peter), James and John (sons of Zebedee), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas. Give the campers time to study the names. Cover the names and ask the group to recall as many as they can without seeing the list. You can ask how many of the group know persons who have the same name as one of the disciples. Throughout the week of camp, ask the group to name the twelve disciples. This should be effective Bible study.
In the closing prayer, ask God to make us better helpers of Jesus.
Note: You may want to use puppets to tell the story of Jesus and his special helpers.
A Tree Tells a Story
With a piece of string 1011/2 feet in length, have the campers form a circle holding the string. Tell them that this circle is as large around as the largest tree in the world. Ask if anyone can name the largest tree. Ask if anyone knows where the tree is located. The name of the tree is the General Sherman, and it is located in California. It is a redwood tree.
Then form a circle around a tree which has been sawed down. Let the campers gather around the tree stump. If no stump is available, draw a tree stump showing the rings of the tree.
Relate to the campers that the rings on the tree stump tell a story. They tell how old the tree is, each ring representing a year. Let the campers count the rings. The rings also tell whether the tree has been injured or sick and whether it had much rain during the year. Relate that when a tree stops growing, it dies. These same remarks can be applied to the Christian life. We wear scars of illness and sin. Like the tree, we cannot-hide our bad years. If we Christians quit reading our Bibles, praying, and attending Sunday School and church, we, too, will quit growing as God's children. Like a tree needing food, we need spiritual food through the activities and study we get at church.
Scriptures relating to trees are found in Psalm 1:3; 74:5; 148:8-13; Matthew 7:19-20; 12:33; and Luke 19:4.
A Hunting Hike
Take the campers on a hike with a camera. Take photographs of interesting places and sites. Try to get pictures of wildlife, flowers, trees, conservation items (tree planting, diseased trees, polluted areas, nonpolluted areas), and of the campers observing the scenery. Use the photographs for a display of conservation activities or of day campers on a hike.
Closing Circle
Each day at the flag lowering ceremony, form a circle with the entire Forest. Have each den or nest appoint a different camper to share a good thing that happened at camp that day. If the Forest is too large, have each unit form a circle and share their experiences. Close with a prayer.
Resident Camping
Resident camping means a four-day or longer camp program where the campers live on the camp property twenty-four hours a day. The resident camping program is usually successful with campers ranging in age from older elementary children through senior adults.
Resident camping may include two basic styles: centralized (or assembly style) and decentralized. In a centralized camp the teaching, training, worship, and recreation periods are scheduled so that the entire camp functions as a unit. This type of camp usually is housed in a facility providing a central chapel and dining hall with the sleeping quarters in dormitories or cabins nearby.
The decentralized camp program highlights the small group. The cabin group or cabin cluster group (campers housed in a small group of two to four cabins) is virtually self-contained. Each unit works, studies, worships, and plays as a separate group. A unit may even develop its own schedule except for mealtimes and bedtimes.
Most resident camps are not purely centralized or decentralized; they are a blend of the two. The wise church camp director will select the elements from both forms which best serve his purpose.
The Church Recreation Department has produced two series of camping or retreat curricula: Living the Christ Life and Recognizing Relationships. Editions for both leaders and youth are available. A comprehensive sample of this material is included in chapter 6.
Wilderness Camping
The term wilderness camping is applied to the camping technique used in wilderness areas, away from civilization. Wilderness campers are dedicated to camping in and traveling through wilderness areas and leaving little or no trace of their camp or passage. Backpacking techniques are used for the transportation of supplies and equipment.
This type of camping accentuates the study of the Creator through his creation, and it also strengthens a person's sense of stewardship of God's gift to us - earth. Wilderness camping permits the closest contact between God and man in nature.
Backpacking
Backpacking is a camping method which involves hiking and carrying all needed equipment and supplies in a backpack. The areas visited need not be remote or classed as a wilderness area.
This form of camping may be used on a weekend outing or on a picnic in a roadless area. Backpacking also may be used as the basic method of camping for a two-week wilderness expedition.
Primitive or Pioneer Camping
This type of camping may involve backpacking techniques, but also it teaches more nature crafts, woodsmanship, and survival camping skills.
This form of camping is the opposite of wilderness camping in some ways. The camper conforms to the needs of nature in wilderness camping; in pioneer camping the camper forces nature to conform to his needs. Pioneer campers use tools and natural materials to construct some camping equipment for group and personal use.
Pioneer camping establishes a more or less permanent campsite with the constructed equipment. This campsite may be used over and over by a church group during the period of a year or two.
Christian Stress Camping
This form of camping uses a combination of wilderness camping and backpacking techniques, and it adds the element of stress through the conquering of obstacles.
Christian-stress camping is designed to develop a person's creativity, extend his limit of endurance, and teach him problem-solving techniques which may be applied to life's problems in other areas.
Quiet times and campfire study groups help to develop the camper's personal devotional life and Bible study skills.
Family Camping
Family camping is camping done by family groups. The experience may involve one family, or it may involve a group of family units on a camp out together. Its purpose is to strengthen the family structure and bond and to help family members grow together as Christians.
The style of family camping may vary from backpacking to motor homes. Some Baptist encampments sponsor family camps. These usually have some family-size cabins available and a campground. Some even have parking spaces and utility connections for travel trailers and motor homes.
Family camping programs are flexible in structure, usually having only two general assemblies per weekend campout. Programming emphasizes meeting the needs of individual families.
The general rule is that family camping should not take families out of the regular services of the local church. However. some churches with organized family camping clubs conduct extension Bible study and worship services on holiday weekends at resort areas. Others use family camping techniques on mission trips.
For in-depth detailed guidance in planning and conducting all types of church camping events, read A Guide to Church Camping by John LaNoue. Specific, practical, detailed, step-by-step guidance for every form of church camping is discussed, including:
Two other excellent volumes are available for use by churches in their camp activity planning. These are Camping Manual9 by Evelyn Tully and Royal Ambassador Camp craft 10 by Frank Black and Charles Doggett. Appropriate relationship to the use of camping as a technique in mission study is included in both of these books.
Contents of Camping Manual include:
1. Philosophy and Purpose
2. Your Campsite - Dreaming Possible Dreams
3. Your Camp Staff - People Who Need People
4. Your Campers - A Miracle Can Happen Again and Again
5. The Director - Making Camp Plans
6. The Counselor and Campers
7. Missions in the Camp Program
8. Serendipities
9. Crafts, Skills, and Art Projects
10. Special Camp Features
11. Fun and Games
12. Eating in the Out-of-doors
Contents of Royal Ambassador Camp craft include:
Introduction
1. Trip Planning
2. Equipment and Shelter
3. Rope Craft
4. Tool Craft
5. Fire Craft
6. Cooking
7. First Aid
8. Safety and Sanitation
9. Map and Compass
10. Nature Study
11. Conservation
12. Fun and Worship Requirement and Checklists Resources
Footnotes
1Le Noue, John. "Camping Base Design," The Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1976. p. 1.
2The Bible verses marked "TLB" or The Liv;,tg Bible are taken from The Living Bible.
Paraphrased (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1971), and are used by pennission.
3Todd, Floyd and Pauline. Camping for Christian Youth (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Baker Book House, 1963) p. 3
4Carlson, Reynold E. "The Values of Church Camping" (Martinsville, Ind.: American
Camping Association, 1975), p. 2.
5Peters, Raymond R. Let's Go Camping (Elgin, Ill.: Brethren Press, 1945), p. 13.
6Carlson, Violet C. The Christian Educators File (Chicago: Moody Press, 1954). p. 29.
7LeNoue. John. Ibid. note this and following definition of types of church camping
are adapted from the "Camping Base Design." pp. 4-10.
8Idea courtesy of Camp Fire Girls, Inc.
9Tutly, Evelyn. Camping Manual (Birmingham: Woman's Missionary Union Auxiliary, 1972) Used by permission.
10Black, Frank and Doggett, Charles. Royal Ambassador Camperaft (Memphis:
Brotherhood Commission, 1972) Used by permission.
Retreats in the Church Recreation Program