Tag: ideas

Book Review: The Myth of Good Christian Parenting

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Student ministry will always include partnership with parents, and whether we are or become parents ourselves, we will inevitably interact with parenting resources. Depending on the pockets of Christianity of which you have been apart, you may have found some troubling aspects to these resources, or you may have found yourself processing the parenting styles under which you grew up.

Regardless of where you find yourself, The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families is an excellent resource for youth workers. Authors Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis guide us through an overview of the history of Evangelical parenting resources while drilling down into specific stories and examples. They provide a sobering, yet insightful look into how Evangelical parenting has historically been framed and what that has led to or can lead to today.

The book is broken down into three sections that ask “How Did We Get Here,” “What Do We Find Here,” and “Where Do We Go from Here”? It tracks the beginning of certain Christian teachings, and how decades later, the fruit is manifesting in the lives of those who followed them. It seeks to direct the reader to learn from the past while paving a healthy, Jesus-oriented way forward that values both parents and children.

The book also includes a helpful tool for evaluating parenting resources to determine whether or not they should be used, which is a wonderful gift to student ministry leaders as they seek to support parents. Rather than simply going off of whether a book or ministry is popular, readers are equipped to evaluate the resource itself. This encourages active involvement in the selection and implementation of resources that can be catered to specific family and parenting dynamics.

The reality is we find ourselves in a Christian culture inundated with messages that are touted as “biblical,” but when compared with the life and teachings of Jesus, are anything but. The cost of these harmful teachings is great, and one might argue we have only begun to scratch the surface of the outcomes.

In order to advocate well for the students (and parents) within our care, we need to be able to identify harmful teachings, provide guidance that honors Jesus and the imago dei within each person, and do both with boldness and understanding. If you need a starting point to examine resources, or process your own personal experience, The Myth of Good Christian Parenting is an excellent place to start.

Planning Ahead: Welcome Incoming Middle School Students and Families

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As fall programming approaches, your ministry is probably preparing to welcome new middle school students into the ministry for the first time. For our ministry, middle school starts at 6th grade as we follow what the majority of schools in our area do.

These new students are often flying high after being the top dogs in their elementary schools but also feeling the angst and social pressure of starting fresh in a new environment. Do you remember your middle school years? If it was anything like mine, they were filled with awkward moments, societal pressures, new friendships, figuring out my identity, and of course all of the other struggles that come with being an adolescent.

We can all agree that the transition into middle school can be difficult, and with that reality in mind, we must think critically about how we can help to welcome these new students and their families into our ministries. Today I want to share with you a few successful ways we have tackled this over our time in ministry.

Begin building relationships early.

If our first touch point with incoming 6th graders is when fall programming starts, I’d argue we are missing the mark. Instead, when they are 5th graders we should be seeking to build connections with them. If we take time to step into the elementary ministry and get to know 5th graders and their families, it will help make the transition to middle school ministry easier as they will already have an established relationship.

Connect families with small group leaders.

Reaching out and letting families and students know who their small group leaders are is a great way to help 6th graders feel seen, welcomed, and valued. Encourage your leaders to reach out and build rapport with parents and students, and to consider hosting a meet up where everyone can get to know one another.

Host a summer gathering that includes incoming families.

A great way to make an intentional connection with incoming 6th graders is to host an event where they are invited and can meet other current students and leaders. Our summer programming centers around monthly events and we intentionally reach out to our incoming 6th grade families and invite them to join us.

We set apart time for the new families and students to meet their small group leaders, gather information from our team, ask questions, and to build relationships. Moments like this help new students and families build relationships and release some of the tension that comes with stepping into a new phase and ministry.

Honor and welcome them.

Kicking off fall programming is a great time to welcome in your new students and help them know that they belong. This could be through your setup and decor, praying over them in front of the youth group, hosting a special event to celebrate moving into middle school, providing a special gift and/or a special note, hosting a luncheon for students and families, or pairing them with an upperclassman who can help them acclimate to student ministry.

Be available.

One of the best things you can do for students and families is to be available. Depending on your church context, your people may not know where your office is, what your office hours are, or where programming takes place. Helping families and students know where things are and that you are available for them helps them know that they belong.

We intentionally show families where our student ministry offices are, make sure they know we are here for them, and highlight the resources we have for families. In a time of transition it is important that your students know they have a person/people who will be present and available for them.

What are some ways you intentionally welcome new families and students into your ministry?

Trip Tricks: Be Prepared

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Have you ever had something unexpected happen on a trip? Perhaps it was a vehicle issue, sickness or a hospital run? Maybe allergies spiked due the work you were doing or bee stings, housing arrangements not working out, or a variety of other circumstances.

I’ve personally experienced all the above and then some during the trips I have been on. Some of these issues you can handle in kind but others require you to be prepared as best you can.

When I was newer to youth ministry I didn’t think about the “what if” situations that could happen. My inexperience didn’t make me a bad youth pastor, but it did put me at a disadvantage when certain situations arose.

Looking back now, I can see various ways I wish I was prepared to handle those moments, and I want to share them with you. I hope to help you be better prepared for, if, and when those moments happen.

Keep a level head.

This is the very first thing you must have a handle on when things go awry or not as you planned. Students and volunteers alike will reflect your energy and temperament in all circumstances. If you are acting frantic, if you are experiencing a meltdown, or you seem scared or worried, they will all respond in kind.

Instead what you should do is approach each circumstance with an even response and mild temperament. When you can pause, breathe, and collect yourself, you will be able to make informed and beneficial decisions as they are needed. It will also help your group to remain calm and not panic in the moment.

Have a good first aid kit.

A first aid kit is something I’ve always made sure to have because of the years I spent working in the security industry. First aid kits that are purchased at Walmart or Amazon don’t always have all the items you will need. Bandaids and ice packs are good things to have but you will often find yourself needing a variety of items that aren’t included in a basic kit.

What I’d recommend is checking with someone who is a nurse or EMT to find out what items you should have in a first aid kit and how many of those items there should be. Then you can create a custom kit for your trips.

Know your resources.

I’ll never forget the one time we were at a camp and had a medical emergency. A student suffered a horrible concussion and needed emergency treatment. We were sent to an urgent care facility but they weren’t equipped to handle that situation so we had to call EMS to take us to a trauma hospital over an hour and a half away.

If we had known that the hospital was where we needed to be, we could have gotten there sooner (and yes, the student’s completely fine and was released that same day). That situation taught me to know what my resources were wherever I was taking students.

If you are going on a trip it’s important to know where hospitals, doctor offices, and fire departments are. Know how to get to certain places like auto part stores and mechanics. Try to plan out rest stops, gas stations, and places to eat on longer trips. Have people back home and on your trip that you can go to with various issues (having someone who knows cars is awesome and having a nurse or doctor on the team is a wonderful thing).

Train your leaders.

Another thing that will help you to be prepared on your trips is training your leaders in a variety of situations. You can get them CPR and first aid certified. You can help equip them with how to respond during emergencies and various circumstances.

You can assign them roles for each of those moments as well. Even asking leaders to simply herd and distract students while you handle the main issue is key because it allows for you to be focused on rectifying the situation.

Being over-prepared isn’t a bad thing.

My leaders jokingly chide me about how much stuff I bring on trips and how big my backpack is. I have my own first aid kit, extra items students may need, all of my documents in case they’re needed, plenty of Advil, and basically anything else I may end up needing.

Do I always need what I pack? No. But would I rather have and not need than need and not have? You better believe it.

When I think through a trip, a ministry event, and even just regular programming, I always try to be as prepared as possible to handle whatever happens. That doesn’t mean that I’m trying to be omniscient, but instead seeking to care well for my people by being prepared and ready to jump into whatever happens.

Planning Ahead: Empowering Students to Participate in Lent

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If you’re like me, you grew up in a church tradition that did not incorporate participation in Lent. It wasn’t until I was in college that I learned Lent wasn’t just something for Catholics, and that many of my Protestant friends also participated. Still, Lent wasn’t something I considered participating in until I heard a podcast on the topic, and felt challenged to join.

For the past several years, I’ve found different ways to participate, each one bringing more depth and understanding to my relationship with Jesus, and my yearly journey toward Easter. I’ve learned that Lent is about so much more than just “giving up” something. It’s about engaging in rhythms that prepare our hearts for the Christian life and our calling to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

I think Lent can be meaningful for our students, too, if they are empowered and equipped to participate well. If this isn’t something your ministry is already doing, let me encourage you to consider it. I also want to share some ideas, which I hope are helpful whether you’re already doing Lent as a student ministry initiative or considering it.

Reimagine intentional fasting.

Fasting is typically the “big” aspect of Lent that we think of, and it can be a beautiful rhythm to engage in intentionally. When it comes to our students, I think we have to treat fasting with care as some students’ relationships with food can be complicated.

Rather than simply focusing on fasting from food, I would encourage you to challenge your students to ask themselves, “What thing has the potential to be, or has become, an idol in my life that I can give up during Lent?” Help your students drill down on the things that most often draw their attention away from God, or that they use to self-medicate, that they can feasibly fast from for over a month.

Students might be tempted to list things like school, friends, sports or other activities, which they can’t realistically take a break from. So you may need to offer guidance and help them determine what can be removed. Maybe it’s social media and using that as their primary way of connecting with friends. Maybe it’s intentionally stepping away from homework for 15 minutes each day to read the Bible and pray in a quiet space.

If a student does want to fast from a food item, encourage them to choose something that isn’t good for them, or has the tendency to become an “emotional support” food. This could include fasting from desserts and candy, soft drinks, or junky snack foods.

While they’re fasting, students should be encouraged to turn their thoughts to God, especially if they’re struggling with it. The reminder in fasting is that we desperately need and depend on God, more than the thing we’re fasting from and missing. In those moments of struggle, they can choose to engage in a spiritual rhythm. (More on that below.)

Include an intentional “feast day.”

When I was learning about Lent, I liked the idea of making Sundays a “feast day.” And while that meant indulging in something I was fasting from, more importantly, I loved the idea of celebrating the goodness of God. So rather than just having a day of indulgence, I wanted it to be intentional.

If students are creatively fasting, feast days may look different for them. Maybe it makes sense for them to fast the whole Lenten season, or maybe they can intentionally allow engagement on Sunday.

Another way to look at feast days is doing something as a group if you gather on Sunday mornings. Open up the floor to a time of sharing what students are learning, how they are celebrating God, and what they are thankful for. You could also provide treats that provide a physical feast element for students to partake in.

Do a group study.

I have loved doing daily studies throughout Lent that help me focus on the themes of the holiday season. Doing one as a group can help students engage on their own, but also feel part of a larger community participating in Lent together.

The YouVersion Bible app often has a Lent study or two available, which can make it easy to participate as a group if you initiate the study and invite the students to join. Another option if you have time is to create your own study, which affords the ability to cater it to your specific group. Just make sure to give yourself plenty of time to create it if you go this route.

Focus on spiritual rhythms.

Lent is also about engaging in other spiritual rhythms, not just fasting, though they can go hand-in-hand. I grew up hearing that prayer was an integral part of fasting, as it helps us remain strong. Lent is also an opportunity to pray for something consistently for a set period of time and watch for God’s answer.

Another spiritual rhythm I love to engage in during Lent is meditation on Scripture. I frequently choose one verse to focus on or memorize. Before I get out of bed in the morning, I read the verse and pray to start the day.

Another traditional part of Lent is giving. This can be monetary, and you can find a ministry, organization or person to support as a group. Or, if your students don’t have money to give, you can help them identify needs of others and find creative ways to participate. Maybe they can give of their time to help with childcare or service projects. Or they can give of their talents to play music or create art for homebound seniors.

These are just some of the rhythms you can direct your students to engage in during Lent. They can also journal, practice intentionally sitting in silence, or create something based on what they are learning (art, poetry, a story, a song, photographs, etc.).

Incorporate observances into your weekly programming.

If you’re doing Lent as a group, can you tie it into weekly meetings? Think of lessons that dig into the themes of Lent, or a series that follows Jesus’ ministry and journey to the cross. Maybe you want to incorporate communion into one or more of your meetings.

You can provide unique ways for students to engage during lessons with quiet time to meditate, pray in color, or memorize a passage as a group. You can also turn Sundays into a time of celebration where students worship, sing, and create art together.

Or you may decide to create an Easter experience for your students as Lent draws to a close. We’ve written a couple of posts along these lines, one about creating an Easter encounter and another about helping students engage with the holiday. This could serve as the conclusion to your students’ observance of Lent.

Planning Ahead: Teaching Calendars

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Welcome to a brand new series called “Planning Ahead.” This series is intentionally designed to help youth workers think through strategically planning for specific events, dates, and bench markers in ministry.

We will talk about fall kickoffs, Christmas parties, Lent, training sessions, and more. Our hope with this series is to provide you with practical steps to help you succeed in ministry by setting benchmarks in planning and sharing insights we have learned along the way.

If your experience starting out in ministry is anything like mine, I wasn’t taught strategic planning. I didn’t know how important it was to plan ahead or build out a teaching calendar. I didn’t see how intentionality wasn’t just intended for teaching and preaching but also in how we structure, prepare for, and implement important events and key programmatic pieces within our ministries.

I’ve learned how important planning ahead is not just for my own sanity but also for our students, families, and volunteers. When we plan ahead we show intentionality, communicate value and worth, help everyone to understand what we are doing and why. We are able to unify under a shared vision and goal.

So with that in mind, today I wanted to share about intentionally building out teaching calendars by answering some common questions surrounding them.

How far in advance should we plan?

When it comes to a teaching calendar, I plan a semester ahead and I typically don’t plan for a whole year. We curate our content for a semester at a time and try to have it finalized months before the next semester rolls around.

That means we typically have our fall teaching calendar finalized around May or June and our spring teaching calendar finalized around October or November. When you plan this far ahead, it allows you to start recruiting teachers, planning for different events, and strategically choosing teaching series.

How do we pick what we will teach?

When I first started in student ministry, I picked topics that I thought were relevant or that sounded cool. Curriculum with catchy titles and graphics were always a win. But we need to think beyond just what will be relevant or “cool” and instead plan with intentionality, purpose, and vision. That means when you are choosing what you will teach, you do so in light of those things as well as choosing relevant and necessary topics.

So plan your teaching around your vision, themes that you’ll focus on in your ministry, and key dates or momentum seasons. You can also begin building a 3, 4, or 7 year curriculum track based on how your program functions. You could choose a 3 year curriculum for middle school and a 4 year curriculum for high school that repeats (with updated changes as needed) to help students move through key life phases and seasons.

What should be included?

This is a question I used to wrestle with when I was younger because I would second guess myself. But here’s the thing: you know your students best and that means you know what they need to hear and be guided in. Trust your instincts and lean into your group dynamics.

But I would also encourage you to pay attention to culture, what Gen Z and Gen Alpha are searching for, and what students are grappling with overall. You can do this by talking to other youth workers, joining online communities, stepping into various cohorts, and following organizations like CPYU, FYI, Barna, others. If you utilize those key pieces to think about what is being taught, you will have a solid teaching calendar.

How many calendars should you have?

Sometimes I see ministries with multiple calendars and frankly that can get confusing. Instead of having multiple calendars, look to simplify down to one. Yes, you may need to have a calendar for families and one for leaders, but trying to simply the amount of calendars also allows your communication to be simplified and concise which provides clarity for everyone.

I won’t lie to you and tell you that if you do all these things that you’ll always hit it out of the park. We all swing and miss at times. But I will tell you that you will see more success and you can fine tune the necessary areas to fully pour into your community.

Trip Tricks: A Quick Dinner Option

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Last week we shared an idea for an easy breakfast you can serve during a trip. Preparing meals is often a part of trips and a part that can add significant stress and work to those in charge.

I have been on many trips where I’ve been in charge of meals and that usually means waking up early, which also means sleeping less. It means added work in an already busy and stressful environment. And it often results to mental and physical exhaustion sooner in those settings.

But, I realize that sometimes this is the reality we face as we don’t have another option and we need to make sure meals are prepared for our team. So if that is the case, we need to consider if there are easy, viable options that can be prepared quickly and are still filling and tasty for our group.

One of those options is a dinner or lunch dish that I happened upon out of necessity. We were running a mission trip that focused on hosting a VBS at an inner city elementary school. Our host site originally told us we’d have a working kitchen in which to prepare meals. Just days before our trip we were informed that there was in fact not a working kitchen so all our meal ideas had to be revisited.

We now had to prepare meals via crockpots, microwaves, and a grill. After spending time online and looking for options, I found this recipe for pulled pork that turned out to be a huge winner.

It’s super simple to prepare and it cooks throughout the day while you and your crew are out and about. Don’t let the reality that it only requires root beer and pork tenderloin cause any doubt. The pork comes out super tender and really tasty. I was hesitant at first with this recipe, but I was a quick convert after tasting it. You can choose to add some basic seasoning to the pork if you’d like, but you honestly don’t need to.

You can then choose how you serve it. It can be traditional pulled pork with barbecue sauce, slaw, and pickles on a hamburger bun. You could switch it up and do pulled pork tacos. It could be the main dish with beans, a baked potato, and/or salad as sides. Or you could layer the pulled pork on salad for a different spin.

Pulled pork also keeps well for leftovers the next day so this is a huge win as it could also be used for lunch later in the week. This is one of the easiest meals I have ever prepared and cannot recommend it enough.

Trip Tricks: An Easy Breakfast Idea for Trips

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Have you provided breakfast for your students before? Maybe it was at the end of an all-nighter. Perhaps you hosted a breakfast gathering before See You at the Pole. Or maybe you and your team are responsible for providing meals on a trip.

I think every youth worker has encountered this right-of-passage responsibility at some point in their career. This can be something that is stress-inducing if you’re not prepared and because, let’s be real, prepping breakfast early in the morning on a trip is a lot when you haven’t had much sleep. Especially when it is for a pack of ravenously hungry middle and high school students.

So what do you do? What do you prepare? Is it a full course meal with bacon, eggs, potatoes and everything in between? Or do you simply toss out some granola bars and fruit? I’d like to suggest a different option that is easy, satisfying, and can feed a crowd: pancakes!

You only need two ingredients to make this recipe minus any toppings or additional ingredients like chocolate chips, sprinkles, or nuts. Here is what you need: premade pancake mix that only requires adding water, and citrus flavored soda like 7Up, Sprite, or a store brand. Whatever the amount of water the recipe calls for, supplement the citrus soda for the water.

The carbonation and sugar of the soda adds more body and sweetness to the pancakes without adding the citrus flavor. The pancakes are fluffier and won’t need as much syrup (depending on your students affinity for sugar), and they don’t taste like a store bought mix.

Utilizing this method makes prep incredibly simple and less time consuming than other breakfast options. It also allows you to be creative in what you add into the pancakes which can make breakfast time more fun and unique. This is also something that you could empower your students to do, because of its simple prep and execution. This enables them to serve and care for their peers which further makes this option a win.

What is your go-to breakfast option for trips?

Quick Tip: Empower Your Students

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This past week we had our student ministry Christmas party. It was a ton of fun with lots of sugar, activities and games, worship, and of course a white elephant gift exchange.

But none of this would have been possible without our students. Not just because that’s what the focus of student ministry is, but because our students are in charge of our worship team and tech team.

One thing you should know about me is that I am not musical at all. I can’t play an instrument, I’m not a great singer (some may say I shouldn’t sing at all), I can’t mix audio, and I’ve only had one basic conducting course way back in undergrad. But really, who conducts in student ministry?

All that to say, I am not the guy to lead and direct our worship and tech ministries. I can have some oversight but even in that capacity my abilities are limited.

A handful of years ago, I met a student who had a passion for running our tech during weekly programming. This student was struggling to find their place and I noticed that they were hanging around our tech setup, so I simply asked if they were interested in helping out. Their eyes about jumped out of their head as they nodded yes!

So jump in they did. But not just in our ministry; they now help on Sunday morning during our worship services and their skill set and intentionality has made our worship services much more intentional.

Two years ago I had a handful of students come tell me they wanted to have worship incorporated in our ministry. I explained that I loved the idea but I couldn’t be the person to facilitate it so they would need to put together teams and run it. They agreed and we are now two years into having intentional moments of worship incorporated at specific times throughout the year.

We have had students who wanted to lead Bible studies in their schools and needed resources and guidance. So we equipped them, trained them, and sent them out. They are now leading multiple Bible studies and prayer groups in their schools and on their sports teams.

I wish I had started doing this sooner because it not only afforded our students an opportunity to step out in their faith and lead, but it also helped our ministry to grow because our students took ownership and became more invested.

When students are empowered and equipped to lead they will do so with boldness and excitement. They will bring others in and make disciples as we have been called to do. It does take time and work to unleash your students in leadership roles, but it’s incredible when they do as you witness God work in powerful ways through them.

At the end of the day our job is to disciple our students in their faith and unleash them to go out into the world with the Gospel. When we release control, and challenge and empower our students, we will see the world changed by the Spirit working through them.

Empowering your students will not only give them ownership and release certain responsibilities from your plate, it will help the Gospel to go forth through a generation that is passionate and sold out for what Christ is doing in and through them. Take a bold step, empower your students and give them the opportunity to flourish and lead as they are discipled and cared for by you and your team.

Help! I Don’t Know How to Lead Students

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Sometimes in church life we may find ourselves in a role we never dreamed we’d fill. There may be no one else available, or we may feel God pulling us into a space outside our comfort zone. And sometimes, that may be serving in student ministry.

If this is you, or someone you know, let us encourage you/them. Students are amazing and, in our possibly biased opinion, one of the best groups in the church. While working with them may feel overwhelming, we want to encourage you that if you have a heart for students, you can do it.

The reality is that students crave genuine relationships and connection with others. You don’t need to be the cool leader, you just need to be the leader that genuinely cares, shows up, and listens. The best thing you can do is invest consistently in your students by being present, hearing and seeing them, and fostering a safe place for them to be themselves.

So what are some ways you can do this? Take a look at these tips we hope will get you started and help as you continue in this important ministry.

1. Commit to being present.

This doesn’t just mean showing up to every student ministry event, while that is extremely important. Students do need to see you physically present. It also means being mentally present with your students.

You can be mentally present by putting work and life stressors on the back burner and trying not to bring them with you to youth group. You can also make sure to spend your time with the students, not hanging out with other leaders or playing on your phone.

One of the best ways you can show students how important they are is by giving them your undivided attention when you are with them.

2. Actively listen to your students.

Listening is another way to be present. And while we are to guide and shepherd our students, the first thing they need to learn about us is that we are listening to them. This is how we show them that we genuinely care.

Practice active listening by seeking to understand what your students are saying and why, and by asking thoughtful follow-up questions that continue to foster the conversation. Don’t worry about handing out advice and instruction right away, and don’t listen just to give a response. Show students you are someone who will hear them and wants to know what they have to say.

3. Be yourself and don’t fake it.

Students can spot a fake a mile away, they’re naturally good at it. So do yourself a favor and don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Bring your authentic self to youth group and let that person shine.

The reality is not every single student will click with you, and that’s okay. You’re not there to be everyone’s best friend. But students should be able to see and know the real you, that is one of the best ways you can show them that they matter to you. Give students the respect they deserve by being real with them.

4. Have fun.

If you haven’t been around student ministry before, one thing you need to know about students is that they love to have fun. Whether it’s playing 9 Square, hanging out with their friends, playing sports or music at school, getting crafty and creative, or whatever else they enjoy, students are always up for having a good time.

Since your students like to have fun (and because we serve a God who created a world for us to enjoy), we can also have fun with them. It doesn’t mean you have to do all the things, but you can engage and have fun with them. Laugh, enjoy your time with them, play as you are able, and celebrate with them.

Having fun shows your students that you’re relatable, willing to meet them where they are at, and someone who desires to share life with them. And it can show them that you don’t take yourself too seriously.

If you want to dig a little deeper into leading students, we invite you to check out more of our blog posts! Here are a few to get you started:

Leading Students Well in Chaotic Times

Quick Tip: Giving Students Ownership

Leading Small Groups: Self-Guided Discussion

8 Keys to Building a Successful Student Ministry

Are You Asking the Right Questions?

Trip Tricks: Treat Your Camp Hosts Well

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We love the camp we go to for our winter retreat and summer trips. Our group has been going to Camp Orchard Hill since before we started at our church and we are so grateful for the connection we have with them.

During our time at our church, we have seen our group grow in number as we head to Camp Orchard Hill (COH), especially when we go to winter camp. This has presented our group and COH staff with some unique challenges.

When our group signs up, we have crashed their registration system. We typically have to exchange camp t-shirts for different sizes. Trying to house our group all together presents challenges. There’s also unique hurdles that come with trying to get our group all fed at the same time along with all the churches at the camp. They have also walked through all of registration questions, changing of students who signed up, and of course all the financial questions.

Simply stated: COH has been nothing short of amazing in helping plan for our trip, organizing all of the necessary information for our group, and helping us prepare for our arrival. Then they have been awesome in helping us when we are on site. Their customer service is always next level and they consistently go above and beyond to help us.

Now here’s the thing: our team could simply say, “That’s how a camp is supposed to be and what they’re supposed to do.” Or we could understand that how they have loved and served us is an amazing gift and truly a reflection of their hearts for Jesus and people.

Over the years we have gotten to know our camp hosts incredibly well, and because of that we’ve gotten a peek behind the curtain to see just how much they do. And I’ll be frank: the extra mile they go to just for our group, let alone every group, is above and beyond what we had thought. They truly treat us as family and we want to make sure we are loving them just as well.

Now, regardless of whether your camp hosts go above and beyond, we have an obligation to treat them well. But how do we do that? Let me share with you a few quick ways I think we can treat our hosts well.

Refer new business to them.

Every time I talk to a camp or retreat center, they love to gain referrals because it means more business. So talk up your camp. Give out their contact information. Share the camp’s schedule with other youth leaders. Invite other groups on the retreat. Drumming up referrals and business will help to ensure your camp hosts stay in business and continue to do what they love to do.

Tell them you’re thankful.

Sometimes we assume that a “thank you” is understood even if it isn’t spoken. But that’s not true. Hearing someone say “thank you” means a lot and it shows that what you’ve been doing has been seen and appreciated. Telling the camp hosts you’re thankful for them and the ways they have served you goes a long way and carries a large amount of meaning.

Take them a gift.

A tangible way of thanking your hosts and showing appreciation is by taking them a gift. This doesn’t need to be something extravagant but it should be thoughtful and intentional.

It could be a t-shirt (in their size) from your student ministry with a handwritten card signed by your volunteers and students. It could be a gift basket of things from your town. Or maybe it’s a photo of your group and thank you cards from your students. These types of thoughtful and intentional gifts help your hosts to know they are loved, appreciated, and needed.

Encourage your students to serve.

Most camps and retreat centers have a need for summer counselors and interns. Encouraging your students to participate at a place they know and love is an easy way to help bless the camp because you are populating a needed resource for them. These intergenerational moments help camps to continue to do what they love, and it also allows your students to grow and mature as they serve in tangible ministry aspects.

What are some ways that you bless and treat your hosts well?