Figure 1. National averages of data collected from
Adventist summer camp employees.
"Camp Staff experience influences leadership training, career choice, positive religious experience and 83% of camp alumni staff are or were employed as workers (pastors, teachers, etc...) in the church."
~North American Division Research on Camp Ministries
NEW STAFF VS. RETURNING STAFF @ PSR CAMP
It's no secret that the power and influence of camp extends beyond the Christian experience of the campers; it also touches each one of our staff. This is an interesting development, especially when we consider the reasons why those staff come to work at summer camp.
When someone is coming for their first summer they are more likely to rank the financial gains of working at summer camp (i.e. camp matching scholarship for college & university, and seasonal employment) higher than the intangible reasons (i.e. spiritual reasons, ministry opportunity, etc..). Here is some of the data we gathered last summer on first-year staff (figure 2.1).
Figure 2.1 Responses from first-year seasonal staff
These four reasons are virtually statistically tied (above), and there isn't a great deal of variation. However, there is a dramatic shift in employee motives for working at camp after an employee has worked at least one summer (See figure 2.2).
Figure 2.2 Responses from returning seasonal staff
The '...ministry for young people' option isn't just better represented than all of the other choices, its larger than all of them combined. This is why most summer camp ministries (including ours) try to recruit large amounts of staff from the previous year (or years). These staff members are the ones who know your ministry and want it to be successful.
MORE INSIGHTS
After camp ended early last summer, there was a real sense of disappointment in our staff. I was worried that their disappointment would be reflected in our staff survey, but I was surprised & blessed by the data (figure 3.1).
Figure 3.1 Responses from staff regarding their camp experience
Normally I would expect more variation in the response to this question (Overall, my camp experience was positive), but this attitude was also reflected during our exit interviews. Almost everyone:
1) ...expressed an interest in returning for another season of camp;
2) ...wanted to experience camp ministry with older age groups;
3) ...felt as though their time together as a staff had been cut too short.
As a staff they had bonded and started forming genuine (and according to Facebook, long-lasting) friendships, and they had only been together for 4 weeks.
Figure 3.2 Response from staff regarding their peers + environment
So, what conclusions can we draw from the data? I have spent a lot of time analyzing responses, making theories, and speculating on results. I've learned a few curious things, (i.e. last summer our staff who enjoyed the outpost program were more likely to enjoy summer camp) but nothing in the data can tell me how such an amazing group of people all came together in the first place.
I may have sent out some paperwork, but everyone who comes to camp ministry is called or pulled toward it (at our camp, or others) for one mission. It might not be initial reason, but it becomes our purpose in a transforming way.
I can't wait to gather all of staff together this year for another season of camp and see how God works through all of you.
See you at camp!
~Jeremy
