For churches and communities
Start-up process
What it takes to establish a Swamp Camp, in seven steps.
Before year one
What does it take to start a Swamp Camp?
Seven steps, with the goal of serving every 9 to 18 year old within reach of the camp. It takes the kind of commitment a church plant does.
“He may endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.”
Psalm 72:5
These steps protect the integrity, safety and sustainability of every Swamp Camp.
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01Invitation
We do not promote ourselves. We wait to be invited, which shows our trust in the Spirit and makes a lasting camp far more likely.
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02Expectations
A first meeting to talk through what you expect and what resources you have. Both are confirmed before we plan anything.
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03Directors
We talk through what makes a strong camp director, then begin the search for the right people.
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04Location
A close look at the site: what a productive camp needs, your budget and how people will get there.
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05Registration
What camp will cost and how per-camper fees fund it: the fee, the break-even number and long-term sustainability.
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06Staffing
What qualifies a counselor or volunteer, and the vetting that keeps camp safe.
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07Marketing
A plan to tell your community what camp is and why it matters, so families come and people get behind it.