Sending Services

Ideas to Facilitate a Camper Commissioning Service

By Cross Trails Ministry, a Growing Faith Together Partner Camp

You can download this resource to see additional examples:

By setting aside time in the service to recognize the youth and young adults who are going to camp, you’re helping them mark the start of the transition to a strong faith experience.

Below are some ideas for ways that you can incorporate various rhythms into your sending service.

CALL TO WORSHIP

You can use this call to worship or tweak your own church’s call to worship to acknowledge campers’ experience.

LITANY

You can use litany to pray for your campers’ experience. Note how in the first line, you’re naming the specific camps that the youth are attending.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

If you have a closer relationship with your campers’ camps, find out their summer themes and/or key scriptures and incorporate them in the service as readings.

BLESSING YOUR CAMPERS

Invite all who are planning to attend camp this summer to come forward during worship. 

PRAYER

Incorporate a simple prayer into your service.

OFFERING

Consider taking a special offering to give as a gift to camp or to contribute to a scholarship fund for campers.

SING “CAMP” SONGS

Ask your campers what songs they loved at camp and work to incorporate these into your service. Over 70% of campers come home singing the songs they sang at camp—it’s one of the most “sticky” elements of camp and can help campers reengage with their camp experience.