Engaging Parents During Camp

We want to go beyond keeping parents informed about their camper’s experience and instead, equip them with the tools to continue the learning and skill-building back at home and in the church.

While campers are experiencing homesickness at camp, many parents are also experiencing “kidsickness” as they are away from their kids. The time away from one another can be growth producing for both parties, and while we don’t want to be sending parents push-notifications every hour, there are some things we can do to help ease parents’ fears and involve them in the camp experiences from afar.

Consider adding some of the following resources to parents while you have their kids at camp:

Daily Curriculum Recap with Parent Application

Send a video, email, PDF resource, text message, or even a social media post with short snippets of each day’s bible lesson, scripture verses etc. Consider including prayer prompts or reflection questions for parents.

Camp Playlist

We’ve found that 70% of campers continue to sing camp songs after they leave camp. It’s a significant way they carry their camp experience home. Send parents a list of songs or create a Spotify playlist.

Staff Bios

While kids are at camp, let them meet some of the people that are leading the experience, through whatever format works best! You could hand out baseball card-type counselor bios or create a webpage with a quick overview of your summer staff and invite them to pray for different teams each day.

Webinar

Consider hosting a parenting webinar or devotional mid-week led by a local church leader, youth pastor, or even a member of your camp staff. Use it as an opportunity for parents to connect with one another as they receive both wisdom and practical resources from key leaders.

“Prepare for Pick-Up” Video

Consider making a video that could be sent out to parents a day or two before camp ends. This video could highlight the themes of camp while also preparing parents for the return of their child. Resources like post camp conversation starters and extending the impact, as well as directions for pick-up could be shared in a fun way.

Conclusion

By thoughtfully implementing these strategies, you can build a stronger partnership with parents. Keeping families informed—not just about their child’s physical safety, but also about their spiritual and developmental growth—turns a week at camp into a shared, growing experience.

These practices extend the ministry of the camp far beyond the final day, transforming what can feel like an anxious separation for parents into a meaningful period of growth for the entire family and ensuring that the valuable lessons learned at camp continue to resonate long after the campers return home.