Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner and you probably have quite a few irons in the fire.  However, the next 6 to 8 weeks is an important time to start making plans for your church's summer camp or summer weekend retreat.

Camp is a great Christmas Gift.

Sending a student to camp is generally viewed as a sound investment in each student's spritual life and in the church's mission to raise up a generation of strong Christian leaders. No need for spagetti dinners or big fundraisers just yet.  Our recomendation is to simply reach out to your student's families, to people like Grandma & Grandpa, who may want to give $50.00 for each of their grandchildren.

Camp is memorable.

For a week or weekend your students are sharing their lives with their peers from sun up to late into the night.  A week is fairly brief in the grand sceme of things.  However, in a week of camp, strangers become friends and there are huge opportunities for spiritual development.  Lots of the spritual development is because your students are immressed in an atmosphere that is free of the things that cullter our day-to-day which allows students to focus on God.  Many of my big God moments were at camp - accepted Christ and my call to ministry both at summer camp.  The same is probably true for many of the leaders in your church.

Though camp is 6 or 7 months away for most of your students, start planning pre-camp events that will take place this spring.  Start making plans for fundraisers, pre-camp meetings for sudents & parents, and an invitation campaign for your students to invite their friends.  Consider inviting your camp speaker to speak at the church once or twice before your group leaves for summer camp.  All of these pre-camp activities can generate excitiement, re-kindle memories from last year, and start making new ones!

Camp takes preparation.

Its generally easier to spread out your planning over a couple months rather than cramming in the last couple weeks.  If you haven't already choosen a property for you event, start looking for a location or an event to attend.  Midwest Christian Retreats properties host many events churches plan on their own or we can connect you with an event that your church can attend at one of our locations.  Start recruiting counselors, van drivers, support staff, ect.  Divide up some of the prepartions amoung several people, and check back with them periodically to see how things are coming along.