With summer just around the corner, many children and their parents dream of the long-standing tradition of going to summer camp for a few days, a week, or even longer. According to the American Camp Association, an organization that serves and offers accreditation for camps across the nation, approximately 26 million children attend some type of summer camp annually.
Most parents know the benefits of summer camp for children and youth – independence, excitement, adventure, new friendships, spiritual growth, time away from screens, and many more. But in recent years, increasing awareness of the prevalence of sexual predators and sexual abuse has led some parents to question whether it is a good idea to send their children away for a week or more to be cared for by strangers.
It’s an unfortunate reality, but summer camp can sometimes expose children to bullying, pornography, and even sexual abuse.
Camping as a family
But what if there was a way to reduce or eliminate those potential problems while still offering the valuable benefits and experience of summer camp? Family camp may be the answer.
Although summer camps for children and youth have been a staple in American culture for decades, parents may be surprised to learn that many camps offer overnight, weekend, and weeklong experiences for the entire family.
Doug McClain, board member of the Christian Camp and Conference Association and vice president of operations with Sky Ranch, shared his thoughts with The Stand about the importance of family camps.
Sky Ranch (skyranch.org) is a camp ministry located in multiple states, including two Colorado locations that offer camps especially designed for families.
“Family camp is about intentional time with family,” McClain explained. “It’s a time where you can focus on being with each other and loving and investing in each other, as opposed to trying to figure out what you are going to do next [for] a traditional vacation.”
Those moments could happen during a horseback ride when a father enjoys a one-on-one conversation with his daughter, or on a challenge course where a mother teaches her children the importance of trying new things and overcoming fears.
“Our main ministry at Sky Ranch … has been pouring into youth by sharing the gospel and promoting Christian growth through discipleship,” McClain said. “And one way to pour into those youth is by investing in families, because healthy families lead to healthy kids.”
Sky Ranch is only one of many ministries that offer family camps. With hundreds to choose from, families can find one that fits their interests and needs.
For example, families who want to take a step back in time may find Fort Rock Family Camp and Retreat Center (fortrock.org) appealing. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas, Fort Rock’s family camp is a re-created 1800s-style fort and Western town. Campers can visit the rifle and archery ranges, hone their tomahawk-throwing skills, and slide through a 200-foot-long mineshaft.
Lake-loving families might enjoy a week at WinShape Camps (camps.winshape.org) in Crandall, Georgia. Situated on a peninsula, the Cohutta Springs Conference Center hosts WinShape’s annual weeklong family camp, which offers canoeing, lake-blobbing, banana-boating, zip-lining, and much more. WinShape also hosts a mom/daughter weekend as well as a dad/son weekend.
Families who want to experience “the funnest, most vacation-like vacation” should consider Pine Cove Family Camp (pinecove.com) with locations in South Carolina and Texas. Pine Cove focuses on fun and faith, with the overall goal of cultivating a relaxing environment where families grow closer to God while fortifying their bonds with each other. A college-age counselor is assigned to each family and plays a significant role in their lives that week.
Camps vary in scheduling, but most allow several hours of free time each day for families to explore and enjoy the camps' offerings at their leisure.
Parents will be excited to learn that most camps offer all-inclusive packages, meaning lodging, meals, and snacks are all provided for the duration of the stay.
Connecting as a family
In addition to the activities camps offer, most also dedicate certain times of each day for fellowship, biblical teaching, worship, and family devotion.
While the camps are designed for the whole family, most recognize the need for parents to spend quality time together. Many camps provide counselors to hang out with older children, and some even offer childcare for the youngest of campers, ensuring Mom and Dad can enjoy a date night.
Although activities and opportunities at Christian family camps differ, they share a common purpose: to help families connect, spend quality time together without distractions, and deepen their relationship with the Lord.
“In our culture, families are always going and doing, and when they’re not, they’re staring at their phones,” McClain said. “So, the question is, how do we get families to slow down and connect, because I think there is a subconscious desire for that.
“I love Christian camping because I think it’s one of the greatest tools … for fostering relationships with the Lord,” McClain continued. “And I think families are desperate for that real connection.”
Finding a camp for the family
Locating a Christian family camp is not difficult. Retreathood (retreathood.com), a ministry devoted to helping people find Christian retreats and camps, lists over 260 family camps scattered across the United States.
From Washington to California, Maine to Florida, and nearly every state in-between, prospective campers can find a suitable location for a memorable, weeklong family experience.
“Pray about it and look into it,” McClain urged. “I think it would be [a] life-changing experience for you and your family. It will be one of the most gratifying, fulfilling times you spend as a family and with your kids in a long time.”
Editor’s Note: No endorsement is implied by highlighting various camps and websites in this article. The aim is to shed light on the growing trend of family camps and to present it as an option for readers.
(Digital Editor's Note: This article was published first in the April 2025 print edition of The Stand. Click HERE for a free six-month complimentary subscription.)
