So you’re looking at doing Camp Hope! The first year can be a big step for you and your congregation. We have some resources for you to look through in order to prepare for this amazing journey. Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions!
As you begin to plan, we’ve put together a monthly checklist to help guide you every step of the way.
First You need to make sure that you are NOT doing this alone. You will want to assemble a Ministry Team. Many times we do things by ourselves because it’s easier to do it ourselves than to take the time to train someone else to do it. However, there are so many moving parts with Camp Hope, if you want to be successful, you are going to need a team of adult leaders.
Building a Ministry Team (En Español) & Building a Mentor Ministry (En Español)
Next, you are going to need plan your budget. Remember that there are expenses every year as well as some start up costs in your first year. Below are two resources to help you in planning for these. Remember that your staff receives a weekly stipend. Therefore, check with your business administrator and treasurer on how you would like to handle this. Will they be paid employees? Are they given an honorarium? How do you handle taxes and forms?
Remember that there are several different ways to structure your budget. You will need to think about what will work best for your church community. We would love to help you think through this process.
Then you are going to want to recruit a staff. The recruitment and hiring process is part of developing your students as leaders. For many, this may be the first job they have ever had. Set them up for success by setting up interviews. Use these interviews to teach them how to interview for future jobs. Also use this process to help your students articulate their own faith. Each year we provide you with Staff Applications for you to use. Below is a resource to help guide you in this hiring process.
Building a Camp Hope Staff (En Español)
Finally, you will want to advertise your Camp Hope to the community. Each year we provide you with Camper Registration Forms for you to use. However, find what best meets your church’s needs. Some congregations have everyone register through an online registration form via their church website. Many Camp Hopes find that the majority of their campers are from the surrounding neighborhood!
