For youth leaders, summer provides a unique opportunity to pull students away from the distractions of their regular lives and deeply invest in their spiritual growth. Christian beach camps like BigStuf offer an unparalleled environment not just for student growth, but for leaders too.
Deepening Faith at Christian Summer Camps
Friends of BigStuf say that SMMR delivers a year's worth of relational equity in just one week. During SMMR, you have a rare chance to take students out of their everyday environments for an extended time—a luxury that isn’t feasible throughout most of the year. BigStuf provides 120 hours where students don’t just attend sessions; they live life together. They share meals, play volleyball on the beach, dive into deep small group conversations, and even share rooms. This kind of constant interaction fosters bonding and growth opportunities that are hard to replicate in the usual 30-minute weekly small groups.
Building Lasting Christian Community
The impact of a week at BigStuf doesn’t end when camp does. Youth leaders often say that their students return to church life more energized and engaged. The relationships formed at camp, along with a deepened faith and connection to their youth ministry, sustain excitement and involvement in church activities throughout the year. Students return home ready to show up on Sundays, join Bible studies, serve in ministry, and continue building their relationship with God. Isn’t this the ultimate goal? To have camp not just be a blip, but to create momentum that encourages students to stay active in their faith year-round.
Tailored Experience for Each Group
BigStuf understands that each ministry is unique and gives youth leaders the autonomy to shape their group’s camp experience. While everyone joins together for sessions and certain activities, leaders have the freedom to structure small groups, free time, and other interactions in ways that best suit their group’s dynamics and spiritual needs. Unlike other camps, we understand that you know your youth group better than anyone else, and this flexibility ensures that each moment at camp aligns with your ministry’s goals and the specific needs of your students.
Leader Development with Leader Labs
What makes BigStuf truly unique is that leaders leave camp having attended their own conference as well. Recognizing that leaders need support and growth opportunities just as much as their students, BigStuf includes Leader Labs—special sessions exclusively designed to equip youth leaders for the year ahead. These labs focus on providing leaders with encouragement, resources, and meaningful discussions with other youth leaders who they might not connect with during the rest of the year. By participating in these labs, leaders don’t just pour into their students during camp—they’re poured into as well.
Why Choose BigStuf as Your Group's Christian Summer Camp
Deciding which Christian summer camp to attend, or evaluating whether your current camp is giving your students the best possible experience, isn’t always easy. That’s why BigStuf has a dedicated team available to answer questions five days a week, year-round. We know that during the year, youth leaders juggle a range of responsibilities (which can make planning for BigStuf seem daunting). For over 35 years, we’ve mastered making the experience as easy and seamless as possible for groups to register and attend.
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