6 Summer Possibilities for Youth

– Where Will You & Your Teens Serve this Summer?

by Jonathan Meyer
– Youth Pastor at Grace Church
– Founder of Ignite Youth Leadership Conference
– BCI Youth Ministry Coach

Typically parents come to me and ask, “What camp do you recommend?” Or they may ask, “Do you have any ideas for what my teen can do with their free time this summer?” I usually follow up the question with a question of my own: “Are you looking to keep them busy or do you want to equip them to fulfill the Great Commission?”

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Now before you think, “Goodness, that is a salty question.”  Consider this, if we are trying to keep students busy – there are all kinds of options: a job, sports, youth group gatherings and season passes to your favorite activity or pastime.

However, if you are looking for something with purpose and missional preparation or spiritual depth, the kind of thing that the disciples were challenged by in Matthew 28:19-20, please consider a couple of these 6 possibilities this summer as an option to help students live missionally while they are young. Disclaimer: No camp or opportunity is a perfect fit for each church or individual – these are simple suggestions that many have found valuable.

Camp Based Options

#1 – Hidden Acres Christian Center – www.hacamps.org

  • Location:  Dayton, IA.
  • Overview:  www.hacamps.org/overview Biblically Minded / Plenty of Options / Solid Teaching
  • Host: Steve Pinkley – Camp Director
  • What They Offer:  Week Long Camp / Additional Leadership Camp Options Provided / Students can serve at the camp as a summer counselor or helper.

#2 – Engage Camp – www.e3ministries.net/engagecamp

  • Location:  Siloam Springs, AR / John Brown University
  • Host:  Ryan Kirkpatrick – Midwest Coordinator (Pastor @ LifeChange Church, Des Moines IA.)
  • E-mail: Ryan@lifechangedsm.com
  • What They Offer:  Week Long Camp with Some Travel for Connection & Fellowship Along the Way / Great Teaching / Great Environment

#3 – East Iowa Bible Camp – www.loveeibc.org

  • Location:  Deep River, IA.
  • Overview: www.loveeibc.org/about-us
  • Host: Andy Gross – Camp Director
  • What They Offer:  Week Long Camp / You can rent the space to use other times of the year / Solid Teaching / Students can serve as counselors

Non-Traditional Options:

#4 – Lead THE Cause (LTC) – www.dare2share.org/events/ltc

  • Location:  Local Areas – Even your own city.  (Denver is a site location as well)
  • Overview: LTC is a week-long summer teen evangelism training event that helps youth leaders create passionate disciples who are reaching their world with the Gospel. Participants spend the week praying, learning how to share their faith, and developing a vision and strategy to implement in their local community once they return home. Hosted in Denver each year, LTC is expanding to be hosted in local areas across the U.S., giving opportunity for more leaders and students to be trained and equipped in disciple-making.
  • Contact: Eric Groezinger, Gospel Advancing Training Specialist, Dare2Share Ministries
  • Email: ericgroezinger@dare2share.org
  • Phone: 720-686-3274

#5 – Decision Point / Student Leader Conference – www.slc2025.org

  • Location: Denver, Colorado
  • Overview:  Decision Point’s Student Leader Conference is a week where Students, Youth Pastors, Youth Leaders, and Parents gather to worship the Lord and prepare to share the gospel in the biggest mission field they have – SCHOOL.
  • Contact: Dekota Johnson
  • E-Mail: conference@decisionpoint.org
  • Phone: 1-312-481-2384

#6 – Freedom For Youth – www.freedomforyouth.org/hickman

  • Location:  Des Moines & Other Locations in Iowa
  • Overview:  Freedom for Youth Ministries empowers youth across Iowa, through the love of Jesus Christ, to break out of bondage, discover their God-given talents, and lead transformed lives.  And they exist to unite the Christian community to reach out to our youth in Iowa and empower believers to demonstrate their love for Jesus by sharing their time and talents with the youth we serve.
  • Contact:  Troy VandeLune
  • E-mail: tvandelune@freedomforyouth.org
  • Phone:  515-282-4822

Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive nor is it perfect, but I have served with each one of these organizations and have talked with them about the possibility of you connecting with them.  So, give them a call or send them an email.  And let’s not keep students busy this summer – let’s help them step out on faith and serve on purpose.

If you have any other questions about summer ministries or just want to grab coffee sometime, you can reach me by e-mail at:  jmeyer@gracehome.com and by the way, coffee is on me. 😊

– Jonathan Meyer
Youth Pastor / Grace Church
Founder, Ignite Youth Leadership Conference