2026 Summer Camp Series

Day camps are popular at UMC camps

 

Alan Rogstad, executive director of Pacific Northwest United Methodist camps, has seen an uptick in registrations early in the season for the United Methodist Conference's camps at Twinlow near Rathdrum, Lazy F near Ellensburg, Indianola in Indianola and Ocean Park near Long Beach.

Since registrations dropped in COVID, day camps and family camps have become more popular. Alan said day camps draw 45 to 50 elementary and middle school children from nearby communities. Because they introduce kids to camp, some come back for overnight camps.

"The traditional age-level, five-night camps that were standard for many years are not growing like day camps and family camps," Alan observed.

"There has been a cultural shift since COVID, changing parents' decisions about where to send kids for the summer," he said. "Those at day camps come home each evening. Those at family camps are there with parents and grandparents, who are more protective than they used to be."

For 35 years, Alan has served in camp ministry leadership, first with Lutheran camps in North Carolina and California and then 18 years with the United Methodist Church in Seattle, where he grew up and went to Boy Scout camps. He worked at church camps during and after college. After two years as seasonal staff, he decided it was what he wanted to do for a career.

"I found church camping was a deeper, more meaningful experience," said Alan, who took two years away from camp ministry to go to Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley but then decided not to be a pastor.

"I loved camp ministry, so I went back to do that as a career," he said. "I was drawn to camp ministry because I loved the outdoors—hiking, climbing and skiing. I love being out in the wilderness and helping kids do that in the context of faith."

"My first experience of church camp solidified my faith through connection to the natural world and God's creation," he said. "It's a remarkable transformation for people.

"The experience of community and hearing lessons in the outdoors still happens in day camps, but it's not as profound as at overnight camps. They have the same crafts, games and hikes, but the community time and cabin times provide more intimate experiences in which more profound faith building happens," Alan said.

"We hope that those who come to day camps will decide to come to overnight camps," he continued. "Young kids at day camps see older kids' activities on the same site."

While the day camps are at two of the four UMC camp sites—Twinlow and Lazy F—they may be added in future years at other sites.

Day camps for kids from second through eighth grades run 10 weeks at both camps, two weeks more than the overnight camps. The day camps fit family needs and schedules. Kids eat breakfast before coming at 9 a.m. and have dinner with their families after leaving at 4 p.m.

"Many come for multiple weeks," Alan said, clarifying that it's much more than day care, but many parents use day camp in the summer when kids are not in school.

Day camps reach kids who would not normally come to a church camp, but the experience introduces them to one facet of church life. Some families have come to a United Methodist Church as a result of experiences at camp, Alan said, adding that "overnight camps provide the quintessential camp experience and the most growth for kids."

Lazy F and Twinlow day camps have dedicated program directors and counselors.

For the overnight camps, Lazy F and Twinlow pay college-aged staff, but Indianola and Ocean Park camps are volunteer-led by local pastors and teams that run a camp for one week at a time.

Within the eight weeks of camps, there are two weeks each when those in grades one to three, four and five, middle school and high school can come.

For information, visit pnwcamps.org