camp in your community

HOSTING 101

Caring for your community can take many forms. We believe CITC blesses campers, their families, and the church body that hosts. If your congregation has the heart to serve others, and you have children in your area who could use a week to just be kids, play, and learn about God's love – we want to talk with you!

LET'S CHAT

happy hosts

It recharged our church! The sound of children's voices in our sanctuary, the laughter and squeals, silly games – all of it – brought us joy and hope that we made a difference in the lives of those children. It was such a blessing to share God's love with them.

– Middle Creek United Methodist

BENEFITS OF camp

for churches

When churches host camp their community is blessed, and so is the church. Here are a few ways your church can grow by hosting:

Serving together for a common purpose draws a congregation closer, and intergenerational serving is even richer. We love to see seniors serving snacks, pastors interacting with children, and your youth serving as junior counselors, and all working together.

Connecting with your neighbors and serving their families helps build relationships that might not otherwise occur. It shows your community your church is a safe, loving place, that cares for them. We desire those relationships to continue beyond the week of camp, and for your congregations to grow with new families.

Sharing the gospel with campers is fulfilling the great commission to "go into all the earth" (Matt. 28:19-20). Jesus cared deeply about children, and we reflect His heart when we do the same (Matt. 19:14).

It's a good time! Expect to laugh a lot, and do things you don't normally do at church. You may find yourself doing archery, singing silly songs, or on a slip n' slide!

for campers

Did you know there are specific benefits children take from a week of faith-based summer camp? Here are just a few:

Lifelong memories are made at camp! Campers participate in unforgettable experiences and build friendships they will cherish for a lifetime.

Faith-building opportunities for campers are intentionally everywhere at camp. We love helping campers see God in creation and everyday life and gain a better understanding of who they are in Christ. They can learn who Jesus is, who they are, explore spiritual practices, read and hear scripture, and begin to build a faith that is their own.

Self-confidence and independence can be boosted by trying new activities and developing new skills. This helps campers build self-confidence and independence as they realize their capabilities and potential.

Community at camp gives campers the opportunity to build relationships with others who share their faith values. They can form bonds with peers, mentors, and leaders who can support them in their spiritual journeys.

Traditions at CITC create meaningful experiences that help children and youth connect with their faith in new and transformative ways.

who does what:

RESPONSIBILITIES

Highly trained and background-checked staff members
- Site Coordinator
- Counselors
Training for Junior Counselors
An excellent program schedule complete with activities and Bible study
All materials and equipment for a fun week of activities
Promotional materials
Registration webpage for easy sign-up
Event insurance
American Camp Association accreditation
Red Cross Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certified staff
On-call nurse

CAMP PROVIDES:

A host-site coordinator
A location to host camp (does not have to be your church facilities) with access to water, shade, and bathrooms
A Minister-in-Residence to help lead morning watch, Vespers, and communion
A breakfast snack (grab-and-go style), and lunch for the campers and staff
Daily volunteers
Meals and housing for staff during your week of camp
Youth to serve as Junior Counselors
Their portion of the cost-share for hosting camp

HOST PROVIDES:

making camp possible:

cost-sharing plan

The actual cost of hosting a week of camp is $11,898, a financial commitment that would make camp out of reach for many churches. Our goal is to keep camp both accessible and sustainable—serving children today and for generations to come.

We invite churches to choose a tiered contribution, with a minimum of $4,500, and prayerfully consider a higher amount if possible. A church’s financial commitment does not impact application selection or camper experience; every child receives the same enriching camp experience, regardless of cost sharing.

We ask churches select one of the three tiered prices, with a minimum of $4,500 total, and to prayerfully consider a larger share if it is financially feasible.

PRICING TIERS

Tier 1 - Covers 44% of the true cost of camp: $5,250

Tier 2 - Covers 55% of the true cost of camp: $6,500

Tier 3 - Covers 63% of the true cost of camp: $7,500

If there is a gap between the host church portion and the true cost, our Financial Partnership Committee will contact you to receive feedback on potential financial partner churches in your community. They will then begin the hard work of closing the financial gap on both of our behalfs and on behalf of every camper who needs camp.

FUNDING GAP

HOST HANdBOOK

HELPFUL READING

Have further questions? We would love for you to read our Host Handbook. It answers a lot of practical questions and goes into more depth on the heart behind our partnership.

HOST HANDBOOK

LET'S CHAT

NEXT STEPS

Interested in hosting camp but have questions? We would love to meet you, tell you more about the program, answer your questions, and determine together if applying to host is a good fit.

BOOK A CALL

Hosting FAQs

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What does it mean to host Camp in the Community?

Do we need a traditional camp facility?

What does Camp in the Community provide?

What is the host site responsible for?

Hosting CITC means partnering with us to bring a full week of summer camp directly to children in your community. Our trained summer staff bring the camp program, activities, equipment, and energy. Your church or organization provides the local connection, helping us welcome families, recruit volunteers, and create a space where kids know they belong.

Not at all! CITC was designed to bring camp to places where traditional camp may not be accessible. We regularly transform churches, community spaces, parks, fields, and other local facilities into camp for the week. We’ll work with you ahead of time to determine how your available spaces can best be used.

We bring a trained summer staff team along with the equipment and supplies needed to run the majority of the camp program. That includes many of the activities that make CITC feel like camp, from Gaga Ball and archery to STEM, games, worship, arts, and more. We also provide planning support before camp so your team knows what to expect.

Hosting is a partnership. Local sites help us connect with families, recruit volunteers, provide appropriate spaces for camp, and coordinate some of the local pieces that make the week possible. We’ll provide clear expectations and work alongside your team throughout the planning process, so you aren’t left trying to figure it out on your own.

How many volunteers will we need?

Who can attend camp?

How much does it cost to host?

What happens after camp is over?

You don’t need to provide an entire camp staff. CITC brings trained summer staff to lead the program. Local volunteers supplement that team and help with things like hospitality, meals, camper support, check-in and check-out, and building relationships with families. The exact needs depend on your site and anticipated enrollment.

CITC is designed to make summer camp accessible to children in the communities we serve, especially families who may face financial or geographic barriers to traditional camp. Camp is free to participating families, and children do not need to attend your church or already be connected to a congregation to belong at CITC.

Families attend CITC at no cost, and our model is built around partnership rather than asking a local organization to recreate or fully fund a traditional camp program. Host sites contribute to the week in different ways depending on their resources and community. We’ll talk through the financial and in-kind pieces with you during the planning process so there are no surprises.

We hope camp is the beginning of a relationship, not the end of one. One of the greatest strengths of CITC is that campers meet caring adults and organizations that are already part of their community. We encourage host sites to stay connected with campers and families throughout the year, and we love helping churches think about ways those relationships can continue long after Friday afternoon.