Youth Ministry Camp Brain, Binders, & the Post-Camp Blues
The emotional marathon of summer camp affects every youth minister differently. Whether you're riding high on spiritual victories, nursing wounds from what felt like failure, or simply exhausted beyond words, this episode offers genuine encouragement for wherever you find yourself.
Zach and Chad dive into their contrasting pre-camp experiences - one fueled by caffeine-like excitement, the other weighed down by planning anxiety. They share practical wisdom about externalizing your plans (either in meticulously organized binders or digital systems) to create both present peace and future efficiency.
Camp Brain, Binder Blues, & the Post-Camp Fog
It's that time of year—when youth pastors everywhere go from pre-camp jitters to post-camp exhaustion in just five sleepless days! In this episode, Chad and Zac take you on the emotional rollercoaster known as Summer Camp Season. Buckle up, it's a wild ride full of excitement, duct tape, and probably at least one crying senior guy.
🛠️ IN THIS EPISODE:
- 😅 Pre-Camp Vibes: Why some of us are Camp Keeners and others are... Camp Avoiders.
- 📓 Binder or iPad?: Getting organized (yes, your spreadsheets can be holy).
- 🧠 Document the Madness: Future you will thank you for writing it down now.
- 🙏 The Power of Presence: How to be spiritually available between cabin wars and snack bar runs.
- 🛏️ The Three Faces of Post-Camp: Euphoria, Disappointment, and “Please let me sleep forever.”
- 📋 Wrap It Up, Don’t Leave It Hanging: Final reports > mental “I’ll do it next week.”
- 🌿 True Rest: How not to burn out your soul on the altar of “just one more game.”
- 🗣️ Multiple Takes Matter: Debriefing with your team so the loudest voice isn’t the only voice.
This is the Summer Camp Survival Guide your soul needed. It's honest, a little chaotic, and fully soaked in sunscreen and sanctification.
Whether you're preparing for camp, in the thick of it, or recovering from it, this episode provides the encouragement that you're not alone in this emotional journey.
Share your camp stories with us on social media or email us at podcast@youthministrybooster.com!