How does working at camp transform young adults? UMCRM’s Summer Staff Impact Study, conducted in partnership with Sacred Playgrounds, provided some insightful answers. Drawing from data collected across United Methodist camps nationwide, the research reveals how summer staff grow in faith, leadership, and vocational discernment through their camp experience.
This data can help camps tell our story more effectively—to donors, parents, and church leaders—and strengthen recruitment, training, and retention of future staff.
The 2024-25 survey represents the sixth bi-annual survey of mainline camp and retreat ministries. Six participating outdoor ministry associations, representing approximately 650 individual ministry centers, distributed the online survey to their members and affiliates between November 2024 and March 2025.
#UMCRMFunFacts
Scroll the gallery of quotable stats from UMCRM Camper & Parent Surveys
In 2022, United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries (UMCRM) participated in the Effective Camp Project in partnership with Sacred Playgrounds. This study focused on the overnight summer camp experience of campers at United Methodist camps throughout the country. UMCRM is thrilled to have this research data from a representative sample of over 3100 UMC campers.