Nashville, Tenn. (K4K) -- On November 29-30, 2016 at the Christian Camp and Conference Association (CCCA) National Conference, Keys for Kids Ministries (formerly Children’s Bible Hour) officially made Keys for Camps available to all camps around the country. "I've never seen this kind of response to a new program," said Greg Yoder Executive Director of Keys for Kids Ministries. "Nobody [at the conference] said it was a bad idea or shouldn't be done. It seemed like everyone had at least some degree of support for the program."
More than a half dozen camps signed up for the program at the conference, while a dozen more said they wanted to join, but needed board or staff support. Nearly 70 camps in all requested to receive follow up calls for the program.
Keys for Camps is a new ministry of Keys for Kids Ministries designed to help Christian summer camps impact a young person’s heart all year long, not just one week during the summer, while helping the camp promote the work they're doing during the off-season.
This past summer Keys for Kids Ministries launched the Keys for Camps pilot program with four Christian camps: Pine Ridge Bible Camp, Cran-Hill Ranch, The Springs, and Simpson Park.
Yoder said, “It did what we hoped it would do—give kids more opportunities to be in God’s Word every day. The Keys for Camps program is helping us and camp ministries do just that. It also allows Keys for Kids to partner with other ministries, which is exciting.”
Parents at The Springs were pleased. Sarah wrote, “[My son] received his [Keys for Kids devotional] and he has been reading it on his own (without any prompting from us)! He was really excited to receive it.” Mindie said, “We had two kids sign up for camp, and they have both received their Keys. We've decided to share one book and give another to a friend who was unable to attend camp this year. We enjoy the keys—thank you.”
Executive Director of Pine Ridge Camp Kevin Grifhorst is praying God will use the program to help his campers grow in their faith while they’re away from camp, while at the same time keeping them excited about camp so they’re ready to come back next summer.
Keys for Kids provided devotionals with a custom wrap that had the camp’s logo, a letter from the camp director, and pictures when the kids arrived at camp. Now that camp is over, each camper will receive devotionals each quarter for the rest of the year.
Grifhorst says, “One of my parents got in touch with me, surprised and happy their child got a devotional in the mail after camp.”
Keys for Kids is still recruiting camps for the Keys for Camps program. There's only enough room for 100 this year. A deposit of $100 holds your spot. Sign-up for the program can be found at http://www.keysforcamps.org, or by calling 1-888-224-2324.