Happy February, Summer Staffers!!!!
2026 is in FULL SWING, which means we’re officially 4 MONTHS AWAY from the first week of camp!!! While you’ve been grinding away in your classes, we are thinking about just one thing- YOU!
January was full of preparation for this summer so we have a few things we want to celebrate with you! CHECK OUT OUR NEWSLETTER VIDEO HERE !!
DIRECTORS WEEKEND!!
Last month, all of your 2026 directors came together to prepare for the honor of leading and serving their teams so well this summer. They are ready for the task at hand and CANNOT WAIT TO MEET YOU!! Know that you are being prayed for and are already so loved by your leadership!
CONNECT CONFERENCE
While January’s weather brought a change of plans for our gathering in Brentwood TN, we are hard at work creating a digital conference experience for all of our church hosts as well as church leaders across the country! They are learning how to market camp, how to reach families in their communities, and even how to serve YOU, our Summer Staff! They are leaders in ministry, and we are thrilled to walk alongside them all year long!!
LOOKING FORWARD
2026 THEME
Throughout the next few months, you’re going to get a LOT of information and resources to help you understand your role in ministering to HUNDREDS of kids this summer. For now, we wanted to give you an introduction to our 2026 Connect Camps THEME: TAKE HEART.
This world can be an incredibly dark place, regardless of who you are or what stage of life you find yourself in. Everyone has hurts, habits, and hangups that can feel like burdens. I want you to think about one area of your life that feels weighed down right now. Maybe it’s your workload this semester, maybe it’s in your relationships with friends or family, or maybe you’ve experienced some significant loss or hurt that you just can’t seem to come back from.
This is Monday’s Burden: Everyone is in/will experience trouble.
But PRAISE God that we have a Savior who brings clarity to our confusion! in John 16:33, Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
As you prepare for this summer, I want you to read this verse and remind your heart of the truth— That there is a God who has felt the weight of the world and still chose to bear it so that YOU could be free to walk in peace, wherever you are. You are the joy set before Him, and soon you will get to introduce that joy to so many little hearts and watch the Gospel change lives. Isn’t that so worthwhile?
We’re praying for you and believing that God is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us 🙂
PHYSICAL WELLNESS !!
As you heard in our January Newsletter, Connect Camps cares deeply for you, our Summer Staff, throughout the whole summer. We call this the “Staff
Wellness Plan,” as we care for the 4 pillars of your wellness:
– Mental Wellness
– Spiritual Wellness
– Physical Wellness
– Social Wellness
One way to ensure that we are able to care for your physical wellness is the Staff Information Form! This is found on your google classroom and allows you to give us any of your favorite snacks, drinks, candy, and ways that YOU rest! This information is so important to our Camp Directors and Church Hosts as they work together to build out a plan to care for you physically all summer long!**
**FYI: we will reference these answers all summer long, so give some options on those favorite snack/favorite drink questions! This helps us ensure that we aren’t providing you with just one snack option all summer!
PAPERWORK :
Each summer staffer is required to sign their contract, complete medical forms (including a physical), complete the Staff Information Form, and obtain an up-to-date Ministry Safe certification (these are valid for 2 years after initial completion). Check out these checklists below to ensure that you are up to date on all things paperwork!
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LEADERSHIP TEAM PLACEMENT !!
Each of our camp teams are also served by a Leadership team! We have chosen our 2025 Leadership teams and we are SO EXCITED to reveal them to you so soon! You get the opportunity to serve alongside each of them this summer!!!
RECRUIT A FRIEND TO WORK CAMP AND GET PAID!!!
We are still looking for remarkable people to work camp this upcoming summer so for every friend that you recruit to work camp you will get paid $50!! So text yo friends and tell them how they can have the best summer ever.
STAFF MATCH!!
Staff Match is coming up soooo soon!! This is when you get to find out which team you get to spend your summer with and who your future BEST FRIENDS will be! We cannot wait to hang out with you guys and get to know you as this summer approaches! Check your email for more staff match info!
That’s a lot of information! So here are some action items, and all links you will need!
- Let us care for your Physical Wellness by filling out the Staff Info Form
- Follow @connectcamps_staff on instagram to stay up to date on the latest in the Summer Staff world
- Refer any potential Summer Staff to [email protected]!
- Stay up to date on our social media @connectcamps_staff
We know that you could be anywhere else this summer, and that’s why we are so thankful for the commitment you’ve made and firmly believe that the Lord has each and every one of you exactly where He wants you to be. You’re talked about and prayed for all the time here at Connect, and we just can’t wait until we’re finally all together!
Let us know in your staff info form how we can pray for you! And remember, you can reach us at [email protected] anytime!
Your biggest fans,
Staff Team