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OutdoorMinistriesConnection2016Survey:LOMDataReport

PreparedbyJacobSorenson,PhDMay2017

Part1:GeneralCampStatistics:

74uniqueministrycentersrespondedinpartorinfulltothesurveythatclaimedaffiliationwithLutheranOutdoorMinistries(LOM)

• 71ofthesesites(96%)wereaffiliatedwiththeELCA

• OtherLutherandenominationsrepresentedincludedLCMS(5%),LCMC(4%),NALC(3%),andotherLutheran(3%)

• 11%ofLOMsitesindicatedaffiliationwithmultipledenominations

• Respondingsitesrepresented26USstatesand1Canadianprovince

• 76%ofrespondentswerecampdirectors,19%wereprogramorassociatedirectors,andtheremainderwereboardmembers,campmanagers,orvolunteers

RespondingLOMSites,byRegion

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PropertySize(Acreage):• 13%ownedorleasedlessthan50acresofproperty(orhadnoproperty)• 24%had50-100acres• 26%had101-250acres• 23%had251-500acres• 14%hadmorethan500acres

Budget:

• 6%hadanannualbudgetoflessthan$200k• 16%$201k–$350k• 18%$351k–$500k• 35%$501k–$1million• 18%morethan$1million–$2million• 7%morethan$2million

Full-time,year-roundEmployment:

• 5%hadnofull-timestaffmembers• 12%employed1full-timestaffmember• 28%employed2-3• 14%employed4-5• 29%employed6-10• 12%employed11ormore

EmploymentSummary(full-timeandpart-timeyear-roundstaff):

• Aboutathirdoftheseministrysitesoperatewith5orfewerpaidstaffmembers• AnotherthirdofLOMsitesoperatewith6-10paidstaffmembers• Thefinalthirdoperateswithmorethan10

Accreditation:62%wereaccreditedthroughtheAmericanCampAssociation(ACA)GeneralMinistrySiteOverview:

• 0%Primarilyadultconferencesandretreats• 18%Primarilyyouth/childcamping• 82%Combinationofyouth/childsummercampingandyear-roundretreats/conferences

LOMSiteslargeroperations,onaverage:

• LOMsiteshadhigheraverageannualoperatingbudgetsandmoreyear-roundstaffthannon-LOMsites;60%hadbudgetsofmorethan$500k,comparedwithonly45%ofnon-LOMsites.Itappearsthatthisisduemostlytolargeraveragesummercampprograms.

6% 16% 18% 35% 18% 7%

<$200k $201kto$350k $351kto$500k $501kto$1million 1to2million >$2million

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EvaluationMethods:

CampType:

1. Lowfaithemphasis,weakconnectiontocongregational/denominationalministries2. Moderatefaithemphasis,moderateconnectiontocongregational/denom.ministries

3. Highfaithemphasis,weakconnectiontocongregational/denominationalministries4. Highfaithemphasis,strongconnectiontocongregational/denominationalministries

13%

7%

17%

23%

16%

39%

50%

62%

73%

11%

12%

16%

24%

46%

58%

65%

80%

93%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

WeDONOTdoaneffectivejobevaluatingourprograms

Listeningsessionswithclientele

Informalevaluationonly,nowrittenevals

Assesseffectivenessbasedonmissionaloutcomes/goals

Surveyclergyorcongregationalleaders

Onlinesurveyafterparticipantsreturnhome

Surveyparentsaboutchildren'texperience

Directobservationbyleadershippersonnel

Participantsurveyatendofcamporretreat

LOMsites(74) Othersites(237)

8%

24%

28%

40%

5%

27%

10%

58%

Weakconnection,lowfaith

Moderateconnection,moderatefaith

Weakconnection,highfaith

Strongconnection,highfaith

LOMsites Othersites

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Part2:CampDirectors• 100%werewhite• 77%weremale• Education:55%bachelor’sdegree,39%master’sdegreeorhigher• 31%hadreceivednoformaltheologicaleducation(comparedwith32%non-LOM)• 16%hadamastersofdivinitydegree(comparedwith18%non-LOM)

DirectorAge DirectorTenure

• Overtwo-thirds(69%)ofallLOMdirectorswerewhitemalesovertheageof40

• LOMdirectorswereolderandmoreeducated,onaverage,thantheircounterpartsintheotherdenominationsstudied.Theyalsohadlongeraveragetenuresattheircurrentministrycenters.

• LOMdirectorswerealsomuchmorelikelytobemalethananyotherdenominationaldirectorandmorelikelytobewhite.

7%

26%

23%

30%

14%

5%

10%

31%

34%

20%

upto30

31to40

41to50

51to60

Over60

LOM non-LOM

13%

15%

25%

22%

26%

9%

14%

23%

23%

31%

<1year

1to2yrs

3to5yrs

6to10yrs

>10yrs

LOM non-LOM

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Part3:SummerCampOverallsummerprogramsummary(of65camps):

• 46%hadprimarilyco-edresidentialsummercampforchildren/youth• 5%wereprimarilyfamilycamp• 49%ranacombinationoftraditionalsummercampandretreatsorotherprograms• NoneoftheLOMministrycenterswerePRIMARILYretreatcentersorday-camponly

SessionLengthsOffered:

WeeksofSummerProgramming:Morethanhalf(55%)ofLOMsitesoffered8or9weeksofsummerprogramming.20%offered7orfewerweeksofprogramming,and25%offered10weeksormore.SummerHousingAccommodationsOffered:

4%

15%

98%

52%

20%

8%

30%

97%

68%

41%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Morethan2weeks

2-weeksession

Week-longsessions

Partialweeksessions

Singledayprograms

LOMCamps(63) non-LOM(210)

23%

18%

41%

60%

64%

29%

40%

43%

69%

71%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Wildernesscamping

Hotel-style

Dormitory-style

Moderncabins

Rustic(tents,yurts,rusticcabins)

LOMCamps(65) non-LOM(217)

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SummerCampCapacity:Aquarterofcampshadacapacityof120orfewercampers.Anotherquarterhadacapacityof120-150,anotherquarter151-249,andtheremainingquarter250ormorecampersatonce.AveragecapacityforLOMcamps(202)washigherthannon-LOMcamps(155).Table1:SummerCampEnrollment: LOMCamps

2014LOMCamps

2016non-LOM

Camps201690%capacityorhigher 14% 16% 12%75%to89%capacity 42% 33% 32%Lessthan75%capacity 44% 51% 56%Enrollmenthigherthanprevioussummer 41% 49% 43%Enrollmentaboutthesameasprevious 28% 40% 39%Enrollmentlowerthanprevioussummer 32% 11% 18%Highestofpast5summers - 22% 26%Higherthanmostofpast5summers - 22% 21%Aboutthesameaspast5summers - 34% 35%Lowerthanmostofpast5summers - 20% 11%Lowestofpast5summers - 3% 7%OvernightCampAttendance:Summercampattendancenumberswerecollectedfrom60camps.Aquarterofcampshad400orfewertotalsummercampers.Anotherquarterhad401to650.Anotherquarterhad651to1050,andthelastquarterhadmorethan1050overnightcampersinsummer2016.Theaveragenumberofovernightcamperswas796(upfrom754inthe2014survey).Campsthatbrokedownattendancebyagegroupreportedmorejunior/seniorhighcampersthanelementarycampers.DayCampAttendance:On-siteDayCampattendancenumberswerecollectedfrom40camps.Aquarterhadfewerthan70daycampers.Anotherquarterhad70to155.Anotherquarterhad156to400,andthefinalquarterhadmorethan400daycampers.Alargemajorityofdaycampparticipantswereundertheageof12(elementaryage).CamperDays:Camperdaysisanindustrystandardforsummercampenrollmenttypicallydefinedasanovernightand3meals.Alargemajority(78%)ofrespondingLOMcampssaidthattheydonotkeeptrackofthisnumber(comparedwith55%ofnon-LOMcamps).Thesmallnumberofcampsprovidingthisnumber(only12)makethedataunreliable,sotheyarenotreported.Averageweeklycampfee:$417(upfrom$384in2014)

• Halfofcampsreportedweeklyfeesbetween$390and$450• Non-LOMcampscharged$397,onaverage

Northeast Midwest South West$433 $414 $438 $386

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FinancialAssistance(61camps): CamperDiversity(63camps):

PercentageofCampersAffiliatedwithConstituentCongregations/Denomination

LevelofInvolvementofCongregationalLeaders/Clergy

7%

10%

16%

49%

18%

Morethan75%

51%to75%

26%to50%

10%to25%

Lessthan10%

PercentageofCampersReceivingFinancialAssistance

2%

0%6%14%

34%44%

Morethan75%51%to75%26%to50%11%to25%5%to10%

Lessthan5%

PercentageofCampersthatwereRacialMinorities

5%

11%

26%

34%

24%

6%

5%

18%

39%

32%

Lessthan10%

11%to25%

26%to50%

51%to75%

Morethan75%

LOMCamps(62) non-LOMCamps(194)

34%

37%

11%

38%

51%

65%

54%

52%

28%

46%

11%

79%

34%

42%

72%

80%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%

VERYFEWleaders/clergyareregularlyinvolved

Leaders/clergyareHEAVILYinvolvedincampministries

Leaders/clergySELDOMinvolvedincamplife/activities

Areinvitedtostayatcampwhilecongregantsattend

Leaders/clergyregularlyleadBiblestudiesorreligioused

Leaders/clergyregularlyleadcampworshipservices

Leaders/clergyministertosummerstaff

Leaders/clergyleadstafftrainingsessions

LOMCamps(65) non-LOMCamps(212)

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Summerstaff:Mostoftherespondingcampsemployedseasonalstaffmembersforthesummermonths.Mosthadpaidsummerstaffmembers,withonlyafewrelyingpredominantlyonvolunteerstaff.Relianceonvolunteerstaffismuchmorecommonincampsofotherdenominations.Intermsofpaidsummerstaff,athirdhadfewerthan25,anotherthirdhad25-45,andtheremainingthirdhadmorethan45.10%had70ormorepaidsummerstaffmembers.Stafftraining:Paidstaffmembersgenerallyreceivedextensivetrainingatthesecamps.Theaveragelengthofstafftrainingin2016was12days,with75%ofallcampshavingbetween10and14days.Veryfewcamps(9%)offeredfewerthan10days,while15%hadmorethan14days.Averageweeklysummerstaffsalary:$223(DOWNfrom$230in2014)

• Three-quartersofcampsreportedweeklystaffsalariesbetween$200and$250• Non-LOMcampspaidsummerstaff$230,onaverage

Northeast Midwest South West$206 $231 $203 $222

ReturningSummerStaff(64camps):

Summercampprograms:

8%

28%

37%

19%

8%

Morethan75%

51%to75%

36%to50%

25%to35%

Lessthan25%

PercentageofSummerStaffwhowereReturningStaff

43% 46% 11%

Mostlycentralized Combinationcentralized&decentralized Mostlydecentralized

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PercentageofCampsOfferingSpecialtyPrograms(64camps)

PercentageofCampsOfferingSummerProgramSpecifics(65camps)

34%

39%

39%

47%

53%

58%

66%

75%

75%

84%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Tripandtravel

Grandparent/grandchildcamp

Specialneedscamp

Music,art,anddramacamps

Highadventureorwilderness

Service/missionexperiences

TravellingDayCamp

Conlirmationcamp

Leadershiptraining

Familycamp

11%

31%

34%

45%

62%

72%

79%

79%

82%

92%

94%

95%

95%

99%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Sailing

Rockclimbing

Horsebackriding

Highropes

Archery

Environmentaleducation

Outdoorcooking

Lowropes/challengecourse

Canoeing/kayaking

Dailyworship

DailyBiblestudy/Christianed

Groupprayers

Groupsinging

Camplires

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Part4:RetreatsandConferencesPrimaryclienteleforretreats/conferences(65ministrysites):

• 23%Primarilyadults• 5%Primarilyyouth/children• 72%Mixofchildren,youth,adults,andfamilies

RetreatAccommodationsOffered:

SeasonalRetreatStaff:Ministrycentersvariedintheirrelianceonseasonalstafftohelpduringtheretreatseason.Aboutathird(35%)didnotemployanyseasonalretreatstaff.Anotherthirdemployed1or2,andtheremainingthirdemployed3ormore,with10%employingatleast10.ApproximatePercentageofRetreatGuestsAffiliatedwithConstituentCongregations:

36%

46%

47%

52%

67%

62%

51%

52%

40%

49%

71%

59%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Campgroundfortents/RVs

Hotel-style

Rusticcabins

Largegroupmeetingspace(100+)

Moderncabins(bathroom&tempcontrol)

Dormitory-style

LOMsites(65) non-LOMsites(202)

12%

28%

32%

22%

6%

3%

13%

35%

35%

13%

Lessthan10%

11-25%

26-50%

51-75%

Morethan75%

LOMsites(60) non-LOMsites(194)

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Overnightcapacityforretreats/conferences(outof65ministrysites):Aquarterofministercentersreportedthattheirovernightretreatcapacitywas75orfewerguests.30%reportedacapacityof100to150guests.Anotherquarterhadacapacityof76to130,anotherquarter131to199,andtheremainingquarterhadacapacityof200ormoreguests.RetreatGuestsinmostrecentretreatseason:Morethanhalfofministrycenterswereunsurehowmanyretreatgueststheyhostedinthemostrecentretreatseason,whetherovernightorday-onlyguests.Ofthe31sitesthatprovidednumbers,halfhosted1000orfewerguests,withtheotherhalfover1000.Guestdaysisanindustrystandardforretreatenrollmenttypicallydefinedasanovernightand3meals.78%ofLOMcampdirectorsindicatedthattheydonotkeeptrackofthisnumber.Withonly12campsprovidingthenumberofguestdays,nomeaningfuldatacanbeofferedforLOMasawhole.Table2:Retreat/ConferenceUsage(outof65LOM,201non-LOMsites) 2014 2016

LOMSites2016

non-LOMsites90%capacityorhigher - 4% 5%75%to89%capacity - 16% 21%50%to74%capacity - 37% 36%Lessthan50%capacity 43% 38%Usagehigherthanpreviousyear - 46% 44%Usageaboutthesameasprevious - 37% 39%Usagelowerthanpreviousyear - 17% 17%Highestofpast5years - 17% 21%Higherthanmostofpast5years - 28% 29%Aboutthesameaspast5years - 40% 38%Lowerthanmostofpast5years - 15% 11%Lowestofpast5years - 0% 2%

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PercentageofSitesservingSelectedRetreatClientele(outof66sites)

PercentageofMinistrySitesOfferingSelectedRetreatPrograms(64sites)

32%

39%

53%

55%

61%

74%

74%

74%

85%

91%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Corporategroups

Ministrytrainingevents/conferences

Clergy/churchworkerretreats

Churchcouncil/presbyteryretreats

Schoolgroups

Adultgroupsunafliliatedwithnon-prolit

Family/couplesretreats

Non-prolitsnotafliliatedwithchurch

Faithformation/spiritualityretreats

Churchyouthgroups

34%

41%

42%

50%

55%

58%

72%

81%

97%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Craftorartprograms

Highropescourse

Environmentaleducation

Linenservice

Guidednaturehikes

Spiritualcare,worshipleadership

Faith/spiritualformationprograms

Lowropes/challengecourse

Foodservice

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Part5:CampPhilosophyLevelofAgreementwithPhilosophyStatementsaboutMinistrySite(outof66LOMministrycenters)–Right-handcolumnindicateswhetherLOMcenters,onaverage,agreedsignificantlymorethan(é),lessthan(ê),orwerenodifferentfrom(≈)non-LOMcenters.

5%

8%

26%

26%

30%

30%

35%

40%

49%

51%

57%

60%

26%

35%

39%

42%

35%

42%

35%

46%

40%

34%

32%

28%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Retreats/conferencesarethemostimportantaspectsofourministries

Atcamp,specilictheologyisnotasimportantasgeneralspirituality/belief

Ourcampisaplacewherepeopleencounterdiversity

OurcampexiststoleadyoungpeopletoChrist

Ourcamphasastrongfocusonnature/creationlearning/stewardship

Ministryofhospitalityistheprimarywayweproclaimthegospeltoguests

Summercampisthemostimportantaspectofourministries

Importantforstaff/camperstounderstandtheology/practicesofourfaithtradition

Ourcampemphasizessummerstaffformationasmuchascamperformation

Campworship/programsaredesignedtogetparticipantsmoreexcitedabout/engagedintheirhome

congregations

Faithformation/practicesshouldbeincorporatedintoallaspectsofcamplife

Campisaplacetounplugfromtechnology

Stronglyagree Moderatelyagree

≈ ≈

é

≈

é

≈ ê

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ê

≈

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LevelofImportanceAssignedtoSelectedProgramPriorities(of66LOMministrycenters)–Right-handcolumnindicateswhetherLOMcenters,onaverage,saidspecificstatementsweresignificantlymoreimportant(é),lessimportant(ê),ornodifferentfrom(≈)non-LOMcenters.

5%

15%

17%

23%

27%

29%

30%

32%

36%

39%

35%

42%

50%

56%

56%

65%

80%

94%

36%

35%

41%

32%

31%

33%

39%

48%

39%

41%

50%

53%

41%

36%

38%

24%

18%

6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Takingastandonmoral/ethicalissues

Theologicalinstruction

Peaceandjusticeawareness

FamiliaritywiththeBible

Facilitatingparticipantfaithformationfollowingthecamp/retreatexperience

Learningfaithlanguage/practices

Strengthen/supportcongregations

Knowledgeof/fellowshipwithcreation

ParticipatinginChristianpractices

Christianeducation

Strengthen/supportfamilies

Funforallparticipants

DevelopingChristianleaders

Individualfaithformation

Selfesteem/characterbuilding

Facilitatingparticipants'experiencesof/encounterswithGod

Fellowship/communitybuilding

Participantsafety

Extremelyimportant Veryimportant

≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ é ≈ ≈ ≈ é é

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≈ ≈ é ê