Summer at camp is a story of laughter around the fire, friendships forged, and lives touched by God’s love. But behind the scenes, each camp leader has their own story too: the joys, the challenges, the long days, and hopefully a little rest at the end of it all. To get a sense of how United Methodist camps are doing after this summer, we asked leaders to share a quick snapshot through a five-question survey. Forty-three camp leaders responded, giving us a glimpse of the trends, challenges, and bright spots happening across the country.
When it comes to camp leader well-being, the overall story is encouraging, with some caution flags. In our quick 2025 survey, most leaders—over half—described themselves as feeling “fresh/normal” or “invigorated/energized” after the summer, which is a testament to the resilience and passion in this ministry. 
This finding echoes 2024’s OMC Director’s Survey results, where 61% of UMCRM leaders also reported finishing the season steady or energized. At the same time, about four in ten leaders this year admitted to being stressed, exhausted, or even burnt out. These numbers remind us that while many directors are finding balance, there is still a significant portion who are stretched thin. Together, the data shows both the strength of leaders who are faithfully carrying this work forward and the ongoing need to care for those who may be running on empty.
Just as leaders are experiencing both strength and strain, a similar mix shows up in the ministries themselves. Overnight camp enrollment continues a slight downward trend: 42% of UMCRM sites reported decreases in 2025, while only 30% saw increases and 26% held steady. This reflects a broader trajectory identified in the 2024 survey, which found that fewer than 40% of camps across the network were filling 75% of their overnight capacity and that one-third had lower enrollment than the year before. At the same time, day camp programming remains a bright spot. Both our quick survey and the 2024 data show day camps holding steady or growing, suggesting that families continue to seek out more flexible, close-to-home ways for children to experience the gifts of camp.
Staffing shows a hopeful shift. While the 2024 survey reported that more than half of directors felt understaffed heading into summer, our 2025 snapshot reveals progress: 67.5% of UMCRM sites hired the number of summer staff they anticipated or even exceeded their hiring goals. This marks a shift in the right direction, showing that recruitment strategies are beginning to bear fruit. Yet stability depends on filling year-round roles, where about one-third of ministries are still carrying vacancies, closely matching last year’s 31% vacancy rate. Filling these longer-term positions remains critical for stability, continuity, and leadership development across the connection.
Programming tells a similar story of balance and adaptation. In 2025, most UMCRM sites offered between 3 and 11 weeks of summer camp, averaging about 7.5 weeks. That’s almost identical to the 2024 survey, which showed the median at 8 weeks, with most camps clustering between 5 and 9 weeks. This steady rhythm reflects the careful discernment of leaders: offering as many opportunities as possible within the limits of staff capacity and camper enrollment.
Putting the pieces together, a picture emerges of a shifting camp and retreat landscape. Traditional overnight camp enrollment is trending downward, even as day camp remains steady or grows in many places. Leaders are working hard to sustain both models, balancing what families are seeking with what staffing and resources can support.
Our summer story is one of both resilience and transition. Camp leaders are showing up faithfully, building programs that continue to change lives, and navigating challenges with creativity and grit. At the same time, families’ needs and patterns are shifting, and our ministries are adapting—whether that means reimagining overnight camp, investing more deeply in day camp, or finding new ways to recruit and retain staff. Yet the story of camp is always bigger than one season. It is written in every camper who discovers God’s love, every staff member who grows in leadership, and every community strengthened by this ministry. May we continue writing that story together—with resilience, hope, and faith in what God is doing through camp ministry.
