Summer Youth Camps in the ACNA
It’s that time again. The weather is heating up, and the kids have abandoned their scholarly pursuits for a life of lounging on the family couch like it’s their job to keep it from floating away. Thank the Lord for summer church camp! It’s time to send your beloved little saints out of the air conditioning and into an adventure that promises to form lifelong memories.
I’ve scoured diocesan and parish websites across the ACNA to give you a sample of what’s being offered for our youth in the Anglican Church this summer. I encourage you to check and see what your own diocese has planned or to take inspiration from what you see in another corner of the province.
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Whether you’re planning for your own youngsters or looking for opportunities to serve or bless one of these valuable ministries, there’s a little something for everybody in this list.
Traditional Summer Camps
These multi-day residential camps blend classic camp activities, outdoor adventures, games, fellowship, and Christian teaching and worship in a dynamic environment.
Camp Jubilee
A ministry centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ, helping campers know the Lord and His love. It offers a fun-filled week with friendships, memories, and encountering God through creation, His word, and worship.
Camp Booyah!
An Anglican summer adventure featuring outdoor activities like zip-lining, ropes course, lake activities, river tubing, campfires, paintball, field games, and mud tug of war. Includes talks from the Word, worship, and connecting with others. Campers receive lodging, meals (with dietary options), use of activities including one paintball game, a T-shirt, and a notebook.
Camp Crucis
A Christ-centered camp where participants display God’s love as they serve.
Anglican Church Camp of the Midwest
This is the eighth annual camp, which focuses on Christ-centered teaching. Activities include daily Eucharist, class time, Evening Prayer, and Compline. All are welcome. Daily swimming, sports, and crafts are also included, as are evening activities like a talent show and end-of-week party.
“Jesus and the Gospel in Middle-earth”
Building relationships with Christ and his children. Committed to aiding the Church in evangelizing and discipling young people. This event runs from Sunday evening to Saturday afternoon.
Camp Araminta
This is one very active week with exciting programs and activities. Camp Araminta aims to build Christian Community through fellowship, living the Christian ideal, and learning accountability. It encourages discipleship by teaching youth to filter the culture around them (music, media, games). It is a place “where faith takes flight.”
Mission & Service Camps
These camps focus on participants serving local communities and engaging in outreach activities. Sometimes, participants live together in a missionary-style setting.
Love Our City Week
A week of local mission for Nomads (youth group). Activities include supporting the IAC Kid Ministry VBS in the morning and serving the larger community in the afternoon. Evenings include worship together. A required training is on Sunday, June 8. The week concludes with an adventure day on Friday.
Soul in the City
A week-long overnight summer camp where students physically and relationally invest in the local community through service, being the hands and feet of Jesus. Like an overseas mission trip, but focused locally. Students serve at various mission sites for about six hours a day (e.g., yard clean up, playing with children). Evenings include gathering at the Barn for worship, teaching, and small group discussion. Includes scheduled fun events on campus.
Soul in the City Take 2: “Who I Am”
A unique opportunity for youth to participate in God’s kingdom work in Houston by serving alongside others at worksites and ministries. Past outreach included food pantries, homeless ministries, home renovations, and special needs centers. Designed for intentional discipleship grounded in biblical teaching and the Anglican tradition. Through study, discussion, service, worship, and fun, students build relationships, grow faith, and share Christ’s love.
Specialty Camps: Arts, Music & More
These camps center on helping young people develop specific skills or interests or foster a new appreciation for music or art while providing Christian fellowship, teaching, and community.
Camp Hosanna: Music & Arts
A five-day camp featuring music, art, Bible lessons, folk dancing, games, and snacks. There is a concert and a family lunch on the final day. The cost is $100 per child, which is waived for families providing one adult helper for all five days. Advance registration is required.
Kids Art Camp
Unleashing creativity through learning four different art mediums (water color, acrylic, self-portrait, mixed medium). Also includes making musical instruments, playing outside games, and making friends in a safe environment. Kids’ art will be displayed in a real art gallery in Downtown McKinney on Friday night for an art show. Every child receives a canvas bag with a starter art kit. The camp is centered around a theme showing the source of true beauty from God.
St. Andrew’s Choir Camp
Immerse in the full tradition of the Church through daily prayer services of the Book of Common Prayer. Includes sung choral Matins (featuring Anglican chant and plainsong), rehearsals, and education sessions on theology in music, Gregorian chant, and basic music theory. Also features recreation (boating, sailing, skiing, swimming, hiking) and good food. Days finish with choral Evensong. A spiritual retreat where prayer, song, education, and recreation are woven together.
Summer Bible Camp – “God’s Fruit Grows in Us!”
The days are full of skits, crafts, games, prizes, Bible stories, and more. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily.
Summer Music and Arts Kamp (SMAK!)
Mornings camp ending with a Friday showcase.
Youth Retreats & Conferences
These events are specifically designed for older youth (often middle school through high school or college). They focus on intentional discipleship, deeper theological study, meaningful worship, and community building, often with a specific thematic or traditional focus.
Summer Youth Retreat
A special regional youth retreat. Friends are welcome.
Saint Michael’s Youth Conference
St Michael’s Conference is a seven-day gathering forming an intentional community of prayer, education, recreation, and friendship to help young Christians be courageous witnesses to Jesus Christ. It is rooted in the belief that the Anglican expression of the Catholic faith can transform lives. Through worship, study, discussion, recreation, and relaxation, participants seek a clearer vision of God and the strength needed to fight evil and to serve God. The conference aims to faithfully hand on “the Catholic Faith,” with worship and practice being wholeheartedly Anglo-Catholic and teaching orthodox. St. Michael the Archangel is the patron saint, and participants are affectionately known as “Michaelites.”
- Southwest: Camp Crucis in Granbury, TX
- Southeast: Bolivar, PA (inaugural year!)
- West Coast: St. Teresita Conference Center in Three Rivers, CA
DWA Youth Camp “Further Up and Further In”
Multiple churches in the diocese are working together to organize a Youth Camp on Palomar Mountain. Our theme is “Further Up and Further In!”
Abide Student Camp
ADOTS Youth Summer Camp. Includes lodging, three meals a day, and activities. Churches are responsible for transportation and extra costs. Spots are limited and first come, first serve.
Don’t Miss Out
Don’t lose any time getting your campers registered at one of these Christ-centered, experience-rich, Anglican Summer camps! There’s a lot of Summer left, but some of these slots are filling up quickly.
Photo by Vlad Bagacian from Pexels, courtesy of Canva. Digitally edited by Jacob Davis.
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