From Online Presence to Lifelong Impact: Helping Camps Build Digital Campfires

At this year’s National Association of Regular Baptist Camps (NARBC) conference, I had the privilege of leading a workshop on how Christian camps can strengthen their online presence to better serve the people God has called them to reach.

The workshop, titled “Tending the Digital Campfire: Serving Your People Online,” invited camp directors and staff to rethink their digital strategy—not as marketing, but as ministry.

The Heart Behind the Workshop

Every camp has a story to tell. Families, teens, and churches often meet that story online before they ever arrive on the grounds. The goal isn’t simply to attract more clicks—it’s to meet real needs, build trust, and create connection long before registration opens.

The digital “campfire” idea reminds us that social media, websites, and emails are gathering places where stories are shared, relationships are warmed, and the light of Christ can shine brightly.

Key Highlights from the Workshop

1. The 7 Campfire Principles
Each step helps ministries build connection and consistency online:

• Gather – Know who you’re serving.

• Spark – Clarify your message.

• Ignite – Build a trustworthy online home.

• Story – Share what God is doing.

• Fuel – Keep your content consistent and alive.

• Watch – Stay focused and aligned.

• Keep – Nurture relationships that last beyond camp week.

2. The Superfan Path
We ended with a simple challenge: Don’t just create followers—create superfans of what God is doing at camp.
Here’s the path we walked through:

• Invite – Make it easy to come.

• Welcome – Make it feel like home.

• Enjoy – Make it unforgettable.

• Share – Keep the story going.

• Belong – Make them part of the family.

• Return – Make coming back natural.

• Champion – Help them invite others.

When a camper becomes a superfan, they’re not just signing up again—they’re telling others about a place where God changed their life.

Tools That Help Keep the Fire Burning

You don’t need a marketing degree to do this well—just a few consistent habits and simple tools:

• Canva – for easy, branded graphics.

• Meta Business Suite – for scheduling and boosting posts.

• Linktree or Campsite.bio – to keep your links organized.

• Mailchimp or Flodesk – for story-driven follow-up emails.

• Google Photos or SmugMug – to share memories with families.

Download the Workshop PDF

If you missed the session—or want to dive deeper—you can download the full “Tending the Digital Campfire” PDF guide from the Shepherd Thoughts Store.
It includes the 7 Campfire Principles, the Superfan Path, and practical tools to start building your camp’s online presence today.

The Takeaway

In every online interaction, there’s a chance to reflect Christ’s warmth.
Your digital presence isn’t a distraction from ministry—it’s an extension of it. When you treat your online spaces like a campfire, people are drawn closer to the story of God’s work through your camp.