As summer quickly approaches, our camp’s leadership teams gathered for a weekend full of what we like to call serious fun. This special time was set aside to prepare hearts and minds for the summer months ahead where life-change, laughter, and the Gospel collide. From casting vision to diving into prayer, and from team-building moments to uncontrollable laughter, our summer staff made space to connect with the Lord and with one another. Scroll through to catch a glimpse of the energy, excitement, and unity that goes into preparing for a summer of Kingdom-impact!

Youth Camp

Outback

Ridge

Silverado

Ranch

All CTX Camps

“The Springs team had a blast this past weekend together. We danced, laughed, and prayed together as we gear up for the Springs’ fourth summer. On Saturday, after a region-wide Turkish game, we headed to Toccoa’s finest bowling center and had a blast together. Later on after eating at our favorite local Mexican spot, we sat and discussed what three words we desire our leadership team to be marked by. After over an hour of discussion and prayer, the three words that we landed on were: desperate, covered, and faithful. I am so honored to enter into another summer at the Springs and cannot not wait to see the Lord use this team for His purposes and glory!” – Julia “Dovey” Sayles, Springs Associate Director

“Though this leadership weekend was filled with lots of rain, it didn’t stop the weekend from being filled with so much fun! We had such a great time with our team. Remedy, our Women’s Director, and I were talking about how cool it was to hear from our leadership team what the Lord has put on their hearts to be marked by this summer. We thought it was the coolest thing ever to hear their love for the Lord. The weekend was filled with sweet times, but also, it isn’t really a leadership weekend without a little bit of craziness. We played a game together where our full-time team hid all around the city of Tyler and our leadership team had to find us hide and seek-style. Overall, we had such a sweet time with our people, and it was even sweeter because we got to spend it with our newly hired Women’s Director, Addi ‘Flush’ Parker!” – Josh “Flynn Slider” Green, Ranch Men’s Director

“Time with our leadership team was a gift this past weekend! It was so sweet seeing everyone together and getting excited to serve this summer. One of my favorite moments was Saturday night when our team got to worship together and reflect on His truth when it comes to different circumstances. In His presence we have joy! We also had a great time playing Slamma in skit clothes and laughed a lot playing 4 on a couch!” – Kate “Bones” Swanner, Outback Women’s Director

“This leadership weekend was absolutely incredible! The thunderstorms and tornado watch we were under on Friday night sure didn’t stop our teams from hosting an amazing weekend for our college students. Our team this summer is eager and ready to have campers on property, and we can’t wait to get started! This weekend was filled with joy, laughter, and helpful conversations about what it looks like for us to lead out of the strength the Lord provides for us. Speaker topics like humility, conflict management, unity, and staff care helped build a Christ-centered framework for leadership not just for the summer, but in our day-to-day lives! Our team time on Saturday afternoon was silly and so fun! We spent the evening eating Chuy’s in my living room and dying of laughter with an age-old Timbers leadership tradition, hosting a PowerPoint night! Our leadership team split into groups and presented on some hilarious topics. It always serves as the goofiest way you could possibly get to know a group of people in a weekend.” – Caleb “SOS” Howard, Timbers Camp Director

“This leadership weekend was SO encouraging. We have a team of hard-working, hilarious, and Christ-centered college students. On Saturday, we spent the afternoon playing indoor soccer (a Shores leadership tradition for the last several years to “train” for our legendary weekly soccer games in the summer against our senior campers). On a deeper level, this leadership weekend tradition is really about teamwork and having fun together. It’s no secret that summers at camp can be exhausting and even discouraging at times—but knowing that you have staff who are willing to go the extra mile alongside you is the fuel you need to face these last six weeks counting down to summer.

We spent the rest of the day having some guy/girl time, more team time laughing with each other, and lastly, finished off the night with a leadership lesson taught by Taylor ‘Fish Face’ Jervis. One line that stuck out to our team was “Abiding is the only leadership strategy that matters and that lasts.” referencing John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” Such a great reminder that while we want to and should train to be a great leader, the only strategy that really makes it all work together is when we are staying connected to the Holy Spirit. We want to be a people that are prepared, trained, excellent, but above all else, a people who are evidently marked by walking with Jesus. Overall, we couldn’t be more excited to step into another summer of ministry with a group of college students who display Jesus in every action!” – Miranda “Treat Yo Self” Simiyu, Shores Associate Director

“We had a great leadership weekend as a Towers team. If I had a dollar for every laugh shared, I’d be a wealthy man. We had a ton of fun playing games and spent some time in prayer for the upcoming summer. The highlight had to be team Hibachi night, where as a team we had 19 catches for 23 rice tosses. If we can run a camp as well as we can catch rice in our mouths, I anticipate another great summer with this staff!” – Landon “Rhymes” Fink, Pine Cove Towers – Boys Camp Director

“We kicked off the weekend by hearing TJ ‘Philly’ Connor talk about spiritual dependence and had team time. Every team loved getting time in person together to vision cast for summer and pray over what we are doing! The region then got to play a mini version of beast games and the winner got… a FREE EXTRA NIGHT OFF! Arguably more valuable than gold. Teams played on the new air court at the Outback, sock wrestled (team bonding, of course), and worshiped together! It was a unifying and fun weekend! The energy and excitement heading toward summer is totally there. We cannot wait to watch God move and see the goodness that is ahead for this summer! Philippians 2 guided the weekend as we looked at how we as leaders will be empty for the sake of the Gospel but full when we rely on Jesus!” – Annelise “Smilin’” Morrison, Silverado Camp Director

“Leadership weekend in CTX was such a breath of fresh air. It always feels like turning the page toward summer, and getting our leadership staff together always reminds us why we love doing camp ministry! As a Ridge team, we focused a lot on our expression of Pine Cove’s purpose, mission, and core values. One thing we are really seeking to apply this summer is the concept of ‘holy hospitality,’ and we spent time brainstorming specific examples of how to apply that at camp! It was cool to see deeper friendships built among team members as we also took moments to share our stories with one another. Don’t worry, we for sure had FUN and laughed a ton while handing out LEGO keychains and doing PowerPoint presentations. With just over a month until we arrive at camp, we are all leaving super encouraged and expectant of the Lord!” – Colin “Sneaky Pete” Post, Ridge Men’s Director

“This past weekend was an incredible time. Our college staff showed up full of energy and anticipation, and the Lord did so much in just a couple of days. We spent time in worship together and heard awesome teaching centered on unity, humility, and spiritual dependence. We also dove deeper into the Culture Index, learning how to better understand ourselves and each other so we can lead with greater clarity and purpose. Not only did we get more equipped to lead and serve this summer – we also had some serious fun: the Springs team went bowling, we caught some March Madness action, and played an intense game of Turkish Delight with everyone. The new Chimney Point mini golf course got broken in this weekend too! Whether we were laughing over gutter balls or huddled in prayer, the sense of unity and purpose was so evident all weekend long.

We are beyond grateful for this team. I genuinely am the most excited I’ve ever been heading into a summer, and a big part of that is this team that faithful has said yes to serve. The Lord is building something special here, and we can’t wait to see how He moves this summer through these leaders.” – Brooks “Uno” Howard, Springs Men’s Director

Family Camp

Bluffs

Chimney Point

Crier Creek

Woods

“We had a ton of fun! All of our team had a blast getting to play games while also having very intentional conversations. The girls spent some time getting coffee and making charm bracelets while the guys went and played some arcade games! After that we ate some delicious Chuy’s and then played a game of Empire with funny stories from our lives! PARTY BINGO WAS ALSO ELECTRIC!” – Liam “Butter” Moore, Bluffs Men’s Director

“Leadership weekend always gives me a fresh burst of energy as we gear up for summer! Being out on camp property with our incredible leadership staff, dreaming and vision-casting for the season ahead, truly feels like a breath of fresh air. We laughed, played, and built stronger bonds as a team, all while intentionally praying and unifying around our vision for the summer. At Crier Creek, our theme this year is ‘Earnestly,’ based on Psalm 63—and it was so powerful to watch our staff leaning in, praying with purpose, and seeking what that theme will look like lived out this summer.” – Marshall “Swole City” Wallace, Crier Creek Camp Director

“I love leadership weekend, because it’s a fun weekend filled with laughter and intentional time getting to hear about all that’s happening in the lives of our leadership staffers. It’s always so cool to see how the Lord uses leadership weekend to build unity and align our hearts as a team to passionately follow Him as we get ready to lead this summer. The Woods team had a blast together, some major highlights were… taking a prayer walk around our property to pray for families and staff this summer, doing a JCPenney photo shoot with our team, enjoying good food together, and laughing about some outrageous things brought up while doing a PowerPoint night. Thankful for our team at the Woods and what the Lord has in store for us.” – Emmanuel “Cloudy” Muyia, Woods Men’s Director

“I truly feel that Leadership Weekend 2025 was marked by the spirit of ‘Yet not I, but through Christ in me.’ Looking around the room, these teams are full of fun and dynamic leaders who, by the world’s standards, have every right to boast in their gifts and talents. But I am genuinely proud of how this team is fully invested in the mission of inspiring campers to walk intimately with Jesus. One of my favorite moments occurred during our last night. I had heard our program directors telling the rest of the leadership team to meet in the worship center at midnight. To my knowledge, I thought this was an invitation to a late-night game of Slamma Jamma. With it being late and after the day we had, our full-time team said, ‘Y’all have fun, we are going to bed.’ On my way to bed, I walked past the worship center and saw our entire leadership team sitting in a circle around a whiteboard. I didn’t think much of it.

At breakfast the next morning, I asked our girls how Slamma was the previous night. They then explained to me that they were, in fact, not playing Slamma Jamma and that for two hours (way past TAPS, oops), they had been dreaming about how to lead and serve camp better, and how to make our program the best it could be this summer. It was their level of dedication and desire for excellence in the name of Jesus that brought a tear to my eye. Right before this meeting, our team decided they wanted to be marked by three phrases: Joyful Humility, Serving Willingly, and For Eternity. I am so proud of who they are and so grateful that the Lord crafted this team. – Caroline “Volly” Coon, Chimney Point Women’s Director

City

City - Team Delta

City - Team Alpine

“This leadership weekend was so much fun! This team is so capable and ready to run into this summer full speed. During team time on Saturday, we got to spend time together and become even more unified in what our goals are for this summer. We got to share and talk through what we think we can do better than last summer, what we can continue to already grow in, and cool ways we can serve our team! We also took a quick fun trip to Clemson, ate some GOOD food, hogged out on ice cream, watched Auburn lose (hallelujah), and had a lot of laughs together. Later that night we rolled out some inflatables for everyone and had a blast! For sure the most fun leadership weekend I’ve been a part of yet!” – Noah “Beef” White, City Site Director – Team Delta

“This was my first leadership weekend on full-time staff and it was so fun and refreshing! As a region, we got to study Philippians 2 and the humility of Christ, which led to some really sweet discussions with my team! I was so thankful for time with them in person as we got to laugh together over games like Farkle and Hues and Cues. Our program director even got the opportunity to eat baby food when she lost Farkle, which was hilarious! But my favorite part of the weekend was watching the team work together to pray over the words and passages we want our team to be known by, and studying Ephesians 3:14-21, because we want to remember that we serve a God of abundance this summer!” – Tess “Flee” Wilson, City Site Director – Team Iceberg