Why Camp?

You’re probably weighing the cost and benefits of doing your own church retreat or even joining one of our Sponsored events here at camp, and, if you’re anything like the rest of us, you have some questions. These are the same questions that were asked when Hartland Christian Camp was founded in the 1940s. Why not try camp out in 2026?

Why should you bring your church to camp, or why should you come to camp as a family?

As a church: I would encourage you to explore adding camp into your ministry mix this season. Camp offers a space to build community, grow closer to God, serve, and a spend time in God’s beautiful creation. Use this time to focus on growth, relationships, or putting faith into action. Ultimately, you’ll need to pray through what your goals are for your particular ministry. We have two main ways to serve your church – our Sponsored Programs and our Ministry Rental option. See below for a few items to consider (there’s a free option as well, read on).

As a family: take time away to restore or build relationships and have a refreshing experience together. We invest in your family through our Marriage Retreat, Family Camps, and other events throughout the year. Why not add camp into the mix this coming year?

Read some of our Stories from Camp.

Community:

Christian Camps, as para-church ministries, offer a unique time to break away and foster community within your church or small groups. Taking time away from your day-to-day distractions and stealing away to a quiet or even different place can help your group or family draw closer together.

Growing Closer to God:

Jesus took His disciples aside from the crowds from time to time and stole away to quiet places or the mountains. Why was this time important? For a church group, taking time away from your normally scheduled programs gives your group an opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and studies of God’s Word outside of their comfort zone. Most church programs have a Sunday Service and some midweek offerings. Small groups also work to engage and grow deeper in the faith. Discipleship absolutely happens at your church, as it should. Sometimes, things shared at camp can stick a little differently as campers are separated from their normal environment. Without the distractions we often face that are vying for our time, many find it easier to focus and have meaningful discussion and set aside time to be in their Bible here at camp.

Choosing the Right Camp:

With many options to choose from, you might wonder if there’s a difference and how you should go about finding the right camp for your specific needs. If you’re looking for thrills, stick to theme parks. If you’re looking for growth, seek out a Christian Camp that keeps Christ as the focus. This means a focus on God’s Word. While Hartland would love to serve your group, you’ll need to determine if we’re a good fit for what you’re hoping to accomplish while away. God has blessed California with some great options when it comes to available camps, prayerfully consider which camp will best meet your ministry needs. A camp should come alongside the ministry that you are already doing, never detracting from the efforts you put in all year long. We are careful to preserve God’s Word and present it well here at camp. See if Hartland is a good fit for you.

Hartland’s Unique Features:

As a small-to-medium-sized camp, Hartland offers a more intimate camp experience. Some ministries find it very easy to get lost in a sea of people at campuses that hold thousands of guests and your campers can feel lost in the mix of everything going on. Other ministries may find that some camps aren’t large enough for your needs. Hartland’s campus may provide the perfect blend of what your specific church needs. Hartland focuses on God’s Word and building long-term relationships with churches and ministries that we partner with, we are interested in more than your attendance – we care about outcomes. Our goal is to produce Christians committed to knowing, living, and sharing a compelling faith. Whether attending one of our Sponsored Camps or renting the facility for your own ministry retreat, you’ll find that we are here to serve you and your guests.

Some things you may not have considered:

Hartland has two campuses which are adjacent to each other, making camp affordable for ministries of any size. We also offer camp scholarships to make camp affordable, regardless of your church size.

HARTLAND MAIN CAMPUS:

Our Main Hartland Campus features a variety of housing and meeting spaces, recreation, and more. Hartland’s staff cooks and prepares all meals at our Main Campus.

CAMP WORTMAN CAMPUS:

Our Camp Wortman Campus features a more rustic tent-camping experience, with extremely low rates which allow churches with much lower budgets to experience a bit of camp. With flush toilets, showers, and a meeting space/kitchen, you’ll get to experience a time away while still enjoying some comforts.

GROUP VOLUNTEER OPTIONS:

Beyond each of these facilities, we offer volunteer projects at either campus that have no cost for your ministry. Check with our office for availability today! This gives your ministry three very unique ways to utilize what Hartland has to offer. Focus on team-building by bringing a group up to volunteer for a weekend while we feed and house your group. There’s nothing quite like serving together and feeling a sense of accomplishment when you’ve used your hands and labor to complete a project. We have found this gives groups a unique dynamic and helps to forge life-long stories and friendships. Hartland is no longer seen as just a place to go and a sense of ownership is instilled, Hartland becomes “our camp” to those who serve.

We are often available to provide a meeting space for your volunteer group so that you can have your own evening services after the volunteer workday ends. This is a great no-cost way to add an event to your church calendar. We’ve had youth groups, men’s Bible study groups, and even ministry families come and serve in this way.

Ministry Rental Camps:

If you’d prefer to use our facilities for your own ministry event, click here. This is a great option for those who want to have more control over their group schedule and how you spend your time here at camp.

And while you’re here…learn more about the Gospel.

Already a Christian? Check out these Bible Resources.

Share Camp with your Pastor and Ministry Leaders:

Download and Print THIS FLYER and hand it to your pastor.