‘We are all called to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, and there’s no greater time to cultivate this appreciation than during childhood,’ says CEF Vice President of Administration Fred Pry
ST. LOUIS — Spring is in the air, and summer is on the horizon. Through outdoor activities such as sailing, biking, hiking and fishing, Camp Good News®, a ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), is teaching children to spend time in God’s creation.
“Nature offers some of the most tangible testimonies to God’s power and creativity,” said CEF Vice President of Administration Fred Pry. “We are all called to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation, and there’s no greater time to cultivate this appreciation than during childhood.”
Children’s time outdoors dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, while screen time increased substantially, according to an article published by the National Institutes of Health.
“This is an ongoing problem,” Pry said. “Too many children are no longer playing outside and instead are indoors, glued to their screens, either scrolling or playing video games.”
Spending time outdoors isn’t just enjoyable — it’s also very necessary. Kids who play outside are happier, better at paying attention, and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors, according to research cited by the Child Mind Institute.
“Spending time in nature can build their confidence. There’s a lot less structure than most types of indoor play and they can choose how they interact with the nature around them,” the article says.
The Camp Good News® program has been an active part of the ministry throughout the years. Using CEF-owned or rented facilities, each camp offers a variety of activities designed to engage campers. Trained staff maintain an exciting program that includes a focus on evangelism and discipleship.
CEF Camp Good News® testimonies on outdoor camping activities
“I wrote this letter to say thank you … I enjoyed myself so much at Camp Good News®, the relationships I built and the experiences I had visiting Nantucket Island, bridge jumping, cabin nights, sailing, biking along the canal, fishing, and the list could go on and on. What I am saying is thank you for the sacrifices you made so that I could learn and have fun,” said a CEF camper about the camp in Massachusetts.
“They take kids on field trips to Martha’s Vineyard, Water Whizz water park, a New Hampshire climbing trip, and bike trips to places like the Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth. They give archery, swimming and tennis lessons. They also teach the kids fishing,” said a CEF camp leader.
“If I could have spent my summers as a camp counselor earlier in life, I certainly would have done so. It was, by far, the most demanding yet fulfilling job I ever had to that point in my life,” said David Williams, President of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
A Camp Good News® testimony from a CEF staff member in Massachusetts:
“Attending summer camp is so much more than a way to pass the summer hours or to keep kids occupied while parents are working. Summer camp, like school, is an intentional place of social, emotional, physical and intellectual learning.
“Outdoor learning also provides important time away from electronic distractions, allowing kids the freedom to learn in the midst of nature and face-to-face with peers and godly adults.
“At Camp Good News®, our campers come from a variety of cultural, ethnic, and religious traditions. Our goal is to introduce campers to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the midst of our high-quality, state-of-the-art summer camp program. Our program conveys to children that they are valued, respected, that they can experience new things, and push their own boundaries in a healthy way.”
“On top of all this, Camp Good News® is absolutely fun,” Pry said. “What better time to introduce children to the Gospel than when they are happy, active and enjoying God’s marvelous creation?”
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), which was founded 88 years ago, has been establishing the Good News Club® in countries around the world for decades. Clubs are thriving worldwide, in countries including Australia, Cambodia, Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, and many more.
In 2023, through the combined ministries of CEF, more than 25.2 million children worldwide heard the Good News. More than 577,000 teachers were trained around the world.
For more CEF news, see the ministry’s latest edition of the online magazine Impact.
CEF is an international, nonprofit, Christian ministry that has been dedicated to seeing every child reached with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, discipled, and established in a local church since 1937. CEF is located in all 50 American states and in most countries around the world, with over 3,500 paid staff and tens of thousands of volunteers around the world.
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To interview a representative from Child Evangelism Fellowship, contact [email protected], Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.