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Bringing the fun and impact of church camp to your community


Get ready for five full days of a Christian camp that features exciting activities, adventures and learning about God at your local United Methodist church. Since 2016, NextGen Camping Ministries has brought this faith-deepening experience to thousands of campers all across Missouri. So much of what we do is thanks to our partnerships with Eagle Lake and Heartland Camps. Across our variety of camps, NextGen Ministries provides highly trained, young adult staff that engage in life-on-life ministry with every camper.

NextGen Day Camp is a week-long day camp for 6 to 12 year olds that pairs high-energy fun with gospel-centered worship that will leave your camper excited about living their life for Jesus Christ! Kids will have a blast at this Christian camp, with a wide range of activities like bouncing in the inflatables, scaling the rock walls, playing Gaga ball, and singing and dancing to awesome worship songs.

NextGen hosts mobile day camp to:

  • Provide a safe and fun way for children ages 6-12 to encounter Christ
  • Make camping experiences accessible to any church in the state of Missouri
  • Establish a new connection between the local church and its community
  • Encourage children to build long-lasting relationships with Jesus Christ
  • Engage in authentic Christian fellowship
  • Experience a faith-filled week through Bible studies, worship and small group activities
  • Offer opportunities for pure joy through games, songs, crafts and outdoor activities (like big water slides!)
  • Create personal and faith growth opportunities
  • Develop campers’ God-given gifts and talents

Want more information on a specific camp? Locate your camp HERE

Want to host a camp in 2023? Find out more HERE

Featured NextGen Day Camp Camps

Rock Port UMC

Dates: June 3-7

Age Range: 6-12

Camping Partner: Eagle Lake

Location: Rock Port, UMC

Price: $100

First UMC-Kennett

Dates: June 10-14

Age Range: 6-12

Camping Partner: Eagle Lake

Location: Kennett, MO

Price: $85

Cooter UMC

Dates: June 17-21

Age Range: 6-12

Camping Partner: Heartland

Location: Cooter, MO

Price:

View All Camps

The two campers I sent were my grandchildren who have been taught nothing about Jesus in their home. They come from a fairly tough home life. They were loved and cared for while they were at Eagle Lake. The kids had some pretty tough issues that the counselors dealt with in an amazing way. By the end of the week the kids were saying the name of Jesus and knew the scriptures. A seed has been planted. Thank you so much!

- A Camper’s Grandmother

Working for Eagle Lake is great, because I get to be a part of a team that wants to show campers the love of Christ, and when the church takes that next step it reminds me that we are all working towards the same goal. This past summer, I saw those same goals in every church! I saw the want to continue to invest in the community. Every year I come back to Missouri, I see communities grow. I see the same campers invested in their own growth with the Lord. I believe we are starting to see change through communities all over the state.

- Nathan Sayed, Eagle Lake Track Leader

NextGen Day Camp FAQ's

When does camp registration close?

Registration for NextGen Overnight Camps close two weeks before the start of each camp. Registration for NextGen Day Camp closes the Sunday prior to the first day of camp.

Are scholarships available?

All camping scholarships are provided through the local church. For NextGen Overnight Camps, contact your local church who will be able to provide a discount code. For NextGen Day Camps, contact the host church of the camp.

Churches receive discount codes by filling out the application at located at this link.

What is Heartland?

Heartland is one of Missouri United Methodist Conference’s partner for NextGen Day Camps. They are headquartered out of Parkville, Missouri, and are affiliated with the larger Presbyteries of Heartland and Northern Kansas, Synod of Mid-America, and Presbyterian Church (USA). The mission of Heartland is “In response to the Good News of Jesus Christ, Heartland Presbyterian Center provides hospitality and programming in a natural setting for individuals, families, churches, and the community.” Visit www.heartlandcamps.org for more information.

What is Eagle Lake?

Eagle Lake is a Missouri United Methodist Conference partner for NextGen Day Camps. They are headquartered out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and are affiliated with the larger Navigators college-aged ministry. Eagle Lake has spent over 100 years witnessing to children at their camps in Colorado and have recently started their day camping ministry to utilize the lessons they have learned to reach out to children all across the country. Visit www.eaglelakecamps.com for more information.

2022 DATES AND LOCATIONS COMING SOON!

For Parents

Basics

NextGen Day Camps work to bring elementary and middle schoolers closer to Christ through activities and fellowship during these traveling day camps across Missouri. Next Generation Ministries partners with Eagle Lake Camps and Heartland Camps to host multiple Christian camps for 10 weeks throughout the summer at local churches. NextGen Day Camp is held from Monday to Friday with drop off typically between 8:30-9:00 a.m. and pick up around 4:00-5:00 p.m., depending on the preferences of the local church. Much like these time differences, NextGen Day Camps are designed to adjust to the unique needs of each community, so campers are able to have the church camp that they desire.

Campers will need to wear regular active clothes and tennis shoes or sandals with backs and bring a water bottle, water games gear (modest swimsuit, towel, flip flops, sunscreen), and potentially a lunch depending on your camp location.

Activities

Each day students will enjoy time with their fellow campers and counselors doing a wide range of activities. Their time will be split between small and large group time. In their small groups, campers will have Bible study, discussion time, games and one-on-one time with their counselors. With the larger group activities range from sports like gaga ball, nine-square, bungee jump, rock wall, water games, and indoor and outdoor games, to lunch, snack, worship, dancing, singing songs, and watching skits.