2026 Summer Curriculum - In the Wilderness

Wilderness is a time or place where we encounter what is new, strange, scary, lonely, unknown or mysterious. The wilderness is a wild and beautiful time and place where we can discover the sacred within each person and all creation. The wilderness can inspire us and guide us, assuring us of God’s constant presence. As the Spirit guides us through the wilderness, we find what we need to face our fears and the very real challenges that impact our world. The wilderness teaches us the importance of community and the ways we navigate challenges together. The wilderness reveals our strengths, growing edges, and potential as God equips us for the unknown still to come. The wilderness awaits us all, and God meets us there. 

What you will find in In the Wilderness 

In the Wilderness all-inclusive summer camp curriculum includes materials for a full week's worth of activities for different age levels. You'll find:

• Bible study and community building activities for five age groups
• Separate worship resources designed specifically for children and youth
• Activity sheets to send home with campers for engaging families
• “Letters from Camp” – templates you can adapt and send out to campers and families all year long
• Crafts, games, science and nature, multi-day projects, challenges and group building, and much more!

Daily Overview for In the Wilderness 

Day 1    Psalm 139:7-14     Wilderness Is     Fearfully & Wonderfully Made                         

• Ponder what wilderness is and all the ways that it intertwines in our lives.
• Proclaim God’s presence in the wilderness.
• Foster a nurturing and brave community space for exploration.
• Celebrate that all are wonderfully and marvelously made!

Day 2    Job 12:7-10 (NRSVUE)     Wilderness Awes     Creation Teaches       

• Welcome everyone into the sanctuary of camp, a holy and wild place.
• Invite each other to listen for the wisdom of wilderness, allowing this sacred space to teach us.
• Celebrate the beauty and power of the universe, including ourselves and others.
• Call each other to express awe at the beauty of creation.

Day 3    Exodus 13:17-22     Wilderness Leads     Pillars of Fire & Smoke          

• Consider our own individual and collective wilderness experiences.
• Be assured God is with us in our wildernesses.
• Explore signs of God’s guidance and provision around us.

Day 4    Matthew 14:22-30     Wilderness Frightens     Jesus Walks on Water            

• Honor the tradition of Jesus entering the wilderness to reconnect, refuel, and be renewed.
• Hold safe space to acknowledge that wilderness may be disorienting or even frightening.
• Explore what it means to take bold steps, facing our fears and doing awesome things through God.
• Affirm that no matter what our wilderness moments may bring, God is always with us.

Day 5    Esther 4:12-17     Wilderness Unites     Help in Such a Time as This          

• Assure one another that we are not alone.
• Bravely share our hopes, dreams, and fears.
• Listen for God’s voice through the wisdom of those who have been or are in the wilderness.
• Imagine ways to connect with our communities for help and support.     

Day 6    Luke 10:25-37     Wilderness Reveals     The Broken Road  

• Consider the Good Samaritan story from a fresh perspective.
• Discuss how systems can help or harm people, and how we can respond.
• Recognize the different roles necessary to create lasting change.
• Reflect on how wilderness experiences and choices shape our lives.

Day 7    Jeremiah 29:11-14     Wilderness Awaits      A Future with Hope              

• Affirm that we are equipped to face wilderness moments.
• Remind each other to seek God, who is always accessible and present.
• Commission one another to pursue mountain top experiences awaiting us in our wildernesses.

If you would like the current curriculum and resources, please contact the site where you will be volunteering!

InsideOut Church Camp Curriculum is an annual, ecumenical resource designed to help camps and retreat centers create meaningful, faith-based summer programs for all ages. Published since 2011 by Chalice Press, InsideOut offers biblically grounded themes, creative activities, worship outlines, and experiential learning tools that connect faith with everyday life. The curriculum emphasizes inclusion, environmental stewardship, and spiritual growth through outdoor experiences. Each year’s theme encourages campers to explore God’s presence in creation, community, and self, inspiring transformation long after camp ends. 

Partners from the Presbyterian Church USA, Church of the Brethren, United Methodist Church, United Church of Christ, and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) collaborate to support InsideOut, joined by representatives of the Episcopal Church, the Lutheran Church (ELCA), and Baptist communities.