Centrifuge (camps)
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Centrifuge is the name of a series of Christian summer camps for children, youth, and young adults centered on Bible study, worship, missions work, and recreational activities. It is sponsored by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
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[edit] Centrifuge
[edit] Background
Since 1979 Centrifuge has been the official youth camp of the Southern Baptist Convention. What started out as a few weeks of camp sponsored by the Baptist Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) turned into a youth ministry movement.
Centrifuge camps are unique in that there is not a central camp facility where the program is conducted. Instead, teams of staffers are based at various colleges and retreat centers across the United States. Student-campers are usually housed in college dormitories or convention-style hotel rooms.
Because of this decentralized approach, Centrifuge staffs -- usually comprised of about 20-30 college students and recent college graduates -- are able to reach students across the United States.
LifeWay Christian Resources states that since the beginning of the ministry, over 1,000,000 people have experienced Centrifuge and its associated camps.
[edit] Programming
Centrifuge camps are open to students in the 7-12 grade range and college students. They are centered around the youth groups of Christian churches, particularly (though not exclusively) Baptist churches. The camps offer a "staff who does the work so that your youth staff are free to deepen their relationships with both students and God."
The Centrifuge experience includes:
- Strong small-group youth Bible study, led by a trained camp staffer (usually a college student)
- Team-building activity
- Morning and evening worship services
- Camp-wide fellowships, like talent shows (also known as Night-Life), Game Shows, and Mega- relays
[edit] Typical schedule
Though Centrifuge camps vary slightly at each location due to differences in personnel and available facilities, a typical day at Centrifuge would include:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast[1] |
| 8:30 a.m. | The A.M. Show [2] |
| 9:15 a.m. | Quiet time [3] |
| 9:30 a.m. | Bible study |
| 10:45 a.m. | Recreation |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Track Time A [4] |
| 2:00 p.m. | Track Time B |
| 3:00 p.m. | Free time |
| 5:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 6:30 p.m. | Worship [5] |
| 8:00 p.m. | Church-group devotion [6] |
| 9:30 p.m. | Night life [7] |
| 10:30 p.m. | Free time |
| 11:00 p.m. | In rooms |
| 11:30 p.m. | Lights out |
[edit] Locations
In Summer 2006, there were Centrifuge camps located:
- Ridgecrest Conference Center - Ridgecrest, North Carolina
- Glorieta Conference Center - Glorieta, New Mexico
- Union University - Jackson, Tennessee
- Carson-Newman College - Jefferson City, Tennessee
- North Greenville College - Greenville, South Carolina
- Mississippi College - Clinton, Mississippi
- Gulfshore Baptist Assembly Center - Pass Christian, Mississippi (closed during 2006 due to Hurricane Katrina, and moved to William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi)
- Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center - Lynchburg, Virginia
- Springmaid Beach Resort - Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Marriott Baypoint Resort - Panama City Beach, Florida
- Jenness Park - Cold Springs, California
- Skycroft Conference Center - Middletown, Maryland
- West Virginia Wesleyan College - Buckhannon, West Virginia
- Camp Little Cloud - Peosta, Iowa
- Pu'u Kahea Baptist Conference Center - Waianae, Hawaii
- Inlow Camp and Conference Center - Torreon, New Mexico
- Sivells Baptist Retreat and Conference Center - Cloudcroft, New Mexico
- Hesperus Baptist Camp - Hesperus, Colorado
- Mountain Top Baptist Assembly - Casper, Wyoming
- Bambi Lake Retreat and Conference Center - Roscommon, Michigan
- Riverview Bible Camp - Cusick, Washington
- Aldersgate Conference Center - Turner, Oregon
[edit] Past Fuge Themes
| Year | Theme |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Kilimanjaro |
| 2007 | The Underground |
| 2006 | Thrill Ride |
| 2005 | Masterpiece |
| 2004 | Driven |
| 2003 | It's All About Me |
| 2002 | Reel Life |
| 2001 | Virtual Reality |
| 2000 | Face to Face |
| 1999 | Whatever... ya gotta gotta love |
| 1998 | Expedition |
| 1997 | Extreme |
| 1996 | Our World Your Serve |
| 1995 | Major League |
| 1994 | Keys 4 U |
| 1993 | Reach The Peak |
| 1992 | Decision |
| 1991 | Myth or Message |
| 1990 | Impact |
| 1989 | Good News for Fast Times |
| 1988 | Carry On |
| 1987 | On Track |
| 1986 | Glory! |
| 1985 | The Adventure Begins |
| 1984 | ?? |
| 1983 | ?? |
| 1982 | New Frontiers |
| 1981 | ?? |
| 1980 | ?? |
| 1979 | Glory! |
[edit] M-Fuge
M-Fuge originally started in 1996 and was the second Centrifuge spin-off. M-Fuge takes the traditional Centrifuge structure and reorients it toward mission work. Instead of offering classes and recreation during the day, those activities are replaced with missions work like building homes for Habitat for Humanity and serving meals at soup kitchens or homeless shelters. Students also have the opportunity to minister by facilitating games and other recreation at local apartment complexes or Boys and Girls Clubs; visiting assisted-living facilities and nursing homes; and doing yard work for the elderly and other needy people. M-Fuge is open to students in grades 7-12 and college students.
[edit] Centri-kid
Centri- kid originally started in 2000. This Centrifuge spin-off takes the Centrifuge structure and repackages it for students in grades 3-6, with less emphasis on invitations to Christian discipleship and more emphasis on teaching fundamental concepts of the Christian faith. Otherwise, the experiences are very similar.
[edit] Crosspoint Sports Camp
Crosspoint originally started in 1986. It was the first Centrifuge spin off. Crosspoint is designed to combine the structure of Centrifuge with the sports-skills teaching of the traditional sports daycamp. The programming -- and sports instruction -- is designed for students in grades 4-8.
[edit] X-Fuge
Begun in 2005, X-Fuge takes the general template of a normal Centrifuge camp and removes many of the traditional "summer camp" aspects, like assemblies and structured classes ("track times") and reorients the experience toward a Christian retreat: spiritual formation is conducted through worship experiences and optional missions work, but leisure activities, such as swimming or sunbathing on the beach, are more prominent. X-Fuge also features "X-Parties", where Christian rock bands host pseudo-concerts.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Food at Centrifuge camps is usually served in a college dining facility or a camp cafeteria.
- ^ This event combines elements of morning assembly, in the tradition of camp reville, with Christian worship and a humorous skits designed to hold campers' attention while conveying announcements and information about the day's activities.
- ^ Staff and campers reserve about fifteen minutes of "quiet time" as an opportunity to engage in a daily devotional.
- ^ There are two "Track Times" during each normal day of Centrifuge. During these times, campers attend Christian discipleship classes, seminars on Christian topics, recreational opportunities, and the like, all based upon the available offerings. Track times range from "Cults and World Religions" to "Dodgeball" to "Church Music".
- ^ Each night, the entire camp gathers in the central auditorium for Christian worship, with hymns, contemporary songs, Scripture reading, an evangelistic sermon, and a time of invitation to Christian discipleship.
- ^ Each night after worship, campers join the other students from the church with whom they came to Centrifuge for a devotion led by the leader of that group.
- ^ The evening is capped off with a camp-wide assembly that ranges from a talent show to game show-style contests to spiritual exercises.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official website of the Fuge Family of Camps
- LifeWay Christian Resources
- Southern Baptist Convention
