Backyard Kids Camp is back and better than ever!
Check out the details below for registering a camper, hosting a camp, and signing up to volunteer.
WHO
Kids who have completed Kindergarten through those entering 6th grade; 4 and 5 year olds may attend with a parent present for the duration of camp. Kids who have completed sixth grader and up may serve.
WHAT
Backyard Kids Camp is a four-day discipleship opportunity for kids to learn what it looks like to follow Christ, grow together, disciple others, and reach the world and have a BLAST doing so. Each day will include fun activities, games, a Bible lesson, and time to connect with their peers. On the Thursday of the week, we are encouraging families that participated in their individual Backyard Kids Camp site to gather for a time of fellowship, hosting something like an ice cream social or BBQ. This is intended to help neighbors build relationships and get to know one another. This is also a great opportunity to invite the families to our on-site closing event for Backyard Kids Camps designed for families on the evening of June 20th. We will wrap up Backyard Kids Camp worshiping together, playing, learning, and more!
Curriculum Overview
MADE TO MAGNIFY GOD!
Kids will be encouraged to look closely at the details of God’s amazing world and magnify, or proclaim, the greatness of God. God made us, cares about us, loves us, forgives us, and is faithful to keep all His promises to us. We can praise God together! We were made to magnify God!
DAY 1
God Sees Me
(John 1:1-3,12; Mark 10:13‑16)
DAY 2
God Cares About Me
(Mark 4:1, 35‑41)
DAY 3
God Loves Me
(John 4:1‑42)
DAY 4
God Forgives Me
(John 3:1‑21; 18‑20; 1 Corinthians 15:6)
WHERE
Host sites will take place in neighborhoods across north Indy. One of the best ways to get involved is to host a site in your front/back yard or neighborhood common area.
Sign up to be a host home using the link at top!
WHEN
June 9-12 or June 16-19 with a family event on June 20th
Backyard Kids Camps will last between 1.5-2 hours and will take place from Monday – Thursday of the week indicated on the registration. Each location will indicate whether it will run in the morning or evening.
Registration date: TBD; Kids can sign up for their Backyard Kids Camp location right up until the start of the camp.
WHY
Backyard Kids Camp is an opportunity for kids to take the excitement of Harvest Kids Camp to our neighborhoods. We want to provide a fun and safe environment for kids to learn about the good news of the Gospel right in their own backyard.
We cannot wait to see what God will do through Backyard Kids Camp 2025!
FAQ
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On the fifth and final day, we are encouraging hosts to coordinate what we are calling a Family Connect Night at their house, neighborhood clubhouse, or local park. These could be an ice cream social or BBQ or some other way that’s designed to get to know the families of the kids that participate during the week.
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The amount of kids will depend on the size of each host site. Most sites should be large enough to support between 7 and 25 kids.
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Serving at Backyard Kids Camp doesn’t mean that you must serve in Harvest Kids already, or be able to sing, lead a rotation or teach. We need those people, yes, but what we need most is people who are willing to say YES to being used by God to love and speak the truth of the Gospel into the lives of kids and parents. Maybe you love making people feel welcome, maybe you connect well with adults, maybe you do have the gift of crafting, recreation, teaching or worship. Whatever gifts you bring, the Lord can use them. Students 6th grade and older may serve as student volunteers at Backyard Kids Camp. Adults 18 and older may serve in with an approved background check.
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Each day will last between 1-2 hours (most likely 1.5 hours) for each of the four days.
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We are offering a host site specific training on Wednesday April 16th from 6-8pm at the Carmel location that is required for those that want to host a BKC site. Additionally, we will be offering another training for all volunteers on Wednesday May 7th from 6-8pm so that you can learn more about each specific role/activity that will be offered during the camps.
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To best serve you and your families and solidify our Backyard Kids Camp locations, we are going to push the opening of registration to a later date in April. Kids will then be able to sign up for locations at that time up until the beginning of the location they attend begins.
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If you are hosting or serving at a Backyard Kids Camp site, your younger children can participate as they are able. Another great option would be to bring some coloring pages or even some chalk for them to do while they listen and watch their older siblings participate. But they must be supervised by their parent who is hosting or serving.
Questions? Email Ashlee - amabe@harvestindy.org.
