Are Church Camps Harmful? | The Hidden Cost of "Cry Nights," Purity Culture, and Patriarchy

In this episode of the Preacher Boys Podcast, host Eric Skwarczynski sits down with Cara Meredith, author of Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation. Together, they unpack the formative – and often fraught – world of evangelical church camps. Cara shares insights from her 30 years in camp ministry and her research, including interviews with dozens of former campers and staff across the U.S.

The conversation explores the nostalgia and positive aspects of camp, as well as the darker threads: pressured conversions, purity culture, patriarchy, and the marginalization of women, LGBTQ individuals, and people of color. Cara and Eric discuss how church camp acts as a microcosm of white evangelicalism, often pushing conformity and suppressing individuality under the guise of faith formation. They also reflect on leadership, intent, and the importance of elevating marginalized voices within church spaces.

Whether you have fond memories of camp or are re-examining its impact, this episode offers a nuanced look at the complexities, harms, and hopes for change in faith-based youth experiences.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro and why church camp is worth discussing
04:00 Who the book is for and why it was written
07:30 Cara’s history and experience in camp ministry
10:30 The universal positives: fun, nature, and friendships
13:45 The recurring negatives: shame, guilt, and pressured conversions
17:30 Purity culture and its impact on campers
20:00 The intentions of camp leaders vs. the reality of harm
23:15 The business side of camp and conversion
26:00 The role of nostalgia and critical reflection
29:00 Conformity, identity, and the impact on marginalized groups
33:30 “Cry night” and emotional manipulation
36:00 Gender roles, patriarchy, and lack of women in leadership
41:00 What would change if more women led camps?
44:30 Elevating marginalized voices in faith spaces
48:00 Reconciling good memories with the reality of harm
51:00 Final thoughts and who the book is for

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The content presented in this video is for informational and educational purposes only. All individuals and entities discussed are presumed innocent until proven guilty through due legal process. The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers.