Don't Miss the Benefits of Getting Outside

In today's busy world, we tend to spend an awful lot of time indoors. Often, we are staring at the screens of our computers, televisions, and phones. Our attention is so absorbed we barely notice what's happening around us, much less what's happening outside. In the hectic pace of our lives, we don't take enough time to slow down and connect to the beauty of nature, and because of that, we're missing out on some pretty amazing things.

Heartland's Year In Review [Infographic]

It is so hard for us to put this ministry into an infographic. So much of what we do is relationship based, you can't measure the depth of friendships built or the impact of belong to a Body of Christ for a week. That being said we are incredibly grateful for what the Lord has done at Heartland this last year. We are humbled that God chooses to work through our ministry, check out our summer by the numbers in the infographic below:

Heartland in the Holy Land: Part 4

We have arrived back on American soil, the jetlag is setting in, and the entire trip is starting to feel like a dream. In the middle of this dream-like state, I would like to share the last few days of our adventure with you!

Purpose of Play

Is adults playing with children necessary? Sure it is a nice bonus, but is play something worth sacrificing for amongst activities, work, and so many other things that demand our attention. In my three years as a summer camp counselor the answer to that is a resounding yes. Through play at camp I was able to build trust with campers ages 6-17 and see it lead to deep conversations about life and faith.

Heartland Christmas Traditions

Heartland staff’s Christmas traditions are all over the map; including Norwegian food and hymns sung in Spanish. The one thing all traditions have in common is that they are a big part of what makes the Christmas season special. They help us grow closer to our friends and family as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Our Heartland staff family would love to share our favorite Christmas traditions with you.

Heartland's Eskimo Games

Winter may be here to stay, but that doesn't mean that the games have to go. Heartland has come up with some twists on classic camp games to make them perfect for playing in the snow or for spending a long day indoors!

Can I have S'more?

Roasted marshmallow, crunchy graham cracker, and melty chocolate what could be better than a s'more? Well more s'mores of course. Enjoy some creative twists on your favorite camp treat! If you don't have access to a fire, never fear there is still plenty of goodness inside to keep you happy through the winter!

#campSERVES

The Holiday times are a great time to get the family together and reminisce over the blessings of the past year. It is also a great time to serve as a family. What better way to show your child that service, gratitude, and hard work are important than by serving together as a family. There are plenty of service opportunities for all ages, who knows it might just become the next family tradition.

#campSNACKS

As it starts to get colder it can get harder and harder to remember the good times of summer. To help we are updating a classic summer treat! We have taken the melty chocolate and gooey marshmallows from the campfire s’mores you love and put them in one easy to bake cookie!