Hands on Ministry at SKY Summer Camp
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Each summer, the sound of Summit’s campus changes. Classroom conversations and chapel services give way to the laughter of children, the splash of the pool, games in the field, and counselors walking from one activity to the next with campers close behind. For several weeks, the 100-acre campus becomes home to SKY Summer Camp, a day camp serving children and families from Hershey, Harrisburg, and surrounding communities.
And in the middle of it all are Summit students.
This summer, around 15 Summit students are serving as counselors at SKY Camp, spending their days investing in children ages 5-15. They are leading activities, encouraging campers, settling conflicts, cheering from the sidelines, praying with children, and showing up again the next morning ready to love and lead. It's joyful work. It's tiring work. It's ministry.
At Summit International School of Ministry, we define ministry as “living for the benefit of others.” camp gives our students a very real opportunity to do exactly that.
SKY Camp exists to give kids and teens a safe, fun, Bible-centered summer experience right here in Central Pennsylvania. Throughout the summer, campers enjoy sports, games, field trips, pool time, friendships, and meaningful moments with Jesus. For local families, it is a place where children can be known, encouraged, and cared for. For Summit students, it is a hands-on opportunity to take what God is forming in them and pour it out for the benefit of someone else.
At SKY Camp, Summit students learn how to lead when they are tired, listen when a child needs extra attention, and stay steady when plans change. They learn that ministry often looks simple: tying a shoe, giving a high five, including the child who feels left out, helping a group work through conflict, or taking a few moments to pray with someone who needs peace. Those moments may not always feel dramatic, but they matter.
"SKY Camp has confirmed that God truly called me to love and disciple the next generation, making my Summit experience not just a season of learning but a place where my heart for ministry came alive." - Ashley, Summit Class of 2026
When people think about ministry training, they may picture faraway missions trips, church platforms, or future leadership roles. Those things matter. But some of the most meaningful formation happens close to home. It happens when a child from the local community is looking to you for safety and encouragement. It happens when a counselor chooses compassion over convenience. It happens when students discover that serving Jesus is not separate from serving people.
This summer, as Summit students serve the children of our community through SKY Summer Camp, we are reminded again of why Summit exists: to train men and women for ministry through a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ. Not just for classrooms, chapels or for the future. But for the families, churches, and communities right in front of us.
Ready to begin your own season of hands-on ministry training?