Faith and Community Camp Community Research and Listening

Ask likely participants and caregivers what they need. Do not assume the loudest committee members speak for every family.

Ask about hours, dates, transport, price, food, language, access, trust, and the program's faith or community content. Learn which barriers have stopped people attending before.

Speak with people who do not already attend your organization as well as existing members, if both groups are part of the intended audience. A program designed only around insiders may be confusing to new families.

Ask children what makes them feel welcome and what they enjoy. Keep participation appropriate and do not collect sensitive information unnecessarily.

Offer translated or accessible ways to respond where feasible. A meeting at one time or in one language may miss the people you most hope to serve.

Report back with concrete decisions. “You asked for earlier pickup information, so we have published the full transport plan” builds more trust than simply saying the community was consulted.

Your task: Identify three needs supported by real conversations and show how each changes the camp plan.