Ep 11 | How a Camp Went from Struggling to Waitlisted

Hume New England launched with a bold mission: bring the Hume camp experience to the Northeast and expand gospel impact in a region with fewer large Christian camp ministries. But early years brought operational setbacks, financial pressure, staffing challenges, and a camp model that didn’t fit the realities of East Coast churches.Before the interview, Mark shares a marketing tip about “riding the wave” instead of trying to create one. He explains how listening to church leaders led Hume New England to shorten camp sessions, lower pricing, and redesign programs around what churches and families actually needed—changes that ultimately helped fill more beds and increase ministry impact.Brian Mount then shares what it was like stepping into Hume New England as COO during COVID and leading a turnaround effort that required operational changes, measurable marketing systems, and a willingness to challenge long-standing assumptions. The conversation explores adapting camp structures for smaller churches, embracing guest groups, improving follow-up and marketing accountability, and overcoming internal resistance to change.The results were significant:Summer campers grew from roughly 620 to nearly 1,200Guest group revenue increased from about $500,000 to $1.4 millionCamp seasons moved from empty beds to waitlistsStaff morale and ministry momentum dramatically improvedBrian also shares encouragement for camp leaders navigating difficult seasons and explains why understanding your market may require rethinking long-held traditions without compromising mission.Keywordscamp growth, Christian camp leadership, camp marketing, guest group strategy, summer camp enrollment, camp profitability, church partnerships, Hume New England, ministry growth, leadership developmentSound Bites“Tradition is a tool. It’s not a trophy.”“We were doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.”“Every empty bed is a potential missed opportunity for someone to hear the gospel.”“Start small and don’t be afraid to fail.”HostsMark P. Fisher, Inspiring GrowthCarl Lefever, Improve & GrowGuestBrian Mount, LifeShape InternationalChapters00:00 Introduction and Background00:56 Quick Camp Marketing Tip04:19 Brian Mount Introduction & Camp Story07:38 Leadership and Transformation at Hume09:13 Early Days at Hume15:51 Lessons Learned from Early Struggles17:39 Personal Journey and Influences19:09 The Decision to Partner for Growth23:51 Strategic Changes and Marketing Innovations29:36 Indicators of Positive Change34:00 Achieving Profitability and Impact40:06 Encouragement for Struggling Camp LeadersHave a question you'd like us to cover?Click here to record your question >If this episode was helpful:Follow / subscribe to the podcastShare it with another camp leader who could benefitWant Help Growing Your Camp?Schedule a Chat with Mark >Schedule a Chat with Carl >