It might not feel like it yet, but BigStuf is just over a month away.
And while camp itself is only five days, what you bring into that week matters more than most people realize.
Camp is an investment. Whether you are a parent helping make it possible, a leader who has spent months planning, or a student getting ready to go, there is time, energy, and intention behind it.
But any wise leader or parent knows this: the impact of camp does not start when you arrive. It starts now.
Yes, there are practical things to think about. Packing lists, travel details, making sure everything is squared away. That is all part of it.
But there is also groundwork that happens beneath the surface. And that is what often determines whether camp is just a good experience, or something that actually sticks.
Here are a few ways to prepare for BigStuf in the month leading up to camp.
1. Pay Attention to What You’re Bringing With You
Everyone shows up to camp carrying something.
For some, it is excitement. For others, it is stress, insecurity, distractions, or things they have not fully processed.
Instead of ignoring that, take a few minutes to be honest about it.
What has been weighing on you lately?
What has been distracting you?
What have you been avoiding?
Camp is one of the few environments where you will have space to actually think clearly. The more aware you are going in, the more open you will be when those moments come.
2. Decide Now That You’ll Be Present
It sounds simple, but it is one of the biggest factors in how someone experiences camp.
You can be physically there and still miss most of it.
Presence is a choice.
It looks like putting your phone down more often.
It looks like leaning into conversations instead of checking out.
It looks like engaging in sessions even when you are tired.
Deciding that now, before you ever step into the room, changes everything.
3. Start Small With Consistency
You do not need to overhaul your entire routine to prepare for camp.
But building small rhythms now can make a big difference.
That might look like:
- Setting aside a few minutes each day to read Scripture
- Taking time to pray, even if it feels simple
- Creating space to reflect without distractions
It is not about doing this perfectly. It is about creating a posture of openness before you arrive.
4. Think About Your Group, Not Just Yourself
One of the most overlooked parts of camp is how much the group dynamic shapes the experience.
If you are a student, think about how you want to show up for your group.
If you are a leader, think about the tone you want to set.
Are you someone who includes others?
Are you someone who initiates conversations?
Are you someone who helps people feel comfortable?
Camp is not just something you attend. It is something you contribute to.
5. Lower Your Expectations, Raise Your Openness
Sometimes the biggest barrier to a meaningful experience is expectation.
If you come in expecting a specific moment, a certain feeling, or a particular outcome, you might miss what is actually happening.
Instead, come in open.
Open to conversations you did not plan.
Open to messages that challenge you.
Open to moments that look different than you expected.
Often, the most meaningful parts of camp are the ones you did not see coming.
6. Give Yourself Permission to Engage Fully
There is always a temptation to hold back a little.
To stay slightly guarded.
To not fully engage.
To keep things at the surface.
But camp works best when you step into it fully.
That means:
- Participating, even when it feels awkward
- Being honest in small group
- Letting yourself actually enjoy the moments
No one gets the most out of camp by staying on the edge of it.
The Month Before Matters
Camp is five days.
But what happens in those five days is shaped by the weeks leading up to it.
The conversations you are willing to have.
The mindset you bring.
The openness you choose.
All of it adds up.
So as you look ahead to BigStuf, do not just think about getting there.
Think about how you are arriving.
Because the groundwork you lay now is often what allows camp to become something more than just a great week.
