This summer Crusaders are supplementing their traditional "offline' methods of reaching students with the gospel with a new "online' strategy.
These summer holidays over one thousand students aged between eight and eighteen will enjoy outdoor activities, meet new friends, engage in Christian discovery times and have a memorable week away on a CRU Holiday Camp run by Crusaders.
Every year, many students put their trust in Jesus following the week away and since their camps commenced in the 1930s Crusaders have been using various methods of follow-up such as camp reunions, letters, emails and using connections with school chaplains, local youth groups and school Crusader group leaders.
However, with the popularity of the internet among youth, Crusaders say a spate of "social media' opportunities are providing new ways to carry on connections and conversations between campers and leaders post-camp.
Social media can be defined as "internet and mobile-based tools for sharing and discussing information'. The most well-known and popular social media tools for youth today include Facebook, Twitter, Bebo and MySpace.
In launching their brand new CRU Camps website, Crusaders were intentional about using social media opportunities to support this important area of follow-up, says Crusaders Director of Marketing and Development, Anna Wood.
"Kids are increasingly interacting in the online world and we need to be there," Anna says.
"Our new website is designed to be engaging, interactive and effective in pointing campers to safe sites where they can continue discussions with leaders and other campers about issues that face them when they return from camp."
The CRU Camps website includes a "God stuff section' which is targeted at addressing campers' needs when they return home to the "real world'.
This section contains a range of age-appropriate resources such as podcasts including talks from camp, the Bible online, Christian music and articles on various hot topics.
Another exciting initiative for CRU Camps this summer is the use of newly launched "Fervr' " an online social media utility for Christian groups where campers and leaders can interact in camp specific groups.
Fervr's moderated environment enables returning campers to use posts, forums and chat areas to ask their questions about faith, announce camp reunions, post photos and upload camp talks.
The vast majority of CRU Camp leaders are young adults and avid users of Facebook.
Crusaders have therefore also harnessed this opportunity by creating a "leaders only' Facebook group where leaders from all 50 CRU Camps can network, encourage each other and share ideas for camp.
Crusaders Executive Director Gary Hill believes these new online initiatives are a powerful way of retaining community post-camp and providing an environment in which campers and leaders can stay in touch, ask questions and grow in their faith.
"The internet is a vital tool for us in assisting evangelism and nurture. Our new CRU Camps website is geared to achieve this extremely well," he says.
Crusaders are running 21 outdoor camps this summer. Visit their new website to find out more.
