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 1,200
• Guest group revenue increased from about $500,000 to $1.4 million
• Camp seasons moved from empty beds to waitlists
• Staff morale and ministry momentum dramatically improved

Brian also shares encouragement for camp leaders navigating difficult seasons and explains why understanding your market may require rethinking long-held traditions without compromising mission.

Keywords

camp growth, Christian camp leadership, camp marketing, guest group strategy, summer camp enrollment, camp profitability, church partnerships, Hume New England, ministry growth, leadership development

Sound 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.”

Hosts

Mark P. Fisher, Inspiring Growth
Carl Lefever, Improve & Grow

Guest

Brian Mount, LifeShape International

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
00:56 Quick Camp Marketing Tip
04:19 Brian Mount Introduction & Camp Story
07:38 Leadership and Transformation at Hume
09:13 Early Days at Hume
15:51 Lessons Learned from Early Struggles
17:39 Personal Journey and Influences
19:09 The Decision to Partner for Growth
23:51 Strategic Changes and Marketing Innovations
29:36 Indicators of Positive Change
34:00 Achieving Profitability and Impact
40:06 Encouragement for Struggling Camp Leaders

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