Camp History

Our Story

In 1953, Dr. Horton, the founder of Pensacola Christian College, began a summer camp to reach elementary-age kids—Camp o’ the Pines. But he was burdened to help teens grow spiritually as well as physically and academically during the summer. Teens were invited both to Camp o’ the Pines and to summer camps on the campus of Pensacola Christian College for cheerleading, basketball, music, and more.

In 2000, YOM Summer Camps officially opened, with 880 campers attending twelve specialized camps. Over the years, more camps were added, and today 9th–12th graders can attend one of fourteen unique camps to explore their interests and deepen their walk with God. Campers stay in state-of-the-art residence halls and enjoy recreational facilities like the 216,000-square-foot Sports Center. Over the past 46 years, Summer Camps has hosted 418 separate weeks of camps with nearly 29,000 participants, and in 2022, it was officially renamed to NEXT Summer Camps.

Ready for an adventure this summer? Join us at camp!