Top Gun is a ministry within the Heartland Church Network to support HCN Kid’s Kamp and Kid’s Ministry to train God’s people to effectively disciple children. Summer camp is a prime time and environment for learning the many dynamics of discipling kids.
The goal of Top Gun is to train teens and adults not only to learn how to disciple the kids at camp, but to be able to then return home and disciple the children in their local churches. Ultimately, this training program aims to build up and equip the kid’s ministries within HCN.
The goal of Top Gun is to train teens and adults not only to learn how to disciple the kids at camp, but to be able to then return home and disciple the children in their local churches. Ultimately, this training program aims to build up and equip the kid’s ministries within HCN.
There are 3 levels of Top Gun Training: Serve - Goose | Teach - Maverick | Lead - Iceman
Top Gun Serve – “Goose” (starting this camp season)
This level is designed to train and equip dependable and effective servants to be competent in children’s ministry. All Kids Kamp staff will go through this training prior to their first time at camp. (This includes all of 2024 staff as it is the first year of Top Gun.) Training will include:
Kamp is for the Camper
This level is designed to train and equip dependable and effective servants to be competent in children’s ministry. All Kids Kamp staff will go through this training prior to their first time at camp. (This includes all of 2024 staff as it is the first year of Top Gun.) Training will include:
Kamp is for the Camper
- Emphasizes the essential need of putting others first; humility.
- Reminds the staff that this is a time to serve. The program is designed around the children and the focus is on their fun, safety, and discipleship.
- Walks staff through the learning cycle to better understand how to reach and teach campers.
- Teaches staff how this will relate in terms of camp program, shepherding, and peacemaking.
- Trains staff on what to do for camper health and safety.
- Reviews the camps policies, procedures, emergency procedures.
- Walks staff through the How-To’s of camp.
- Provides a walk-through of the campgrounds and the camp schedule.
- Teaches how to share the gospel with kids.
- Coaches in ways to have one-on-one and small group discipleship conversations with children.
- Trains in how to lead quiet times and devotions.
- Explains how to set camper goals and why.
Top Gun Teach – “Maverick” (starting in 2025 camp season)
This level of training will focus on developing teachers. The goal is to learn how to build effective teaching environments and tools that could work in a variety of ways with all ages and stages of kids.
For a Kids Kamp staff member to train at this level, he/she has either applied for the position or has been invited in by the HCN office or Kids Kamp core staff. The number of spots will be limited 2 men and 2 women.
This level of involvement will take more of a time investment. Prior to Kids Kamp, these trainees will meet with the Kamp Director and/or Kamp Pastor to receive instruction and guidance. During this time, he/she will learn to plan and execute teaching plans and program elements for the week of camp. Training will include:
Lesson Planning
This level of training will focus on developing teachers. The goal is to learn how to build effective teaching environments and tools that could work in a variety of ways with all ages and stages of kids.
For a Kids Kamp staff member to train at this level, he/she has either applied for the position or has been invited in by the HCN office or Kids Kamp core staff. The number of spots will be limited 2 men and 2 women.
This level of involvement will take more of a time investment. Prior to Kids Kamp, these trainees will meet with the Kamp Director and/or Kamp Pastor to receive instruction and guidance. During this time, he/she will learn to plan and execute teaching plans and program elements for the week of camp. Training will include:
Lesson Planning
- Working out goals, tools, and methods for effective Bible teaching lessons
- Learning to brainstorm and collaborate with other staff members for theme continuity.
- Thinking through ways to create experiences for the campers that draw out essential elements of the lessons.
- Recognizing the needs of the group and adjusting planned experiences as needed.
- Taking from previous training and camp experience, expanding camper goals to further discipleship in group settings
- Creating more detailed and specific camper goals that relate to the spiritual growth of the campers.
- Analyzing the lessons and experiences and making needed adjustments as they teach throughout the week of camp.
- Building on this experience to grow and plan for future lessons, be it at their local church or at camp the following summer.
Top Gun Lead - "Ice Man" (starting in 2026 camp season)
This level of training is intended for current or future children’s ministry directors. With this training, the staff member would be ready to facilitate the complex program that is either Kids Kamp or church children’s ministry.
For a Kid's Kamp staff member to train at this level, he/she has been invited in by the HCN office or Kid's Kamp core staff. The number of spots will be limited each year.
The Ice Man level trainees will assist in planning the overall Kids Kamp program by attending monthly meetings throughout the year. They will train staff and develop necessary skills for directing the program the week of camp. Training will include:
Staff Training
This level of training is intended for current or future children’s ministry directors. With this training, the staff member would be ready to facilitate the complex program that is either Kids Kamp or church children’s ministry.
For a Kid's Kamp staff member to train at this level, he/she has been invited in by the HCN office or Kid's Kamp core staff. The number of spots will be limited each year.
The Ice Man level trainees will assist in planning the overall Kids Kamp program by attending monthly meetings throughout the year. They will train staff and develop necessary skills for directing the program the week of camp. Training will include:
Staff Training
- Learning the how’s and why’s of staff training.
- Facilitating the training for the Goose level camp staff.
- Developing the needs skills to work out the peacemaking model with parents, campers, and other staff members in both one-one-one and group situations.
- Exercising authority biblically as the director to keep camp fun, safe, and godly.
- Participating in the planning of Kids Kamp throughout the year.
- Implementing the learning process in discipleship dynamics with campers, junior leaders, and adult leaders.
- Building programs that integrate learning, discipleship, fun, safety, and diversity.
- Evaluating curriculum and lesson plans to make sure they are biblical and fit the intended teaching points and camp theme.
- Speaking to large groups that include children.
- Effectively teaching and communicating complex ideas in large group environment.
- Learning how to regain the attention of a large group.
- Making critical connections with others within the network, outside of camp.
- Recruiting staff, servants, and support.