June 12, 2026

Matt Kirk

A Photo Essay: The Scenes of Chapter Camp on an Island

Most InterVarsity chapters have traditions of getting away from campus, spending a weekend or week growing deeper with their communities and with God.

For some schools, this looks like a week on Catalina Island over spring break.

This is Chapter Camp.

the bay of campus by the sea at sunrise looking out to the pacific ocean

Arriving by boat, 360 students and InterVarsity staff from 12 schools in the Rocky Mountain Region (New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, Montana, and Idaho) descended on an island with minimal electricity and no internet.
This was the largest group ever to attend Campus By the Sea, requiring the camp to make special arrangements to be able to fit everyone.

students and staff arriving by boat to catalina island walking up the dock carrying their luggage

students and staff carrying their luggage up the rocky path up the hill to get to their cabins

100s of students gather at the amphitheater for orientation

Every morning started with an hour of time with God.
Some students hiked to the cross at the top of the hill. Others enjoyed listening to waves on the beach.

The scenery of the island provided the perfect space to experience God's presence.

two students looking across the ocean standing on the hill with the cross silhouetted against the sunrise

16 students sitting on the sand facing the ocean having quiet time

11 dolphin fins seen swimming past the rocks just off the shore of campus by the sea

After breakfast, InterVarsity staff led wakeup activities to get students' minds and bodies moving and thinking about themes of the passages of Scripture they were going to study. Everyone then headed to the first of several "track times."

students crowd the dock early in the morning to stretch out their muscles by spelling out coconut

bringing to life the parable Jesus tells about a strong man (Mark 3:27) - two staff workers arm wrestle in front of their students to see who is the strongest as students cheer them on

Those attending camp for the first time participated in “Mark 1,” a study revealing who Jesus is in the first half of the book of Mark. Next year, they'll each finish Mark in the next track called “Mark 2.”

staff leading track time in a big white tent set up on the volleyball court because they ran out of room - students built little sandcastles in the sand between the tables as well

3 images showing the details of manuscript Bible study. 1. A woman fingers through a pile of books looking for references. 2. A piece of paper on the wall asks Who is Jesus? as the week goes on they will fill in what the book of Mark has to say. 3. Snacks on table as students study the book of Mark.

students sit on the ground outside their meeting hall as they read through the Bible together

between sessions students gather around staff workers to ask further questions

Dating back to the 1950s, students have spent up to eight hours a day studying the book of Mark, a long-standing practice of InterVarsity camps and conferences.

detailed photo of Bible and manuscript Bible passage highlighted and marked up

students in track time with questions about the book of Mark written on the white board.

Large poster filled with student written "Life Questions."

Mark studies are paramount to this chapter camp. As students engaged in communal discussions and deep observation of the text, they developed a new understanding of the Bible.

Track time - Students sit around a table littered with snacks and reference materials and water bottles. Students raise their hands to answer questions from the leader up front.

3 images showing students discussing the book of Mark together. Photo 1 under tent, photo 2 around a table in the sand, and photo 3 in the gaga ball pit.

students sitting together in circle outside studying the Bible. The volleyball court, basketball court, and ocean are seen in the background.

After lunch, students had free time to rest or do outdoor activities together.

7 Student hold hands to pray before a meal.

3 students walk on the rocky beach in life jackets. Several kayaks are in the foreground and many students are rowing kayaks in the ocean behind them.

7 women hike up the mountain in the distance.

4 students try to play doubles Table Tennis.

a student jumps to spike the ball over the net and the opposing team goes to block during the volleyball tournament with the ocean in the background.

Dinner was followed by worship on the beach as the sun set. Each campus chapter led worship took turns leading worship every night as everyone praised God together.

a row of students link arms in the amphitheater as they worship at sunset.

the camera focuses on one student worshipping in the crowd with smile on his face and a hand lifted up.

staff worker prays over students in the crowd after worship with ocean in the background

After grabbing some coffee, students spent more time with their tracks, often engaging in prayer for each other or discussions until 10 or 11 p.m.

Camera looks through the window as students pray before chapter time

Students hold flashlights to illuminate the manuscript passage as they try to answer a question from the staff.

two female students reading and discussing what the passage means

Students worship on the dock outside under the star filled night sky. One student looks up at the sky.

On the final day of camp, 29 students were baptized –– professing their faith in Jesus in front of their communities that helped lead them to him.

In the amphitheater in front of the ocean a crowd of students extends their hands in prayer towards the 29 students about to be baptized.

Students rejoice with lifted hands and cheers after coming up out of the water right after being baptized

two men embrace on the beach after one comes out of the water after being baptized

Students commented on how fast this amazing week went by when you as they made lifelong friends and lifelong decisions about their faith. Praise God for the truths that were learned this week and the impact it will have on lives back on campus.

Students embracing with arms around shoulders talking and reflexing on the week while looking out to the ocean

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Matt Kirk

Matt Kirk serves as the Director of Photography for twentyonehundred, InterVarsity's communication team, continuing to learn how to tell the story of what God is doing on the college campus. Before moving to the National Office in Madison, Wisconsin, he was a student leader with InterVarsity at UC Santa Barbara, and a volunteer staff after graduation.