Each summer, thousands of kids gather in Bellevue’s Worship Center to dive into a world filled with outrageous adventure, unforgettable characters, and biblical truth. For nearly two decades, CampOutrageous has been more than your average Vacation Bible School— it’s become a place where kids discover God’s love in powerful ways.
It all started in 2008 with a simple script borrowed from a church in Knoxville, where Mark Blair, Bellevue’s Minister of Music, had helped develop a creative VBS experience centered around a camping trip a few years earlier. The presentation was called “CampOutrageous,” and the show was an instant hit at Bellevue. The “CampOutrageous” name stuck and became our VBS name, even as we moved beyond camping themes and explored fantasy quests, historical dramas, and larger-than-life allegories.
“CampOutrageous became its own brand in just one year,” said Mark Alexander, Director of Design Services. “Even though none of the shows were about camping after that, the name captured the sense of fun and adventure for the following summers.”
From the very beginning, CampOutrageous has been built on the creativity and dedication of a behind-the-scenes team committed to making each year bolder and more spiritually impactful than the last. Every character, every set piece, every moment on stage, and every classroom decoration is the result of a labor of love by staff and volunteers who believe that God can use even the wildest stories to teach timeless truth.
“Our volunteers are the backbone of what we do,” Preschool and Children’s Pastor Ken Hindman said. “I think what makes CampOutrageous so special is the fact that we have the people who can do this.”
This year’s CampOutrageoous was complete with singing cowboys, an underground mine, a mysterious map, and an allegorical showdown between good and evil. Quest Out West pulled kids into a high-stakes tale of rescue and redemption.
“There’s something so special about the combination of a creative story and clear biblical truth,” Ken said. “The energy of the week was off the charts, but so was the spiritual depth. We saw kids respond to the Gospel, ask questions about faith, and walk away knowing that God loves them and has a plan for their lives.”
After months of planning, writing, building, and rehearsing, the vision for this year’s CampOutrageous finally came to life. Quest Out West was the largest set ever constructed for a CampOutrageous production, thanks to Mark Alexander and the design team. Turntables, roller drops, and stylized western elements brought the world of a western adventure to life on stage—but it’s not the spectacle that matters most.
“At the end of the day, it’s not about the lights or costumes or songs,” Ken said. “It’s about the moment a child realizes Jesus loves them. That’s why we do this. We may only get five days with these kids, but eternity can be changed in just one.”
Year after year, CampOutrageous continues to grow—not just in numbers, but in its impact on hearts and homes across the community. After all, that’s what CampOutrageous has always been about—ordinary people stepping in to share God’s extraordinary story.
Relive some of the best moments of CampOutrageous: Quest Out West by visiting campoutrageous.org.