Phase 1 · Discovery & Strategy
Student journey map
How 10th graders through college-age students, and the parents and leaders around them, find Mind Games, decide to come, and come back.
Ages 15–22 (all seasons)
147 of 156 students with an age on file
High school, 15–17
10th–12th grade core
College age, 18–22
Graduating seniors and college students
Who we're reaching
Two students who attend and two adults who decide or refer
Primary attendee
The Questioning High Schooler
10th–12th grade · 15–18
Wants
- • Friends are going or went last year
- • Real answers to hard questions heard at school or online
- • A summer experience that feels like a step toward college
Worries
- • Will it feel like more school?
- • Will I know anyone?
- • Is it cool enough to post about?
Reach through
- • Youth pastor invite
- • Alumni friends
- • Instagram / TikTok short video
- • Church announcements
Primary attendee
The College-Bound Thinker
Graduating senior to college sophomore · 18–21
Wants
- • Preparing for faith challenges in a college classroom
- • Deeper, adult-level content and serious discussion
- • Mentors and peers who take ideas seriously
Worries
- • Is this for kids?
- • Does it fit around a summer job?
- • Cost when paying my own way
Reach through
- • Campus ministries
- • Returning alumni
- • Email from Probe
- • Podcasts and Probe articles
Decision maker and payer
The Invested Parent
Parent or grandparent of a 15–21 year old
Wants
- • Wants their student to own their faith before leaving home
- • Trusts Probe's reputation and teaching
- • Safe, supervised, well-run program
Worries
- • Cost and scholarship options
- • Safety, supervision, travel logistics
- • Will my student actually want to go?
Reach through
- • Probe email list and radio
- • Church and homeschool networks
- • Word of mouth
Influencer and referrer
The Ministry Leader
Youth pastor, teacher, campus minister
Wants
- • A trusted place to send students with big questions
- • Reinforces what they teach all year
- • Easy to recommend with ready-made materials
Worries
- • Competes with our own summer camp?
- • Time to promote it
- • Unsure what students get
Reach through
- • Direct outreach from Probe
- • Pastor networks
- • Alumni who now serve in ministry
Journey stages
From first hearing about Mind Games to recruiting next year's students
Bar height shows how excited and confident a student feels at each stage.
1 · Sep – Dec
Awareness
Get Mind Games in front of 15–21 year olds and the adults who influence them.
Student: "I have questions about my faith, but I didn't know a camp like this existed."
Parent: "I want something that prepares my kid for college, not just a fun week."
Touchpoints
- • Youth pastor mention
- • Alumni social posts
- • Probe radio / email
- • Church and homeschool networks
Pain points
- • Name 'Mind Games' doesn't explain the program
- • Little short-form video content
- • Reach depends mostly on word of mouth
Opportunities
- • Alumni testimonial reels
- • Youth-pastor promo kit
- • Clear one-line explanation of what it is
Measure: Website visits · social reach · referral sources
2 · Jan – Mar
Consideration
Answer 'Is this for me?' for students and 'Is it worth it?' for parents.
Student: "Will this be boring? Who else is going?"
Parent: "What's the cost, who supervises, and what will they learn?"
Touchpoints
- • Mind Games web page
- • Info email sequence
- • Conversations with alumni families
- • Social proof posts
Pain points
- • Hard to picture a day at camp
- • Cost shown before value
- • Scholarships not obvious
Opportunities
- • 'A day at Mind Games' video
- • Parent FAQ page
- • Scholarship info up front
- • Early-bird deadline
Measure: Email sign-ups · info-page time · inquiry volume
3 · Mar – May
Decision & Registration
Turn interest into a completed registration.
Student: "My friend signed up, so I'm in."
Parent: "The form and payment need to be simple."
Touchpoints
- • Registration form
- • Scholarship application
- • Payment
- • Confirmation email
Pain points
- • Multi-step paperwork
- • Forms tracked manually
- • Registration spikes late
Opportunities
- • Bring-a-friend incentive
- • Abandoned-registration reminders
- • Deadline countdown emails
Measure: Registrations vs last year · scholarship share
4 · May – Jun
Preparation
Build excitement and reduce anxiety before arrival.
Student: "What should I bring? Will I fit in?"
Parent: "Are all the forms and waivers done?"
Touchpoints
- • Welcome packet
- • Forms and ropes waivers
- • Pre-camp group chat or video
Pain points
- • Missing forms chased one by one
- • Quiet period between signing up and arriving
Opportunities
- • Meet-your-mentor video
- • Automated form reminders
- • Countdown content
Measure: Forms complete · waivers complete
5 · Summer
Camp Experience
Deliver the transformative week students will talk about.
Student: "This is the first time someone took my questions seriously."
Parent: "My student called home excited."
Touchpoints
- • Teaching sessions
- • Small groups and mentors
- • Ropes course
- • Photos shared home
Pain points
- • Moments not captured for later marketing
Opportunities
- • Capture testimonials and photos on site
- • Daily parent update
Measure: Satisfaction · testimonials collected
6 · Aug – next year
Alumni & Advocacy
Bring students back and turn families into recruiters.
Student: "I want to come back and bring my friends."
Parent: "I tell every family at church about it."
Touchpoints
- • Follow-up email
- • Alumni community
- • Return invitation
- • Referral ask
Pain points
- • No formal alumni or referral program
- • Returning rate depends on individual effort
Opportunities
- • Alumni referral rewards
- • Returning-student discount
- • College-age alumni as staff or mentors
Measure: Returning-student rate · referrals
Age shares come live from the enrollment workbook. Personas and stages are a working draft. The Phase 1 family and ministry leader interviews will confirm or refine them.