What was the purpose of religious camp meetings in the early 1800s?

During the late 1700's and early 1800's there was a Protestant religious revival across the united states. Originally camp meetings were held in frontier areas, where people without regular preachers would travel on occasion from a large region to a particular site to camp out, listen to itinerant preachers, pray, and sing hymns. Camp meetings offered community, often singing and other music, sometimes dancing, and diversion from work. Religion was adapting to the time period.