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This spring, the UMCRM Association had the joy of distributing $2.5 million in Ministry Impact Grants, funding 86 different United Methodist camp/retreat ministry projects with a focus on future sustainability. 

Learn more about the 2022 Ministry Impact Grants 

We will be regularly featuring celebrations of completed projects as the reports come in. Congratulations to these centers that successfully accomplished their grant-funded improvements. New opportunities have opened for each of these sites to meet the needs of new generations of campers and guests.

West River Center in Maryland was able to purchase shelter tents and supplies to support doubling their day camp capacity. They experimented with a pilot week of expanded-capacity day camp this season and sold out in 2 hours with a long waitlist. With the week's theme,"On the Water," more campers were introduced to sailing and the unique features of the camp environment. Reaching new campers allowed connecting with more families, reaching more people with the love of Christ and the beauty of creation. The site is now equipped for further expansion of day camp programs in 2023 and beyond. 

Beersheba Springs Assembly (TN) is a pre-civil war hotel that was transformed into a conference and retreat center by Methodists in 1941. Their ministry impact grant project upgraded 8 vintage lodging spaces to provide comfortable, safe, and affordable facilities for youth groups and families. The improvements included updated wiring and electrical panels and installed new HVAC units in the historic buildings. Year-round lodging options were increased by 10% overall, allowing more guests to experience opportunities to connect with God, community, and enjoy the

renewal of retreat experiences.

Westview on the James (VA) has long operated robust high- and low-adventure programming, but the climbing wall had outlived its usefulness and safety. Enter a ministry impact grant that enabled them to envision future ministry with quality high adventure programs, enabled by an updated climbing wall and equipment shed. Memorable experiences in this key program area provide guests and campers with a sense of accomplishment, facilitate trust-building, and build confidence. It is a joy to see campers conquer fears, trust in God, and cheer on their friends to complete the task.

The first UMCRM Community Conversation in our "Discipleship and Faith Formation in a Camp & Retreat Setting" was held Monday, 9/12, led by Todd Bartlett (OR-ID) and Russell Davis (North GA). 

View the recap video

Meredith Petty (Camp Alta Mons, VA) reflects...

I really enjoy UMCRM Community Conversations because we have so many great leaders in our network that are such busy humans, so it's a real privilege to get to spend time with them and ask questions, hear their honest thoughts, and learn more about their guiding camp philosophies. 

"How do we intentionally create space for depth of relationship to be formed so there's emotional safety?"

– Russell

I think that making sure it's known that camp is an inclusive space is key to both forming deep relationships and creating emotional safety. If people are busy trying to hide who they are for fear of being found out and excluded, they will not form deep relationships and (clearly) the emotional safety component isn't there. Russell also said "We must leverage our uniqueness to stay relevant," and I completely agree with that-- this summer our District merged with another District and it's going to be critical to our success and future vitality to communicate why this camp is a resource, has an important impact and role to play within this new, larger District, and ultimately why folks should continue to support the camp's ministry. 

"Belong - Behave- Believe"

– from Celtic style of evangelism, referenced by Todd

I am such a big fan of the "belong, behave, believe" mindset/order and I have seen how inclusion and making sure staff/campers feel like they are a part of the community at camp is #1 and is critical to so many things-- behavior management, relationship building, and faith formation. We have so many campers and staff who show up at Alta Mons very adamant that they are atheist and I love telling them "that is absolutely fine, you are welcome and loved here just the same" and seeing how surprised they are. And then getting to see those same individuals come back year after year and champion the behavior, values, and ideals of Jesus. It's like they became a Christian and didn't even know it. 

"Bibs vs. Aprons"

– classic ministry analogy from Camp Glisson

Also a big fan of Russell's bibs vs. aprons analogy – God calls us to DO things. Jesus DID a lot of things. Camp is the most beautiful way I have ever found to live out what the Bible teaches us to do, and even though it's really beautiful, it's really hard. Many of the things that camp requires of us are hard. But together we can do those things and grow in community and faith. And that is so much more rewarding, meaningful, and growth- inspiring compared to having things done for you and being spoon fed. "We are growing when we are making opportunities for others to be fed."

Thanks to Todd, Russell, and Meredith and all who took part in this fruitful conversation!

Join us for the next one on Monday, September 26th at 4pm ET / 1pm PT to talk about Leading Worship In the Camp Setting.

This spring, the UMCRM Association had the joy of distributing $2.5 million in Ministry Impact Grants, funding 86 different United Methodist camp/retreat ministry projects with a focus on future sustainability. 

Learn more about the 2022 Ministry Impact Grants 

We are celebrating stories from Camp Don Lee (NC), Camp Wanakee (NH), and Camp Allegheny (PA), sharing how their Ministry Impact Grants have come to life in tangible ways. 

Camp Allegheny in Western PA sought a Ministry Impact Grant to purchase a new 6'x10' enclosed trailer, a portable gaga ball pit, and other activity equipment to improve and enhance their traveling day camp program, "Camp on the Go." With the new equipment, the day camp program was able to expand into new communities, providing opportunities of fun and faith development that would not have occurred otherwise. Campers from one new urban community and one very rural community whose churches were not able to offer vacation Bible school or other summer opportunities got to have a faith-filled day camp experience. The camp helped these churches to connect with their local community children and families in a positive and meaningful way. The trailer and durable supplies will enable continued growth for Camp on the Go for many years to come.

Camp Wanakee (NH) utilized its Ministry Impact Grant to accomplish two critical goals: leadership training and staff development, and implementation of a recurring donor management program. Funding enabled engagement of a consultant team to support and train the board of directors as the camp navigates current challenges and envisions a thriving future.

Summer staff training was enhanced through special learning experiences with professional experts in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and addressing camper needs. Finally, while the run-up to summer season wasn’t the ideal time to migrate and upgrade donor management software, they got it done! The financial support helped Wanakee to make a long-term commitment with the software vendor, receiving a significant discount on a multi-year subscription. While it will take some time to fully realize the fruit of these investments, Wanakee expects that their ministry will see positive impacts on donor development, board and staff retention, and ultimately the quality of the camper experience. 

Camp Don Lee (NC) was blessed to receive a Ministry Impact Grant for the construction of a new canoe launch at Gatlin Creek. This installation enhanced safety and accessibility for campers and guests experiencing the creek. Check out the video:

Wednesday, September 21st, 1-3:00 pm ET

and Wednesday, October 19th, 1-3:00 pm ET

The upcoming CAGA Training will focus on being “donor first” and telling the story of the impact your work has on the lives of those you serve. There are a number of ways to tell a single story. The CAGA model is designed specifically to increase financial giving to your organization. Trainer Mitzie Schafer will guide you to tell inspiring stories that donors can’t ignore. 

When is the CAGA training being held?

The training includes two virtual workshops scheduled three weeks apart.

Session One - Wednesday, September 21st, 1-3:00 pm ET

• During this session, we will cover all the foundational principles of CAGA. These include how to identify individuals with a story, how to interview them to gather the intentional pieces needed to tell a true CAGA story, how to write the stories for purpose and engagement, and how to use those stories strategically in your communications. Attendees are given the homework of finding, interviewing, and writing 1-3 stories.

Session Two - Wednesday, October 19th, 1-3:00 pm ET

• During the second session, Mitzie will edit a couple of the stories live. Attendees will learn how to listen for and capture the emotional connection needed for a successful CAGA story. They learn what content to include or omit.

BONUS: After the live sessions, Mitzie will finalize the stories from all participating organizations for immediate use in your publications.

How many people can attend from my site?

Telling the camp's story happens best when everyone on the staff and board listens for how God is transforming lives through your ministry. Because of the busy schedules that come with camp leadership, Mitzie strongly encourages you to develop a Storytelling Team from your board, staff, and volunteers. Not everyone who attends the training will feel like they have the gifts to be a storyteller, but everyone who supports the camp can connect the storytellers to stories if they know what to listen for. This training will equip you to tune your ears to actionable stories. To effectively build a trained Storytelling Team, Mitzie would like you to invite your entire staff, your full board, and any strong/key volunteers who help make camp possible in your setting. 

What if I can’t attend both sessions?

We recognize that some key volunteers may work during the day and other obligations come up when leading a camp and retreat organization. It is best to attend live and be able to ask questions, but we will also be recording the training for those unable to attend. 

How will this apply to my ministry?

Every camp and retreat ministry is impacting the lives of campers, staff, and their communities. Telling the story of this impact will bring people closer to your organization. Donors will be inspired, camper families will feel a deeper connection, and your community will feel proud to be a part of your valuable work. 

It isn’t just that we need to tell the organization’s story. We need to tell it in a way that directly connects the donor to the change that happens in the lives of those we serve. We need to create an emotional connection between giving and impact. The CAGA Model does this clearly and systematically.

After this training, you will walk away with fully edited stories for immediate use, as well as the tools and skills to continue telling effective stories into the future. Here are some sample stories from others who participated in the CAGA Training.

I’m currently serving a non-United Methodist site. Can I still register at UMCRM's discounted rate?

Absolutely! Our other denominational camp leaders through OMC are invited to participate in this training with us. 

Are there scholarships available?

UMCRM has secured a discounted group rate of $790 per camp/center. Regular full price is $3500(!). If this is still cost-prohibitive for your organization, there are Legacy of Leadership scholarships available. UMCRM members can apply for up to $400 based on their need. Scholarships are available on a first come, first serve basis. Keep in mind that the National Gathering is coming up and recipients are limited to one scholarship every two years.

What are others saying?

“I first heard about CAGA Stories during Mitzie’s workshop at the 2021 National Gathering. I knew immediately this was something I wanted to pursue because it felt genuine and doable. I loved that it enabled us to share the excitement we see in changed lives here at Pecometh without asking for money. We did Mitzie’s training early this year and immediately put the concepts into practice. Our first newsletter generated more than 5X the cost of the training AND it’s still paying dividends with every quarterly newsletter.”

-Jack Shitama, Pecometh Camp & Retreat Ministries

Every four years, the United Methodist Church hosts a special event for UM youth. The next event will be held July 25-28, 2023 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Learn more

Youth 2023 will bring together thousands of young people from across the country for fellowship, worship, and fun. The values underlying this event align closely many of the foundations of camp and retreat ministries:

• Provide Sacred Places Apart

• Nurture Christian Faith & Discipleship

• Extend Christian Hospitality & Community

• Develop Principled Spiritual Leaders

• Inspire and Equip Lives for Love & Justice

As a partner in ministry, UMCRM is working with Discipleship Ministries to make it as easy as possible for youth to attend both camp and the Youth 2023 event next summer. In the past, this event extended over a weekend, which interfered with two weeks of summer camp. This year the Youth 2023 planning team intentionally scheduled the event during the week, limiting its impact on our summer camp season.

Here are a couple of ways that camps can help families and churches give both of these opportunities to their youth: 

•  Schedule senior high camp during a week that does not overlap with Youth 2023 (July 25-28). This prevents youth from needing to choose between camp and the event. 

• Offer Youth 2023 as a trip camp! Many small UM churches don’t have enough young people or resources to attend Youth 2023 as a youth group. By offering it as a camp event, all youth from your Conference will have the chance to attend. Price and run the event as you would any other trip camp. You could even add an additional day or two at camp to prepare for or debrief the Youth 2023 experience. 

Another of our UMCRM foundations is to “Partner with United Methodist Churches & Agencies.” While some youth will inevitably need to choose between the national event and a week at camp, Youth 2023 is not in competition with camp. Our camping ministries and the offerings of Discipleship Ministries (such as Youth 2023) build upon each other in a young person’s discipleship journey. We are called to work together in developing disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Youth 2023 is a fantastic opportunity to live out this partnership and create the space to get as many young people to this event AND to camp.

View the media kit for graphics to use in your communications

There are also ways for you to be actively involved in the event. Check out the

This spring, the UMCRM Association had the joy of distributing $2.5 million in Ministry Impact Grants, funding 86 different United Methodist camp/retreat ministry projects with a focus on future sustainability. 

Learn more about the 2022 Ministry Impact Grants 

Recently, Sea Islands Camp (SC) and Wesley Woods Camp (IA) shared about how their Ministry Impact Grants have come to life in tangible ways. 

The Barnum Equestrian Center at Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat Center in Iowa is a trauma-informed, connected community of staff and professionals who work alongside participants in a deeply connectional horse program. Staff training provided by the Natural Lifemanship Institute is rocking the barn to its core, bringing immensely positive outcomes for people and opportunities for ministry growth. Ministry Impact Grant funding has enabled five staff persons to access training and advanced courses in Natural Lifemanship principles. 

Through this trained leadership, six middle and high school students have already participated in the 6-week Relational-MESH program in partnership with the Indianola School District. Teachers and parents are reporting positive impacts on their students in the program. As word spreads about R-MESH, waiting lists are filling for programs to be offered in the fall. The greatest challenge is scheduling enough programs to meet demand! Healthy relationship principles facilitated by the trained Lifemanship leaders are also enriching Wesley Woods’ summer camp horse programs. Continued future growth is ahead for equestrian-based ministry in this special setting.

When the South Carolina Annual Conference acquired the property that would become Sea Islands Camp & Retreat Center in 2019, its capacity was small, and as the ministry vision for the site took shape, it became clear that more lodging would be needed to host the guests and campers who would come to experience God’s love in this unique coastal setting.

This 2019 blog post tells the origin story of Sea Islands

The 2022 Ministry Impact Grant is enabling the site to double its capacity with 32 new bunks. It is a joy to open the gates to a whole new population of campers!

My almost teen daughter Kate just returned from a week away at summer camp. She has been to this particular camp – Mingus Mountain – at least once a year since she was 10 weeks old, with the exception of the summer lost to pandemic (thanks, Covid!). I have taken her, or encouraged her to attend, camps that I was a part of; but for the last several years, going to camp has been high on her list of things she has to do, and the past two years she’s attended camps I wasn’t involved with.

When she started to tell me about her experience, she didn’t tell me about the curriculum chosen, the lessons taught, or the content of the week. I know and trust that there were solid foundations for such, but those aren’t what makes camp a highlight for her. Nor was it the zip line or high ropes’ “leap of faith” – which she tried for the first time this year! – that held her attention and came gushing out. And as much as she loves getting out of sweltering desert heat for a week in the cool pine trees, that wasn’t what she had to tell me about.

“I met so many new friends,” she excitedly volunteered, and went on to describe interactions with other campers, with her counselor, and with staff and volunteers on site. She expressed joy for new friendships, empathy for the sequestered sick counselor, appreciation for the patient nurse, and admiration for all her camp leaders who created space for and invited her to take part in new things. Repeatedly, she mentioned someone and asked “do you know them?” As an introvert who would sooner curl up alone with a book, it was tiring for me just listening to the amount of personal interactions she took part in over the week. She, on the other hand, was beaming, energetic, joy-filled.

Camp friends, I am sure that not everything has gone exactly the way you would like this summer. And yet, there will be thousands of children and teens like my own who come home with joy in their hearts and praise on their lips because of the space you create for relationship building. Self-esteem will grow, faith in God will be nurtured, hearts will know healing, and the world will be transformed for the better, one camper at a time, because of you and your work.

This parent, who is only hearing about camp second-hand, is appreciative to you and all that you are doing. While I anticipate they are never easy, may your summers be meaningful; may they be rich with God’s blessing; and may you end the days with gratitude knowing you have been a means of God’s grace working in the world.

Rev. Ron Bartlow is a former Camp & Retreat Ministries exec in the Desert Southwest Conference. He currently serves as Senior Pastor at St. Paul's UMC in Tucson, Arizona and chairs the UMCRM Association Board of Directors. He is only getting a vicarious camp experience this summer through his seasoned camper children.

Dear Camp & Retreat Ministry community members,

In recent weeks, the vibrance of spring has been shadowed by unthinkable tragedy. The world and our country are grieving. The continually growing number of violent actions against innocent children and blessed communities is heartbreaking. The reports of shootings in New York, California, Texas, and other states across the country cloud our news coverage and every social media outlet. This note to the United Methodist Camp and Retreat community is not to retell the stories you’ve seen on the news, but to call us together into prayer and action. 

Pray for the families of those directly impacted by the tragedy. Then pray for personal strength, taking time to process your own grief and anxiety about recent events. Then, pray for your eyes to be opened to the actions that you can take to bring light and hope to the world. Pray, but also do. 

One important thing you can do is to continue doing what you have been called to do as a ministry leader. There is now a new urgency for camp and retreat ministries to provide holy space for the diversity of God’s people to come and feel loved, not afraid. There is an urgency for us to provide sacred places apart from the realities of society for young people to explore hard questions; for campers to process and lead conversations. Those who are preparing to come to camp or be on retreat are in need of a respite away from the evils of the world; they need to be in a community of unconditional love and acceptance. By making space for love and healing, you enable the Holy Spirit’s work in this grieving world. 

As the month of May comes to a close, the impending summer camp season draws closer. For camp leaders, this time of the year is already filled with excitement, stress, anticipation, and overwhelm. The circumstances of recent tragedies layer anxiety on top of anxiety. Make your mental health a priority. 

For urgent leadership and spiritual support, call the UMCRM Leaders Hive Support Line - 724-766-9783.

Young adult summer staff and the campers that are preparing for camp will soon arrive. They will bring with them the wounds from living through the pandemic. Now they will also bring fresh heartbreaking grief from living in a world that isn’t as safe from gun violence as it should be. Here are a few resources to help prepare for managing grief and trauma this summer:

• Tips and videos for helping children with grief by David Kessler, an expert on grief and loss.

• Camp culture and care for summer 2022 (begin around 18:10). Excerpt from a recent Community Conversation by Tracey Gaslin, Executive Director of Alliance for Camp Health. 

• Free handout on how caregivers can support grieving kids by Dr. Chris Thurber

Take time to develop or review your emergency response plan.

• Camp Security Information from American Camp Association

The UMCRM Association exists to be a resource and connection point for you. Thank you for being a community of people who pray and who keep saying “yes” to God. We’re all in this together.

May God’s peace prevail, 

Jessica Gamaché, UMCRM Association Director

umcrm.org

What is the soundtrack of your summer camp season? Is it largely the same as it was 50 years ago? The sound of rustling trees, children's laughter, waves lapping the shore, buzzing insects, screen doors slamming, clanging cookware, lawnmower, cheering, dinner bell, lifeguard's whistle... many of the background sounds of camp have stood the test of time. But what about the music? 

Singing is an integral part of most camp experiences, especially at church camp. We have traditions of sung meal graces, songs for worship, songs for campfire. Some of us sing on hikes and even for announcements. There's always singing at our talent shows and end-of-camp performances. Guitar accompaniment and a cappella songs (including the rowdy "repeat after me" variety) have been standard fare from our camps' earliest years.

A recent article from Nelson Strickland on the Summer Camp Society blog got me thinking about how the soundtracks of our camps get changed and updated. In "Five Simple Ways To Step Up Your Music Game This Summer," Nelson, a former DJ turned full-time camp pro, challenges camp leaders to think outside of our usual boxes in choosing music for camp. He reminds us that recorded music can be a powerful way to set a mood and bring people together. Unlike the soundscapes mentioned above, recorded music is a somewhat newer addition to camp life. Depending on your site, sometimes music is played to set the tone for a large-group gathering. Maybe staff listen to music while working in the kitchen or shop. Perhaps your program includes a camp dance. Is there music for cookouts, swim parties, or dining hall meals? Is music played on the bus? Who gets to choose those tunes? Who decides what's "church camp-appropriate"? Are counselors allowed to play music in cabins or in program areas? If your camp plays music in any of these ways, Nelson invites us to expand our playlists. Are there familiar TikTok songs that work for camp? Do your playlists include music from other cultures? If you have international staff, let them curate a collection for you! What's comforting, happy music for your campers? – is it K-pop or hip-hop? Trying new things and being inclusive are generally-shared values at our camps, but does that extend to our musical choices? Nelson's "Five Simple Ways" introduced me to unfamiliar genres of Lo-Fi and Kidz Trap. What else might we be missing? 

Just as we're challenged to expand our playlist repertoire for recorded music, I also encourage summer camp leaders to review the standby songs we sing. As you know, "we've always done it that way" isn't a great reason to keep doing it the same old way. Here are some questions to spark conversation with your team:

• Are there some traditional songs that no longer meet the cultural and educational goals of our ministry? 
• Are there lyrics that feel insensitive these days? 
• Do the religious songs we sing reflect the theology we actually want campers to learn? 
• How can we introduce new favorites that reflect cultural literacy and align with our camp's mission? 

Camp Dickenson in the Holston Conference curated a fun Spotify playlist that provided some camp-nostalgic listening during the pandemic in 2020. Check it out here  If your camp has publicly-accessible playlists, please link them in the comments below.

Pictured: Author Jen Burch sings with campers at Camp Alta Mons (VA), circa 1992.

2020 turned our lives upside down. And it turned the world of camping upside down. It opened the floodgates that were already on the verge of breaking. Those gates? Hiring summer staff. Already we had seen a notable trend of summer staff giving one or two quality summers, but we were finding it harder and harder to get those “lifers” (people who spend all of their college summers at camp, even some prior if they came through our developmental program). Staff hiring and recruiting now played such a pivotal role, as turnover was increasing with every passing summer. Pre-pandemic, we had to contend with requirements from school (e.g., mandatory internships, summer classes, and studying abroad). These school requirements factored in with staff pay and the need to find someone to sublet apartments they were already contractually obligated to, required extra effort on the part of camp leaders; still, hiring was hard but manageable. 

Anytime we go to a career fair, developmental hangout, or just see fellow camp people in the outside world, one of the first questions that seems to be asked is “how is hiring going?” Summer camps are similar to a lot of the workforce, having a rough time finding staff willing to work and commit to the time we hope for. To adapt, camps are being flexible, hiring for partial summers, reworking programs in order to run with fewer staff.  However, these strategies are not necessarily sustainable or a healthy practice, and are contributing to turmoil and turnover like never before seen in the camping world, even for year round staff. This all sounds grim and tough, and quite frankly, it is. Camps are setting records with camper registrations and gaining traction through marketing efforts, but it’s challenging to envision having the full staff required to serve a growing camper population.

Camp Tekoa (Western NC) was able to find a new light and hope for encouraging retention once we have staff, in addition to being a powerful recruiting tool. That light? ALUMNI!!! Alumni are the backbone of camp. They are the ones we admire, learn from, and who continue to move forward to carry out the mission of camp. Each of Tekoa’s alumni has impacted hundreds of kids while their own lives are forever changed. Alumni are the reason we have some staff today. They are the reason those “lifers” who grew up as campers decided to give back and work on staff at their home camp. Alumni have a passion for camp that they love to share. In order to fundraise and endure the brunt of the pandemic, our camp relied heavily on reconnecting relationships and leaning on our enduring supporters. This experience led us to realize that our alumni are the reason we still run today; they are the ones we will piggyback off of for generations to come. This realization led us to the logical next step: connect summer staff alumni back to camp in a physical and spiritual way.

With this realization, and considering the staffing shortage we were facing, we decided to invite former staff to return to camp during staff training. They would reconnect with current staff in order to create a positive experience, increase retention rates, and help us to recruit new staff. Our Alumni Panel gathered people from various backgrounds. Together in one place, an accountant, a banker, youth leaders, a program director at a retirement home, and several teachers all were able to share about how their time at Tekoa has helped them with life after school and enriched their professional lives. We hoped that hearing their stories would help to eliminate the stigma that “camp isn’t a real job.” Yes, camp is fun, but it is also transformational. We used the personal connections with alumni to show the importance of camp and how the summer staff experience is worth so much more than the monetary value. Hearing encouraging words from our veteran staff helped ease nerves for current staff, to feel more comfortable for the road ahead that summer. The Alumni Panel experience also provided personal connections with someone in their line of work who shared the common factor of being transformed at Camp Tekoa. Due to the overwhelmingly positive outcome, we expect to continue offering this enriching program for years to come. 

Be inspired by a few quotes from alumni about their time at camp:

“I became a teacher. I was not intimidated when responsible for a large group of kids and I never ran out of activities to do with them. It’s also super helpful to know how to let go and be confident in front of any group of people”

- Julie Noblitt, former camper and counselor

“I just graduated from Law School! Tekoa (and John Isley) taught me how to be efficient while also going with the flow”

- Jo Harcombe, former ropes course facilitator

“When I couldn’t figure out a way to work as a FGL forever so I became a doctor instead. Tekoa summers taught me to take risks and what it feels like to do something you love. Also, how to lead a group and to be a person the vulnerable rely on and look up to.” - Dr. Lindsey Prewitt, former counselor

“I currently work as the Volunteer Coordinator at Henderson County Habitat for Humanity. Tekoa inspired my desire to do mission-based work. My time at Tekoa helped to uncover a passion for people and a drive to get community members involved in something larger than themselves”

- Kayler Debrew, former backpacking resource and counselor 

“I started my fourth (and final) year of medical school with hopes to specialize in anesthesia. As an FGL at Tekoa making quick bonds with campers and providing parental trust and reassurance parallel the patient population about to receive surgery and entrusting they will be kept safe and comfortable”

- Lucy Howard, former counselor and Logistics Coordinator

Special thanks to Camp Tekoa’s Program Intern, Will Busch, for sharing this story. “WillyB” is well-known for his loud singing of "Brown Squirrel" and his creative program planning for family groups. His passion has been being a Family Group Leader (FGL) because he believes that is where the magic of camp happens. Will studied Sports Management at Western Carolina University. He can be found around camp planning schedules, creating social media or slinging some disc golf discs (every shot is a hammer!)