"Master Site Planning: What It Is and Where to Get Started" with Bob Kahle & Tom Neppl

A thoughtful master site plan can help camps make confident, mission-aligned decisions about their facilities, programs, and land. Through examples from three different camps, Bob and Tom showed that effective planning begins with clear purpose and meaningful input from staff, board members, volunteers, neighbors, and other stakeholders. Participants learned how a master plan can address current site concerns, guide future development, protect valued natural resources, and provide helpful guardrails when new ideas arise. The conversation also covered practical questions about timelines, feasibility, revisiting older plans, and keeping a plan active as needs and circumstances change. One message came through clearly: a master site plan should be a living tool that helps leaders connect today’s decisions with the ministry they hope to sustain for years to come. Thanks to The Sherry Group for sponsoring this Community Conversation and making the recording available free to UMCRM members.