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As an adult leader of programs and staff involving teens (and as a grandfather of four of them!) I sometimes relate to my own anxiety about our present time and project it onto them. What kind of world, nation, church are we providing for them in the future? How can they be hopeful and faithful when everything seems to be in chaos?

“Reimagining Ministry for Gen Alpha”, a new report from Barna and Christ in Youth, offers some insights into how faith formation is impacting this generation, which is defined as people born from 2010-2025, better known as “screenagers.” These are the ones, raised by Millennial parents, who experienced remote learning during COVID as children and represent over 2 billion people globally.

Barna offers a term that is relevant to our context: “Faith-Activated Teens.” “Activation” is scored across six areas of a teen’s faith life: spiritual practices, evangelism, service, faith integration, a sense of belonging, and a perceived call to ministry or missions. The study focused on the teens who scored the highest in “faith activation.” So, how are these faith-activated teens doing in terms of the faith they are being nurtured in and the world in which they live?

 [The More Teens Engage with Their Faith, the More Tension They Feel] 

In the study, among these FATs (faith-activated teens), 44% say that they feel real tension between their faith and what their friends or culture expect of them, compared to 27% of the average teen. When it comes to all teens, 35% strongly agree that “my faith feels more private than connected to everyday life.” Among the FATs, that number climbs to 51%. And where 27% of all teens struggle to connect what they believe about God to real-life situations, 43% of FATs say the same.

Hmmm, we say, shouldn’t it be the opposite? Shouldn’t a teen whose faith is active be able to make better connections between faith and real life? Barna cites Philippians 4:7, which indicates that “the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Faith=Peace>Anxiety?

But Barna’s researchers say that FATs struggle more than the average teen because they are paying closer attention to their spiritual lives, taking faith seriously enough to test it against what is happening in their real-life situations. Wrestling with a relevant and meaningful faith – that sounds like good news! Also, among FATs, 72% strongly agree that their youth group challenges them to think deeply about theology and scripture. 66% say their youth ministry helps them prepare to answer the hard life questions because the leaders give them the tools and the space to do it.

How does camp provide tools and space for deep engagement with theology and scripture? 

How might we invite and support campers in applying their faith to hard life questions?

Time is one great gift we in camp and retreat ministry have to offer to Gen Alpha participants. Time at camp or on retreat is time away from the often-contradictory messages of faith and social life. It is also intentional, safe, and concentrated time in which to wrestle with deep questions in sacred community. Spiritual practices can be taught and experienced during a camp week or retreat weekend, and new opportunities are emerging for camp leaders to connect with these campers and guests from Gen Alpha throughout the year.

As we serve in ministry with Gen Alphas, these findings help to clarify our task. The more we engage or “activate” teen faith, the more it may bring up tension and anxiety about the lives they are living. Yet what a gift it is to provide a safe space for young people to explore, learn, share, and decide what integrity in faith means for them. What a gift it is to walk alongside the next generation as they wrestle anew with how to live as faithful people in this chaotic world. 

David Berkey is Co-Coordinator of UMCRM’s Character at Camp Grant Initiative and Project Manager of Inside Out Christian Camp Resources.  

Since 2017, the Solomon Cramer Fund has been sending young people to camp by granting scholarship funds to United Methodist conference camp/retreat ministries. Through these grants, camps have developed innovative programs that reach new people in new places, widening the circle of leadership and campership.

Scholarship grants from the Solomon Cramer Fund encourage UMC camps to consider the breadth of our ministries by focusing on the following four priorities:

• Experiences that minister with youth living in poverty

• The intentional development of young people for spiritual leadership and/or leadership with Camp & Retreat Ministries

• Camp experiences that collaborate with local churches and agencies in processes of faith formation 

• Opportunities for increasing racial/ethnic diversity within ministry participation and leadership. 

Fifteen programs received Solomon Cramer Fund grants in 2026, totaling $34,900. The UMCRM Association is excited to celebrate our first set of completed programs. Check out these highlights from the grant reports!

Ashley Youth Campers - Camp Lakewood (IN)

This initiative establishes a strategic partnership with a local church in Ashley, Indiana, to bring children from rural, under-resourced backgrounds to a week of summer camp. By coordinating transportation and providing full scholarships, the program ensures that logistics and finances do not prevent local students from experiencing outdoor adventures and spiritual mentorship. Campers participate in a wide range of activities, including ziplining and archery, while being discipled by trained counselors in a Christ-centered environment.

This year’s grant supported 15 campers. Aleczandria’s story provides a glimpse of the impact:  As in any great week of camp, Aleczandria’s cabin was filled with fun—laughing together, trying new activities, spending time outside, being silly, and creating the kinds of memories kids talk about long after they go home. But what happened in that cabin went much deeper than simply having a fun week. Her cabin counselor, Lydia, intentionally created a cabin community where each girl felt known, loved, and included. They prayed together, opened scripture together, asked questions about Jesus, encouraged one another, and learned what it looks like to live out their faith alongside other people. Throughout the week, Lydia wasn't simply teaching the girls about Christ—she was showing them what following Christ can look like through the way she served, encouraged, listened, and loved them. By the end of the week, the girls had grown tremendously close. They celebrated one another, prayed for one another, and experienced firsthand the grace and love that is at the heart of Lakewood’s mission. After camp, a letter arrived from Aleczandria's mother that beautifully captured why experiences like this matter. She shared that one of her greatest prayers is that her daughter would grow up to be like the leaders she experienced at Camp Lakewood—people who are full of grace, full of love, and full of Christ.

Traveling Day Camp - Camp Chestnut Ridge (NC)

The Traveling Day Camp is a mobile program that brings the camp experience directly to local United Methodist churches to overcome transportation and language barriers for underserved populations. The initiative specifically targets children from Hispanic communities and families experiencing homelessness, providing them with activities like archery, team building, and worship. This year, the program is expanding to include specific leadership development roles for older campers who have aged out of the traditional participant roles.

45 campers were able to participate this year; 5 on full scholarship. One camper at the Millbrook UMC site was a refugee from South America. His family had just arrived in the United States, and the Traveling Day Camp was one of the first things he got to do. Having him in camp allowed his mom time to get settled in a new country and search for a job. In what was a tumultuous time where his life had been turned upside down, the camper was able to find love and safety in the counselors and church volunteers at TDC. His parents were so appreciative that he was able to just be a kid and play with other kids instead of worrying about all the stressful things going on in his family's life at the moment. Being able to provide a place of safe harbor for this refugee camper was a special time for the camp staff as well.

Innabah Day Camp  - Camp Innabah (Eastern PA)

This project provides campership assistance for elementary and middle school students from the Pottstown area who face economic hardships. Participants engage in a safe, welcoming community where they build resilience through daily swimming, nature exploration, and team challenges. By partnering with local school personnel and community leaders, the organization identifies youth who will most benefit from these transformational, faith-centered experiences.

The grant supported 11 children in attending summer day camp this year, experiencing a summer filled with new friendships, outdoor adventures, and the welcoming community of Christian camping.

Mission Service Camp - Little Grassy Camp and Retreat Center (Illinois Great Rivers)

Brand new this year, Mission Service Camps provide opportunities for youth groups to participate in week-long missions focused on home repair and environmental stewardship. These experiences combine hands-on service with intentional spiritual formation and peer-led leadership training to help participants put their faith into action. The program specifically seeks to empower underserved youth, equipping them with the confidence to return to their home congregations as motivated leaders.

Fifty participants took part in a Mission Service Camp this season, with funding assistance from the grant. One of the service opportunities the youth participated in was making and serving a meal to the homeless at a ministry soup kitchen. Volunteers from our program enabled the ministry to provide a hot meal every day to those in need. 

Glisson First Camper Grant Scholarship Fund - North Georgia Camp and Retreat Ministries

The Glisson First Camper Grant Scholarship Fund is designed to build trust and increase diversity by supporting first-time overnight campers from racial- and ethnic-minority backgrounds. By reserving specific registration blocks and partnering with local minority ministry organizations, the program ensures accessibility during the most popular weeks of the summer. The initiative creates a unique faith environment where young people can build meaningful relationships that transcend racial and ethnic differences.

Jonah didn’t know what to expect when he entered into camp. While Glisson was just an hour away from his home, Jonah had never been to camp. In fact, Jonah had never been to any overnight camp before. While he was a little nervous at the beginning, it was clear early on that he was in for a great week at camp. According to Jonah, some memorable parts of the week included singing songs during the night chapel services, having encouraging conversations with his counselors, and making four new friends in his living group. His absolute favorite part of the week was building a fire at the campout. “We had trouble getting the wood to light at first,” he recalled. “But we kept working at it and finally got it to start.” This was particularly memorable because Jonah felt closer to his living group once they sat around the roaring fire and enjoyed what they had accomplished by working together. Jonah looks forward to coming back to camp next year and hopes to bring a friend. 

Leadership Opportunity Through Camp Experiences for Migrant Youth - Ocean Park Camp and Retreat Center (Pacific Northwest)

This brand-new pilot program offers a culturally responsive summer camp experience specifically designed for migrant youth from Latino and other underrepresented communities. The initiative features a youth leadership track that includes bilingual orientation, stewardship projects, and outdoor skills workshops to build confidence and identity. Participants engage in hands-on environmental education and practice public speaking by leading peer discussions in both English and Spanish.

One high school participant—let's call him Leo—had spent his entire life never having set foot on a trail or explored a natural park. Because Leo had heavy responsibilities taking care of his little siblings after school, he typically wasn't able to join traditional extracurricular activities. However, thanks to this grant program, Leo could participate in an inclusive camp experience right alongside his younger sibling. Through the training and activities, a teenager who was initially shy and felt disconnected from the outdoors discovered a natural talent for leadership. The true turning point came when Leo got to guide his own sibling and other young students through outdoor learning activities, watching them look up to him with pride and excitement. This grant didn't just introduce Leo and his family to nature; it broke down barriers to participation, helping him step into a powerful mentorship role and discover a newfound confidence he will carry into every part of his life.

Counselor-in-Training Program - Camp Connect at Epworth By the Sea (South GA)

The Counselor-in-Training Program is a leadership development initiative for graduating high school seniors, particularly those from rural areas with limited access to ministry formation. Participants engage in virtual community building followed by an immersive hands-on residency where they mentor elementary campers and explore their own vocational callings. This bridge program is designed to equip the next generation of staff and church leaders with the practical and spiritual skills needed for lifelong service.

One of our 5 grant-funded CITs, Sydney, wanted to be a counselor since she was a young camper. That changed when her father – a pastor – died by suicide. Sydney's dad had always been the one to bring her to camp, chaperone retreats, or even bring the entire family for Young Clergy Week right after Christmas each year. Sydney did not think she could handle being back at the camp that reminded her so much of her father. She was honest with us through the application process and hesitant even up until the day she was to arrive for her CIT week. God used the week to bring healing to Sydney's heart through a community of counselors and staff who prayed for, encouraged, and walked alongside what could have been a difficult week. Sydney used the week to pour into her campers so they could experience what she did as a camper so many years ago.

The Bridge Project - Shoal Creek Camp (AR) 

The Bridge Project collaborates with university programs and local churches to offer an enriching outdoor camp experience for children living in poverty. College students and youth serve as trained mentors, guiding campers through activities like swimming, fishing, and Bible study focused on faith development. The initiative removes financial barriers for both the young participants and the student volunteers, fostering a safe environment for personal growth and leadership.

One of the 12 student leaders supported by this year’s grant is an eighth-grade student who is homeless. Her father works, but is unable to provide a stable home, and her mother just got out of a drug rehab facility. Through the grant, she was able to attend camp. She was a leader for a small group and a mentor for several younger campers. She has great leadership potential, but because of her home situation, she is rarely chosen at school or in the community to be a leader. Coming to camp allows her an equal opportunity to grow as a leader and share her skills and gifts to help others.

A second installment celebrating more of this year's Solomon Cramer Grant-funded projects will be featured soon. 2027 grant applications will open in the first quarter of the new year. 

I recently stumbled upon the National Geographic documentary, Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold, and started watching it with my six-year-old. As a fellow adventurer and risk-taker, he was hooked immediately.

Part of the appeal is Alex Honnold himself. If you don’t know the name, Honnold is arguably the best climber in the world, most well-known for his free solo (no ropes or safety gear) ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite. Earlier this year, our National Gathering design team even paused a meeting to watch him scale the Taipei 101 Tower on live TV.

My son and I were both captivated by the climbing, but Arctic Ascent is about much more than that. The expedition takes place in Greenland, where Honnold and his team are traveling through a landscape of massive cliffs, glaciers, ice fields, and rivers of meltwater. Oh, and moulins, which I learned are not a fantasy species akin to ghouls or goblins like one might think, but actually large holes that carry water from the surface to the bottom of a glacier (both awesome and terrifying). 

Alongside the climbing, scientists are studying what is happening to the broader landscape as the climate changes. Ice is melting and glaciers are sliding more and more rapidly into the sea. Terrain that feels ancient and permanent is shifting in ways that are visible within our lifetime.

There is an interesting contrast here. On one hand, the team is climbing mountains that seem rock solid and immovable. On the other, they are documenting a landscape that is actively being reshaped. Glaciers and mountains both have a way of looking permanent… until they’re not. As I watched, I found myself pondering how this relates to camp.

Those of us in camp and retreat ministries know something about landscapes, both literal and figurative. We know the rhythms of the summer season, the traditions that shape a community, the programs families expect, the staffing models that have worked, and the facilities we depend on. It’s easy to get comfortable with the thought that the plates will never shift, or the ice will never melt. But what do we do when the landscape we have grown comfortable with begins to change beneath our feet?

Being able to hold tightly to the things that are most essential (Christian community, hospitality, belonging, care of creation, etc.) while also loosening our grip on the particular ways those things have always been delivered will be increasingly necessary in navigating a changing landscape.

Another thing that stuck out about Arctic Ascent was how the team was focusing on two levels at once. Honnold and the other climbers were looking directly ahead, studying the rock and finding a route, down to the most minute moves. Meanwhile, the scientists were looking at the landscape itself, studying the patterns and trying to understand what was changing around them. The expedition was designed around both the climb and the broader investigation of climate change in the region.

Once again, there is a parallel to camp. Most of the time, we are climbing. We’re planning the next retreat, recruiting the next staff member, fixing the broken thing (usually a toilet), answering the email, catching up on receipts, and putting out whatever fire started in the last five minutes. There is always another handhold just ahead.

And, in the midst of our climb, we must be able to pause and look around us. What is really going on with our environment, and how might that inform where we go next? The question isn’t whether the landscape will change, because that has always been the case. The question is whether we will notice and have the imagination and courage to help shape it.

These are just some of the questions we will be exploring together at the National Gathering at Zephyr Point from January 24-28. Who knows, maybe Alex Honnold will have another feat for us to admire when we gather again? Learn more and register now!

Until then,

Stephen

Stephen Ward is a member of the 2027 UMCRM National Gathering Design Team. He's also the Director of Camp Lookout (Holston, GA), husband to Ellen, and dad to Micah and Owen. We're grateful for the adventurous spirit he brings to "the shape of change."

By the end of summer, camp leaders often hold two stories at once. One is filled with campers who grew in confidence and faith, staff members who discovered their gifts, and programs that came together. The other includes staffing gaps, facility surprises, difficult conversations, and long days.

Both stories appear in the 2026 Post-Summer Camp Leader Pulse Check. This year, UMCRM partnered with Sacred Playgrounds to collect responses through their annual national survey. This snapshot focuses on what the 56 United Methodist camp leaders from the survey told us about their summer.

Enrollment is moving in an encouraging direction

Nearly 43% of responding camps served more campers than the previous summer, compared with 30% in UMCRM's 2025 survey. The share reporting a decline fell from 42% last year to about 27% this year. Another 30% held steady. Altogether, nearly three-quarters of responding camps maintained or increased enrollment in 2026. Most changes were less than 10%, so this does look like steady progress rather than a sudden surge. Camper numbers remained the most frequently named challenge, selected by about one-third of respondents.

Church relationships may be part of that story. Declining engagement in churches was the second most common challenge, named by 32% of leaders. More than half of the camps with lower enrollment also selected it. That does not prove causation, but rebuilding enrollment may begin with rebuilding relationships with congregations.

Staffing progress held steady

In 2025, 67.5% of responding camps met or exceeded their summer hiring goals. This year, 66% did. The encouraging growth in this area that was noted last year appears to have held, even if it has not reached every camp.

However, the experiences remain uneven. Nearly one-third of respondents named staff recruitment or retention as a leading success, while about one in five named it as a challenge. Camps finding success may have practices, timelines, or staff-culture lessons that could help colleagues still struggling to fill their teams.

Staffing also appears connected to leader wellbeing. Among camps that hired fewer staff than hoped, 44% of leaders felt exhausted, drained, or burned out. Among those that met or exceeded their goals, the figure was 22%. The sample is small, but the gap deserves attention.

Strong programs were carried by tired leaders

Overall, 89% of respondents said their summer went either good or great. Their most common successes were staff performance, program quality, and staff recruitment or retention. Staff training, volunteer engagement, and safety also ranked highly. 

Leaders assembled teams, prepared them for ministry, and created experiences they believed were safe and meaningful. Yet many finished the season running low. Half described themselves as tired but not depleted. Another 21% were exhausted or drained, and 7% reported feeling burned out. Only about one in five felt fresh or energized. The response options changed between this year’s survey and the 2025 survey because of the Sacred Playgrounds partnership, so these figures cannot be compared cleanly with last year. Still, three of the four leaders who felt burned out also said their summer was great.

A great summer and a depleted leader can exist at the same time. If we measure success only by enrollment or program quality, we can miss what those outcomes required from the people responsible.

The pressures that leaders experienced varied. Camper numbers, declining church engagement, and site and maintenance issues topped the list of challenges. Camper behavior, staff performance, and recruitment followed. Write-in responses named grief, rebuilding trust, staff conflict, growing administrative demands, family crises affecting employees, and unfilled year-round positions.

These problems rarely stay in neat categories. Aging facilities consume time and money. A vacancy increases everyone else's load. Staff supervision affects program quality, while church relationships influence who hears about camp. We hope that seeing these common challenges across the survey helps leaders resist carrying every difficulty as a personal failure. Observing these trends also helps UMCRM see where shared learning is most needed.

Opportunity for a conversation to have now:

Before the memories fade, gather the people who helped carry the summer at your camp and ask:

• What should we keep? Name the practices, decisions, and relationships that helped campers and staff thrive.

• What should we change? Identify what created unnecessary strain, confusion, or extra work.

• What can we release? Consider what could be stopped, simplified, delegated, or handled differently before next summer.

Then choose one change and decide who will help move it forward. That may mean reconnecting with churches, improving staff supervision, beginning a maintenance plan, or distributing summer responsibilities differently.

Celebrate the summer your team made possible. Then use what you learned to make the next one healthier for the people who will carry it. 

Thank you to all who responded to the Pulse Check survey, and our deep gratitude and admiration for all of the camp leaders in our community who give so much of yourselves to create a meaningful experience for the campers. We see you and appreciate you!

Back in 1989, I left the corporate world in Texas to return to outdoor ministries. I had grown up in a camping family. My parents ran Lutheran camps for over 22 years, and camp was part of my growing up and my college summers. But coming out of grad school, I really felt I needed to do the corporate thing. I worked close to eight years for Arthur Andersen doing information system consulting before I felt the tug back to outdoor ministries. It was at that time that I landed at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in the southern Colorado mountains.

That first year was tough. I actually thought I was going to be fired after my first summer. I had to quickly learn what was important and what could be set aside. I developed a strong philosophy of camping because I was defending it almost daily. My Dad had wise advice: “Your Board is tired from doing the hiring process twice in two years. They will put up with you another year and by then, you’ll be fine.” To my relief, he was right.

The next 37 years became an enormous journey of learning, growing, maturing, and refining my skills as we led camp, learned to fund raise, learned to work with all kinds of people, and learned how to center all my work deeply in my faith. I was part of the Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (LOM) network, and realized the incredible resource I had around me to do my ministry. I learned from those experienced leaders and mentors, and slowly became one myself for many of the new, up and coming directors. Coming out of the corporate world where everything was proprietary and you never shared information with anyone, I realized that the best thing I could do for outdoor ministry was to share my knowledge and become a support for those who were just starting their careers.

I retired as Executive Director at the end of 2025. My time at Rainbow Trail was a true blessing in every sense of the word. I am a different person today because of the place and the people that I encountered. Those treasured relationships will extend far beyond my time as Director.

I joined Gronlund, Sather, Brunkow (GSB Fundraising) in January of this year with the intent to share much of what I had learned over the previous 37 years. Sure, I wanted to help with fundraising annual funds, and even capital campaigns, but I also wanted to see if there was a way to pay it forward through teaching and mentorship. I envisioned working hand-in-hand with new Directors and Executive Directors, helping to kick start their time in their new role the way my early LOM mentors did for me.

With that in mind, I developed four different cohorts around the workings of outdoor ministries. The first cohort centers on financial management, reading financials, and developing budgets. The second cohort focuses on a different approach to summer staffing, recruiting, training, and deepening relations with your alumni. The third cohort is on camp fundraising basics – not a deep dive in any one area, but enough information to help get you started. And the final cohort centers on camp operations – site and facilities, food service, Board relations, and ACA Accreditation. If you want to know more, please contact me at jarvis@gsbfr.com or 719-429-1377. I would love to talk with you and see if there is a way we can work together to help you grow and expand your ministry!

GSB is a Business Affiliate Member of the UMCRM Association. Learn more about Business Affiliate Membership and view our other business members. Learn more about the Cohort programs and other resources at GSB's Center for Generosity.

Welcome to the way-too-early, unofficial, pre-conference playlist for the 2027 UMCRM National Gathering!

Spotify Link
YouTube Music Link

"Why do we need a National Gathering playlist?", you might be asking.

Truthfully, this is just Jeff's excuse to share new music with UMCRM friends. Who doesn’t like new music? 

Like any good mixtape or burned CD of yesteryear, there is a rhyme AND a reason to this playlist. My goal was to sonically or lyrically encapsulate an aspect of our Uplift theme or our Lake Tahoe destination. You’ll notice hashtags that help explain which element of our conference I think each song best connects to. But don’t stress out too much about that. There won’t be any trivia questions about this playlist. (Or will there??)

While I tried my best to cast a wide net to fit as many genres as possible, the pastel color palette and overall hopeful message tended towards more poppy and positive music. Think sparkly synths, mellow vibes, and jazzy basslines. Sorry, Phoebe Bridgers fans!

While I don’t expect everyone to love every song, I hope you're able to find some new music to connect to through this playlist! Can’t wait to see you all in January! 

Fall Into Place by Couch

#ShapeOfChaos 

If there was ever a non-corny musical about working at camp, I’m convinced this song would be the opening soliloquy for the Camp Director.

Keep It Up by Good Neighbors

#PureVibes #ShapeOfCourage

Millennials, if you liked Grouplove, Cold War Kids, or Passion Pit, then you’ll like Good Neighbors.

Then The Rain by Joe Pug

#ShapeOfCommunity

Joe stands firmly in the tradition of singer songwriters like Bob, Joan, John and Joni. If you’re an acoustic-only kind of person, this one’s for you. 

Make It Happen by Josha Daniel

#PureVibes #ShapeOfCourage

This song is what I feel when I look at our Uplift logo. Pure retro Synth-Pop.

Take Me Where You Go by Fulton Lee

#ShapeOfCommunity

“Don’t let the lights outshine you girl. Don’t let the shadows drape your world.” – Fulton Lee

Epigram by Tycho

#PureVibes

This is what I feel when I stand on the shoreline of Lake Tahoe. Big air, cold sparkly water, grounded by mountains.

Dreamers by DOUBLECAMP

#PureVibes

Funky bass, bright synth. Who doesn’t need more of that in their life?

Pacific Coast Highway by Jeff Lorber

#PureVibes #ShapeOfCreativity

How can we have a color palette and conference location so retro without having a little bit of retro music? Straight from 1990’s Weather Channel Local on the 8s, it's smooth jazz. Use this for your travel montage.

Good Day by Surfaces

#PureVibes

Mellow pastel pop, projecting good vibes your way.

Tides by flipturn

#ShapeOfChange 

This is what all the cool college kids are listening to nowadays, at least the ones who aren’t chronically on TikTok. Having trouble with staff recruitment? Wear a flipturn sweatshirt to your next visit and tell me I’m lying.

Anything Could Happen by Dylan Cartlidge

#ShapeOfCourage #ShapeOfCreativity

This song is very “World Cup” to me. Still a banger. “You might win, get up, and start again.”

Received by The Avett Brothers

#ShapeOfCreativity #ShapeOfChange

I know all of UMCRM was wondering how I was ever going to get our favorite band, The Avett Brothers (jokes) in a playlist that tends towards pop. But I’ve done it! While there are many elements of this album that feel very “on brand,” The Avett Brothers' collaboration with Mike Patton (Faith No More) shows a willingness to step out, embrace newness, and search for creativity in unlikely places. And if that ain’t the whole dang point of our theme, then I don’t know what to tell you!

Breezer by Tigers Jaw

#ShapeOfChaos #ShapeOfChange

This is probably the most sonically challenging song in the playlist, but boy did I feel this song my first few summers as a Program Director. Anyone in our field who has experienced a change in role, camp, or community, probably will relate to this one! 

Echoes by Appleby

#PureVibes #ShapeOfChange

This one is simple, but all about being at peace with what may come our way.

00:01 by Hundred Year Storm

#ShapeOfCourage

Your benediction. If you really liked Explosions in the Sky or This Will Destroy You, you will like this one. “Here’s to new beginnings, Here’s to a new start”

Spotify Link

YouTube Music Link

Jeff Wilson, who is graciously donating his time and talents as one half of UMCRM's 2027 National Gathering Co-Chair team, is the Director of Operations at Camp Lake Stephens (MS). His love for camp began as a counselor at Camp Lake Stephens in his freshman year of college and led to him eventually accepting God's call to serve in full-time camping ministry. Jeff and spouse Emily have two children, Jude and Sollie, and they share a love of being outdoors and traveling. Jeff achieved certification in United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministry in 2015. Now we've got a glimpse into Jeff's musical taste, too. You'll have lots to discuss with him and 250+ new friends from the UMCRM community when we all meet up in January.

Learn more & register for the UMCRM National Gathering

In my role with UMCRM’s Character at Camp initiative, I’ve been thinking a lot about character development and how leaders of character are formed at camp. I noticed powerful illustrations of character development in the Inside Out films from Disney Pixar. 

The movie plots show how, as we collect life experiences, we are developing a “sense of self” and a set of beliefs. Riley (the movie’s protagonist) struggles with the contradictory beliefs “I am a good person” and “I am not a good person,” based on her experiences and feedback she has received throughout her life. Her behavior and choices are impacted by the story she tells herself about her character. As our campers and staff journey through the experience-rich setting of camp, how can leaders model and invite reflection on the beliefs and “sense of self” they bring with them? As we debrief challenges and celebrate growth, we can reinforce character-building narratives that support not only positive behaviors but the belief systems that underlie those behavior choices.

In the movie, Anxiety begins to hijack Riley in the teen years, and we are reminded of the out-of-control thoughts and feelings that can be part of the transition to adulthood. Many of our campers and young adult staff are living in that reality, yet the camp experience can help them develop tools for pausing and centering (as Riley does in the penalty box in Inside Out 2). Narratives like “I am a beloved child of God,” and “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine” can make space for different self-understandings and fresh choices. Community practices of grace, forgiveness, and encouragement can support campers and leaders alike in developing the kind of character God created us for.

Near the end of Inside Out 2, Joy reminds Anxiety that “you don’t get to choose who Riley is.” We don’t get to choose who our campers are or who they will become. However, our camp’s culture can model and invite a healthy sense of self and positive beliefs that reinforce good behavior and character development. We are all created in God’s image. God made humans and called them good. Together, let’s practice living that identity and helping one another embrace our intrinsic goodness.

Rev. David Berkey

Co-Project Coordinator

2026 UMCRM Character at Camp Initiative

It’s late January 2026, the last full day of our retreat to kick off planning the 2027 National Gathering. The team is about ten of us - a mixture of UMCRM staff, board members, and the National Gathering leadership chairs. We’ve spent the week filling lots of giant sticky notes with ideas and options and visions; they coat every surface of our meeting space. Every surface except the windows behind us that look out over Lake Tahoe.  

Lake Tahoe was formed from the uplift of mountains on the east and west sides, while another smaller block slipped down and the north end filled with lava.  Over time, snowmelt and rain filled the basin, creating Lake Tahoe, one of our country’s most beautiful alpine lakes. I can’t really wrap my head around that amount of change, not with my small life.

It’s a good reminder that change is a constant in this life – whether it’s the camp budget this year or the formation of these mountains two million years ago.

At our midday break, I trot down to the waterfront with Ryan, the Hospitality Chair, in my swimmies and a hoodie. Ryan has convinced me that a cold plunge is a good idea. I'd said I’d do it earlier this week, and I’m not really one to back out of something like a cold plunge (even if I am questioning my life choices currently).  

On the count of three, we run in, and then as soon as my head comes out of the water, I am hooping and hollering, while Ryan bears the cold a little more stoically. We raise our hands in the air for a quick photo from our friends on the dock, and we run out. We high five and walk gingerly over the pebble beach towards our cabin where a warm shower awaits.

On the other side, we are new. 

There are moments like this all through life. It wasn’t just the cold plunge, but the week of planning, too. The time together shapes us anew. As camp leaders, we all know this. Community is formed first in the small moments: sharing a meal or sitting next to each other at the camp fire. But then it’s the big moments – the cold plunges – that solidify that something has changed.

I have found this sense of community over and over again in camp ministry. You have, too, I’m guessing, or you wouldn’t be doing work that asks so many hours and so much energy. In the last many years, the community that has most captured me is at these National Gatherings. These are the friends that I go to when the entire landscape changes.

Come join us January 24-28, 2027 at Zephyr Point Presbyterian Conference Center for a time to connect with old friends and new. Learn more and register!

Hope Montgomery is Assistant Director at Camp Magruder, Oregon. She's a singer-songwriter, artist, and, along with Jeff Wilson from Camp Lake Stephens (MS), is bringing her creative spirit as co-Chair of the 2027 UMCRM National Gathering Design Team. 

Summer staff training season is here. Across the country, camp and retreat leaders are preparing worship spaces, finalizing schedules, organizing supplies, praying over cabins, and welcoming young leaders who will soon help shape the spiritual lives of campers. There is excitement in this season, but also weight. Camp communities are formed quickly, and the culture that staff create in the first days of training often becomes the culture campers experience all summer long.

Most camp leaders care deeply about creating spaces where people feel welcomed, valued, and safe. Yet hospitality is deeper than friendliness alone. Christian community asks more of us than simply “being nice.” It invites us to notice who feels seen, who feels left out, whose voices are centered, and how our everyday actions shape belonging.

Recently, UMC’s General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) released a helpful resource exploring the difference between overt and covert racism. The resource offers language for recognizing both visible and subtle ways exclusion can take shape within Christian community.

For camp and retreat ministries, this conversation matters because camp is such a deeply relational environment. Campers and staff live, worship, eat, laugh, and grow together in close community. The small moments matter. The offhand comments matter. The assumptions matter. The patterns of who is included and who is overlooked matter. Sometimes harm appears in obvious ways. More often, it emerges quietly through habits, assumptions, humor, silence, or unexamined norms that unintentionally communicate who belongs and who does not. For summer staff teams, this conversation does not need to begin with fear or defensiveness. It can begin with curiosity, humility, and a shared commitment to Christian hospitality. 

Camp communities are full of opportunities for belonging — and also opportunities to unintentionally exclude. It may look like:

• assuming a camper is unfamiliar with church or worship practices because of how they look or speak

• joking about names, hair, food, or cultural differences during staff bonding

• consistently choosing the same types of leaders for visible roles like worship, games, or announcements

• labeling some campers as “difficult,” “aggressive,” or “not a good fit” without reflecting on underlying assumptions

• expecting everyone to communicate, worship, or lead in the same way

• allowing “camp traditions” to continue without asking who might feel uncomfortable or unseen within them

Many staff members do not intend harm when these moments happen. That reality is important. But intention alone does not determine impact. Part of leadership development is learning how to recognize the ways our actions affect others and growing in our ability to respond with grace, accountability, and compassion. Camp ministry is uniquely positioned to help young leaders practice these skills because camp communities are immersive, relational, and rooted in shared life together.

Opportunities During Staff Training

Sharing the GCORR resource with your staff may be helpful in framing deeper questions for reflection & discussion. As your summer staff prepare for campers, consider creating space for conversation around questions like these:

• When have you personally experienced genuine belonging in Christian community?

• What are small actions that help people feel welcomed and valued?

• What are behaviors or assumptions that can unintentionally communicate exclusion?

• How do we respond when someone causes harm without intending to?

• What does Christian hospitality require beyond friendliness?

• How can counselors avoid making assumptions about campers’ backgrounds, families, or experiences?

• How do we help create a staff culture where people can speak honestly, learn, and grow together?

These conversations do not need to be perfect to be meaningful. In many cases, the most important step is simply creating intentional space to listen, reflect, and grow together as a community.

At its best, camp ministry helps people encounter the love of God through community. Intentional conversations about belonging and inclusion can help build awareness around the culture and values that are important at your camp.

Christian hospitality is more than welcoming people into our space. It is the ongoing practice of helping people know they are valued within the body of Christ. It asks leaders to pay attention not only to programs and schedules, but also to relationships, culture, and the dignity of every person created in the image of God.

Summer staff will not get everything right this season. None of us do. But camp and retreat ministries have long been places where people learn how to live differently together — with humility, courage, grace, and love. We hope this summer is another opportunity to practice exactly that.