Participants in the NEJ "Be Inspired" Gathering were indeed inspired by the many new friends, new ideas, and speakers that we encountered at the event. Many of us drove hours to be part of the NEJ experience. We were met with hospitality from our host site, Mount Asbury Retreat Center, and it just got better and better throughout our short-but-inspiring visit. Our lovely chats and get-to-know-you games were just the beginning of our NEJ community experience. We were inspired by Jessica Gamache (UMCRM Association) and Rev. Kevin Witt (Susquehanna Conference) in a beautiful location to think about the outdoors and creation care.
Shea James (West Virginia Conference) noted that “community is central to camping ministry. Being able to gather, share, and support one another was invaluable!”, a consensus shared by all of the attendees of the conference. Participants came from many sites: Spring Heights Camp (WV), Pocono Plateau and Gretna Glen (Eastern PA), Pecometh (Peninsula Delaware), Greene Hills, Wesley Forest, Camp Penn, and host site Mount Asbury (Susquehanna). Cheryl Bostwick (Pecometh) noted that she felt like “all of the participants were on a level playing field” regardless of the ministry or role in which they served. Executive Directors, Directors, Hospitality staff, Kitchen staff, Programming staff, and clergy all had something to share and learn from each other, because all staff are integral in running a Camp and Retreat Center. Support is invaluable!
Rev. Lisa Jean Hoefner inspired us by introducing a conversation about older adults. We were challenged to think about our programming for this demographic. Many of our camps already do some sort of senior programming, but for others it was a light bulb moment when they realized how much more they could be doing for that group of knowledgeable, skilled, and very interesting adults—the adults who don’t want to be put out to pasture, but want to be challenged, energized, and encouraged. Patty Weidman (Mount Asbury) and Apryl Miller (Gretna Glen) shared about programs their sites offer. Taylor Johnston (Greene Hills Camp) said, “Be Inspired: NEJ allowed me to connect back to why I am committed to camp and retreat ministry. In community we have such a larger opportunity to learn how our ‘whys’ form a much larger picture of just how formative camp and retreat ministry is through all generations.”
Beth Jones of Deep Green Journey led our well-bundled-up group through the forest of Mount Asbury for Forest Therapy. We took a quiet walk through the snow-covered woods and trails, keeping our eyes and ears open for what might happen. We saw green moss poking through a layer of snow, green pine trees, small and large trees which had lost their leaves, but still show the promise of life in the forest. Beth led our journey of “discovering extraordinary possibilities through a restorative connection with the natural world.” An occurrence too rare in our busy lives, we were invited to be quiet and to think, listen, and see the beauty around us. Often, we don’t make the time to do this in our daily lives. We were challenged to make it happen and to restore a little bit of time for ourselves.
More than once throughout our two days of community, the overwhelming feeling was one of positivity. We were inspired by being with other people who understand what we do and why we do it. Camp and Retreat Ministry: you live it, you love it, you have passion for it. Now, leaders from across the NEJ are inspired by it anew.
Richelle Darrell is the Director of Retreat Ministries at Pecometh Camp & Retreat Center (MD), where she has served for over 20 years.
