The UMCRM Association had the joy of distributing $1.7 million in Ministry Impact Grants last year, funding 68 United Methodist camp/retreat ministry projects across the U.S. with a focus on future sustainability.

Learn more about the 2023 Ministry Impact Grants

UMCRM will be celebrating completed projects in this ongoing series until all of the 2023 grant recipients have been featured. Join us in giving thanks for the vision, hope, and expanded ministry reach represented in these stories. One of the goals of the grant was to support initiatives for future ministry sustainability. The sites featured this week observed that program innovation and upkeep are an integral part of keeping their ministries vital. 

Rolling Ridge (MA) – Earth Center

In 2022, Rolling Ridge received a $15K Ministry Impact Grant to successfully complete Phase 1 of the 5-phase plan for an Earth Center for environmental education and eco-spirituality. Phase 1 saw the expansion of kayaking ministry and the launch of a composting ministry, along with a Land Acknowledgement initiative and partnership of land legacy with the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People. The plan for Phase 2 was to hire a part-time instructor/consultant to help envision and launch a comprehensive environmental education program of natural history and indigenous history. Rolling Ridge was thrilled to connect last fall with just the right person to move this vision forward. Todd Warfield, who is indigenous in heritage, Methodist in spirituality, and an herbalist by training, is well connected in the New England Annual Conference and is currently in the final stages of being confirmed as a Home Missioner. With Todd’s expertise supported in the first year by Ministry Impact Grant funds, Rolling Ridge will be able to move forward with the research, program design, and partnerships that will continue to implement the overall Earth Center vision.

Twinlow (ID) – Waterfront Safety

Twinlow takes the safety of campers, visitors, and staff very seriously. The CPR portion of their staff/lifeguard training was a weak point in their system, as the camp did not have enough CPR training materials. Fifteen staff using two training manikins was ineffective. The grant allowed Twinlow to purchase an adequate number of manikins, AED trainers, CPR masks, lifeguard tubes, and more. It provides wonderful peace of mind to know staff will be well trained and equipped for situations we hope will never happen. The grant also covered replacement boat paddles, life vests, and a few paddle craft. This project alleviated training challenges and will enhance waterfront safety at Twinlow for at least a decade. It also enables the camp to become a hub for low-cost CPR training for local churches and the community.

Pecometh (MD) – High Ropes & Challenge Course Upgrades

The Challenge Course has been one of the best investments ever made at Pecometh. In 1998, a group of volunteers built, with their own money, a low challenge course. The following year, a professionally built high course was added. Every summer, hundreds of campers learn team building, leadership, and cooperative skills. In 2022, 22 guest groups, composed of 600 guests, came to Pecometh because of the challenge course to help them achieve their group objectives. At that time, most of the camp’s climbing obstacles were in trees and would need to be retired due to tree growth in the very near future. New pole obstacles have an estimated 30 year life span, compared to the 7-10 year lifespan of tree obstacles. With the Impact Grant funds, Pecometh replaced two high climbing elements and made renovations to a third. They also were able to purchase necessary program equipment to support climbing activities. The new elements enable participation by larger groups. Campers and guests at Pecometh will have two new exciting challenge elements to enhance their experience this summer and for many years to come.

Overlook (VA) – Climbing Wall & Zipline

Camp Overlook utilized the grant to build a climbing wall that can handle 4 climbers at a time, with varying degrees of difficulty and adjustable features. Adjacent to the wall, a zero gravity zipline was installed to provide an exciting challenge for participants from a wide range of age, size, and abilities. Participants can climb up the wall or use a ladder to reach the launching point of the zipline. These new program elements will help campers and guests to experience success in the face of challenges, learning about themselves in the process. The project cost included ground preparation, tree removal, structure materials and professional installation, and activity gear. Additional donors pitched in to match the grant to fully fund project completion in time for summer camp 2024!

Mount Shepherd (NC) – Environmental Education Program

Mount Shepherd Retreat Center is passionate about teaching children and youth about the environment and and how God has called us to take care of the world around us. This project envisioned new ways to bring those lessons alive for campers and school groups year-round. Monday-Thursday in the “second season” (non-summer) is the camp’s period of least use over the year. In partnership with local school districts, they developed a daylong environmental education program for students to explore the natural world amid the beauty of Mount Shepherd. They are also implementing enhanced Creation care programming during the summer camp season. The new educational modules include:

- Pond Studies

- Educational Nature based hiking

- Wildlife studies

- Star Gazing (specific to our overnight camper program)

The grant money equipped the program with supplies such as fish nets, bug viewers, microscopes, telescopes and much more!

Camp Horizon (KS) – Challenge Course

This grant provided the catalyst Camp Horizon needed to launch a capital campaign to repair and improve their challenge course. The funds received from UMCRM springboarded the acquisition of an additional $150,000 from other donations. Camp Horizon’s challenge course is the iconic activity for their camp community, featuring 11 high ropes elements and 14 low ropes elements, first built in 1998. New course design technology offered the opportunity to improve the existing course while accomplishing needed repairs. The new course offers transformative learning experiences for hundreds of campers and guests each year.

Learn more and view previous Ministry Impact Grant project summary reports here