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. 

Twenty-one programs received Solomon Cramer Fund grants in 2025, the most that have been funded in a single year. The UMCRM Association celebrates the completed programs. Here are some highlights from the grant reports. We'll feature more projects next week!

IGNITE 2025 - Aldersgate (RI) 

IGNITE was born from a vision of faith in action—of equipping young people with the tools to recognize injustice and the courage to respond. Because of your support, we were able to bring that vision to life. Campers met directly with lawmakers at the Rhode Island Statehouse, served at ministries working with unhoused neighbors, and reflected deeply on how their faith calls them to be agents of justice in the world. Many of the youth who participated in IGNITE shared that it was the most impactful week of their summer.

One camper described it as “eye-opening,” while another said, “I didn’t know faith could look like this, serving, learning, showing up for people.” These moments wouldn’t have been possible without you.

One of the most powerful moments of our inaugural IGNITE week came after packing lunches in the church basement. Our campers walked to a nearby park with the pastor and a caseworker from a local service provider. There, they handed out lunches, not just as an act of charity, but as a starting point for real conversations. Campers sat side-by-side with unhoused individuals, listening to their stories with compassion and respect. They watched as the caseworker moved from person to person, checking in, offering support, and helping several individuals begin the paperwork to access housing and medical services. For many campers, it was the first time they had seen social work and ministry in action, not in a classroom or a sermon, but on the sidewalk. That afternoon changed something in them. One camper shared, “I always thought helping meant just donating things. Now I see how important it is to be present, to really know people.” It was a lesson in dignity, advocacy, and incarnational ministry and a reminder of how faith becomes real when it shows up in the park with a sandwich and a listening ear.

Catalyst in Special Needs Ministry Leadership - Camp Bays Mountain (TN)

This initiative equipped youth and young adults with special needs to serve as summer camp staff, offering them roles in worship leadership, maintenance, crafts, and more.

With the generous gift of this grant, Bays Mountain brought onto the summer staff four young staff members who have special needs. They all contributed significantly to the summer program. Director Jeff Wadley says, “there is no way we could have had a successful summer camp without them.” Participants indicated that they had gained skills such as pool cleaning, using the commercial dishwasher, starting campfires, weed trimming, and laundry. They also noted that the highlight of the summer was their close community with each other. One staff member was promoted to Lead Support Staff, excelling in his ability to communicate, delegate, and problem-solve. This talented young leader will go into a skilled trade after high school and we hope he will continue to serve at camp.

Soma Partnership - Camp Lake Stephens (MS)

This project expanded a successful pilot to provide a full week of Christian day camp to Hispanic children ages 6–10 from the Tupelo, MS area. The project is made possible through a partnership with a local multi-ethnic church.

Two weeks after our camp week, the pastor of Soma called our office. Four kids were picked up by a van on the way to camp every morning in a town between CLS and Tupelo, where Soma church meets. Two of the moms met for the first time while awaiting camper pickup and dropoff. While both families were sporadic attenders at Soma Church, the moms had never met until they started conversing at daily camp pickup each morning and evening. They became friends and discovered they had grown up within 30 miles of each other in Mexico and migrated to the US to the same town of 6000 people. After the camp week, the families began meeting together once a week for dinner, also attending church together almost every Sunday. One week of day camp not only positively impacted the campers, but resulted in two families becoming great friends, sharing meals together, growing in their faith together, and leaning on each other as they navigate how to create home in their new town.

Rural UMC Outreach Scholarship - Camp Lookout (Holston, TN)

This scholarship program supported youth from three small, rural UMCs in the Holston Conference, covering 50% of camp fees. Each church worked with the campers’ families and the congregation to provide the remaining funding needed for camp tuition.

One mom reported, “Both of my boys have had wonderful experiences at Camp Lookout. It was their first time away without siblings, and they felt completely comfortable. Upon pickup, I noticed social and spiritual growth, particularly with empathy and kindness to others.”

Camper Scholarships - Ceta Canyon (TX)

56 campers (28 boys & 28 girls) attended a weekend "Mentor Camp" free of charge. The program was provided by the Potter County Sheriff's office to help build positive rapport between the School Resource Officers and youth from two schools. Sheriff Brian Thomas reflects, “We give them some Jesus, teach them how to change tires and change oil, we do Low Ropes course with them that teaches them that they have to work together to get to the end goal. We let them fish, hike, zip line and feed them, and explore Ceta Canyon and its beauty! My SRO's volunteer to come spend the weekend with the kids and we have school staff that also comes out! This is something these kids will never forget and will remember these officers for life!”

Traveling Day Camp - Camp Chestnut Ridge (NC)

This mobile day camp program partners with churches to bring camp experiences to underserved communities, including children experiencing homelessness or living in foster care. The initiative fosters long-term connections between campers, families, and local churches, offering full or partial scholarships. The program has a strong legacy of inclusivity and leadership development, especially among diverse camper populations.

Duke Memorial UMC partnered with Families Moving Forward, a local agency in Durham, NC that helps shelter children and their families while providing support for families facing housing instability. Camp staff would pick the campers up from Families Moving Forward and bring them to Duke Memorial for camp activities. During a lunch break one of the boys came up to a staff member and asked if they were able to come back next week. Camp gave them an opportunity to play, build relationships with peers and with caring adults. I believe this is an example of the love of Christ in action. This partnership, and the 12 camperships from Solomon Cramer grant funds, made it possible for these children to experience normalcy, community, and love during a time of great instability in their lives.

Summer Spirit Community Day Camp at Covenant UMC - Gretna Glen (PA)

Held in Lebanon, PA, this Day Camp program is a partnership among Covenant UMC, Transformando Vidas (a Latino church plant), Ebenezer UMC, and Gretna Glen. It serves Spanish-speaking children, many from single-parent, low-income homes, with a week of Christian day camp close to their community. Activities include games, crafts, devotions, and faith-building in a culturally responsive environment. The initiative also integrates campers and families into the local faith community.

We served 30 campers from 12 different families, 10 of whom were new to this church. After the week of camp, 4 of those families have stayed in contact with the church and the church is continuing to invite the other families to events. This church has been inspired to explore other ways to be engaged with its community.

We give thanks for the stewardship of these gifts to make Christ's love known in creative ways in so many places. Next week we'll feature more 2025 Solomon Cramer Grant project stories. The following week, the application period will open for 2026 grants.