Blog

Meet Cat Holbert

How were you called into C/R ministry?

The summer I finished high school, Mom said I should go be a camp counselor since I liked working with kids. I fell in love with it by surprise. My second summer as a counselor (after a year in college working toward a journalism degree) I clearly remember being in the camp director’s office and seeing degrees in Recreation and Park Management on his wall. I asked if he really went to school to learn to do that. It was the beginnings of the Holy Spirit nudge towards being in camping full-time. I fought it, but kept going back to camp year after year. At some point I stopped going to college but kept going to camp every summer. The first year I wasn’t full-time at summer camp, I took a week off from my job to go work at camp. The curriculum included the story of the talents, where one guy grows them and makes them bigger through using them. I very, very clearly heard God say “This is your talent and not using it is sinning.”  So I went back to work, turned in my notice, and got a job working with children and youth.  Every door was opened from there to get back into camp as a career. (I got my degree in Parks and Recreation!)

Where have you served?

Only two places. 1994 was my first summer as a counselor at Westview on the James in Richmond, Virginia. I left there in February 2014 as the Assistant Director to move to my current location at Lazy W in California.

What significant changes have you seen during your time in CR ministries?

1. Evolution of the helicopter parent. Parents seem more fearful of leaving their children at camp.

2. Social media, both in the way it has become used for building and maintaining relationships and the very high expectation of quality in its use.

3. Children have gotten less comfortable being in the outdoors.

Greatest blessings being in this ministry?

#1 The transformation that occurs in some of the campers--   they arrive uncomfortable and unsure but by the end of the week grow into an understanding of what it means to be the person God has called them to be. I am blessed to see them feel good to be who they actually are.

#2 The relationships that develop between campers and even between retreat guests. As they share space and change their routines, they connect on a higher level and a bond develops. People just seem to rise to higher relationships at camp and embrace people who are different from themselves and outside their “normal” comfort zone.

What's one important thing you would like to pass along to other C/R leaders?

The importance of flexibility. It is so important to have a good plan in place. Be prepared really well. But if things don’t go like you thought they were going to go, be flexible. Whether it is working with people, buildings, spaces, or budgets, be willing to adapt and change if you need to -- go with the ultimate flow. It might turn out better than what you had planned.  

One word to describe yourself?  Dedicated

Favorite Camp game/activity?  One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish* (directions at end of article)

Something people don’t know about you or would be surprised to learn?  I would love to have dog ears and a tail if I could get away with it.

As the Design Team Chair for the 2017 National Camp & Retreat Leaders Gathering, what would you say to people about why they should plan to attend that event?

It’s got some great components. New this year is the Wednesday afternoon fun time schedule. Instead of the optional outings when people usually leave the host site, the fun is coming to us. There will be a big Texas barbeque, a bull riding machine, music jam, fishing, hayrides, ropes course, games, storytelling, and a square dance.

Another reason to be excited about the Gathering is our featured speakers. Bob Ditter will share challenges that face us and practical responses that will empower us for ministry. Rev Cedrick Bridgeforth really believes in camping ministry as spiritual transformation and will inspire us. His preaching will be good for the soul!

*Learn to play Cat’s favorite camp game:

One Fish, Two Fish

Group Size: 12-20, Ages: 7 & Up

Supplies: an object about the size of a water bottle

Before You Start:

• Players line up on a starting line.
  
• An object (such as a water bottle or rubber chicken) is placed at the end line near the leader.
  
• Explain that the object is what the team is after and as leader, you are in charge of protecting that object.
  
• Explain the object of the game: to get the object from the leader and back across the starting line as a team.
  
• Tell players that while your back is turned and you are saying "One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish," they may move, but once you finish and turn around them must stop. Like “Red Light, Green Light.”
  
• Check that everyone understands the rules.
  

How To Play:

• The leader stands behind the object facing the players.
  
• The leader turns around and loudly says, “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.”
  
• The players may only move while the leader is turned the other way and is speaking/yelling the phrase.
  
• When the leader finishes “blue fish," s/he turns around and all players must freeze. If anyone is moving after “blue fish,” that person or persons goes back to the starting line. If no players are caught moving, the leader turns around again and loudly says, “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” and the players get to move from their current spot.
  
• Once players get close enough to take the object from behind the leader, the players need to hide it and they must still possess the object (i.e. no putting it on the ground).
  
• Players still only move during the phrase, but once the object is taken the leader gets to guess who has it.
  
• If the leader guesses correctly, the object is returned and the players begin again at the starting line.
  
• After incorrect guesses, the players continue moving from where they are during the phrase.
  

Variations:

Set a number of how many people must hold the object (to promote inclusion and community).

No throwing the object (to increase complexity).

Creating Bridges Between Camp, Church, and Community

“It is not my job to do Vacation Bible School for churches.” For years, this was the rationale I gave for not wanting to explore day camp. But this summer our Wisconsin Annual Conference Camp & Retreat Ministries launched a pilot day camp program, Camp in the Community, to blend a traditional, residential camp program with congregational evangelism and outreach. Why the change? Because we started to envision a way to do day camp that would align with our Conference vision. We were able to tap directly into three of five Conference ministry areas:

• Launch Turn-Around Movement with Vital Congregations by helping churches establish outward focused ministry
• Imagine Mercy and Justice Ministries by establishing our churches as community based ministries, and by networking with local movements and networks
• Create Soul Food by partnering with local food pantries and feeding ministries

One of the most unique and valuable resources that WIUMCamps brings to the Wisconsin Annual Conference is a staff of caring, committed young adults who are trained in the relational, experiential style of ministry which offers positive Christian role models for young people. We were excited to offer this resource beyond the boundaries of our camp sites to accomplish our conference vision to Imagine Wisconsin Anew.

Our Goals

The goal of Camp in the Community is to reach children in grades K-5 who are not connected with a church. Although campers are the most direct recipients of this ministry, church leaders also learn skills on how to reach out to the community. This program is designed to meet the needs of both campers and church leaders by combining the best of our camping program with the resources of local churches. This meant we needed to be clear about who was responsible for each area of this program.

WIUMCamps responsibilities:

Church responsibilities:

Establish Outward Focused Ministry and Network with Local Movements

Initially we expected to spend one year at a site, then move on. Wisconsin is large geographically, and we wanted to be able to reach a wide area. After our experiences in 2016, however, we decided it makes more sense to create a three-year progression to help congregations really invest in their communities. One specific goal we had for our first year was that 50% of the campers would not be affiliated with a church. Our churches excelled in this area, and 73% of our campers were not from our host churches. One church did extensive advertising, and 86% of their campers were from the community!

The three churches who continue with us into a second year of this ministry will have a new outreach goal. We are considering a goal of incorporating community leaders into the week as guest speakers, donors, or in some other creative way. We’re still thinking about a new goal for year three.

Soul Food Ministry

As we spoke to donors and churches, we realized there was a good opportunity to connect with the community through food. The requirement WIUMCamps set for churches was to provide lunch and one snack a day. We made it clear that churches should provide free food, rather than asking for contributions or inviting campers to bring their own from home. Our requirement was broad, and the creative people on site had great ideas for how to implement our program in their community.

Some churches provided both a morning and afternoon snack. One church spent an afternoon in their community garden, teaching kids about growing food. Their lunch that day included green beans the kids helped pick. One church had a community potluck in the park in the evening.

Our Keys to Success

By tapping directly into the Conference vision, we immediately had lots of institutional support. District Superintendents gave us opportunities to share the vision of this ministry through their written and in-person communication. In the early stages of exploring this ministry, two clergy Board members came forward to volunteer to be host sites in the pilot year.

In order to make the first year successful, we limited ourselves to three opportunities. Each of the sites for Camp in the Community was in a different size community. Our goal was to have one urban location, one suburban, and one rural. As we confirmed our church partnerships, we ended up with a suburb of Milwaukee, one small town, and one very rural community. We scheduled these weeks to coincide with our weeks of least usage on-site. This meant we didn’t need to hire additional staff to test out a new program.

We also increased our chances for success by applying for grants. Many congregations are wary of spending a large amount on an untested ministry. We secured enough grants to assure these churches that in this first year, they would not have to invest financially in an unknown program. Our grants covered the first year of the program in full!

Moving forward

As we prepare for year two, we are shifting out of a pilot model. We anticipate continuing with our first three churches to test out what a second year looks like, and we are planning to add three new sites. Given our expected camper numbers on site, we do not anticipate needing to hire additional staff for Camp in the Community next year.

We will shift most of the financial obligations to our host congregations. We are working with our grantors to invite those congregations to apply for assistance. We are looking into the possibility of creating a scholarship opportunity for congregations who might not be able to otherwise afford this ministry.

As we have told our stories of success, 20(!) new churches have indicated interest in hosting Camp in the Community in summer 2017. This is pushing us to consider the criteria for selecting new sites. As we expand, we are also aware we will need to standardize some of the resources we offer and streamline our paperwork. These are challenges we are excited to tackle.

-----------------------

Sharon Stowe Cook is an ordained United Methodist pastor who began a lifelong connection with camping in 3rd grade. She has been a camper, a summer staffer, a Board member, an event director, and now serves as the Coordinator of Camp and Retreat Ministries for the Wisconsin Conference. 

Tell us about yourself.

I grew up on a family fruit farm in Michigan and volunteered teaching kids at a local nature center. During school I logged a few camp style expeditions in Quetico Provincial Park, thru-hiked the southern 1000 miles of the Appalachian Trail in between college semesters, and rock climbed all over the country and beyond. Somewhere in there I got a Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Master of Science in Experiential Education. The week long trips in the Boundary Waters really set me up for a passion for camping, group formation, and experiencing God’s creation. If I can include working seasonal summer and environmental education seasons, I’ve served at camps in: MI, NH, WA, NC, UT, MN, VA, OK, SC, and CO.  Every one of those had something special, and I’ve been able to steal and adapt from things I learned and experienced in each place. The UMCRM sites were Buckhorn Camp (Colorado), where I currently serve, Asbury Hills, SC, and Lazy F Camp, WA.

Can you say a bit more about your family? 

My wife Marieke and I are blessed with two kids – Lilly and Solon. Marieke and I have worked together at camps across the country. When we came to Buckhorn only I was on staff, but on many occasions you’d find our whole family in the dining hall baking cookies for the weekend. Over the first year we doubled our guest groups and Marieke came on as Co-Director. Not only can we work together as a family, but our kids get to meet so many great people. (I think people tend to be nicer when on retreat!)

Was there a specific turning point in your calling to work in this ministry? 

My turning point came when I was just out of college struggling to make Christian faith my own. Accepting Romans and Corinthians was a commitment for me. I was driving a van full of campers somewhere around Pisgah National Forest when one asked me “Who is Jesus to you?”  My short answer set my path that I’ve been trying to follow ever since.

How did you get into UMC camps and leave the secular camp world? 

Grace. Well, grace and a pay cut. Better yet, grace and a chance to make a difference that’s close to my heart.

At the time my wife and I were running a secular camp in Virginia. I loved the programming, retention and enrollment seemed effortless, and we did our best to bring in virtue-based elements (“character values”). The natural world experienced through camp is much too powerful a tool to stop at “character.”  We’re immersed in God’s creation and it would be a shame to let numinous faith developing experiences go unrecognized. 

Tell us about your time at Buckhorn? 

Buckhorn Camp has been an adventure.  We left a thriving UMC camp (Asbury Hills in SC) and came into a mountain top camp that was destroyed by Colorado’s High Park Fire. The forest fire had taken 3 cabins, 2 barns, a house, shower house, water storage, arts and crafts building and left 160 acres of dead standing trees. The fire even melted the fish tank inside the director’s house! We had many friends and family members think we were nuts to move.

God so blessed the camp with the fire. First came mission teams and “salt of the earth” volunteers who made the transformation possible. Depressing ruins turned into breathtaking views. What was a forested camp became a mountaintop high country ranch and “thin space” where you can’t help but feel closer to God. Views turned into photos, photos into guests, and radical Christian hospitality into a full calendar. We’re now blessed with a crazy busy summer calendar, and our retreat season not only has weekend groups but environmental education during the weekdays.

Challenge-wise, we started “ma and pa” style, doing all the cooking and cleaning ourselves. Now we’re trying to keep up with growth and find time for family and sleep. That and fire insurance proceeds are about to start making a difference as new buildings come on line.

What assets does UMCRM have that are helping move these ministries forward? 

Besides Kevin Witt? 

Wow, has our National Gathering gotten good! I’m sure many of you remember not too many years back where innovation wasn’t something seen at our National Conference. The 2015 Epworth By the Sea Gathering not only brought great worship, but modern workshops worth attending. I can’t wait for the next one!

Describe some challenges in your ministry right now.  

Competing with secular camps. Church camp isn’t perceived as “cool.”  Parents buy benefits, not just experiences. Common session rates in camping ministry are grossly below those of secular camps, which to me suggests less value. Some church camps put out an inferior, lazy, #that’sthewaywe’vealwaysdoneit camp product that can damage all of our reputations. On the flip side, it might just be me, but it feels like when we are making the most impact and seeing the most growth the greatest difficulties arise. If there is not adversity, chances are we are being stagnant.

What significant changes have you seen over the years in camp ministry? 

I perceive the ‘60s camping boom is continuing to fade. Denominational camps are increasingly taken for granted, and aren’t seen as a vital link in faith formation. Rising non-denominational churches are finding significant value in the benefits of camp, but often lack the size to start their own. There is greater emphasis on faith in action and service. 

What nuggets of wisdom have you learned that you would pass on to new leadership?  

Really new leadership should steal as many good ideas as they can from other places. Once you get settled in, though, copying other ideas only goes so far. Got a cross?  Gaga pit?  Campfire? Generic summer curriculum? Yup. Any camp and retreat center worth its salt sits on an amazing piece of God’s creation. God made it special for a reason. Centers are not just a ministry; they are a place-based ministry. Look at your setting, the natural history, and the community you serve. Dig deep to recognize what God has provided, the character and needs of the community, and develop new and innovative ministry opportunities accordingly.

Favorite verse/passage/story that embodies your call/ministry

My favorite scripture behind camping ministry is the second half of Psalm 121:1-2 “I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

My favorite camping verse is John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us.”

What is your vision for the future of C&R ministry?

One of the beautiful parts about camp is that kids are able to recreate themselves each summer into the person they want to be. Faith can be an integral part of the new identity they create - the person we are in Christ. Today our identity is getting more complicated than ever.

In the near future I see a renewal in the value and benefit of camp and retreat ministries. More than ever we’ll need, and thirst for, real connections in a positive, supportive faith environment. If you come to camp, you can be yourself, be surrounded by good, friendly, real people, be able to share in faith, in fellowship, in fun, and not be alone.

Thanks for helping us get to know you, Ryan! We are grateful for your ministry. And special thanks to Joan Thorson, who volunteers with the UMCRM Communications Team and who conducted the interview.  - Ed.

You have a role to play in creating the living worship experience at the National Camp & Retreat Leaders Gathering!

Water is elemental, like grace. Water symbolizes the grace and love that God has for us, which rains down without our asking or earning. In 2017 we gather from the tributaries of our dispersed ministries, around the living water that is our spiritual heritage. Let us set aside this time to drink, be renewed, seek clarity, and grow closer as children of God. You are invited to bring water with you to Texas to be used as an outward and visible sign of our inward and spiritual connection to God, to each other and to the natural world.

A Piece of Home

In October, registrants (at least one from each site or delegation) will receive an empty bottle and an invitation: fill this bottle with water from a source at your ministry site, and bring it with you to Lakeview in January. Natural, municipal, well-drawn—whatever the source of water at your site, these waters are fundamental to our ministries. Let yours be on display! 

When we gather, the collected water will be incorporated into the worship space arranged by watershed, and then used in a baptismal renewal service on Wednesday evening.

If you are unable to attend the National Gathering but would like to participate by sending water from your place, please request a bottle by emailing Jen@CampWrightwood.com

Tell Your Story

Ready to play even more?  Once your bottle arrives, capture a photo or video of you, your staff, board, campers, guests, collecting the water. Record a short testimonial about what water means to you at your site, and send all photos, written accounts, and video to Jen@CampWrightwood.com. These, too, will be on display and are a meaningful way to bring a little piece of home to Lakeview.

YouTube UMCRM Water Collection Videos

It Starts Now!

Certification in Camp and Retreat Ministry

It is time to get registered for a fabulous set of courses in the Compass Points Program. This is where your Core Training toward certification starts. All the details for registering for this fall’s event in -- get this --  Oregon, Illinois, are laid out in the sidebar each issue of S’more Mail.

With GBHEM’s (that’s the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry) approval, the Compass Points Program is a core component in the Core Training requirements for para-professional certification in Camp and Retreat Ministry within the United Methodist Church. As a cooperative program with Presbyterian, Lutheran, and United Church of Christ camp and retreat associations, Compass Points stands alone in offering its own unique Certificate of Completion. You will love this low cost program.

Here are the Compass Points details:

• Six Core Courses with 2 offered each Fall and Spring. Each class requires some pre-reading and a related post-class project/paper. (If you start with this Fall’s set of classes, you could be finished with the course work next Fall. That is just one year away.)
• Participate in a Site Visit. You will choose a camp and retreat site to visit and explore all the inner workings of their ministry. You will get to take a look at how they do hospitality, maintenance, food service and much more. This is a directed visit with a follow up report at a site not too familiar to you.
• Enjoy a Capstone Event. You will join with your classmates to participate in an event at the National Gathering or one of the other participating association annual conferences prior to receiving your Compass Points Certificate.

If you choose to go on to complete the Core Training and seek eligibility for United Methodist Certification with the GBHEM, you will have to complete one more component which we will be recommending to all new directors and program directors in UM Camp and Retreat Ministries. We are calling this event the UMCRM IMMERSION EXPERIENCE. This will be a five day, 40-hour program at one of our camp and retreat sites that will help us focus on some of the following subjects unique to United Methodists:

• The Seven Foundations of Camp and Retreat Ministry
• UMC Polity, Doctrine, and History (as it is relevant to Camps and Retreats)
• The Role of Camps and Retreats in Witnessing To and Caring For Creation
• Faith Formation, Best Practices, and more

Yes, your Certification starts now. Get signed up for your first set of classes with the Compass Points Program. All the information you need is in the sidebar of S'more Mail. Just click and begin preparing for your future in camp and retreat ministry. Do it now!

the UMCRM Education Committee

Reflections from Alice Shirley...

I have served as the Coordinator of Camping and Retreat Ministries in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference for the last 5+ years after serving appointments in local churches and as a district superintendent for about 33 years. I joined the conference staff as an interim Coordinator of Camping and Retreat Ministries in June 2011 and continued to serve as an “interim” until I was hired for the permanent position in January 2015.

The work that needed to be done in the camping ministry turned out to be a good fit for the gifts I have brought to ministry over the years, the most useful of which in this position was to identify constraints to vitality in the ministry and to align the practice of ministry with the vision and mission of the church. The work we did included a number of organizational tasks including clarification of personnel policies, committee tenures, job statuses, and job descriptions, revamping the budget, and developing online training for seasonal staff. The task that consumed the most time and energy on the part of the camping commission during these years was leading the annual conference in the right-sizing of the camping ministry, which resulted in the sale of three of the five camp properties and paved the way for a master plan, which was approved in April of this year.

Another significant change in the camping ministry was the hiring of “Ministers of Mission Expansion” (MMEs for short), who are clergy given the tasks of holding the vision, overseeing the spiritual life of the camp, supervising staff, and linking to local churches to articulate the importance of retreat ministries and the various resources the conference ministry offers. We are in the process of ramping up marketing, getting the word out about the impact of camping and retreat ministries on lives and life vocations.

My decision to retire was driven by a number of things, but having time for family (especially grandchildren!) made the top three. I also have become entranced with (addicted to?) genealogy and research on family history and am writing a book that I hope will eventually be published for family members. I also picture myself gardening, canning, cross-stitching, walking, watching all the movies I’ve missed over the last 39 years, camping, and maybe even sleeping in. We are purchasing a house in Dubuque, IA, and plan to relocate there around Thanksgiving.

It’s been a real blessing and joy to serve the conference and camping ministries for the last five years, as well as to learn from other leaders in United Methodist camping ministries across the nation and from incredible staff members and volunteers who have done the face-to-face, person-to-person, blood-sweat-and-tears work with campers that transforms lives. Camping and retreat ministries in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference and in the connection as a whole will always be close to my heart and in my prayers.

Thank you all for your gifts of wisdom and mutual support in a ministry that is so vital. And fun!

Why Would God Call ME to Camp?

Is He calling YOU?

I have always felt called to ministry sharing the GOOD NEWS of the love of God!

So in my past I understood God wanting me to be a church youth group leader, and

work with street kids and homeless, and teach Sunday School, and be in children and

family ministries, and work for Girl Scouts etc…

But when I got called to be in camping ministry with my husband, I had no idea why?

I was terrified to move to the tiny town of Joseph, OR! I had only been to one church

camp as an adult instructor so didn’t have a “church camp connection.” I mean, how

much ministry could really happen at camp?

I moved to Wallowa Lake United Methodist Camp in January of 2012 and lived in a tiny

wood yurt while we renovated a cabin to live in. I missed my family and friends and felt

LOST and lonely…..I was totally out of my “element.” The camp was SO big and SO

much work! I was overwhelmed! Why, God, did you call me out of my comfort zone to

serve here? Why did people donate their time and money to camps? How was I going to get volunteers? Why would anyone volunteer at a camp? Help me God! Get me out of

here! Why aren’t you answering me, God?

The problem was, I wasn’t listening. I was so busy feeling sorry for myself, I didn’t

LISTEN. And when I finally opened my ears, I heard the voice of God….(and these are true!)

• I am the voice of the ministers who found their calling at camp!
  
  
• I am the voice of your 87 year old volunteer who when my wife died was in such despair my pastor suggested I contact camp and volunteer my skills as a woodworker. I have found a new joy and purpose in my life along with many new friends.
  
  
• I am the voice of pastors who feel the stress of dealing with SO much! When I am at camp on private retreat being “taken care of," it refreshes my soul and I feel ready to go back to my church and minister.
  
  
• I am the voice of 30 quilters who came to camp to sew quilts for veterans.
  
  
• I am the voice of the Nez Perce teen from the Lapwai Reservation. My mom is in prison. My dad died. My sister is in prison (my other sister and I were raising her baby.) I have been abused. I have serious health issues because of my mom’s drug and alcohol use. I live in fear, despair and sadness. I want a mom. I want my dad. For two years, Joseph United Methodist Women paid my way to Wallowa Lake United Methodist Horse Camp. Camp staff took me under their wings and helped me find a safe place to live so I could finish high school. I am going to live and work at camp this summer and then will live with a staff couple in their home. They will keep me safe, will teach me life skills, and will keep me connected with my tribe. I will be surrounded by the love and Good News of Jesus Christ.
  
  
• I am the voice of the elderly man whose my wife passed away. I come to Dulcimer Camp each year so I can eat my meals in community rather than all alone.
  
  
• I am the voice of the young male staff person who attended weekly staff Bible studies last summer...it was my first time hearing the Good News!
  
  
• I am the voice of the Nez Perce, the Niimiipuu for whom this land is sacred, OUR homeland. We have been welcomed here by the United Methodists. We are in conversations of peace and reconciliation. When we are here, our spirits soar. We share our spiritual ceremonies with all who are at camp. We have blessed your teepees, led pow wows, and taught history, customs and dance. We have had a ceremony of mourning for a United Methodist pastor who died. Last year in a special ceremony we were invited to hang our tribal flag next to the American flag, where they now wave side by side. Our children attend Wallowa Lake Camp Horse Camps where we will teach with their leaders. This year for the first time, we are having a family camp for tribal families in crisis. Our teachers come to retreat here.
  
  
• I am the voice of a Choir Camper. I learn new songs of praise to take back to my church. I am so inspired by the beautiful music and extraordinary level of instruction we receive here. God is Good!
  
  
• I am the voice of a non-believer. I attend an educational retreat at the camp. Each year I am surrounded by loving hospitality and messages about the love of God. Why are these people so kind to me? Is there really a religion with open hearts, open doors, open minds? Could that include me?
  
  
• I am the voice of an disillusioned elementary school teacher who vowed to never go to church again. I attended Wallowa Lake United Methodist Camp for a writer’s event. I got to know the camp staff and the Camp Director has been my mentor ever since. I now attend Sacramento United Methodist Church every week and am going to volunteer for 6 weeks at camp this summer. I can’t wait to be in such a positive place!
  
  
• I am the voice of a woman who has been through 3 years of agony. I lost my mom, I lost my marriage and I lost my job. I almost lost my life at my own hands...camp saved me.
  
  
• I am the voice of the small child playing in the creek. I am having SO much fun! I LOVE this place! My parents seem so happy and relaxed! They are spending so much time playing outside with me or visiting with other adults while I play with other kids!
  
  
• I am the voice of the older woman at camp with my church family ….I am visiting with another older woman who goes to my church. We have never talked to each other at church but have just spent 2 hours talking after our meal. We realized how much we have in common and can’t wait to spend more time together when we go back home.
  
  
• I am the voice of God at Wallowa Lake United Methodist Camp.
  
  
• I am the voice of God through My beautiful creation, through quiet time, prayer, and meditation.

• I am the voice of God through hospitality, laughter, friendships, and conversations.
  
  
• I am the voice of God through education, and music, and quilting together.
  
  
• I am the voice of God through my magnificent horses, campfires, games, and silliness.
  
  
• I am the voice of God through volunteers, through staff, through prayer flags and sacred chapels.
  
  
• I am the voice of God through community, and fellowship and coffee.
  
  
• I am the voice of God through fresh mountain air, comfortable beds, and lounge chairs.
  
  
• I am the voice of God through clean sheets, handmade quilts, Outdoor Bibles and food made with love.
  
  
• I am the voice of God through the songs of birds, the chattering chipmunks, the sweet newborn fawn, and the intricate spider web.
  
  
• I am the voice of God in the rush of the river, the coolness of the creek, the wings of the hummingbird and in every blade of grass.

You see…..I am the voice of God through My creation…

and your hands, your donations, your prayers, and your service at Wallowa Lake

United Methodist Camp. Won’t you consider how you can serve God at camp?

UMCRM member Peggy Lovegren has served as Co-Director with her wonderful husband David at Wallowa Lake Camp (OR) since 2012. Before that she was a Regional Manager for Girl Scouts and Director of Children and Family Ministries at the Bend First United Methodist Church. Her background is in Criminal Justice, and that knowledge helps fuel her passion for being in ministry. She has two grown daughters and loves fishing, rock hounding, reading, running, playing games, and being in ministry! 

For the last several years UMCRM has been blessed by a wonderful collaboration with the American Bible Society (ABS) to distribute Bibles to campers, staff, and guests. We have been pooling our orders as camps and retreat centers, and thus getting very significant discounted rates per Bible. The Bibles are then shipped directly to each camp/retreat center prior to summer. In recent years the cost was only about $4.00 per Bible plus shipping with a gorgeous custom cover designed just for UM Outdoor Ministries by Jake Souva from Two Fish Illustrations.

We will be using this same design in 2016. The cost may be slightly more depending upon the number of Bibles we order together.  Those ordering 1,000 Bibles or more may arrange for their own custom-designed cover specific to their camp/retreat ministry. 

The UMC Outdoor Ministry Bible has been well-received by guests and participants, with over 35,000 ordered and distributed over the years.  Providing Bibles is directly related to at least two of the 7 UM Camp and Retreat Ministry Foundations: "Nurture Christian Faith & Discipleship" and "Develop Spiritual Leaders."  

Once we have preorder estimates, ABS will provide the actual per-Bible cost for this year. The minimum number of Bibles that can be ordered per shipping address is 1 case/48 Bibles. When we have the preorders and know the total number to be ordered, ABS will send you the final order form with the cost per Bible. That order form is the one that will initiate the actual order. 

Please send the following info to Kevin Witt by Wednesday, April 6th:

Contact Person’s Name:

Name of Conference or Camp and Retreat Ministry:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Number of Bibles you plan to order:

"What can we do better together?" This the question that is being answered by the annual meeting of the Outdoor Ministry Connection (OMC). Representatives from American Baptist Camps, Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers (ECCC), Lutheran Outdoor Ministries (LOM), Outdoor Ministry Association – Church of the Brethren (OMA-CoB), Outdoor Ministry Association – United Church of Christ (OMA-UCC), Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association (PCCCA), and the United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries (UMCRM) Association gathered together for three days of meetings at Pilgrim Center in Ripon, Wisconsin.

Over the last four years this ‘association of associations’ has been meeting to learn about the ministry of each organization and to discern if there are ways we can share together to strengthen the work being done at the individual sites across the continent. Several important initiatives have begun that will benefit our associations as well as the sites that we serve.

The largest project is a once-in-a-lifetime shared conference planned for November of 2019. Imagine a conference with over six hundred participants, top keynotes, amazing workshops, inspiring worship, and opportunities to connect with the best outdoor ministry practitioners from the mainline denominations across the continent. Planning is already underway!

Many other projects are also in progress, spearheaded by task forces within the OMC. The OMC has recognized that research is an area where it would be meaningful to have the participation of all mainline denominations. Research will help us all to tell the story of outdoor ministry and its impact. In a similar vein, an evaluation project is in the pilot phase, developing a common way for camps to measure their effectiveness. A third initiative, Interim Director Training, is being developed to increase and expand the network of qualified interim directors who could serve across denominational lines, Directing sites in pivotal moments of transition. Collegial consulting is another area of shared interest across the denominations, and conversations continue about how to form and resource a network of consultants to meet the needs of our centers and ministries.

All of our sites have unique gifts to share, our associations have incredible resources to offer, and together we are able to strengthen the body of Christ. We are better together!

Rev. Theresa McDonald-Lee is Co-Executive Director with her spouse Johnathon of Presbyterian-affiliated Camp Kintail in Ontario, Canada. She serves as President of the Presbyterian Church Camp & Conference Association (PCCCA).

Reflections on the Bishop’s Confirmation Retreat at Lazy W Ranch - March 4-6, 2016

by Todd Potter (15), 10th grader from First UMC, Redondo Beach, CA

My church and other churches in the California-Pacific Conference came to the Bishop’s Confirmation Retreat at Lazy W Ranch in hopes of meeting new friends and growing closer to God. This unified purpose allowed us to bond quickly with people we’d just met, despite the barriers of talking to strangers. Maybe it was the lack of Wi-Fi or the fact we were put into groups with people we would never have met had we not gone on this retreat, but I felt myself and the people around me see God clearer through the people we met along the way.   

Throughout the weekend, we played team-building games that forced us to put complete faith in people we were still beginning to know.  We also had group discussions that helped us learn about each other’s lives and helped us begin to realize how acutely Jesus has affected who we are today.  It was during these activities that we saw how beautifully God can bridge the gap between people who wouldn’t normally become friends, filling our hearts with love that overflows into our actions and words.

One of the more interesting dynamics of the weekend was mealtime, and I’m not saying that just because of the amazing s’mores cake. The way people we barely knew would invite us to eat lunch with them and how people willingly struck up conversations in an attempt to know those they were eating with showed how hospitable the world should be. Nothing like this would happen at school, and that really shows that we have a lot of work to do “so all may experience God’s life-giving love.”

During free time people from different churches hung out together, playing basketball, volleyball, or any of the other various games at Lazy W Ranch. I really liked how accepting everyone was and that the sense of unity between the different churches was infectious. Constant handshakes paired with an exchange of names. Smiles and laughter flowed as people got to know each other just an iota better. Then there was the occasional hug, saying the things words can’t begin to describe: the feeling of friendship, brotherhood, or the feeling of a second mother. Those feelings were priceless.  

On Saturday we thought about how we can use the different gifts God gave to us to inspire the world. It was awesome to see each other brainstorm about how even small leaps of faith can change the world. A girl in my group talked about using her incredible singing voice to inspire people to live with love. People discussed about helping each other incorporate what Jesus taught us into our daily lives. I talked about how stories showing how God has helped people to put others’ lives before their own could inspire people to live more selflessly. Others talked about ways we could become passionate followers of Jesus Christ and ways we could embody the idea of “What Would Jesus Do?”, taking into account the obstacles we may face on our journeys of faith. People also talked about the ways we can help others experience God’s love and know that they fit into the puzzle of God’s plan. Ideas included inviting people to church, helping the homeless, helping improve the community, and showing compassion to everyone

we encounter.

One of the many blessings of the retreat was hearing Bishop Carcaño preach about how God has made her the person she is today. Her story about the boy on the orange crate reading the Bible was moving to me because he was passionate to see another person who believed the same things he did. I kind of felt like that boy last weekend because, sure, I had seen my family and my fellow church members as followers of Christ, but I don’t think I was fully aware of the grand scale of people who believe the same things I do. I had only seen one piece of God’s puzzle, but after last weekend I saw a handful more. It would really be special if United Methodist churches met together more frequently so more people could see how God has affected so many lives. The story about how Bishop Carcaño’s friend became a passionate follower of Jesus Christ demonstrated the fact that God will lead us through the storm if we believe that the world can become a better place. It also showed that life is always worth living, no matter the circumstances. The story about the transgender woman who set up a program to help men dealing with substance abuse showed that you can find God’s love anywhere, even in a paper bag inside of a dumpster. The story about Bishop Carcaño and her mother in the cotton field showed how God’s love will show itself and how being a passionate follower of Jesus never stops. The story of the boy riding unaccompanied on La Bestia in search of a better life only to die at the steps of a house in South Texas reminded me of Moses and how he died before he could experience the promised land. It made me realize that we should always strive for our dreams in spite of our doubt and we should always be looking out for the ways in which God is nudging us along the road of Life. Out of all the stories she told, the one that hit me the most was the story about about Don Julio and how Bishop Carcaño finally brought herself to forgive him, showing him the true extent of God’s love in his final hour.  

The campfire worship on Saturday was simply beautiful. The sing-along mashup of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “When The Saints Go Marching In,” and “This Train Is Bound For Glory” was really moving. It set the tone for the rest of the night, ending just as it started to drizzle. My hands felt tingly as the drops falling from the heavens caught my skin. Originally they were going to use the water pitcher to re-baptize people, but when the rain began to fall before Bishop Carcaño started her sermon, they decided to use the rain instead. That was how we reaffirmed our baptisms with the water falling from the stars.

While Bishop Carcaño was preaching her sermon about how God’s love changed her life and how it made her want to spread God’s life-giving message, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the campfire crackling, sparks flying upward as it sparred with the rain falling slowly, then quickly, then slowly again. As Bishop Carcaño’s sermon ended and we reaffirmed our baptism with the rain to conclude the worship, I felt this spark of inspiration, perhaps the Holy Spirit, touching my firewood heart. Suddenly I could barely contain myself as my brain raced through metaphors flashing like sunbursts. It was quiet as I finally got back to the cabin. I tore open my bag in desperate need of a pen, flung open my notebook, grabbed my Bible, and started writing before the words slipped through my fingers.

God’s love is much like the rain that fell last Saturday night. God’s love, like water, nourishes us and helps make things new. Sometimes a rainstorm in our lives may feel like darkness, but the rain will not put out the fire in our hearts, but will instead help us become more passionate followers of Jesus Christ. The fire that came down and gave the apostles the ability to communicate with people of different tongues will constantly inspire us to be better followers of Christ, but once in awhile we must renew our faith with the rain. And by renewing our faith, we’re renewing the fact that God loves us all, unconditionally. The fire of God that surrounded the disciples still burns today and gives the world the light needed to live in spite of the darkness in our lives. We must face the fact that there will be rain on our parade, and we must march onward despite the downpour because the rain is actually a blessing whether we see it or not. We must carry on singing to the same heavens that rain down upon us to show that God loves us and fills us with fire to proclaim God’s Word so that the whole world may feel warmth inside their hearts as they dance in the rain.  

After the final worship together we passed the peace of Christ. The newfound urgency of hugs once people realized they were leaving the friends they made that weekend was breathtaking. I saw the swapping of phone numbers and words of encouragement being exchanged, but then as quickly as it began we were driving out of the wilderness to spread God’s life-giving love to the world.