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  • 08 Sep 2021 8:31 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)


    YOUR CAMP STORY IS YOUR GREATEST ASSET


    At GSB Fundraising, we get camp! We know the impact you have on the lives of the campers and counselors you serve, and it is our mission to help you strengthen your mission. That is why we have launched the new Center for Generosity, to give you ongoing support and access to valuable resources like storytelling and communications calendar outlines. Telling your impact stories will strengthen generosity and engagement for your ministry. Here is a sample story from Good Earth Village Camp in MN after learning the power of storytelling as a result of working with a GSB consultant.

    A Story Sample

    For most of his life, Miles didn’t understand why he didn’t fit in at his school or community. “Life and relationships were challenging for me,” he shared. “I always felt like I had to try and be something different. I had to put on a mask.” 

    Miles' first summer as a camper was in the 6th grade. He spent a week with his home congregation, Bethel Lutheran. “I just remember really enjoying being here. I don’t really remember what we did, but I remember feeling good.” He came again as a camper for confirmation and then returned three years later to serve as a high school senior helper. In 2019 he served as a Staff in Training. With each new camp experience, Miles remembers feeling like camp was a place where he could be himself. “I could take off my mask.” 


    During the midst of his 2019 summer and throughout the fall of that year Miles was being tested to help him and his family understand why he struggled with fitting in at school and with peers. “I actually found out on Christmas Eve,” he said. “I was diagnosed with Autism. That really answered a lot of questions and it felt good to know and have answers.” 


    Before his diagnosis, Miles lived each day wondering and trying to make himself fit into the mold the world expected, but at camp, he didn’t feel that stress or pressure. “All of the staff are open and accepting. At camp, I didn’t have to try and fit into a box like I normally did at school. I could just be me. That was especially helpful when I didn’t know why I was so different.” 


    Now Miles is sharing his gifts and talents, as well as what he has learned through the challenges of life, during his first official summer as a counselor. Without knowing it, the safe and accepting community the staff create at Good Earth Village gave Miles a place of belonging and security. Your generosity to this ministry makes this holy village possible for all the campers like Miles who need to know they are loved and valued as beloved children of God. Thank you for making this safe community a reality. 


    The Follow Up Thank You Letter Tied To The Gift 


    Dear Pastor Jason and Chuck,


    Thank you very much for the significant and beautiful gift that was recently approved for Good Earth Village. This summer, one of our new summer staff came to us after many summers as a camper and one summer as Staff-in-Training (2019). Miles told me that he had always had trouble fitting in at school, but at GEV he felt welcomed and accepted, and he had authentic and deep friendships here that eluded him outside of camp. While it bothered him that at school he felt an outsider, knowing that he had peers that accepted him at camp carried him through. 


    Last year, Miles learned that he has autism. Suddenly those feelings at school made sense, and the acceptance at camp became even sweeter. He was met and loved where he was, as he was.  


    That's the sort of return on your investment that is priceless. Every project we complete because of your generosity makes it easier for people to participate, and more participants means the world gets to see Miles as we see him: a beloved, perfect child of God. 


    Thank you! We look forward to worshipping with you this weekend!

    Dianna




    Learn more at www.centerforgenerosity.com


    Join GSB as a Business Affiliate Member of the UMCRM Association: Click for details


  • 08 Sep 2021 7:49 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)

    My first camping experience in the late 1950s was a weekend outing with the Potawatomi Tribe of the Cleveland area YMCA Indian Guides – a father-and-son program that included Native American rituals, respect for nature and solemn spirituality. My name was Morning Cloud, my dad was Flying Cloud (since he traveled a lot) and my mom made his headdress at our dining room table since he was “chief.” We used a drum at our monthly meetings and prayed to the Great Spirit.  


    This experience was a mixed bag for me because I developed a deep respect for Native American culture and ritual, all the while misappropriating it in my white suburban “tribe” of father-and-son Indian Guides. Later, as I studied in college and seminary, I learned how wrong it was for us to borrow the trappings of a culture that wasn’t ours to use. This added insult to injury as those who stole the land of Native people also appropriated their rituals.


    So when it was announced that Michigan Area United Methodist Camping had decided to “do the right thing” and sell Crystal Springs Camp to the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi (yes, the same name as my Indian Guides “tribe,”) it was heralded as something to be celebrated. We have been thanked, recognized, and congratulated for this decision. This troubled my soul. We are not heroes in this scenario – it is not about us as Michigan Area Camping, Michigan Conference United Methodists, or White leaders selling real estate. We received money in the sale, though less than the market value. It was a gesture towards justice. There is still much work to be done.


    Perhaps we can use this event to reflect more deeply and act more fully towards justice. What Native symbols and rituals still exist in our camp facilities and programs that can be removed now? What can we do to build relationships with Native leaders and churches nearby? What can we learn from Native spirituality that can inform our connection to the camp land we steward, and all that God has created?


    I also grew up in Cleveland rooting for my beloved baseball team with the horribly offensive and cartoonish “Chief Wahoo” logo. In 2022, they will finally (after 120 years) change the name and logo to the “Guardians.” How profound it must be to have sacred rituals, symbols, and land stolen and be constantly reminded of it! Why does it take us so long to learn and change? God have mercy on us.




    Rev. David Berkey is Executive Director of Michigan Area United Methodist Camping. He has served as a Camp & Retreat Ministries executive in United Methodist Annual Conferences in Eastern PA, Florida, and Cal-Pac, and served on the boards of several national camp organizations, including UMCRM. He has long been a leader, teacher, mentor, and friend in the UMCRM Association. He is passionate about discipling young leaders, Christian social justice, and baseball.



  • 01 Sep 2021 11:57 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)

    The "Great Resignation" is the current phenomenon of large numbers of people making job and career changes. Camping and retreat ministries across the country are seeing this play out at their sites and related ministries. 

     

    Why are folks feeling the desire to move out of camp and retreat ministries?

    • Burnout. Leaders were feeling burnout pre-summer. This summer did not provide relief, and in many cases made stress and exhaustion worse. This has been a factor in some early retirements and career changes.

    • COVID lay-offs. Furloughs and lay-offs caused talented folks to seek work in other industries. They have not returned.

    • Career advancement. Camping and retreat ministries often have few opportunities for "moving up the ladder."

    • Weak support systems. Some leaders are feeling like they are "going it alone." 

    • Salary. Camping salaries and non-profit salaries, in general, tend to be lower than average.

    Strategies for addressing these challenges:

    • Camp/Retreat Ministry is both a career and a "life calling." 

    • Create a culture of growth. Even in ministries that don't have a lot of room for advancement, leaders can adjust job descriptions to bring newness to staff who have been around for a while.

    • Give the gift of time. Offer staff times of renewal and days off that don't count against their PTO.

    • Provide professional development or educational opportunities. Explore staff persons' career goals and help them learn skills to keep them growing. 

    • Encourage staff to grow and move on to wherever God is calling them. Don't hold too tightly to staff who are ready for a new challenge. At the same time, be continually looking at who can step up into year-round positions. Create an intentional and healthy flow of year-round staff.

    • Commit to increasing fiscal health so that can translate into better pay and benefits for your best asset: awesome people.

    • Look for opportunities to show how much your staff matter. Could credit card points go toward gift cards? Does housing need a facelift? Can you add bonuses to base pay? Could retirement contributions increase with longevity at the job?

    • Advocate for your own needs so you can best lead those around you. Don't be afraid to ask the Conference or your supervisor for support when you need it.




    Thanks to all who participated, shared ideas, and articulated your values around staff retention and appreciation. Join us on Monday, September 13th for the next UMCRM Community Conversation! 

  • 01 Sep 2021 10:16 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)

    Wesley Hall at Jumonville



    There’s only so much planning for a National Gathering that can happen remotely, so the Design Team for In The Kitchen was thrilled to be able to gather in person last week at our host site, Jumonville. Between poking our heads into every space that we’ll be utilizing in October and enjoying some incredibly delicious meals, the team focused on all the details that will make the Gathering in October truly special. 


    "In The Kitchen" Design Team group shot: Jeff Wilson, Matt Williams, Becky Valenzuela, Bruce Nelson, Stacey Dickson, Collin Grooms, Allison Doyle, and Ethan Porter. August 2021

    Fellowship is always an integral part of our National Gatherings, but as the team experienced first-hand last week, its role is now more important than ever—and can be done safely even in these uncertain times.


    One of the primary ways we will be able to maintain a safer environment is to place a hard cap of 150 registrations. As of today, this means there are only 24 spots remaining. The not-so-great news is that all the single- and double-accommodations have been spoken for (fortunately, the cabins we’ll be using on site have ample space and there are multiple hotels & motels within twenty minutes of Jumonville.) The good news is that you have until 11:59pm MT on Thursday, September 9th to take advantage of Early Bird Registration.


    We aren’t being hyperbolic when we say “register today!” 


    P.S., The scratch-made Italian Wedding Soup is worth the price of registration alone.


    Matt with gator at 2019 National Gathering in Florida



    Matt Williams is the Director of Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center in Upper New York. He and inimitable co-chair Heather Withrow are herding the cats/ wrestling the gators/ mixing up the ingredients for "In The Kitchen." 



  • 18 Aug 2021 9:25 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)

    Highlights of 8/6/21 UMCRM Community Conversation



    What has been UM camping's history of summer staff compensation?

    • We have been slow to keep up with summer staff raises.
    • Other cost increases, which have been out of our control, became the priority, pushing summer staff raises down the list of things to fund.
    • Typically we struggle every year in hiring enough quality summer staff. This year, all industries were struggling to hire staff.
    • We have been afraid to raise camper rates. It is an important value to keep camp accessible for every child.
    • We know that returning staff are exponentially more valuable the longer they stay, but salary increases do not reflect that value.
    • Bonuses (hiring bonuses or end-of-summer bonuses) have become more popular in recent years.

    Why is increasing summer staff salary base pay important?

    • Higher wages bring the opportunity of working at camp to a more diverse group of people. Affording to work at camp currently could be considered a "privilege." Only those with other sources of financial support can work at a low wage.
    • Increasing wages is the norm in the business industry right now. Increasing the pay rate will make camping more competitive with other industries trying to hire the same demographic.
    • "The experience" of being on summer staff is not enough to get young people to apply for these positions, or may not outweigh the realities of the cost of living and education.
    • United Methodist doctrines and Social Principles support fair pay and justice for workers.
    • Paying more will influence how we are perceived in the marketplace. What we charge and what we pay sets a certain expectation.

    So how do we fund it?

    • Change the camper fee structure; adopt or adjust tiered pricing.
    • Charge the actual cost of camp, front-loading scholarships rather than cutting expenses.
    • Provide payment plans for families to pay for camp throughout the whole year, instead of all at one time.
    • Strengthen fundraising efforts. Consider who benefits from us having excellent, well-compensated camp staff (camper families, churches, local businesses...)?
    • Reach out to civic organizations like Rotary Club to sponsor leadership development through multi-year bonuses.
    • Reach out to larger churches to fund salaries.
    • Invite conferences or other denominational entities to provide support, interpreting the value of camps in culture of call and young clergy recruitment.
    • "Adopt A Counselor" program - donors sponsor a staff salary but also serve as a prayer partner, send care packages, etc. Fun way to engage staff alumni.
    • Change end of summer bonuses and other incentives into a weekly pay increase.
    • Take incremental steps to increase the base salary over several years so your budget doesn't take a huge hit all in a single year.


    Special thanks to UMCRM colleague Nick Coenen (Pine Lake, WI) for initiating this conversation. Many of us came away with a new idea or insight, and it helps to know that other camps struggle with the same challenges. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments!

  • 11 Aug 2021 3:38 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)


    Image result for laundry fireDid you know that after being washed, towels and sheets left in a tumble dryer overnight can catch fire? This linen can start a fire from spontaneous combustion.


    It may surprise you to know that fires caused by spontaneous ignition are very common. While cooking remains the leading cause of house fires, laundry room fires account for an average of 15,000 fires each year in the United States according to the National Fire Protection Association.


    “Spontaneous combustion” refers to the gradual increase in temperature of a flammable material to the point of ignition. The process is a chemical reaction in which heat is generated. In laundry, the exothermic reaction occurs from oxidation of oils on fabric. (Source: Kelchner Cleaners)


    It’s possible for fires to start by spontaneous ignition in any type of business. These types of fires usually start late at night and are not discovered until the fire is in full bloom. A fire could damage your premises and even put a halt to your facility operation. This potential liability issue could also endanger staff or guests at your site. 


    Fortunately, there are some simple practices you can put in place to reduce the risk of a laundry fire. Oils are most likely to occur in kitchen laundry. Please review spill management and look at how greasy or oily residue is cleaned up at your site. (Resource from United Laboratories)  Also, review practices with staff who care for laundry to ensure that possibly contaminated laundry is not left in a warm, enclosed space overnight.



    Special thanks to Dale Connell from A1 American Group/ American Associated Companies for alerting us to this important risk management topic!


  • 30 Jul 2021 2:43 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)


    As Ken Overholser moves into retirement this month from his role as Director of Camping & Retreat Ministries in the West Ohio Conference, we asked him to reflect back on his calling and ministry, and to share a little advice for current leaders. 



    How were you called into C&R ministry?

    I was available and was asked to fill a temporary position in late March 2013. Summer was coming and someone was needed to step in and take charge. I later felt called to the permanent position and applied for the position. I had previously worked with youth and children and it seemed a natural fit.


    Where have you served? 

    I was called into vocational ministry in 1998 during a Walk to Emmaus. I didn’t know how or where, but was ready to answer God's call. God taught me great patience until the door opened at Ginghamsburg Church. They had opened a new youth center and needed someone to oversee the outreach. I later became the Director of Student Ministries and eventually Executive Director of  Discipleship Ministries. I spent 12 years at Ginghamsburg.


    Significant changes you've seen over the years in this ministry?

    The start of Day Camps, vision planning for the future, and social media telling the stories of camp. Camp does change lives!


    Your greatest blessings in this work?

    Seeing youth come together on the camping field and seeing social justice, something they don’t see at home, in the community, or at schools.


    What's one thing you're looking forward to doing in your retirement?

    Being a servant, helping others and it not being my job, but a volunteer.


    What's one important thing you've learned that you would like to pass along to other camp & retreat leaders?

    Communication is key in almost all business/ministry models of teams and staff working together towards a common goal.



    It's been a gift to have Ken as part of the UMCRM community over the years. May God continue to bless you, friend, as you move into a new life stage. Our Association would be glad to hook you up with some volunteer opportunities!



  • 14 Jul 2021 2:32 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)


     

    As our conference takes an in-depth look at cyber security, we questioned our camp operation and the vulnerability, most importantly, of our camp software program which is stored in the cloud. What would we do if faced with a ransom attack on our private information? The West Ohio Conference camps use CampBrain, but the questions we developed could be used anywhere with any system. See if you might be able to answer these questions and, if not, take this opportunity to do some investigation and risk management.

     

    1. How and where is data stored? If your camp software is cloud-based, who is the hosting provider, and where are the servers located?
    2. How is our data protected "at rest” and during “transition”? Since camp software contains sensitive & confidential information, verify that data is fully encrypted to reduce the likelihood of it being accessed by unauthorized parties. This might be access "at rest" (stored on a server's hard drive) or when “transmitted” (accessed remotely or anywhere in between). This is a question that may have a lengthy answer — let your software provider speak to their procedures, safeguards, and strategies.
    3. How are camp software users authenticated? Are strong passwords enforced?  Is two-party identification available for administrative or front-line staff with access to sensitive information?
    4. How are camp software users and data managed/audited? Make sure there is a record of who has access to what. How are you tracking who has added or deleted data?  Who has exported which data? How and how often is that monitored? 
    5. Do any third parties have access to my data? Review any agreements in place. Ensure that all relevant details are provided to you and that third parties won't present any additional risk. What level of access will these organizations have, and what methods does the vendor have in place to select and manage them to ensure security?
    6. When data is deleted, is it permanently erased? When we delete confidential & privacy data, we must be confident that it's really gone. In some systems, deleting is more of an “archive” function — it is removed from sight but is still accessible, like a document in the Trash on your desktop. Depending on the situation, this could be a good or a bad thing, so make sure you understand how the system functions.
    7. How is data recovered in the case of loss?  What protections are there against malware, specifically ransomware, or hardware failure? What are you actively doing to prevent breaches?
    8. Has your camp software had any breaches or security issues in the past 2 years?  Can you provide the results of your most recent external security audit?
    9. How are incidents reported to customers, your Conference or board?  How will your software company support you if there is a breach as a result of your camp software? How do you inform customers about security issues?
    10. Do you have cybersecurity or liability insurance that also protects the Conference or your board?
    11. What happens if our partnership ends with our camp software company?  Who owns the data? Some vendors may become the owner of your data when you transfer it into their system, while others allow you to maintain ownership. Understanding this is good to know when we have sensitive and financial information within our camp software.



    Thanks to Ken Overholser for sharing what he has learned by walking through this process in West Ohio. We appreciate the expert counsel of the Conference IT team. Ken wisely recognized that these are questions we should all be asking.


    Ken is the Director of Camping and Retreat Ministries for the West Ohio Conference for just a few more weeks before he retires! Ken has been an active member of the UMCRM Association for the last 8 years and we are so grateful for his friendship and engagement in our community life.

  • 07 Jul 2021 4:20 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)


    On July 1, UMCRM Director Jessica Gamaché joined a panel of experts to discuss vaccine advocacy in camp settings as part of the COVID-19 Vaccine Education and Equity Project. As the only presenter who was not a health professional, she brought a faith-based perspective to the conversation,  highlighting ways that our Christian faith is informing vaccine promotion in our camp communities. Gamaché described UMCRM Association foundations and United Methodist values as they relate to caring for our neighbors, building community, and promoting public health. 


    The featured speakers:



    View the hour-long presentation in its entirety here:







    Following are key quotes from the presentation worth sharing with parents, caregivers, and camp staff. 





    From Dr. Cohn:

    "It is really important that we as a community of healthcare providers, as camp providers, as educators help support a parent's decision to vaccinate their children. And are confident ourselves in the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines."

     

    From Dr. Blaisdell:

    "For many, camp provided a reason to get vaccinated ... I have heard anecdotally, 'I wasn't going to, but now that my kid is going to camp, we will go ahead and do that.' I heard that from our staff as well, 'I wasn't going to, but now that I understand that you have unvaccinated community at your camp, I will do that for your camp.'" 

     

    From Association Director Jessica Gamaché, on behalf of UMCRM:

    "...Health and safety has a long-standing spot as the number one priority in the youth camping field. ... This priority of safety, specifically in the United Methodist camping and retreat field, is deeply rooted into the fabric of our ministries. We prioritize safety, not because a manual tells us to or out of fear of being sued. We prioritize safety because we are called by God to love one another."

    "John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, urged Christians to  'Do no harm' & to ... 'Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can.' Promoting COVID vaccination is one way we can live that out."

    "In the Wesleyan tradition, the Christian faith is not a solitary journey. We are part of a larger community — our church families, our neighborhoods, and the world.  UM camp sites can leverage our visibility and trust within our own communities to help increase access to life-saving vaccine, especially in rural areas that may be underserved."

    "Additionally, our Camp & Retreat Ministries are oriented around 7 core foundations... (One is) to 'Inspire & Equip Lives for Love & Justice' and a second is to 'Extend Christian Hospitality & Community.' For us, advocating for vaccination is a justice issue and practice of hospitality as we follow our call to love our neighbors."



  • 26 May 2021 6:40 PM | Jen Burch (Administrator)


    Chris Alexander is a longtime supporter of Lakeshore Camp & Retreat Center (TN). Chris attended Lakeshore in his younger years as a retreat camper for 5 years. He later was a part of the summer staff for 5 summers. Chris just couldn’t get enough of camp, so he has continued on as a dedicated volunteer, taking care of a variety of tasks. Chris is on our Board of Directors, serving on the Program Committee. Year after year, he helps in training our summer staff. When he is not leading a session in staff training, he is helping our maintenance crew get the facilities ready for summer. Along with two others, Chris leads Senior High Camp each summer. These are just a few samplings of all the work Chris does at Lakeshore. He is a “let’s do it” kind of person, always ready to jump in and do whatever needs to be done. 


    When asked why he is dedicated to giving so much to this ministry, Chris said, “... I love the ministry that is done. It allows kids to be authentically who they are. And I have the greatest friends at Lakeshore.”


    Chris is a great support to the team here. We are incredibly blessed to have him serving alongside us in this ministry.









    Allison Doyle is the Program Director at Lakeshore Camp & Retreat Center. She enjoys hikes, sunny days, warm weather, and riding her jet ski!







    • Are there some dynamite past volunteers that your ministry might reconnect with this season? 
    • Are there new ways to utilize volunteers this summer to meet your camp's needs?
    • Is there a special volunteer who blesses your ministry who ought to be publicly recognized and celebrated?



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