A chorus of birdsong floats through the canopy above and grasses and forbs (wildflowers) stir in silent accord with the soil below. As guests meander through the wild spaces stewarded by UMC camps and retreat centers, a deep sense of interconnectedness and wonder begins to overtake whatever frustrations or anxieties they may have brought with them on their journeys. As racing minds subside and become more attuned to the undersong of Creation, our guests begin to perceive the current of the Holy Spirt at work, always flowing, not just around us, but through us. 

We all know countless iterations of this experience that have happened at our sites. We also know that these experiences sometimes happen despite our best made plans, not because of them.  As camp and retreat ministries, we live close to these wild spaces that offer wisdom, beauty, and sacred connections to God that transform us into a new way of life. As leaders in ministry, we are not only called into communion with the spaces we inhabit, but we are also called to share with others and invite them to experience that same connection with Creation. This can be where things get daunting. 

“Where do I start? What does “Creation Care” actually mean? How do I fund new programs? Do guests even care? Am I actually doing anything for the planet?” I propose that the next right step to take is the one that you can do faithfully. Oftentimes, outward-facing programs like environmental education and recycling come to mind when “Creation Care” is mentioned. When run well, programs like these connect countless guests each year to new understandings of our relationship with the spaces we inhabit and practices that protect those spaces. I am forever grateful and proud of the ministries that are able to pull off programs likes these. At the same time,  the reality is that many of our sites aren’t able to support programs like these for financial, cultural, or infrastructure reasons. That’s okay! This doesn’t mean your role in Creation Care is any less meaningful.

There are many ways we can live out our call to be good stewards and inspire our guests to wonder about Creation. Actions as small as providing maps for guests to walk trails, may become the catalyst for guests to create new connections with Creation. Recycling may not be feasible in your area, but reducing and reusing waste is a practice in which we can all continue to grow. Do what you can. You may not have an experienced naturalist on staff, but there are always scientists and educators (or authors of this article) who would love the chance to come to your site to study and teach you about the unnoticed creatures that call your site home. Who are the untapped experts in your circles who could be a ministry resource? You may not be in a place where a formal environmental education program is viable right now, but you have ecosystems on your site that you are able to responsibly manage. Is there one new step you could take this season to be a more informed caretaker of the web of life right where you are? Every small step towards God’s wildness is a worthy step to take and brings us closer to to Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer of all nature.

Jeff Wilson is the Assistant Director at Camp Lake Stephens (MS). He holds a degree in Biology and Earth System Sciences from the University of Alabama - Huntsville. His love for camp began after his freshman year in college when he joined the CLS summer staff as a counselor. Four summer seasons later, Jeff made the commitment to go into camping ministry full time. In addition to spending time with spouse Emily and baby Jude, he enjoys spending his free time hiking and photographing wildflowers. Jeff is a student in the Compass Points Certificate Program and volunteers on the National Gathering Design Team.