Oregon-Idaho Camp and Retreat Ministries operates as a team together where directors share and learn from one another in growing in our ability to fulfill our mission as “People dedicated to providing quality environments of Christian hospitality and learning.”
Keeping our environment clean and helping reduce waste is something we are very passionate about at camp. Since I am an Earth Day baby, I feel more connected to preserving the land and watching what goes to the dump. Although not everyone cares about waste management or cares about where the food waste goes, we try to make it a little more fun for the campers to really grasp where all of their waste goes. In order to help promote creation care, we sometimes get creative. This is the story of one of our creative solutions.
Camp Latgawa just finish its application to become American Camp Association (ACA)-accredited and is waiting for the review process to be complete, joining our other sites that put on the bulk of our children and youth programming: Magruder, Suttle Lake, and Sawtooth. Wallowa Lake Camp and Alton L. Collins focus on adult programming and go through a different process.
So, why do camps go through this painstaking process? Read this article, written by Ken Atkinson director emeritus at Geneva Glen Camp in Indian Hills, Colorado.
Believe me, I understand the irony of this article. most likely read on a mobile device! In the other part of my life, I also work for the Missional Wisdom Foundation, an organization that has a Rule of Life, found here: https://www.missionalwisdom.com/rule-of-life/. One of the substitutions I would like to make in my life is under the 'Prayers' heading: "We will fast from food once a week." Not only is this the one part of the Rule that most people stumble over when they first read through it, but I don't know about you, but I have a cell-phone addiction, so fasting from all mobile technology would be a more challenging and mindful practice than fasting from food. Check out this blog-post from Gregg Hunter of Christian Camp & Conference Association (CCCA). His last question seems directed toward me - what would it look like for me to leave my cellphone in the car when I am a guest at camp? - Eric Conklin
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My journey with creation care and appreciation began when I was a young child. When our family would go camping, my sister and I were paid by our parents 1 penny for every scrap of garbage that we picked up. This helped us to live out the “leave it better than you found it” mantra. There were field trips, scout trips, and of course, church camps, which all demonstrated and encouraged me to live out these values.
You may have heard variations of this old "campfire" story before, or you may be reading it for the first time. Either way, be reminded that your flaws can create beauty in this world:
A waterbearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole, which she carried across her neck.
One of the pots had a crack in it. While the other pot was perfect, and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the mistress's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to her master's house.
Click here to read the whole story as told in AmazingWomenRock.com
Tag is making a popular comeback, thanks to the new movie in theaters now, but do you know these variations of the classic game of tag? With all of these in the tool box, I can't think of an easier way for kids and youth to get out their energy!
Fostering leaders for the future of our church and our world is a sacred responsibility, and we are dedicated to faithfully carrying out this duty.
I am proud that I am a part of a denomination whose forebears gave birth to these beautiful settings from the early days of the Methodist movement through to present day.
While working on site for Twinlow United Methodist Church Camp in Rathdrum, Idaho 20 years ago, I received my call to service as a clergy person in the United Methodist Church. In fact, most of the young adults I worked with over my years at Twinlow made significant changes to their prospective career paths because of their time working at camp.
Camp Latgawa holds a special place in many hearts throughout Southern Oregon. Not just because it has been around for over 65 years but because of all the warm emotions that are felt when guest and campers are at camp with others that can relate to them.
I’ve been going to camp since third grade and the memories I’ve made are some of my favorites. I’ve always had a great camp experience and a lot of that was because of my counselors and the people in leadership roles. I remember my counselors always making sure I felt included and welcomed during camp. They made sure I stayed safe and had fun.
For over 100 years we have been engaged in the work of nurturing Christian faith and discipleship in some of this region’s most beautiful outdoor spaces.
The longer I am involved in this work, the more I realize everything we do is based in relationship building. This includes our food service, our facilities, and programming. When we welcome a guest to our site for the first time, all of these factors are opportunities to build trust and inspire confidence. That is why every decision we make makes an impact on hospitality.
Reflections on the Seven Foundations for Camp & Retreat Ministries Foundation 1: "Provide Sacred Places Apart" A Perspective from Camp Latgawa by Sam Grainger, Director of Camp Latgawa Our work at Camp Latgawa is highly influenced by the foundation ...
The 7 Foundations of Camp and Retreat Ministries Executive Director Todd Bartlett Introduces this important communications theme for 2018 In the coming year it is our plan with this weekly e-newsletter to share with you about the Seven Foundations of...
I have shared some reflections about important elements to our experiences at our camps and retreat center. The current list begins with the physical elements of: land, water, sky and fire.
Camp Latgawa has closed the books on a successful summer, and we have completed the requirements for our highly successful Gray Family Foundation matching grant program!
Last September, I agreed to serve as the interim Executive Director for Camp and Retreat Ministries in Oregon-Idaho, until a national search could be conducted to hire the next Executive Director, which turned out to be me!
Every year we are excited to hear campers’ stories about camp or to see campers’ experiencing God at this sacred place. Often, it is the little things that fill us with the most joy. There are several examples that we would like to lift up.
We know that it is the people who make a camp... but good structures certainly help! HAVE YOUR GIFT MATCHED by clicking here.
The 7 Foundations of United Methodist Camp and Retreat Ministries (nationally, UMCRM) began with a prayerful discernment centered on two specific questions:
What must we do well in order to be truly effective now and into the future?
What is absolutely vital for us to focus on in fulfilling the church’s mission within the unique camp and retreat setting?
Visit business.landsend.com/store/gocamping/ to have the Camp and Retreat Ministries logo embroidered on any number of clothing or other items that Land’s End offers. You can order one piece at a time, in the size and color you wish. There is also an option to vary the colors of embroidery threads to be better visible on the material you choose (you could even choose pink, purple and orange!). The National Camp and Retreat logo is also available. The logo fee is typically about $6.00 in addition to the price of the clothing article, but often coupon codes can be found with an online search that may eliminate this or the shipping charge.
Are you feeling nudged to work at camp as paid or volunteer staff? Opportunities always abound to be a part of a dynamic, inspired, and hardworking team.
We are in the thick of the summer camp season, and we have been blessed to hear stories of rejuvenation and exploration. One camp mother exclaimed about her daughter’s Wallowa Lake experience: Wallowa Lake Horse Campers “I have been a ...
© 2014 Camp and Retreat Ministries:
A partnership between The Oregon-Idaho Conference of The United Methodist Church
and The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon