Finding the Way of Cross in Nature: A guide for kids
This resource from the Rev. Mia Kano was written for Holy Week and Good Friday, as a way to connect what kids are seeing in the outdoors to the stations of the cross. I can imagine many ways it could be used in a camp setting; there’s a version for adults, too!
This resource from the Rev. Mia Kano was written for Holy Week and Good Friday, as a way to connect what kids are seeing in the outdoors to the stations of the cross. I can imagine many ways it could be used in a camp setting; there’s a version for adults, too!
Petition: Protect at least 30% of the planet's land and ocean by 2030
The Campaign for Nature is a partnership of the Wyss Campaign for Nature, National Geographic Society, and a growing coalition of more than 100 conservation organizations around the world, calling on policymakers to commit to a science-driven, ambitious new deal for nature.
Specifically, the Campaign for Nature is calling on world leaders to:
Commit to protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030;
Help mobilize financial resources to ensure protected areas are properly managed; and,
Approach biodiversity conservation in a way that fully integrates and respects indigenous leadership and indigenous rights.
You can sign the petition to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 as an individual or an organization. Sign nere.
The Campaign for Nature is a partnership of the Wyss Campaign for Nature, National Geographic Society, and a growing coalition of more than 100 conservation organizations around the world, calling on policymakers to commit to a science-driven, ambitious new deal for nature.
Specifically, the Campaign for Nature is calling on world leaders to:
Commit to protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030;
Help mobilize financial resources to ensure protected areas are properly managed; and,
Approach biodiversity conservation in a way that fully integrates and respects indigenous leadership and indigenous rights.
You can sign the petition to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 as an individual or an organization. Sign nere.
Go Dark for Earth Hour
Saturday, March 27, 8:30-9:30 pm your local time
Camp & Retreat Ministries play a key role in Creation Care education, and Earth Hour provides an annual opportunity to join with neighbors around the world to darken the night sky and highlight the impact of human behavior on climate change. Learn more about this symbolic action & plan to take part
Saturday, March 27, 8:30-9:30 pm your local time
Camp & Retreat Ministries play a key role in Creation Care education, and Earth Hour provides an annual opportunity to join with neighbors around the world to darken the night sky and highlight the impact of human behavior on climate change. Learn more about this symbolic action & plan to take part
Big News from Diocese of West Texas!
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas held a “sandbreaking” ceremony this week to announce the expansion of the Mustang Island Conference Center Center. The $5 million expansion brings an open-air chapel along the dune line as well as a ten-room retreat center, increasing the housing capacity of the center by 65%.
Join us in congratulating Rob, Kevin, and Kathy!
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas held a “sandbreaking” ceremony this week to announce the expansion of the Mustang Island Conference Center Center. The $5 million expansion brings an open-air chapel along the dune line as well as a ten-room retreat center, increasing the housing capacity of the center by 65%.
Join us in congratulating Rob, Kevin, and Kathy!
Grant Opportunity: Land Conservation through Acquisition & Easements
Acres for America is a partner program between National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) and Walmart, established to provide urgently needed funding for projects that conserve important large-scale habitats for fish, wildlife, and plants through land acquisitions and perpetual conservation easements.
Preferential consideration will be given to proposals that can demonstrate their ability to achieve more than one of the program priorities below.
Conserve critical habitats for birds, fish, plants and wildlife
Connect existing protected lands to unify wild places and protect critical migration routes
Provide access for people to enjoy the outdoors
Ensure the future of local economies that depend on forestry, ranching and wildlife
Acres for America is a partner program between National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's (NFWF) and Walmart, established to provide urgently needed funding for projects that conserve important large-scale habitats for fish, wildlife, and plants through land acquisitions and perpetual conservation easements.
Preferential consideration will be given to proposals that can demonstrate their ability to achieve more than one of the program priorities below.
Conserve critical habitats for birds, fish, plants and wildlife
Connect existing protected lands to unify wild places and protect critical migration routes
Provide access for people to enjoy the outdoors
Ensure the future of local economies that depend on forestry, ranching and wildlife
Kanuga and the Cloud of Unknowing
Michael Sullivan is the president and Chief Executive Officer of Kanuga, an independently operated Episcopal conference center (It’s not owned or supported by a diocese, congregation, or order.). He wrote this moving reflection about the pandemic and the ongoing uncertainty for the Living Church.
Sadness became our constant companion. We opened for limited retreats, gaining some revenue, yet that revenue would not cover expenses. While our advancement efforts yielded our best participation in the history of Kanuga, we faced the inevitable: we had to downsize yet again. We had to preserve the institution. The mission of Kanuga had to become our sole focus. Our goal was to survive as the gathering place for all people in the furtherance of the mission of the church.
Continue reading.
Michael Sullivan is the president and Chief Executive Officer of Kanuga, an independently operated Episcopal conference center (It’s not owned or supported by a diocese, congregation, or order.). He wrote this moving reflection about the pandemic and the ongoing uncertainty for the Living Church.
Sadness became our constant companion. We opened for limited retreats, gaining some revenue, yet that revenue would not cover expenses. While our advancement efforts yielded our best participation in the history of Kanuga, we faced the inevitable: we had to downsize yet again. We had to preserve the institution. The mission of Kanuga had to become our sole focus. Our goal was to survive as the gathering place for all people in the furtherance of the mission of the church.
Continue reading.
Decomissioning Process Guide
This resource has been developed by the United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries association: Closing a camp or retreat ministry site is hard. The steps outlined in this document can help guide you in making decisions throughout the difficult process.
This resource has been developed by the United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries association: Closing a camp or retreat ministry site is hard. The steps outlined in this document can help guide you in making decisions throughout the difficult process.
Creation Speaks: A new summer camp curriculum
InsideOut has released a new summer camp curriculum:
What do God and Creation have to teach us about how to live today? Creation Speaks, the new summer camp curriculum from InsideOut invites campers to look to God’s Creation, including each other, as they listen for God’s voice in the world today. By looking anew at the Creation story, campers will imagine what each part might teach us about God and our place in the world. Light, water, earth, seasons, animals, humans, and even a day of rest will help campers to listen for God, still speaking to them today. Shhhh…listen, Creation Speaks!
ECCC and UMCRM members can get 10% off the regular price of $395 through October 31st with promo code SPEAK20. See a sample and purchase the curriculum here.
InsideOut has released a new summer camp curriculum:
What do God and Creation have to teach us about how to live today? Creation Speaks, the new summer camp curriculum from InsideOut invites campers to look to God’s Creation, including each other, as they listen for God’s voice in the world today. By looking anew at the Creation story, campers will imagine what each part might teach us about God and our place in the world. Light, water, earth, seasons, animals, humans, and even a day of rest will help campers to listen for God, still speaking to them today. Shhhh…listen, Creation Speaks!
ECCC and UMCRM members can get 10% off the regular price of $395 through October 31st with promo code SPEAK20. See a sample and purchase the curriculum here.
Case Study: Young Adult Intentional Community
Due to the limitations placed on all of us by the pandemic, Camp Wrightwood, offered an experience of intentional spiritual community for most of the month of July.
This community will allow young adults ages 18-24 an opportunity to live in community, to be at camp, to grow spiritually, to help care for the camp property and facilities, and to provide leadership to whatever version of camp program we are able to do safely this summer. These are the goals of the program.
Due to the limitations placed on all of us by the pandemic, Camp Wrightwood, offered an experience of intentional spiritual community for most of the month of July.
This community will allow young adults ages 18-24 an opportunity to live in community, to be at camp, to grow spiritually, to help care for the camp property and facilities, and to provide leadership to whatever version of camp program we are able to do safely this summer. These are the goals of the program.
Bring a Voice to Your Ministry - United Methodist General Conference Advocacy
United Methodist camp and retreat ministries serve the breadth of the UMC and across denominational lines. In the midst of any denominational changes, our goal is to continue impacting churches through offering experiences that bring individuals into a deeper walk with Christ. This resource is designed to equip you with knowledge and strategies for being a strong voice in conversations during this General Conference season. It will guide you in reaching out to your General Conference delegates and inviting them to enter decision making processes with both the local church AND camp and retreat ministries in mind.
This guide includes:
Legislation
Action Steps
Relationship building
United Methodist camp and retreat ministries serve the breadth of the UMC and across denominational lines. In the midst of any denominational changes, our goal is to continue impacting churches through offering experiences that bring individuals into a deeper walk with Christ. This resource is designed to equip you with knowledge and strategies for being a strong voice in conversations during this General Conference season. It will guide you in reaching out to your General Conference delegates and inviting them to enter decision making processes with both the local church AND camp and retreat ministries in mind.
This guide includes:
Legislation
Action Steps
Relationship building
Season of Creation and St. Francis Day Resources
The Season of Creation, September 1st through October 4th, is celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation. The Episcopal Church joins this international effort for prayer and action for climate justice and an end to environmental racism and ecological destruction. This year’s theme is Jubilee for the Earth: New Rhythms, New Hope. In celebrating the Season, we are invited to consider anew our ecological, economic, and political ways of living.
The Season of Creation, September 1st through October 4th, is celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation. The Episcopal Church joins this international effort for prayer and action for climate justice and an end to environmental racism and ecological destruction. This year’s theme is Jubilee for the Earth: New Rhythms, New Hope. In celebrating the Season, we are invited to consider anew our ecological, economic, and political ways of living.
On Rest & Labor: Gardening 101, Fallow Time
Still, on the other side of work, it has to be said that fallow time—that listless period of uncertain backbuilding—seems to be just as necessary as labor.\
Still, on the other side of work, it has to be said that fallow time—that listless period of uncertain backbuilding—seems to be just as necessary as labor.