Reimagine.
The Sacred Playgrounds team spent the second week of November gathered with camping ministry and supporting organization colleagues at the Outdoor Ministries Connection Great Gathering; a multi-denominational conference for outdoor ministry professionals, volunteers, supporting organizations leaders, and camp enthusiasts. The conference theme was “Reimagine: A Way in the Wilderness”. You can learn more about the conference at the ongoing gathering website.
From leading workshops, to engaging as exhibitors, to contributing to conference planning, to every single individual conversation we had – we are blessed, inspired, and honored to have been a part of such an incredible community of more than 500 camp and supporting organization leaders. We got to speak to, serve, and connect with friends from Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministry Association, Episcopal Camps & Conference Centers, Outdoor Ministries Association of United Church of Christ, Outdoor Ministries Institute, Campfire Collective & Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association, and others!
We gathered three thoughts and reflections on the time spent there (and of course, we brought in matching action steps for all of us!)
#1
Self-assessment isn’t hard, can add deep value, and can even be fun.
I, Anna, Sacred Playgrounds Director of Operations, got a crazy idea. What if we invited people to do the 5 Fundamentals Self-Assessment right at our table in the exhibit hall? We have sometimes heard from people that they are scared to assess their camp’s programs – what if we aren’t doing well! (Data doesn’t judge – it just give us information!) It turns out that 46 people took us up on the offer to try a self- assessment, and we got to have deeply impactful conversations about a variety of camps’ values, priorities and programs. These conversations were the highlight of our time in the exhibit hall and people left with ideas to try!
To no one’s surprise, we love a good data set and can’t just let it sit there. So, we gathered the responses and molded them into this visual representation of how camp leaders like your believe they are doing across these five fundamentals of effective camps.
Want to do this for yourself and with your team for your camp? The 5 Fundamentals Self-Assessment, along with the accompanying worksheet and analysis guide, is an instant-download tool available now.
Insight-to-Impact Action Step
Learn. Grow. Ask great questions. Ask them of yourself, your team, your colleagues, and God.
#2
It is vital to connect with people from different traditions and backgrounds.
When we record the Sacred Playgrounds Podcast, we’re often miles and hours apart chatting through a screen. At the gathering, we got the unique opportunity to be in-person with, as we said a few times over the week, 500+ of our closest friends. So Jake and I, Jared, took the opportunity to gather some voices from creative camp leaders to join us behind the mic. We talked about gathering take-aways, powerful examples of times they’ve gathered insights about their programs and taken action to make an intentional change, their best-of-the-best practices, and the real value of ecumenical co-working and partnership. Here’s what one podcast guest had to say.
“Being able to widen the spectrum of people we come across at these conferences is really cool. In the LOM network, we create relationships and see everyone year to year at least. When we get to widen the spectrum, meet new faces, encounter new philosophies, I think that really benefits the different ways you are able to learn, not just running programs, but even the way you approach new conversations, new practices.”
Cam Regennitter, Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp
This turned out to be a favorite episode for us, and was our fastest one to hit more than 100 downloads. Here’s the full episode. You can listen right here, or find it wherever you get your podcasts.
Insight-to-Impact Action Step
Be intentional about making connections with colleagues, especially those who come from a different tradition than you. Do you have a say in the budget of your organization? Build in funds to attend conferences – and not just your denominational gathering. Check out where and when other denominational groups are meeting. Look into the CCCA regional or national gatherings, or an ACA regional gathering. Watch for future OMC regional events.
It doesn’t take money to make connection. You can still be intentional in relationship building. Two ideas: A) Join an Intentional Leadership Group – they are hosted by UMCRM, but open to all; B) make an appointment for coffee or hiking with a colleague from a nearby camp of a different tradition and ask one another two questions – “What is the best thing you are doing right now?” and “How can I pray for your ministry?”
#3
Prayers & gratitude matters!
I, Anna, was privileged to serve as part of the event planning team. I quickly learned that gathering a group from six denominations brings six different languages about camps, retreats, and faith. It also brings at least a dozen sets of expectations and assumptions. It included some sleepless nights, many apologies, lots of prayer and a lot of love for making it the best event we could make it. It was the prayers of many and the thank yous that sustained the planners!
On this side of putting on an event, I think back to previous retreats or eventsI’ve been a part of, and I wish I’d recognized the work that went into planning and leading – I wish I’d prayed more and was more free with my thank yous.
Insight-to-Impact Action Step
Write a thank-you note or make a phone call. Call to mind someone who has led you and helped you grow. Maybe a mentor, a colleague, a board member, or a volunteer who helped you expand your vision. Say a prayer for them, and then take 5-10 minutes to call them and say thanks, or write a thank-you note. Watch what happens to your own spirt, and theirs.
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