The recent consulting process has also resulted in Erin Lumpkins’ responsibilities being restructured. Erin will retain her position as Director of our Nature’s Classroom program but will no longer be the Nature’s Classroom site director at Pilgrim Hills. Instead, Erin will handle summer camp programming for 2009.

In addition to a large selection of popular camps making a return appearance this summer, 22 new camps have been added by Outdoor Ministries staff and the program working group. Check out the new offerings in the recently-mailed catalogues and online.

It’s Stuart Fisher’s job to fill those camps and increase camper numbers for current camps as well. To do that, Stuart will recruit and coordinate a team of volunteers who will be visiting with many of our Ohio Conference congregations.

Their message will be simple: The Ohio Conference Division of Outdoor Ministries partners with local congregations in providing quality programming in a natural setting, to complement the faith formation that local congregations provide. Congregations will be investing in leadership development by encouraging young people (and not-so-young people) to engage in the camping program. The volunteers will be at the service of local congregations in helping to increase the number of campers.

This will be an intensive push for the next several months. The consulting process has indicated that an increase in camp usage will help to fund an expanded staffing pattern, which in turn can lead toward an improvement in the quality of our facilities and program, which will draw even more usage.