Program Ideas
Here are ideas for how to partner with outdoor ministries to enrich your congregation's ministry:
- Designate a week or two of the summer camp schedule for your congregation to participate in as a group.
- Identify the outdoor ministry experience as part of the congregation's education program during the summer months.
- Providing transportation and offering financial assistance for those who need it can assure success.
- Offer day camp programs for children and youth during the summer. Many camps provide day camp staff and programs in partnership with local congregational volunteers. This can be an effective outreach opportunity for the whole community.
- Make confirmation camp and retreat experiences an integral part of your catechetical program. Close relationships of trust and cooperation can be built between youth and adults in a place apart from their normal surrounding over an extended period of time. Camp is a great place for confirmands, pastors and mentors to bond and create a long faith filled relationship.
- Participate in wilderness, high adventure camp programs and mission trips. People grow in their faith and group relationships as they work cooperatively in situations that are challenging!
- Work together to address local hunger and justice concerns. Camps can help pull together volunteers and "servant event" programs to help meet local community needs such as hunger relief, housing improvement, day camps for children, environmental care, and cross-cultural education.
- Family Camp, Grandparent Camp, Intergenerational Camp! Looking for a great way to spend family time together? Try Family Camp. You'll be treated to family fun, fellowship, learning and worship! Spend time together around the campfire, swim, fish, go boating and more. It's a great family experience! Cabins and tent/trailer sites are available. Camp staffs are available to help with programming. Weekend and week-long camps can be arranged.
- Develop programs for older adults. Use retreat facilities and staff for learning, spiritual growth and service opportunities for older adults.
- Use camp staff to help plan and implement youth and adult programs. Outdoor ministries staff have a wealth of programmatic and organizational skills to share.
- Encourage youth and adults to work at camp as paid or volunteer staff. Serving in outdoor ministries enables people to share in the mission and ministry of the church.
Lutheran Outdoor Ministries now offer traditional camping programs in outdoor settings, indoors with adult retreats and leadership training, taken to the streets with urban programs in which young people experience the needs and cultural diversity of the cities and are bringing day camps for children right to the front door of urban , suburban, and rural churches.
Servant events and Mission Trips give young adults an opportunity to lend a helping hand with construction, cleanup or environmental projects.
Our camps and retreat centers are also leading the way in ministering to the needs of an active and growing older adult population.
The camps of Region 3 are opening doors, inside and out. Come, experience the mission and ministry of your ELCA Region 3 outdoor ministry sites!
Did you Know?
Eighty-five percent of parents who have sent their children to a Lutheran camp say that the experience was influential in shaping their child's faith and values.
Make plans now for a great summer experience!
Or Plan Adult, Family or Youth retreats throughout the coming year!
Consider programs that focus on: Parenting, family enrichment, marriage enrichment, leadership development, daily life issues, or Congregational Planning.
Use the retreat setting to mix recreation, work, community-building and worship!
Contact An ELCA Camp or Retreat Center today!