"Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10, NRSV)

Seminars

Please select one seminar for Saturday and one seminar for Sunday when you register for the event.

(Note: Seminars designated with Part One and Part Two are designed for folks to attend both sessions.)



Saturday, January 27, 2007
2:00-5:00 p.m.


Introduction to Facilitating Challenge Courses and Initiatives (Part One)
Leader: Sumantanga Program Staff

Come and learn about how to use challenge courses and initiatives in your own camp and retreat setting. The Camp Sumatanga staff will guide participants through elements of the Sumatanga course, weaving in a discussion of the philosophy and theology behind these popular activities.


The Ministry of Office Management
Leader: Laura Hughes

Office staff, whether at the camp site or a central office, are primary points of contact for camp and retreat ministry. Gain skills and ideas for this special ministry, and learn about the resources that the Professional Association of United Methodist Secretaries can offer you.


Telling God's Story - Sharing Your Story (Part One)
Leader: Kwasi Kena

Stories, a mainstay of camp and retreat experiences, have long been crucial for sharing the Christian faith. This workshop will introduce participants to the art of Bible storytelling and to crafting their own personal "God story." Storytelling is personal, low tech, and highly relational, which explains, in part, its power. Come learn and practice how to engage people in storytelling that changes lives.


Good Decision Making for Boards and Committees
Leader: Pam Harris

The key to effective governance by boards and committees lies in their ability to make sound decisions that serve the mission of your ministry. This seminar will provide practical advice on increasing the effectiveness of your board or committee. This will not involve theoretical discussions of governance, but concrete recommendations to make your meetings more productive and meaningful.


Be Still - Are You Crazy?
Leader: Phyllis Murray

Martha is our patron saint! How do food service warriors find spiritual stillness and connectedness in the midst of the tumult of summer camp operations or busy retreat seasons?


Come Away to a Quiet Place
Leader: Larry Peacock

This seminar looks at the elements involved in planning, developing, and implementing a retreat ministry. How do we move beyond hosting into spiritual formation programming? How do we start from scratch to develop a year-round program of spiritual formation? We will focus on the spiritual yearning in us and in our society and on the components of creating retreats, finding leadership, and developing promotion. We will explore the kinds of retreats that contribute to spiritual formation.


Nurturing Donor Relations and Charitable Support for the Ministry (Part One)
Leader: Dr. Jim Reid

This seminar will focus on the essentials of identifying and building strong relationships with donors who have large giving capacity. Nurturing long-term, mutually meaningful relationships is an important part of fund raising and planned giving efforts. Come for more in-depth learning from an expert in the field.


The Ministry of Maintenance (Part One)
Leader: Pat Ryan

We have been blessed with talents and skills enabling us to be part of a powerful, vital ministry.  Often, circumstances and limited resources create challenging situations to overcome in fulfilling that ministry.  Over the course of two sessions, we will explore ways to balance the needs of the site while working to reduce our negative environmental impact and making the most out of our resources.


Serving Campers in a Digital Age
Leader: Tex Sample

The advent of new technologies continues to accelerate. Many of our campers are deeply influenced, for both good and bad, by these rapid changes in our society. Join respected professor and sociologist Tex Sample for a discussion about how we can best serve these young people entrusted to us.


Building and Leading Effective Staff and Volunteer Teams (Part One)
Leader: Jack Shitama

Learn about the art of discerning and communicating vision, finding the right people for the right positions, developing trust, inspiring innovation, avoiding pitfalls, and practicing the habits of a servant leader.


Safe Sanctuaries Training for Camps and Retreats (Part One)
Leader: Joy Thornburg-Melton

This workshop will include current information on pertinent statutes, insurance issues, and day-to-day camp operations and procedures to assure campers and camp staffers an experience free of abuse and fear of litigation. Both those serving children and vulnerable adults and those who have staff training responsibilities will benefit from this essential learning. Those wanting "Safe Sanctuary" trainer preparations should take this two-part seminar.


New Director Training (Part One)
This is a must for new camp and retreat directors.
Leader: Kathy Trotter

Part one will address the organizational issues facing camps and retreats/conference centers, including the unique dynamics of camp, retreat center, and conference center ministry; mission; not-for-profit requirements; governing structures for ministry; planning; fund development; and risk management.


Skills for Building an Inclusive Multicultural Community
Leader: Keith Yamamota

Participants will learn personal reflection tools that will enhance their ability to work effectively in a diverse community. Participants will also learn and practice facilitation skills that can create a more inclusive community.


The Study Says
Leader: Dr. Karen Marie Yust

This seminar will explore the results of a study done by Dr. Yust through a grant from the Lilly Endowment. The focus of the study was on how camp and retreat centers are doing in truly providing experiences that build Christian faith.


Christian Conferencing
Leader: Ken Howie

Christian conference centers serve an important and unique role for today’s church.  Learn more during an interactive presentation by Ken Howle, communications and marketing director for Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center.   Topics covered include current trends, the mission of Christian conference ministry, how conference ministry differs from retreat ministry, emerging market niches that reflect our mission,  and new technologies.



Sunday, January 28, 2007
2:00-5:00 p.m.

Introduction to Facilitating Challenge Courses and Initiatives (Part Two)
Leader: Sumatanga Program Staff

Come and learn about how to use challenge courses and initiatives in your own camp and retreat setting. The Camp Sumatanga staff will guide participants through elements of the Sumatanga course, weaving in a discussion of the philosophy and theology behind these popular activities. This is a continuation of Saturday's workshop with new activities and experiences.


No-Trace Camping: Outdoor Skills That Care for the Earth
Leader: Gary Conover

What is our impact on the environment as we camp in the woods? No-trace camping can be a teaching tool regarding the stewardship of creation and lifestyles that are faithful to that stewardship. Learn the essentials of the no-trace camping approach to outdoor living and how to apply them at home. Some of this seminar will be held outside, so dress appropriately. This seminar helps teach the camp and retreat ministry foundation of earth care and faith.


Telling God's Story - Sharing Your Story (Part two)
Leader: Kwasi Kena

Stories, which are crucial for sharing the Christian faith, are a mainstay of camp and retreat experiences. This workshop will introduce participants to the art of Bible storytelling and crafting their own personal "God story." Storytelling is personal, low tech, and highly relational, which explains, in part, its power. Come learn and practice how to engage people in storytelling that changes lives.


Key Health-Care Issues for Camps and Retreat Centers
Leader: Kevin Long, RN

We will discuss parents' expectations of camps related to health-care coverage. Frequently overlooked areas of importance will be discussed, including ACA standards versus nursing standards, Safe Sanctuaries in the infirmary, staff training, health-care providers' limitations, licensure requirements, and medical director coverage.


But This Doesn't Look Like Camp Food
Leader: Phyllis Murray

This seminar will present ideas about how to creatively address new trends, special diets, and picky eaters in a high-energy, hands-on setting. Network, have fun, and renew your sense of call to this special ministry of hospitality.


Keep the Keys! Know the Locks!
Leader: Sue Parnell

The joy of working with children and youth combines challenges and rewards. Effective communications and excellent programming result when leaders know age-level characteristics and the speed of developmental changes. Each child is unique, but some needs are common for all ages and all people. This experiential seminar explores ages and stages of child/youth development as they have an impact on you – the multitasking leader. Knowledge is the key to unlocking adventure.


Refreshing Waters and Mountain Views
Leader: Larry Peacock

In this seminar, participants will experience a mini-retreat. Part of the retreat will include developing elements for a retreat that you can offer. The majority of the time will be spent on taking that knowledge and developing a retreat that you or another leader could do at your site. This seminar will use images of water and mountains as themes for retreats, but you may use other images.


Nurturing Donor Relations and Charitable Support for the Ministry (Part Two)
Leader: Dr. Jim Reid

A continuation of the seminar on nurturing relationships with major donors who have large capacities for charitable giving. This session is new information and not a repeat of Part One. This is an outstanding opportunity to gain important learning in this special arena of fund raising and planned giving. Dr. Reid is an expert in the field. This seminar goes deeper than previous seminars and focuses for greater effectiveness.


The Ministry of Maintenance (Part Two)
Leader: Pat Ryan

We have been blessed with talents and skills enabling us to be part of a powerful, vital ministry.  Often, circumstances and limited resources create challenging situations to overcome in fulfilling that ministry.  Over the course of two sessions, we will explore ways to balance the needs of the site while working to reduce our negative environmental impact and making the most out of our resources.


Building and Leading Effective Staff and Volunteer Teams (Part Two)
Leader: Jack Shitama

Leading effective teams is a balancing act between providing enough room for creativity and initiative, while maintaining for the good of the ministry. This session will focus on the practical ways that teams work together and how the leader inspires individuals to help fulfill a shared ministry direction.


Safe Sanctuaries Training for Camps and Retreats (Part Two)
Leader: Joy Thornburg-Melton

This workshop will include current information on pertinent statutes, insurance issues, and day-to-day camp operations and procedures to assure campers and camp staffers an experience free of abuse and fear of litigation. Both those serving children and vulnerable adults and those who have staff training responsibilities will benefit from this essential learning. Those wanting "Safe Sanctuary" trainer preparations should take this two-part seminar.


New Director Training (Part Two)
This is a must for new camp and retreat directors.
Leader: Kathy Trotter

Part Two will address management issues facing camps and retreats/conference centers. These include incorporating everything you do as part of the program, the seven foundations of United Methodist camp and retreat ministry, hospitality beyond customer service, marketing ministry, personnel management, finances that mirror healthy ministry, and balancing management and leadership.


Conference Executives Gathering
Leader: Kevin Witt

This seminar is designed for conference staff or other leaders responsible for the entire camp and retreat ministry of an annual conference. Kevin Witt will lead a session of exchange and dialogue on issues of particular importance to those providing oversight for the total camp and retreat ministry organization of the conference.


Bridging Differences, Embracing Diversity
Leader: Keith Yamamota

Participants will explore communication style differences and the power dynamics that they create in encountering people from different backgrounds and upbringings. Participants will learn skills and tools for bridging these differences so that no person or group is being disadvantaged.


Questions About Workshops or Seminars?
Contact:
Michael Huber
Work: 315-364-8756
E-Mail: mike@casowasco.org

Click here to download the seminar information in printable pdf format.