GBOD | Camping

Colleges and Seminaries Offering Camp and Retreat-Related Courses and Degrees

I recently completed a web search for educational institutions offering courses or degrees in camping, outdoor leadership, camp administration, outdoor recreation, and camping and retreat ministry. I have not found many that combine the Christian aspects of the ministry with the more available secular courses in recreation and other related fields. Please investigate the quality of all the institutions mentioned below or specific courses to make sure that the schools are accredited and that courses they offer will be accepted by other colleges and universities if you want ongoing academic credit for them.

I would love to have information on other schools that offer courses in Christian Camp and Retreat Ministry or related fields. If you know of other schools that we might add to the list, please e-mail me at kwitt@gbod.org

If you plan to pursue a vocation in Christian camp and retreat ministries, then it is very important to take courses related to the theological foundations of the ministry, faith formation, outdoor Christian education, and the development of spiritual leadership, as well as secular courses such as business administration, recreation, staff supervision, risk management, and so forth. Drew University and Theological School, as well as other United Methodist and Christian schools, would be a great help with the faith-based core of the ministry.

I highly recommend taking courses that qualify within Camp and Retreat Ministry Certification as part of your studies. Currently, only Drew Theological School offers courses that qualify for Camp and Retreat Ministry Certification approved by The United Methodist Church. Leaders from other denominations can also receive a certificate of completion in Camp/Retreat Ministries from Drew. See http://www.gbod.org/camping/certification/.

Finally, in addition to the schools listed below, I recommend you do web searches using the following phrases, so that any new schools offering courses might be found:
Majors Minors camp administration program
Majors Minors Outdoor Christian Education
Camp and Retreat college university courses
Camp and Retreat Ministry college university courses
Camp and Retreat Administration College university courses
Outdoor Ministries Degree

Note: The list below includes non-UM schools so that you are aware of what is widely available. United Methodist-related schools are marked ++. For a general list of all United Methodist-related colleges, universities, and seminaries, visit http://www.gbhem.org/gbhem/colleg.html. The UM schools are open to persons from all denominations and faiths who want to take camp and retreat ministry courses. I would assume that is true for the others as well.

Kevin Witt
Director, Camp and Retreat Ministries
The General Board of Discipleship
E-mail: kwitt@gbod.org

++ = United Methodist school
** = Other religiously affiliated school

SEMINARIES

**Asbury Theological Seminary

++Boston University School of Theology (Degrees in Spiritual Formation and Retreat Work)

++Drew University Theological School (numerous courses related to CR Certification that can be applied to degrees)
I highly recommend taking courses that qualify within Camp and Retreat Ministry Certification as part of your studies. Currently, only Drew Theological School offers courses that qualify for Camp and Retreat Ministry Certification approved by The United Methodist Church. Leaders from other denominations can also receive a certificate of completion in Camp/Retreat Ministries from Drew. See http://www.gbod.org/camping/certification/.

**Union Theological Seminary

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

**Asbury College

Arizona State University � School of Community Resources and Development

Aurora University � George Williams Campus

**Bluffton University

++Brevard College

**Catawba College

Central Michigan University

**Eastern Mennonite University (pdf)

++Ferrum College

**George Fox University