12/5/20152 United Church Camping “Why it is a good thing?” No, no, no….. “What can we do to make it a better thing?

12/5/20153 What we know about… where our youth are gathering now Where they are gathering How much time they spend there

12/5/20154 What we know about… where our youth are gathering now Sunday Schools Where?#MembersAverage Truro Pictou Halifax Mar.Con UC

12/5/20155 What we know about… where our youth are gathering now Camps Where?CampsCampersAverage Maritime UC

12/5/20157 What we know about… where our youth are gathering now Maritime Conference Youth Forum 100 I at C107

12/5/20158 What we know about… where our youth are gathering now How much time do they spend there? WhereAssumptionsHours Sunday Schools 38 weeks I hour program 10 extra hours 48 Camps5 day camps 14 hour program 56 Maritime Conf. Once a year 1 8 day, 2 14 hr days, 1 4 hr day 40

What campers say about camp… “I feel like the best version of myself when I’m at Camp.” “I feel closest to God at camp.” “Camp = Life, summed up in four letters.” “Camp makes me want to be a better person throughout the whole year.”

Camp staff said… “Camp changed my Life.” “Camp developed me into who I am today with regards to my confidence, abilities, and personality, how I work and play, how I treat others and my appreciation for the elements of nature and life.”

Camp staff said…

Church leaders say… Camp is the reason I’m still involved in the church. Camp was the start of my journey to become a minister. I met my wife at camp. I joined the United Church because of camp. " It's often said that there are more Christian formation contact hours with children in one camp session than there are in a year of church school classes." - Moderator Mardi Tindal, 2010

12/5/ Why Our Camps Matter: to youth Friends and fellowship Fun Faith Formation Community and memory making Respite Safety Music

12/5/ Why Our Camps Matter: to us Faith Formation Citizen Development Youth Engagement Leadership Development Community living & building skills Environmental practices and stewardship

12/5/ Another way to look at things HIGH FIVE: a quality assurance program for play, built on 5 principles of healthy child development A Caring Adult, The opportunity to make Friends, The opportunity to Play, The opportunity to Participate, and The opportunity to Master Skills

12/5/ What we are doing now to support camps Lenten coin collection Collection of supplies Canadian Tire $ Attending Work Days Celebrating Camp Sunday Hearing from our campers and staff Sponsoring campers Sitting on Camp and other Committees Camp updates in the Bulletin

12/5/ What else can we do? Look for ways link campers to our churches  Work with the registrar to know where campers come from  Invite them to your own youth group  Invite their families to church  Ask campers to lead services, camp style  Take your SS to a camp as an outing

12/5/ What else can we do? Refer campers to TC programs, SS, YF IatC and visa versa Keep camps in our minds, hearts and budgets as important ministries Invite First Voice on camp issues Be a Camp Champ

12/5/ And so…. Think about what you have heard Share your thoughts Consider what you may be able to do for this ministry Thank you! Questions?