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About this blog
Brian Frick is the Associate for Camp and Conferences Ministries with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He has been involved in camp and conference ministry since high school. For the past ten years, Brian has served as program director of Johnsonburg Center in New Jersey, Westminster Woods in California, and Heartland Center in Missouri.
Camp and conference ministry compliments and partners with other ministry aspects of our church to foster faith development and reflection. As our communities and our church changes, our ministries need to grow and adapt with creative and emergent programming and leadership to meet new realities.
These blogs entries, though varied, are intended to spur thought and conversation around the opportunities and challenges before us.
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- Camp Curriculum Discount Available
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Filling those last spaces in specific camp programs
This idea came from last summer. We almost always find that each week we have spaces available in some of our camps for the next week. It usually seems too late to do anything so those spaces go unfilled. However, you already have the staff committed and besides some food cost and maybe a few other incidentals, your overhead is set and can take on new campers with new income with little to no additional cost.
So the idea was pitched to do a "Wednesday Sale" of spaces to pastors/youth leaders. Here's how it works, you send out an email to pastors and youth workers (not to general population) stating that the following week you have spaces available in "_____" camp and that if they get campers to register mentioning them (or through them however your system works) you will charge just 1/2 price. So if the cost of camp is $300, those "new" campers can get the very next week of camp for just $150.
This was tried with some success in 2009 and the camp is repeating it again for 2010.
A twist to this idea, might be to expand that discount list or a different list to campers who have already come for a week of camp or who are signed up for a future week - sort of a buy one, get one 1/2 off.
The caution is that you find a way to make it clear that it is not the norm to have available space, so no one should wait to register for camp through this discount in the future, as they may be disappointed when there are no space available the following year - or you discontinue this discount the following year.
This may be a tact worth trying. Of course it helps with income but the added (and I would say more essential ministry benefit) is that more campers will be able to experience a week of camp and that is why we do what we do.
(You may also find donors who would be willing to do these "camperships" on a matching basis so not only do you get extra campers to fill blank spaces, but you get the whole price of the week of camp covered due to the generosity of donors.)
If you try this, please report back and let me know how the plan worked or didn't. You can share your comments below.
Blessings and I hope your camps are so full you are turning campers away!
June 9, 2010
Prayer for summer staff
Maria Shupe (Executive Director of Highlands Camp and Retreat Center in Allens Park, CO) sent an email asking leaders, pastors and others to write notes to the Highlands summer staff that she would share to inspire them. Well writing it...- Posted at 3:42 p.m.
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June 5, 2010
Eco-Steward Program A Success!
Find the original article at: http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2010/10446.htm ‘Grace relates to place’ Eco-Stewards program connects young adults with faith, earth by Bethany Furkin Presbyterian News Service A cross overlooks Bluestone Lake at Bluestone Camp and Retreat center near Hinton, WV. Photo by...- Posted at 12:14 a.m.
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May 31, 2010
Resources for BE A HERO New Earth Summer Curriculum
Greetings ODM friends! My name is Jeff Puhlmann‐Becker. I am the director of a United Church of Christ camp in Wisconsin. I serve on the National Council of Churches Committee on Outdoor Ministries which is the group that develops the...- Posted at 9:20 p.m.
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May 13, 2010
The price of success - failures...
My son has been studying famous inventors in 4th grade this year and of course Thomas Edison was high on the list. He had great joy in telling me all the things that Edison invented - he was prolific. He...- Posted at 3:57 p.m.
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