A New Perspective

Slow Food: Promoting Good, Clean, and Fair Food for All

2010-11-08T16:26:00.001-06:00

Our camps and centers are a great place to connect with one of the latest grassroots 'green' movements gaining steam. As a means to counteract our fast food society slow food promotes meals in community.

Slow Food International
Slow Food USA
RAFT

Slow food is a way of viewing meal time as a valuable component of the human experience. Through a holistic approach slow food encourages people to enjoy healthy, nutritious, local food from sustainable sources. It's sister organization RAFT (Renewing America's Food Traditions)-- focuses mores specifically on promoting biodiversity and preserving food heritage, traditions, and culture. Bon Appetit! Amanda

Lessons from Riverbend Retreat

2010-10-21T10:36:00.001-05:00

Our recognition on Facebook of Alton Belew's election to the CCCA board caused me to catch up with Riverbend Retreat (Glen Rose, Texas), with whom we completed strategic and site planning a number of years ago. It is so exciting to see plans in action, and to see the resulting vitality in ministry. There are some particular lessons to be learned from Riverbend.

In a period when many camps are struggling, Riverbend served its largest summer camper population ever in 2010 - 10,628 campers! I recall the challenge more than a decade ago that the summer was "full" -- when it had many fewer than that number. These are some strategic steps that have been taken to increase the occupancy (with the least of these being more beds).

First, to attract that many campers, the staff maintains a strong and responsive partnership with the churches in the Association that it serves. Additionally, decision-makers have worked hard to create program options that are very attractive to campers so that they keep coming back. Further, the ministry has established a reputation that attracts campers from outside its primary constituency when they can be accommodated.

Second, to increase the numbers served, a few beds were added along with expanded program areas to accommodate the full population of the site. However, the capacity was increased most significantly by a major change in the manner in which camps were scheduled -- in a 4-day long, back to back, 7-day a week pattern that maximizes the available summer days. This required convincing leaders, parents and campers that a camp session didn't have to begin on Sunday and end on Saturday, but this was not difficult. It also required hiring and scheduling staff to work (and take days off) on a rotating schedule.

Finally, the site has made major physical improvements because of two efforts -- fund raising accomplished by the board and staff, which is maximized by having construction completed by volunteer builders. A significant motivating factor for donors is the assurance by the staff and board that all of the contributed funds are applied to development because the operational costs are fully covered by fee revenue.

Yes, these are truly lessons to be learned!

2010-10-14T13:09:00.000-05:00

Congratulations, Aaron Ziebarth (Greencastle PA) -- chair-elect for the CCCA Board of Directors, 2011-14. We know you'll give great leadership -- as you have at Joy El Ministries. It's exciting to see the progress on the new chapel. It will be a beautiful space representing who you are and enabling you to do ministry even more effectively.

2010-10-12T16:26:00.000-05:00

Kathy here......Sometimes I wonder how my three daughters managed to reach adulthood, when I observe how much they fret over the safety of the grandchildren compared to their own activities growing up! It is a challenging time for parents -- and thus for camp directors, who must deal with their concerns. Richard Louv's... recent article acknowledges the risks that do exist and provides some very solid action steps that parents can take to monitor their children's safety without interfering with their freedom to explore outdoors. See the article on the link below and please share with us how you deal with parents' concerns at camp. http://www.childrenandnature.org