CHHSM Retreat Offers Insights into Times of Transition for UCC Heartland Conference Summer Camp Volunteers

Volunteer ministries require special commitment and dedication, traits that are tested during times of change. To facilitate a new way of doing outdoor ministry in the UCC’s Heartland Conference, Jill Frey, executive director of outdoor ministries, asked the UCC’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries to offer a leadership retreat for the conference’s summer camp volunteers. 

The retreat, “Wisdom from Nature and the Night Sky,” was held Feb. 15, 2025, at Camp Christian in Marysville, Ohio, and brought together 12 volunteer camp leaders. Heartland’s outdoor ministries recently changed its camp and retreat program due to the phasing out of the conference’s camp properties. Beginning this summer, the camp programs will be held at many different locations, owned by others, within the conference.

“As we prepare for the reality of this new chapter of Outdoor Ministries taking place this summer, we wanted to give our frontline camp volunteers a chance to reflect on this moment and center themselves, so that they will be ready this summer to lead the campers through this transition,” Frey said.

Led by the Rev. Dr. Elyse Berry, CHHSM’s associate for advocacy and leadership development, attendees applied concepts originating in nature to their own leadership skills and styles. “We learned how to gain wisdom from nature and the night sky to help us move forward,” said Frey. “Elyse has a gift for weaving stories, music, and prayer to bring people together to learn about themselves, others, and God’s creation. The workshop was just the right blend of interaction with fellow participants, sharing, and even participating in music and art activities.”

The retreat opened and closed with poignant ritual sessions. The day included activities and discussion, along with activities to promote self-expression of attendees.

“There was so much that I personally enjoyed — the songs chosen, and the different Calls to Worship and Prayers that intertwined poetry and/or song with biblical readings,” said Renee Neron, volunteer director of the conference’s Sportscamp.

The afternoon session included learning about the cosmos and applying that to creating constellations of care. “My favorite exercise was being able to create my ministry constellation,” Neron said. “Each star within my constellation represented a value, behavior, place, community, etc., that make up our ministry at Sportscamp. Within my constellation, I had stars representing beliefs, nature, kindness, sportsmanship, connection, belonging, and family — all of which embody what we do at Sportscamp and our ministry there. I loved creating my constellation and hearing others express how they made their own constellations.”

The purpose of the retreat was to use the day for “rejuvenation and community as we journey through the wisdom of how God’s creation can engage our imaginations, creativity, and ways of being our authentic selves in the world,” said Berry.

During the retreat, participants learned about ecotones, places of transition between two biological habitats, where elements of both exist. Often ecotone regions are richer in their variety of species than either of the habitats that create them, and there are some species that can only exist in the transition space. The ecotone discussion “helped us explore new opportunities that we have in our new chapter of outdoor ministries that may not have been possible before,” Frey said.

“What I loved most about this retreat was that everything we did — from the responsive readings, prayers and songs, as well as the craft and exploration of musical instruments, and even the games and affirmation cards — are things that I can utilize with my staff and campers at Sportscamp,” Neron added. “We all took something away with us and were able to connect with one another on different levels, and learn more about one another — and also take some activities and/or experiences with us to share with others.”

Frey concurred. “It was a very valuable experience for all those who attended,” she said. “Those who came learned and reflected about themselves, they got to know other volunteers better, and they got to reflect on the transition our ministry has been and is going through.”