Click above to hear a message from Sarah Barnett your Missioner for Children, Youth, and Camp.
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Dear Friends in Christ,
Here in ECMN, we’ve been innovating each year to create a broad set of camp offerings that are available to everyone across the state.
We keep doing this because we already know that camp doesn’t just happen in one place, at one time, with people we already know.
And it seems that this summer, we are being asked to lean into this courageous spirit in an even bigger way.
Camp is life-changing, whenever it happens, and however it happens. It’s where we can wake up to who we are and whose we are, and
where we can be reminded again that
there is always hope. It’s where we come together to build and experience the Beloved Community.
And, pandemic or not, a foundational piece of the Beloved Community is caring for one another's wellbeing and ensuring the health of all
. So for this summer, we need to cease running five of our six programs, and pivot to a new model of camp ministry.
This decision reflects the the Governor's recommendations regarding COVID-19, as well as input from the entities giving camp specific counsel (the
CDC
, the
ACA
, and
ECCC
). It is also in step with our ministry partners. Two of our three camp properties, as well as faith community host sites, are all expecting to be closed at the time these programs would have occurred. Reopening camps and retreats will follow the same
phases
that our faith communities are following.
The programs that will not be happening in their traditional format are:
- Summer in the City (SINC)
- Episcopal Kids Camp (EKID)
- Episcopal Youth Quest Camp (EYQC)
- Episcopal Youth Music Camp (EYMC)
- Episcopal Creative Arts Day Camp (ECAD)
- Rosebud (Trip to Mission, SD)
- Ma Wa Disi Daa (Trip to White Earth, MN)
We are in a “wait and see” mode regarding EFAM, which is scheduled for Aug. 17-21. Covenant Pines should have more information by the end of June about running family-based programs with more individualized activities and housing.
These cancelations are a huge loss. And we are all grieving. Emails to already registered participants will go out with options to be fully refunded, to hold money for future events, or to donate into the scholarship fund.
But in the midst of all this, we are also excited.
Keep reading below to hear more about our
Summer 2020
plans and the new things the Spirit is doing!
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Over the past few weeks, adult and youth leaders from around the state have been talking together about the big
whys
of camp ministry, and have been reimagining how we can meet those needs this summer. Simply canceling camp or doing camp completely virtually has never been on the table.
Some of these whys are: Friendship. Generosity. Unconditional agape love. Inclusivity. Spiritual journey.
And we want to say this loud and clear:
We are going to get to experience these things together this summer at
Camp Agape.
So what’s Camp Agape?
Camp Agape will be a single, unified camp experience for all ECMN youth with several “opt in” choices that will span a whole month and cover the whole state.
It will start the day Quest Camp usually starts, and end the day Music Camp usually ends. During Camp Agape you will get to choose from everything listed below. We imagine that most campers will choose 2-3 activities each week. And, if you want to, you’ll even get outdoors a bit and safely see some of your favorite faces smiling back at you!
When:
July 11 – August 8
Who:
All ECMN youth ages Age 4-18.
- ECMN youth who have previously gone to SINC, EKID, EYQC, EYMC, or ECAD will get to connect with their friends. And everyone, including new ECMN youth, can join in and meet lots of new friends!
What:
There are seven categories of activities for everyone to pick from.
- Camp T-shirts Delivered to your driveway by a friendly camp staff member!
- Ongoing Camp T-Shirt Challenges Post on social media to enter & win!
- Every day: One Free Time Camp Activity on Zoom Camp Staff will be offering some of their favorite things, like making friendship bracelets and teaching dance moves. Times will vary. Join in for the ones you like. Mailed packets will also available if desired!
- Every Monday: Eat lunch with your cabin on Zoom @ 12pm This is just time to have fun chatting with your friends. Registered kids will be placed in their same cabins from last summer (or their same groups from ECAD).
- Every Friday: Statewide Campfire Talks on Zoom @ 8pm Get outside and join individually or with a small group. Build your own campfire or light a candle if you can!
- Every Saturday: Serve MN! We're hoping it will be possible for us to plan one outdoor service day in each area of MN – North, South, East, and West. We imagine these as physically distanced activities like cleaning up a park and biking or hiking. Stay tuned for more information about this!
- Canoe Trips We're hoping that it might be possible to coordinate 1-2 day trips on the Namekagen River with an overnight extension for those who want it. We would launch from the same site with the same outfitter, but stay in self-selected groups. Ideal for families. Stay tuned for more information about this!
More details, registration, and leadership team/counselor in training invitations are in the works. Registration will open on June 15.
- Between now and June 15 we are forming our adult staff, the LT Leadership Team (LT) of Young Adults, and the Counselors-in-training (CIT) crew of incoming juniors and seniors.
- These groups will be preparing things like calendar of daily free time activities, the t-shirt design, the service activities, and pre-recording campfire talks.
We recognize that any in-person plans may expand or contract based on the state guidelines in effect at that time.
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In the midst of all this innovation, in our loss and in our joy,
two specific things we value are being notably strengthened.
The first is
inclusion
. Doing camp this way may actually allow us to reach even more youth than we normally do. For kids who find a weeklong camp experience to be challenging, or for whom the dates have just never worked out, this summer might present a unique opportunity to try a few things and join in with the ECMN youth community.
The second thing is
scholarships
. We are going to be saving a lot of money this summer. We are planning a few strategic ways to pay it forward into future summers together by contributing to the Bishop Prior Youth Scholarship Fund. For instance, for each Camp Agape registration that we get, we are going to match a $20 contribution to the fund. We are also going to open up
T-Shirt orders for all ECMN
, with a portion of those proceeds going into the fund.
These two things together mean that when we are finally able to gather as an entire camp community again, we will have even more friends and even more capacity to include everyone.
Even just typing that brought a huge smile to my face!
And I can promise you this: we will gather our entire camp community together again soon.
This will happen as soon as our faith communities are also gathering and worshiping in large groups again. When that moment comes, we will spring into action and plan a 1-2 night in-person camp experience – even if it’s the middle of winter! It will be at one of our host sites like Camp Miller or Covenant Pines, and we will invite everyone who participated in Camp Agape to come.
So, between now and then, come to Camp Agape, invite others, order a T-Shirt, and get ready to have fun, make friends, and grow in your faith!
Buy a Camp T-Shirt - Support Scholarships
Youth are going to design a t-shirt, and EVERYONE in ECMN will be encouraged to purchase one. $10 of that purchase price will go straight to the Bishop Brian N. Prior Youth Scholarship Fund.
Click here to learn more about the fund!
Stay tuned for more details and a link to order!
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In the meantime, check out the newly minted website. It will be updated regularly with information about what’s available this summer, along with resources for youth and adult leaders.
You can also follow us on Instagram for timely updates and photos from Camp Agape.
This group is for youth, parents and caregivers, and adult volunteers who are connected to ECMN retreats, camps and other ministries. We'll post updates and you can post any questions or affirmations you might have!
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Camp season is one of my favorite times of the year here in ECMN, as I’m sure it is for many of you. And, undoubtedly, Summer 2020 will bring many things to cherish as well.
Blessings,
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Sarah Barnett, Missioner for Children, Youth, and Camp
Bishop Brian N. Prior
Bishop-elect Craig Loya
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