"Creative Story Telling at Camp"

Although we did attend this very fun workshop we did make a lot of connections with other camps and most importantly we developed with a friendship with a UCC/DOC camp.  Kaleo On The River is located in Lincoln, NE.  For more information about this camp visit their web page www.kampkaleo.com .  We have been invited to visit their camp and churches to learn more about how they do things and we have invited them here to do the same.  It is our hope that they will join us for the KO Youth Event in March at White Memorial Camp.

There were many collaborative conversations about fund raising, marketing, maintenance, and programing.  We discussed what works and what doesn't.  Check in with the KO E-News often to learn more.  If you are interested in being part of White Memorial Camp Network emails please email us at wmcucc@tctelco.net .  Speaking of networking if you haven't added White Memorial Camp on Facebook please do so. 

Here is a list of some of the presenters at the conference as well as a description of what they presented, what we learned, and their contact information.

Scott Arizala - The Camp Counselor works with summer camps training their staff, designing programs, guiding administrators, writing curriculum and a whole lot more! Consultant and Trainer, Scott Arizala, specializes in energetic, fun and professional workshops on a range of topics. During his presentation we learned some was to improve our staff training and gave us some tools to us for communication with humor and grace in difficult situations.  To learn more about Scott visit his web site www.thecampcounselor.com

Gary Forster - Camp Solutions for Great Camp Leaders.  Gary has lead successful camps for more than 25 years and has the past 8 years visiting, analyzing, and coaching over 200 individual camps. Some were successful camps committed to continuous improvement. Others were struggling with needs in wide ranges of essential areas---program, marketing, executive training, facilities, strategic planning and more. Camp directors, boards, and key stakeholders gain a powerful perspective seeing their special camp through a new set of eyes, and vividly portrayed, proven solutions.  While attending the ACA Great Rivers Conference Gary was one of the key note speakers.  From him we gained some insightful ideas for White Memorial Camp.   Some of these things include changing the way we do some of the maintenance at camp, changing the web site a little, marketing to the person who signs most of the registrations "MOM", and creative programing.  Greg and I are very excited to apply some of what we learned to White Memorial Camp and Conference Center.  Good news though we are doing a lot of things right according to this professional.  For more information about Gary visit his web site www.garyforster.com

Amy Climer with Climer Consulting works with colleges and summer camps. She designs and delivers engaging keynotes, dynamic workshops, and program development consulting. Her expertise lies in connecting with college students and young adults. She facilitates and presents for college student leadership programs, college leadership conferences, residential life staff trainings, summer camps staff trainings, outdoor programs, and more. Each program is customized to fit the unique needs of each group.  From Amy's workshops we learned a lot about thinking outside the box when it comes to programing and being creative on both a conference level and a camp level.  There are plans in the making to bring her to White Memorial Camp to do a workshop for our youth, the camp, and the conference.  It is our hope that the workshop could focus on developing a more creative and successful way for all of us to do things.  For more information about Amy visit her web site www.climerconsulting.com .  

As we plan for the future of White Memorial Camp and the Youth of the K-O Conference we feel that continued training, providing valuable workshops, networking, intentional programing, and the sustainability plan are going to play a big part in our success.  Together we can accomplish anything!

Respectfully submitted by:

Sara A. Shaw and Gregory Schwarz

K-O CONFERENCE PRAYER CALENDAR