Outdoor Ministries Association UCC
http://blog.oma-ucc.org
Outdoor Ministries Association UCC
It's Cold Up Here!!!
Its cold up here in Minnesota. I should have done my research before deciding to move from the relative warmth of west central Indiana. Brrrr. Its currently 10 below zero and they are predicting a high of negative one degree for today. The current wind chill is negative 39!!!!!! Its a norwester auntie em!!!
How are things in Texas Charles? How about North Carolina Curly? How about Hawaii Kirsten? Pilgrim Pines? Blowing Rock Bill? Someone give me some news of warmer climes!!!! I long to live vicariously through my southern colleagues.
Dale
How are things in Texas Charles? How about North Carolina Curly? How about Hawaii Kirsten? Pilgrim Pines? Blowing Rock Bill? Someone give me some news of warmer climes!!!! I long to live vicariously through my southern colleagues.
Dale
Chris Thurber offers Staff Training via the internet
Last week I attended the regional ACA Southwest Camping Conference and got to hear Dr. Chris Thurber. He is as awesome as folks had told me he would be.
I also learned that he has just debuted a new staff training program which is available via the internet.
There are 12 modules covering all of the basic topics and Chris does the training on each topic in a 10 minute video clip. There is a test following. As the camp administrator, I can track those who login to the service and see when they took each module and how they did on the test. This program seems perfect for us at Slumber Falls Camp since most of our staff are volunteers and don't arrive until the day before their camp.
With this program we can at least have a basic course from which to build with them. You can check it out at Chris's web site www.campspirit.com style=""> The program
is called Leadership Essentials and there are a couple of free sample videos you can
see to evaluate the program.
Check it out.
Charles Stark
Slumber Falls Camp
I also learned that he has just debuted a new staff training program which is available via the internet.
There are 12 modules covering all of the basic topics and Chris does the training on each topic in a 10 minute video clip. There is a test following. As the camp administrator, I can track those who login to the service and see when they took each module and how they did on the test. This program seems perfect for us at Slumber Falls Camp since most of our staff are volunteers and don't arrive until the day before their camp.
With this program we can at least have a basic course from which to build with them. You can check it out at Chris's web site www.campspirit.com
Check it out.
Charles Stark
Slumber Falls Camp
"Camp Is For The Camper" Counselor training books available
Last year we bought 200 of these 60
page ACA books. We made every staff member and volunteer read them, then take
the on-line course that ACA offers. Most felt the book was worthwhile. It
covers the basics, which, when you have volunteers at camp for a week at a time,
is a good thing. Less felt the on-line course was helpful, but we were able to
have them print out a certificate of completion which was one more piece of
documentation around training. Since the bulk of our base has taken the course,
we are going to sell 150 of them. They each have a number written in marker on
the inside cover. They are ten dollars new, (we got a bulk rate) we can let
them go for 5, or less if you want a bunch of them. I think you have to buy
three from ACA in order to be eligible to make the online exam available.
Contact me through the blog if you’re interested or have questions.
Bryan
OMA Sponsors ACA Accreditation Workshop
Representatives from 4 sites gathered at Pilgrim Firs near Seattle to spend 4 days studying the ACA Standards in preparation for possible Accreditation visits in the future. The group was under the able leadership of Jeremy Force and Curly Stumb. Everyone reported that it was an invaluable experience.
During the workshop, participants visited an ACA Accredited Camp. The two photos immediately above are from Camp Indianola which is a United Methodist Camp overlooking Puget Sound.
If you are interested and want to learn more about the ACA Accreditation Program, you can contact:
Jeremy Force force@menschmill.org
Curly Stumb stumb@boone.net
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During the workshop, participants visited an ACA Accredited Camp. The two photos immediately above are from Camp Indianola which is a United Methodist Camp overlooking Puget Sound.
If you are interested and want to learn more about the ACA Accreditation Program, you can contact:
Jeremy Force force@menschmill.org
Curly Stumb stumb@boone.net
Photos and Podcasts Welcome on this Blog
Friends,
I wanted to thank all of those who are making use of this new OMA Blog. This is a great way to keep in touch and especially to ask for help with those issues that come up at camp.
I also wanted to let you know that we can post photos as well. If you would like to add a photo to your entry, just email them as an attachment with your Blog Entry to blog@oma-ucc.org
Finally, we can also post Podcasts as well to this blog if anyone would like to do that. Basically, it is a way to post audio recordings so if you have a mic attached to your computer and want to give a verbal greeting, then email me the file and we can post that as well to this very versatile blog.
Charles
I wanted to thank all of those who are making use of this new OMA Blog. This is a great way to keep in touch and especially to ask for help with those issues that come up at camp.
I also wanted to let you know that we can post photos as well. If you would like to add a photo to your entry, just email them as an attachment with your Blog Entry to blog@oma-ucc.org
Finally, we can also post Podcasts as well to this blog if anyone would like to do that. Basically, it is a way to post audio recordings so if you have a mic attached to your computer and want to give a verbal greeting, then email me the file and we can post that as well to this very versatile blog.
Charles
Camp Software Question
Hi folks - I have been using EZCamp2 registration
software for several years and am very dissatisfied with the non-integration of
cabinets. This program does not allow comparison of information between
separate cabinets (one year's worth of camper registration data). So - it is
very time consuming to compare past years worth of camper data - to see who came
to camp last year but not this year, to even send our brochure info to the past
couple years of campers - without manually printing and comparing separate
lists.
Will others tell me what registration programs they
are using; if they like it and why; if they don't like it and why?
At Consult 2007 I attended the Thriva workshop and
really like that program - but we are not ready to go totally on line, and it
looks a little pricey over the long haul.
So far, I like CampWise - and they are working on
an integrated Donor module now that should be ready by Spring 2008.
EZCamp says they are going to work on a piece to
make their program more integrated - but they don't have anything to talk about
yet.
I need some feedback fast - if we change, it should
be NOW!
Blessings,
Priscilla Self, Office Manager
DuBois Center - Il. So. Conf. UCC
2651 Quarry Rd.,
DuBois, IL. 62831
618/787.2202 phone
618.787.7701 fax
duboiscenter@frontiernet.net
Webpage: duboiscenter.org
DuBois Center - Il. So. Conf. UCC
2651 Quarry Rd.,
DuBois, IL. 62831
618/787.2202 phone
618.787.7701 fax
duboiscenter@frontiernet.net
Webpage: duboiscenter.org
Hope your Thanksgiving was something to be thankful for!!
During the thanksgiving Holiday I was mindful of friends and family across the country and across the world of whom I am truly thankful. I think you all know that you all are dear to me and are in my thoughts and prayers. Even those OMA members I have yet to meet. See you at the next Consult!!
Dale
Dale
RSS Feeds
I just discovered RSS feeds to put on my iGoogle home page!!! Its pretty easy
to get OMA blog entries onto your igoogle, yahoo, etc. home page.
Under
"Syndicate" on the left hand bar on this page you'll see 5 options. I used
"Entries RSS 2.0" and "Comments RSS 2.0" and now whenever anyone posts a comment
or new entry it shows up on my iGoogle home page.
Hope to see more
activity on the blog so Charles's hard work pays off for all of
us.
Dale
OMA Board Meets in Pennsylvania
The OMA Board met at Mensch Mill November 11-14, 2007. The hospitality provided by Jeremy Force and his staff was excellent and the Board did some very significant work.
The Consult Planning Committee was also able to meet and the plans for Consult 2009 are well underway.
Stay tuned to this blog for more information about not only Consult but the future plans for your Outdoor Ministry Association.
The Consult Planning Committee was also able to meet and the plans for Consult 2009 are well underway.
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| Mensch Mill Conference Center | OMA Board Members discuss thoughts for the future |
Stay tuned to this blog for more information about not only Consult but the future plans for your Outdoor Ministry Association.
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| OMA Board Members tour Mensch Mill |
Still alive and kicking.....I'm not dead yet!
Dear OMA Friends,
Life
does continue after camp in some new and exciting ways. After a summer
of renovating a barn in a neighboring community and working with a
neighbor as he converts a former boys basketball camp to a eco-family
friendly resort, I have begun a new position as Executive Director of
the New Hampshire Campground Owners' Association with 136 private and
19 state campgrounds around the state. My job is marketing
coordination, annual inspections/visits, legislative watchdog, camping
show manager, etc, etc, etc. It is challenging and exciting at the same
time as I learn to work with a whole new group of folks at the local,
state and national levels. I bring with me all of the skills and
experiences that I learned working with all of you through OMA and the
ACA. Over this past weekend I facilitated a Twin State Conference/Trade
Show/Annual Meeting for the Association that included a"silent auction"
for Camp Sunshine in Maine that provides camp programs for children
with cancer. May way of staying connected with the youth camping
community. I am finding many Christians within the Association, so our
spirituality may not be as overt as it was within the UCC camping
community but it is there in many ways.
The
OMA blog is a great idea and one that will serve you all very well as a
community building tool as well a great source of information and
support.
Shalom my friends til we meet again.
Gregg Pitman
Gregg and Carla Pitman
298 Harmony Road
Northwood, NH
603-942-8640
298 Harmony Road
Northwood, NH
603-942-8640