Creation Vacation Ministries

                          Camp is for Everybody!

Creation Vacation offers very low-income families the opportunity to experience a few days of family vacation, enjoying a supportive community and the wonder of creation that we know as camp. For many, it is a respite from the struggles of daily life . Families are chosen by social service agencies working with them in their home communities.

Deans and local church volunteers meet the families throughout the year, preparing them for the time they will spend at camp through a series of Family Meetings, and following up after camp through continued contact as friends .

Creation Vacation offers churches an opportunity for building one-on-one relationships with people living in poverty in their communities. We know this to be true to our Wesleyan heritage and crucial in our time for the transformation of congregations and communities in Christ.

There are lots of ways to help:

• Pray for Creation Vacation, its minstry and staff
• Send in your financial contribution
• Serve as a Family Friend or as staff at one of the camps
• Get your church to support Creation Vacation either through your budget or with a special project
• Sponsor a family or a staff person

Here are the 2008
Creation Vacation Camps:

at Sawtooth Camp
August 10-13 Creation Vacation - Eastern Idaho/ Pocatello Area (sponsor:  Pocatello UMC)

at Wallowa Lake Camp
July 26-29  Creation Vacation - Ontario Area
(sponsors:  Emmett UMC and Ontario First UMC)

at Camp Magruder
June 29 - July 2 Creation Vacation - Salem Area (sponsor: Morningside UMC)

You can help by becoming a Family Friend!

“Counselors” at Creation Vacation are called Family Friends. These volunteers offer themselves to assist a family at Creation Vacation have the best possible time while at camp, serving as a friend of that particular family. Sometimes it means caring for small children so the parents can get some much needed rest. Other times it may mean participating along with the family in camp activities. When families have children of a wider range of ages, it may be helpful to spend time with older/younger children while the parents enjoy time with the other part of the family. Needs are as varied as the families who come and the volunteers who participate. All are blessed by the experience.

If you are interested in serving as a Family Friend, please contact Lisa Jean Hoefner 503-226-7931 extension 26 or 1-800- JWESLEY extension 26.

.....and you can help financially!

Contributions for Creation Vacation ministries are welcomed at any time.

It costs approximately $500 per family and $125 per Family Friend to hold these events. Checks should be made payable to: Conference Treasurer, sent to the camping office marked for Creation Vacation.

United Methodist Center - Camping Office
1505 SW 18th Ave
Portland, Oregon 97201

If you'd like to support the Creation Vacation Ministries financially, so that Camp & Retreat Ministries can continue to offer and to expand the this important program, please contact Lisa Jean Hoefner, or visit our Donations web page!

Thanks!

SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM
for
Camps And Enrolled Programs

Camp and Retreat Ministry is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all eligible children free of charge. (To be eligible to receive free meals at a residential camp, children must have an application on file that meets the income guidelines for reduced price meals in the USDA-Child Nutrition program.) Children who are part of households that receive food stamps, benefits under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are automatically eligible to receive free meals.

Acceptance and participation requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided at the following camps for children enrolled in Creation Vacation events:

Camp Magruder
Wallowa Lake Camp
Sawtooth Camp

USDA and the State of Oregon are equal opportunity providers and employers.*