“I didn’t know what I was doing.” Sam Richardson was finding his way as a first-year Program Director when his supervisor mentioned that there was an association for United Methodist camp leaders. Sam’s first encounter with UMCRM was at the National Gathering at Epworth by the Sea, St. Simons Island. The Western PA annual conference was offering grants for non-Directors to attend the Gathering, and no one else was available to go. That week, he eagerly soaked up ideas from every workshop, filling a notebook with all of the things he was learning. 

Now, a decade later, Sam looks forward to the UMCRM National Gathering, not as much for the (still great!) educational content, but because of the people. While he no longer refers back to that notebook, the relationships with colleagues in United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries have proven to be a priceless resource. The every-other-year Gatherings are like a reunion as Sam reconnects with ministry friends from across the country. He’s attended other camp conferences for professional development, but he has found UMCRM events to be the closest thing to camp, for camp professionals. Just as camp is made for campers, UMCRM Gatherings are designed intentionally for leaders. While job-specific learning and growth are a part of the events, their deeper aim is connection and renewal; to send you forth with new friends and colleagues and fresh inspiration for meaningful ministry. That experience has been mission-critical for Sam. “I don’t think I would have lasted in camping without the support of UMCRM.”

Like most camp people, Sam says he “can’t ever just be a participant,” so at the next National Gathering he naturally signed up to volunteer. Around that time, he was also invited to serve on the UMCRM Board of Directors as a “young person” representative. He knew almost nothing about nonprofit governance and was pretty unclear about the UMCRM Association’s mission, as well – believing UMCRM’s main ministry to be hosting the National Gathering. In his next eight years of board service, Sam got a crash course in governance, from how to run a board meeting, the process of chartering a 501c3 nonprofit organization, budget management, and so much more. As a board member, he stepped up to participate in countless task forces and working groups in support of the Association’s mission to “resource, advocate, inspire, and network.” Even though he was young and inexperienced, he says he always felt his voice was valued; that he was able to contribute from his skills and perspective. 

Sam believes he received much more than he gave, however. He says, “for every volunteer hour or dollar I gave, I got back value of a hundredfold! I could never repay all of the benefits I have gained from being part of this association.” 

As Sam’s ministry at Camp Penn continues to innovate, creating a new “CP Adventures” brand featuring adventure trips around the US, he credits connections made through UMCRM for the relationships that make the program work. How else would he have a relationship with the Director of Birchwood Camp in Alaska, now a program partner? The “connectional” spirit is part of our United Methodist DNA. Even as a lifelong United Methodist, Sam says UMCRM has showed him a lot about what it means to be UMC. “I never want to be a selfish leader,” he says. Because other camp and retreat leaders were generous with their time, expertise, and resources, Sam is eager to model that ethic and pay it forward for future generations of leaders. Looking back, Sam reflects that he owes his whole career in camping ministry to UMCRM. “At every step, UMCRM has been a piece of it” – a connection, opportunity, or resource that opened doors and deepened his journey in camp and retreat ministry.