"Outside The Box"

“It expanded my viewpoint, my mind, and my curiosity!” Contreda Navarro-Jewell says, reflecting on how the UMCRM Association has impacted her life and ministry. 

While the Greater Detroit District Urban Youth Camp has held its annual summer camp week for over 20 years, its leaders like Contreda were unaware of the great fellowship of United Methodist camp leaders and the expertise and opportunities found within this community. That all changed when Rev. David Berkey, the Executive Director of Michigan Area Camping (now Grace Outside) invited several Urban Camp leaders to be a part of the UMCRM National Camp & Retreat Leaders’ Gathering at Jumonville, PA, in 2021. 

At the Gathering, Contreda was excited to learn there were professional camp and retreat ministry leaders, including lots of laypeople who understood their ministry “outside the box” and beyond the walls of the local church. She was inspired to learn that she could be part of something bigger than the camp program she serves – a nationwide network of passionate people who care about connecting young people with God through experiences in nature. 

Looking around the room, Contreda also recognized the need for stronger representation of African-American leaders within the United Methodist camping community. With her characteristic warm enthusiasm, she befriended others at the conference and considered ways to welcome more people into the UMCRM network.

At that first Gathering, Contreda also learned about many of the other educational opportunities offered by UMCRM to support her growth as a camp leader. She eagerly signed up for the upcoming UMCRM Immersion Experience, where she was able to delve deeper into Methodist heritage and history alongside a smaller group of students. That opportunity expanded her understanding of the ways today’s outdoor ministries connect back to Methodist roots. It also fueled her interest in connecting more deeply beyond her local congregation and camp program to her Annual Conference and the broader fellowship of United Methodists in her region. 

Contreda continues to apply new insights and expand an “outside the box” vision of the possibilities of camp ministry. This year, she is helping to develop an Urban Children’s Camp in Michigan, reaching younger campers and families and extending beyond the reach of the Urban Youth Camp. Understanding the challenges and fears impacting her community and equipped with a supportive network through UMCRM, she is eager to help new generations of young people encounter God’s love through access to camp experiences and deeper United Methodist connections.