Creation Vacation is a ministry of the Oregon-Idaho Conference of the United Methodist Church to provide gift vacations to low-income families. Creation Vacation directly addresses the lack of access to nature and positive outdoor experiences for low-income families. Creation Vacation also addresses the lack of direct contact with people who live in poverty and people in our churches today. This is an opportunity for United Methodists to answer the call to be in service and community with the poor. Camps are currently held for 3 days at Camp Magruder, Suttle Lake Camp and Sawtooth Camp.
Volunteers called Family Friends provide assistance to families to have the best possible time while they are at camp. Sometimes you help families learn how to play together. Sometimes you can lead the way to a camp activity or a meal in the dining hall so that everyone can enjoy it together. Other times the Family Friend will do something with some of the younger children while parent/s spend quality time with their older children, then switch. Family Friends sometimes supervise scheduled activities like crafts, biking or boating or a specialty of your own. The duties vary with the family the Family Friend is assigned to. Negotiating what one is willing/able to do is part of working out a good relationship with the family. Your primary job expectation is to become friends with someone you haven’t known before!
For more information about being a Family Friend contact the following locations, all of whom have Creation Vacation events occurring this year :
© 2014 Camp and Retreat Ministries:
A partnership between The Oregon-Idaho Conference of The United Methodist Church
and The Episcopal Diocese of Oregon