Different Approaches to Camp

We spent part of the time this week-end reclaiming the cottage.  We have needed to do that, but it's a project that's taken on some urgency, since we have some camp counselors coming to run our Vacation Bible School.  They'll arrive on July 7.  My project for the week-end was to make sure they have a place to sleep.

I've been thinking about this phenomenon of sending camp counselors out into the world to bring the camp experience to children who can't get away to camp for any variety of reasons.  I've been wondering why we don't do that for adults.

Of course, it's only been recently that church camps started giving retreat experiences to adults during the non-summer season.  Maybe eventually we'll see counselors who bring the retreat experience to adults who can't get away.

I doubt it because sending counselors out to adults would not be cost effective.  It only takes a few adults to run an adult retreat program.  Having teams that traveled would not be something that most camps would do.

Could there be a career possibility here?  Camps can't do this, but perhaps a different kind of company could do this?  Could it be part of a spiritual director practice?

We spent some time this week-end talking about what to do with the cottage eventually.  I've wondered if people might spend money to come have a monastic retreat.  We offer a cottage that doesn't have a TV or Internet:  imagine how much writing or meditating one could do with no distractions!

I've also thought of having retreat options for different pricing structures:  a session with a spiritual director or a selection of art supplies or a workshop, complete with new people to meet.  Maybe include meals/food for extra money.  Or the retreatant provides the shopping list in advance, and we do the shopping.

It feels like we are a long way away from a time when we can offer anything at all.  But I've been wrong before.  Let's get the place more workable for the camp counselors first.