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From a base camp at Mount Eagle Retreat Center (AR), fifty-one United Methodist youth from Arkansas and Texas partnered with the Ozark Mission Project to serve rural neighbors by building wheelchair ramps, fixing porches, framing out a restroom, and more. These young leaders learned more about putting hands and feet to their faith as they extended Christ’s love to one another on the team and with people in need. 

At Creation Vacation at Camp Magruder (OR), one might not guess that the campers enjoying a real family beach vacation came from situations of housing insecurity. In addition to recreation and respite, the structured programming offered the families community, spiritual nourishment, and networking. Partner families from supporting churches were recipients as well as givers of grace as they took an active role in showing how the family of God cares for one another.

At camps like Pecometh (MD) and Norwesca (NE), underprivileged urban campers of color became Leaders-In-Training (“L.I.T.s”), gleaning insights from the mentorship of church and community leaders, developing teamwork and problem-solving skills, and bringing their energy, creativity, and grit as role models and activity facilitators for younger campers. They’re equipped for much more than a summer job on camp staff– the skills honed as an L.I.T. continue to bear fruit as these young people pay it forward in leadership in their churches, schools, and communities.

The backstory: 

Across the country each summer, transformative experiences like these are made possible for hundreds of campers at United Methodist camps through the generosity of one Methodist pastor. The Reverend Solomon Graydon Cramer, the longest-serving clergy in the Wisconsin Annual Conference, devoted his life to ministering in The United Methodist Church. At his passing in 2013, Rev. Cramer provided a generous legacy bequest to establish a fund to provide scholarships for youth to attend UMC Conference Camps. Since 2017, the Solomon Cramer Fund has been making a camp experience possible for many more young people by granting scholarship funds to United Methodist Camp & Retreat Ministries. The fund is managed by GCFA and its earnings distributed by the UMCRM Association in faithfulness to Rev Cramer’s wishes.

Scholarship grants from the Solomon Cramer Fund widen the reach of UMC camps by focusing on these priorities:

  • Experiences that minister with youth living in poverty
  • The intentional development of young people for spiritual leadership and/or leadership with Camp & Retreat Ministries
  • Camp experiences that collaborate with local churches and agencies in processes of faith formation 
  • Opportunities for increasing racial/ethnic diversity within ministry participation and leadership 

About the 2025 grant recipients: 

The UMCRM Association had the joy of awarding $30.5K in Solomon Cramer Fund grants to twenty-one programs across the United States in 2025, the most that have been funded in a single year. 

IGNITE 2025 - Aldersgate (RI)  $1000  This program targets youth from Providence and other Rhode Island cities, offering Christian day camp with swimming, games, worship, and Bible study. Youth counselors are trained in ministry and leadership. The camp removes barriers for urban families through transportation and full scholarships.

Catalyst in Special Needs Ministry Leadership - Camp Bays Mountain (TN)  $1500  This initiative equips youth and young adults with special needs to serve as summer camp staff, offering them roles in worship leadership, maintenance, crafts, and more. The camp also runs a special session called Celebration Camp for adults with disabilities. Campers and staff participate in a supportive, faith-filled environment that fosters personal growth, independence, and spiritual leadership. Each staff member reflects on their development through beginning and end-of-summer evaluations.

Camper Diversity Expansion Program - Camp Istrouma (LA)   $1500  Camperships will be provided to support youth from underserved communities through local church partnerships in East Baton Rouge Parish. The goal for the first year of this new program is to offer 10-12 full scholarships.

Soma Partnership - Camp Lake Stephens (MS)    $1500  This project expands a successful pilot to provide a full week of Christian day camp to Hispanic children ages 6–10 from the Tupelo, MS area. The project is implemented through a partnership with a local multi-ethnic church.

Rural UMC Outreach Scholarship - Camp Lookout (Holston, TN)   $1345   This scholarship program supports youth from five small, rural UMCs in the Holston Conference, covering 50% of camp fees.

The Stuff They Don’t Teach You at School - Casting Christ’s Net - Camp Penn (PA)   $1500  The grant enables a $100 cost reduction in the individual camper price, offering transportation to and from the week of camp, and creating new electronic and physical materials in Spanish.

Scholarships and Summer Staff Development Initiative - Ceta Canyon (TX)  $1500   The grant will support a partnership with churches in the North Heights neighborhood of Amarillo to offer camperships for youth living in poverty. Additionally, grant funds will enable enriched spiritual development programming and mental health resources for the summer staff of 40 young leaders.

Traveling Day Camp - Camp Chestnut Ridge (NC)   $1500  This mobile day camp program partners with churches to bring camp experiences to underserved communities, including children experiencing homelessness or living in foster care. The initiative fosters long-term connections between campers, families, and local churches, offering full or partial scholarships. The program has a strong legacy of inclusivity and leadership development, especially among diverse camper populations.

Summer Spirit Community Day Camp at Covenant UMC - Gretna Glen (PA)  $1500   Held in Lebanon, PA, this Day Camp program is a partnership among Covenant UMC, Transformando Vidas (a Latino church plant), Ebenezer UMC, and Gretna Glen. It serves Spanish-speaking children, many from single-parent, low-income homes, with a week of Christian day camp close to their community. Activities include games, crafts, devotions, and faith-building in a culturally responsive environment. The initiative also integrates campers and families into the local faith community.

Christmas Youth Leadership at Camp - Horizon TX Conference    $1000   The grant provides camperships for youth from 22 non-white-majority UMC churches across Texas, to be used for summer camp programming or weekend camps throughout the year.

Grow Day Camps/Experiential Leadership Institute - North GA Conference   $1250    Camperships will be available for mobile day camps serving low-income and racially diverse families in metro Atlanta, hosted by Impact Church. With a strong emphasis on underserved communities, this provides access to camp experiences for families previously untouched by NGCRM overnight camps. The program includes faith-based learning and youth mentorship, and supports leadership development through the Experiential Leadership Institute (ELI) for high schoolers. It aims to foster community, spiritual formation, and self-confidence.

Mental Health At Camp - Pecometh (MD)  $1250     This project introduces a mental health support role into summer camp programming to enhance camper and staff well-being. The position provides training on inclusivity and mental wellness, allowing more campers and staff—especially those from diverse backgrounds—to thrive. The goal is to retain staff and provide spiritual and emotional safety that encourages return campers and future leaders.

New Neighbors Become New Leaders - Potosi Pines (NV)   $1500   This initiative revives a leadership training program for teens, specifically reaching out to the Pacific Islander church community in Las Vegas. Youth from this underserved group will receive year-round mentorship and be trained to become camp counselors and spiritual leaders at Potosi Pines.

Cooperative Parish Camp Initiative - Camp Quinipet (NY)  $1500   The grant will fund 5 scholarships for children of formerly incarcerated women, in partnership with the New Hour nonprofit. Through a week of overnight camp, children experience healing, fun, and spiritual nurturing in a supportive environment. The project addresses poverty and emotional trauma related to incarceration. The collaboration involves local UMC churches and the NYAC Church and Society committee.

Beloved Community Day Camp Program - Susquehanna Conference (PA)  $1500   The grant supports camperships for new campers as part of a new strategic plan to help congregations connect in new ways with young people and their families.

Campership Fund - Camp Wanakee (NH)  $1500   This fund provides emergency campership dollars after losing the long-time support from the state. This will fully fund 5+ camperships (or 10+ partial camperships) and help provide funding until a long-term fund can be established.

Minority and Accessibility Initiative - Warren Willis Camp (FL)    $2750   The Minority and Accessibility Initiative provides a summer camp experience for ten campers living in poverty from underserved minority groups. This initiative also supports a seasonal worship ministry leader skilled in ASL to expand and elevate our summer camp experience for children with hearing and visual disabilities.

Native American Culture & Faith Camp - Camp Norwesca (NE)  $1400   This initiative offers outdoor Christian camping to youth in rural western Nebraska, many from economically disadvantaged, Native American families. Activities promote environmental stewardship, spiritual formation, and leadership. Campers explore faith through devotions, peer relationships, and nature immersion.

Helene Scholarship Fund - Camp Tekoa (NC)  $1500   This new fund provides camperships for children whose families were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene. 35 campers will have the opportunity for a time away from the devastation and heartbreak that they are living through. While at camp they will experience God in nature, through the written and spoken Word, through caring staff and fun, meaningful activities.

Campers in Leadership Training - Pocono Plateau (PA)  $1000  This program fills a gap for up to 3 young teens (13–15) who have aged out of the day camp but are too young to stay home unsupervised. It provides a leadership training track where CILTs assist with Bible lessons and activities and are mentored by camp chaplains and staff. Camp serves a growing, underserved population in rural Pennsylvania that migrated from NYC post-COVID.

Summer Camp Fee Assistance - Camp Uskichitto (LA)  $1500   Up to 20 campers will be able to attend camp through this support. Already, the camp partners with churches which fund 50% of camp fees for campers in need. This new fund will cover the remaining cost for families that would not otherwise be able to pay the rest.

 

Contacts:

 

Calls to Action: 

To learn what’s new at your local camp, help fund a first-time camper for summer 2025, and join us in making a positive difference in the lives of children, youth, and adults, Find your United Methodist Camp/Retreat Center

To contribute to the Solomon Cramer Fund to facilitate UMC camp programs through the national grant program, designate your gift: https://umcrm.camp/give