Grainger Selected as Full-Time Latgawa Director

by Todd Bartlett. Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries

The Board of Camp and Retreat Ministries is pleased to announce that Sam Grainger has been hired as the director at Camp Latgawa. After a nation-wide search and an interview process Sam was invited to step beyond the role that he has served as the interim director to become the full-time director. Sam has grown up in the United Methodist Church and in the outdoor ministry program in the Desert Southwest Annual Conference, primarily Potosi Pines outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, and has served as the interim director since April of 2016.

After graduating high school in Las Vegas, Sam attended Southern Utah University in Cedar City. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science, majoring in Outdoor Recreation in Parks & Tourism. Sam used his time at SUU to develop skills that would directly apply to working in Camp and Retreat Ministries, taking classes such as Risk Management, Outdoor Education, and becoming a Wilderness First Responder.

Sam, and his wife Samantha, first came to Camp Latgawa in April of 2016, and are excited about serving in ministry in Southern Oregon for the long term. Sam is passionate about the possibilities for the future of Camp Latgawa and the opportunity to partner with those who love Camp Latgawa and those who have yet to experience the site and the ministry we offer there.

In addition to their love of camp, and being in nature, Sam and Samantha have a deep passion for social justice, enjoy movies, playing with their two dogs, and taking road trips across the western United States. Sam can be reached at latgawa@gocamping.org

Camp Magruder Hires Montgomery as Full-Time Program Director

by Troy Taylor, Director of Camp Magruder

Camp Magruder is excited to announce Hope Montgomery as our full time Program Director. Hope originally hails from Union City, Tennessee. She has served in camp leadership at Lakeshore UM Camp in West Tennessee and the Life Enrichment Center in Center Florida before coming to the Oregon Coast. Hope has been Summer Program Director the past two summers and served as Interim Program Director before coming on full time.

Hope has a kind, playful spirit and great skills guiding and inspiring staff and guests. She is a seeker, searching for deeper connections and understandings of our world, our relationships, and God. Hope is a song-writer and guitarist with two studio albums. She loves exploring Oregon and thinks she’s pretty good at gaga, basketball, and ultimate Frisbee. Her laugh is contagious.

Hope has been an instrumental part of Magruder’s focus to help young leaders grow in their faith and develop creative, powerful worship experiences. We are excited for the continued growth we will see in our youth and in the depth and power of our program under her guidance. We feel like we are about to embark on a great journey. If you’d like to share this joy or join Hope and the rest of our staff in this exciting work, you can find her at hope@campmagruder.org.

Alton L. Collins is Hiring a Director!

We are making this announcement because the Board of Camp and Retreat Ministries has announced the selection of Rev. Todd Bartlett as Executive Director of Camp and Retreat Ministries for the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference. Read the whole article about Todd's hiring here.

Of course, this leaves an opening for the full-time director position at Alton L. Collins Retreat Center, where Todd has served for since 2009. Todd's leadership through a ministry of hospitality at Collins has been profoundly felt and will be missed at that site, so while his leadership as executive director will surely be a breath of fresh air, it is bittersweet that we make the following job announcement:

Camp and Retreat Ministries of the Oregon-Idaho United Methodist Church is seeking a new member for our team to serve as the director for the Alton L. Collins Retreat Center, located just southeast of Portland, Oregon. We require: a commitment to our mission of “Creating quality environments of Christian hospitality and learning,” familiarity with United Methodist polity, experience with camp and retreat ministry, experience in leading a staff in working together, and a faith that informs how and why you believe you are called to this work. Current pay is $43,500 plus benefits, including housing. Follow this link to access documents related to this job posting. Please submit application materials by February 10, 2017, via email to campingjobs@umoi.org.

Click here to see the Complete Job Description

Click here to see the list of materials to be sent in as part of a completed application