Earlier this week I attended the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association(PCCCA) Conference at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. Before the conference I had the opportunity to take part in the "Green Pre-event," in which representatives from centers across the country shared ideas on greening, toured green sites, and learned about environmental education opportunities. It was an exciting event. I learned about many great programs, including the planned Solar Mission Training Center at Ferncliff, which will teach volunteers to install solar units for mission projects. I heard about Johnsonburg Presbyterian Center's educational summer garden, and got great ideas from numerous camps.
I greatly enjoyed my time at PCCCA this week, and urge folks to look into the great programs that Presbyterian Camp and Conference Centers have for children and youth. A study done in 2002 found that eight year-olds could identify 25% more Pokeman characters than wildlife species. Our camp and conference centers are providing a crucial experience for youth to interact with nature in nurturing, faith-building environments.