Nineteen volunteers gathered at Procter Center on Saturday to prepare the buildings and grounds for this year’s campers, retreaters, and farm market shoppers. The camp and conference center’s spring cleanup day is an annual tradition, but this year, it set the stage for a different kind of summer season.
When longtime Procter executive director Amy Boyd resigned last fall to accept a job in her home state of New Hampshire, Bishop Wayne Smith asked two diocesan staff members—the Rev. Jason Oden, canon for formation, and the Rev. David Getreu, canon for finance and budget—to step in as Procter’s co-interim directors. Together with Robin Kimbler, Procter’s longtime operations director, they are charged with repairing and revitalizing the facility and transforming its camp program into a linchpin of the diocese’s Christian formation efforts.
For the Rev. Derrick Fetz, priest at the Northern Miami Valley Episcopal Cluster and a Procter board member, this summer camp season represents a return to Procter’s mission as a center for the diocese and a place to instill core values of love, inclusion and joy in young Episcopalians.
“In the context of all the fun-filled activities that make Procter a desirable camping experience for all ages and through worship and devotions, our campers will learn more about and celebrate their sacred worth as beloved children of God,” Fetz said. “They will explore how God has made them unique and how they can be a positive influence on others to make the world better. We hope the young people will grow excited about following Jesus.”
Summer camps, now open for registration, include a day camp and overnight camps for tweens, middle schoolers, and high school students. Two “silver camps” will offer adults ages 55 and up an opportunity to relax, participate in outdoor activities, and reflect on the Christian commitment to care for creation. And two family camps will welcome parents, grandparents and kids for four days of multigenerational programs and outdoor activities.
Procter will hold an open house and spring craft show this Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Oden says that the event offers an opportunity for families to get reacquainted with Procter, meet the staff, and sample camp activities.
“We want everyone in the diocese to feel like Procter is for them—a place to learn, love and become part of the Beloved Community that God longs for us to be,” Oden said. “This is the summer to return to Procter.”
Even as summer camp gets underway, the board is working hard to create a sustainable plan for the center’s future to present to the diocese’s next bishop, Dr. Lissa Barker, a member of both the diocese’s Standing Committee and Procter’s board, said. Together with Oden and Getreu, Procter’s board members are involved in a planning process led by consultants from Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers. With a facilities assessment commissioned by Getreu in hand, they are also working with the diocese’s trustees to identify sources of funding that can be used to address deferred maintenance.
“The whole energy around Procter is revitalization, a deep love for the place, and a desire to invigorate the potential that Procter has for Beloved Community,” Barker said. “This summer, Procter is going to have a great program and great staff. It’s a great place to be now, and we are working on ways to fulfill its potential far into the future.”
