The History and Theology of Outdoor Ministries

YM4567

1 Credit, instructor-Hill, Yernberg

 

Catalogue Description:

The goal of the course is to survey the history of outdoor ministries and the role Lutheran Outdoor Ministries plays in that history.  Special emphasis will be given to identifying the cultural forces, as well as the theological and ecclesiological voices, that shape this history. 

 

SYLLABUS

 

Meet your Instructors:

 

Dr. Paul Hill is the executive director of The Youth & Family Institute.  He started going to camp in 4th grade and has been hooked ever since.  Coming through the ranks of Lutheran outdoor ministries he has served as swamper and guide at Wilderness Canoe Base (1967-1971) and he remembers the days before rip-stop nylon and dehydrated food.  He was a whitewater canoe guide and program director at Camp Chrysalis, Texas, board member at Mt. Cross (California) and EWALU (Iowa), and executive director of Lutherdale Bible Camp (Wisconsin 1981-90)).  He is an ABEE certified adventure facilitator and has spoken at camps across the country and in South America.  He currently serves on the LOM board.  Paul attended St. Olaf College during the Jurassic era majoring in psychology and Asian Studies.  He received his MDiv. degree from Wartburg Seminary, and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Luther Seminary.  He has served parishes in Denver, CO and Oakland, CA.  As adjunct faculty at Luther he is the co-designer and leader of the outdoor ministry concentration within the MA-CYF degree program.  He is co-author of UP THE CREEK WITH A PADDLE: Effective Youth Ministry Practices, FROGS WITHOUT LEGS CAN’T HEAR, and COMING OF AGE: Exploring Identity and Spirituality in Younger Men. Paul and Elaine have been married for 32 years and have enjoy their children, Josh and Amber, both of whom live in the Twin Cities.  Josh and Danielle have provided Paul with two wonderful grand dogs.   He can be reached at phill@tyfi.org.  

 

Rev. Ralph Yernberg has enjoyed a life-long passion with ministry in outdoor environments.  He spent several years in youth leadership with summer camps while attending Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN.  Ralph attended Luther Seminary and upon ordination, served as Associate Pastor at Lutheran Church of Peace in St. Paul, MN.  In 1975, he began service as Executive Director of Good Earth Village near Spring Valley, MN.  From 1981-1999, Ralph was Executive Director at Imago Dei Ministries, now known as Crossways Camping Ministries in NE Wisconsin.  Following his interests in small group ministry, Ralph joined Sky Ranch (now Lutheran Ranches of the Rockies) west of Fort Collins, CO, in 1999.  In 2006, Ralph retired from the ELCA. Throughout his career, Ralph has maintained an interest in the theology and history of Outdoor Ministries.  He has authored Sunday School, youth leadership, and camping curriculum materials for Augsburg Fortress Publishing.  He also researched a project involving the history of the camping movement in predecessor church bodies.  He has served an outdoor ministry Board consultant and served as the first President of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, the national organization created for Lutheran outdoor ministry volunteers, Board members and staff leaders.  Ralph currently lives in Fort Collins, CO, with his wife, Marcia.  They have two adult children and enjoy music, hiking, skiing, and fly-fishing.  Ralph has reentered the work force as Manager of Lutheran Community Relations for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans in the six-state Rocky Mountain Region.  Contact: yernberg@q.com

 

Purpose of the course:

           

The overall purpose of this course is to develop a historical perspective of the development of Lutheran outdoor ministries within its social and theological context.  It is expected that this “long view” will provide a foundation and an insightful view into the future of outdoor ministries in the life of the church.

            Secondly, this course - and the Master’s degree concentration in outdoor ministries - links theological academic discipline to outdoor ministries so that a new, well informed, and reflective generation of outdoor ministry leaders will emerge for ministry in the 21st century.

            Finally, this course shall contribute to the larger guild and archives of outdoor ministries through student research and project development.

Successful students will develop practical and theoretical tools to assist them in forming a foundation for Christian service in outdoor ministries and/or settings.

 

Specific goals for the course:

1.      Examine the social and religious forces that have influenced the development of outdoor ministry programs in the church.

2.      Develop a theological understanding of outdoor ministry and its role within the life of the church.

3.      Gain awareness and appreciation for the different ways in which outdoor ministry is practiced, and how that practice continues to evolve. 

4.      Develop and formulate a Biblical basis for ministry in an out-door setting.

 

Intriguing (but non-exhaustive) questions to be pursued:

1.      What theological traditions are reflected in the “founding theology” of their camp?

2.      What is the ecclesiology that is reflected in the “founding ecclesiology” of their camp?

3.      How have these “founding theologies” changed throughout the history of the camp?  Why?

4.      How do these “founding theologies” detract from/support their ministry today?

5.      Do the issues that gave rise to the emergence of this outdoor ministry seem relevant today?  Why/Why Not?

6.      How have outdoor ministries been adaptive in the past and what kind of adaptive thinking and changes are needed for ministry in the future?

7.      What is your theological framework for outdoor ministries in the 21st Century?

 

Daily Class Structure

            Each four-hour class will include the following elements:

1.      Alpha Devotions

2.      Video Presentation of an Outdoor Ministry

3.      Exegetical reflection on the video

4.      Instructor presentations on the theme for the day

5.      Class response and query

6.      Biblical immersion

7.      Snacks

8.      Evaluation and next steps

In addition, many of the classes will include power point presentations, video excerpts, book reviews or discussions, student presentations, identification of research topics, and camp construction time for each of the three era’s of camping in the United States.

 

Evaluation:

            On the last day of class, students will present a summary of what they are learning and where it is leading them in future research.  Each presentation is to be 10-15 minutes.  A 7-8 page paper is also required at the end of January that demonstrates one of the following:

1)      A research project regarding outdoor ministries

2)      A theological reflection paper that moves through the practical theology circle, thus demonstrating the student’s ability to connect and integrate outdoor ministry practices with theological themes or roots.

 

January 7, 8:00-12:00 

            Primary Instructor: Hill

You Are An Academic Pioneer: Overview of the syllabus

Practical Theology Circle

            (Reading: STARTING RIGHT, 26-39)

Topics:  Nature, Camp and the Formation of Men; Historical Examples, Greeks, Hitler Youth, others; The Role of Liminality - A theme you will hear often

 

January 8, 8:00-12:00

            Primary Instructor: Yernberg    

The Rise & Fall of Camps in America: A Historical & Social Perspective of the Americana Movement

Topics:  Camp as a solution to the challenges of youth, vanishing frontiers, impact of youth psychological and educational concepts on camping, survey of camps in America through the sixties, site development as response to social criteria.

Activity:  Design a camp: 1880-1920

 

January 9, 8:00-10:00, 11:00-1:00

            Primary Instructor: Yernberg

            Lutheran Camps: An Overview

Reading: THE HISTORY OF LUTHERAN CAMPING, Vol. 1: Yernberg;

 A HISTORY OF LUTHERAN CHURCH CAMPING IN THE UNITED STATES: Burkhardt

Topics:  Emergence of Camping from social constructs and theological expressions, examples of camping models, biblical and theological practices of Lutheran camps, National support and encouragement to camps, the leadership movement of Lutheran camping.

 

 

January 10, 8:00-12:00

Primary Instructor: Hill

            Real Men Go To Camp: American Male Identity and the Camping

                        Movement (1870-1930)

·        Three American definitions of manhood and examples

·        The American man’s three moves

·        Videos: Teddy Roosevelt, Moby Dick

 

January 11, 8:00-12:00

            Primary Instructor: Hill

            Early Camping Organizations: Samples

Reading:  A MANUFACTURED WILDERNESS

            Design a camp: 1920-1940

            Video: Modern Times

                       

January 14, 8:00-12:00

            Primary Instructor: Hill

Early Camping Organizations Continued

            Reading: A MANUFACTURED WILDERNESS

                        THE MYSTERY OF THE CHILD: Martin Marty, pg. 1-100

            Video: Wizard of Oz, Jesus Camp

                       

January 15, 8:00-12:00

            Primary Instructor: Hill

            A Brief History of Youth Ministry and the Role of Camping: Four Examples

                        The Walther League

                        The Young Christian Workers

                        Youth For Christ

                        African-American Youth Ministries

            Reading: STARTING RIGHT, 77-91

THE MYSTERY OF THE CHILD, Martin Marty, PG. 101-193, pay close attention to pg. 107-117

            Design a camp: 1940-1960

            Video: Pleasantville

 

January 16, 8:00-10:00, 11:00-1:00

            Primary Instructor: Yernberg

            Left Jabs and Right Hooks: Camping in its theological and ideological Context

Reading: THE HISTORY OF LUTHERAN CAMPING, Vol. 2: Yernberg

Topics:  Voices of camping pioneers, Lutheran camp stories and anecdotal history, examples of Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Models and Practices: Centralized, Decentralized, Small Group/Wilderness Based and Hybrids

 

January 17, 8:00-12:00

            Primary Instructor: Yernberg

Sacred Landscape: tools for living in the woods.

Reading:  Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv, 2005; for reference:  Luther’s Small Catechism

Topics:  Axioms of Sacred Space, Outdoor Ministries as space and experience, Spiritual practice in Lutheran Outdoor Ministries, Lutheran theology as applied to outdoor ministries, interplay of the mystics and their environment, Biblical themes, language of faith in Lutheran settings

 

January 18, 8:00-12:00

Primary Instructor: Yernberg

The Future and Mission of Camping:  Camping as a living, counter-cultural experience of the church (Moved from Jan. 17 to 18th)

Topics:  Faith Formation: Bible, reflection, Authentic Spirituality and Spiritual Practices: Solitude, reflection, Community faith vs. Individual, Counter-Cultural Calling - How does this change you? Is it good?

Where are you going to drop down and do research? Individual presentations

 

Biblical texts to be explored

Experimenting with Scripture: Identifying texts that speak to outdoor ministries

John 1:  Extraordinary - Ordinary

Mark 6:30-44: No escapes in quiet places

Exodus Images: Journey to Community

1 Kings 19: (Elijah) Wilderness Discernment

Luke 4: Where demons dwell

Psalm 46: Be Still and Know

Creation:  Genesis 1/Genesis 2:  From beyond - From within; Psalm 104:  An ecologist’s Creation story

Theophanies:  Moses on the Mountain, Job & the Whirlwind (Job 38)

 

Required Reading:

A History of Lutheran Church Camping in the United States, 1919-1949, Burkhardt, Mark, The Pennsylvania State University, 1982. (to be handed out in class)

 

A Manufactured Wilderness: Van Slyck, Abigail A.

 

History of Organized Camping, The First 100 Years, Eleanor Eells

 

The Camping Movement of the American Lutheran Church: A History of the National Camping Movement (Volume 1), unpublished manuscript, 2003, Ralph Yernberg

(to be handed out in class)

 

Ralph Yernberg, The Camping Movement of the American Lutheran Church: The Collected Histories of Camps (Volume 2), unpublished manuscript, 2003, Ralph Yernberg

(to be handed out in class)

 

The Mystery of the Child, Martin Marty

 

Recommended Reading:

 

Committee on Outdoor Ministries, Theological Mission Statement, National Council of Churches in Christ in the USA, 2002.

 

Sterling Edwards, Using the Outdoor Setting to Communicate Spiritual Truths, Christian Camping International/USA, 2002.

 

ELCA Outdoor Ministries, Outdoor Ministries in a Faithful and Changing Church, unpublished document, 2003.

 

ELCA Outdoor Ministries, The ELCA Outdoor Ministries Primer, Division for Congregational Ministries, 1996.

 

Richard Louv, Last Child In the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature Deficit Disorder, 2006

 

Jerry Manlove and Mary Kettl, A Common Book of Camping, unpublished manuscript, 1996.

  

Lloyd Mattson, Camping and the Church, Christian Camping International/USA, 1997.

 

Anne Rosendale, Recordings of Interviews of Jerry Manlove, 2007

 

Leonard Sweet, Summoned to Lead, 2004

 

George Williams, Five Values of Christian Camping, Christian Camping International/USA, 2001.