Forming courageous, compassionate leaders through the power of camp and community.

The Refuge at La Foret and the Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Church of Christ are thrilled to co-create a new Leadership Development Program that builds on our shared legacy of outdoor ministry and spiritual formation. Rooted in the belief that camp is holy ground where leaders are born, this program invites emerging leaders to step into transformational service—equipping them with the skills, experience, and community needed to lead in today’s world.

Who Is This For?

This opportunity is ideal for:

• Young adults who are discerning their vocational path or seeking meaningful leadership experience

• Members in Discernment (MIDs) hoping to deepen their ministry through embodied, relational leadership

• Clergy and ministry professionals pursuing continuing education or spiritual renewal

• Lay leaders who are passionate about creating life-giving communities where all people can flourish

  
  

Whether you're exploring a call to ministry, looking to grow your emotional intelligence, or simply craving reconnection with your values, this program offers a path worth walking.

What You’ll Experience

As summer camp counselors or spiritual staff at The Refuge (a Certified CampWell Camp), participants will receive:

• Training in emotional intelligence, growth mindset, and trauma-informed leadership

• Hands-on leadership experience, with built-in mentorship and structured reflection

• Opportunities for spiritual formation and connection across generations and communities

• Professional and personal growth in collaboration, communication, conflict resolution, and adaptive leadership

• Belonging in a nurturing cohort of peers—supporting one another through shared learning and bold exploration

Participants will also be invited into a free, optional fall and winter leadership cohort, where they can continue deepening their spiritual and vocational formation. This part of the program is still in development but will offer meaningful support beyond the summer experience.

Time Away Is Sacred Service

The Rocky Mountain Conference affirms that being a camp counselor is ministry to the wider church. That’s why RMC congregations are encouraged to allow clergy and staff to serve without using vacation time—recognizing this work as part of their call.

If a congregation needs pulpit supply to support their staff’s participation, The Refuge will provide free pulpit coverage from Rev. Logan Bennett at another time during the year. We’re committed to making this opportunity sustainable for both individuals and communities.

Stipends & Support

Thanks to the RMC and generous donors, stipends are available to help make this experience accessible and affirm the sacred labor participants are offering. We believe leadership should be nurtured—not extracted.

Why It Matters

Many of our most impactful clergy and lay leaders got their start around the campfire at La Foret. This program exists to carry that legacy forward—cultivating the next generation of leaders who will guide our churches and communities with courage, creativity, and care.

A Word from Someone Who’s Been There

“Camp is where I found my calling. While leading a cabin group one summer as a counselor in my early 20s, a mentor on staff said, ‘Preach on sister!’ That moment changed my life and helped me realize, being at camp encouraged me to be the most authentic version of myself. Since then, I’ve gone on to earn an MDiv, served nearly a decade in ordained ministry, launched a mutual aid nonprofit, and now pastor a historic progressive UCC church in rural MN. Camp didn’t just shape me—it showed me what Christ's beloved kindom can feel like in real time. I’ve been chasing that vision ever since, and it all started around a campfire.”

—Rev. Nora P. Elliott

Apply Now – Applications Due May 20

Spots for this summer’s cohort are limited, and applications are due by Monday, May 20th. If you or someone you know feels the nudge to grow, to serve, and to lead—now is the time.

🔗 Apply here: https://form.jotform.com/230513811050036

📄 View the FAQ: FAQ Document