A summary of the EM Adult Town Hall session held on July 25, covering camp meeting statistics, operational improvements, and future planning.

Camp Meeting Attendance and Trends

• The current camp meeting has approximately 540 attendees ranging from children to young adults.
• The demographic breakdown is currently 72% English Ministry (EM) and 28% Korean Ministry (KM).
• EM attendance has shown significant growth over the last four years, rebounding from a pandemic-era dip.
• Dorm capacity is currently at 360-370 rooms out of 400 available, leaving about 10% room for future growth.

Operational Improvements and Financials

• The event operates on a budget of approximately 330K, primarily funded through program and dorm fees.
• Recent improvements include a new online registration and meal ticketing system to streamline attendee experience.
• Permanent shower dividers were installed in the Granger dorms to replace temporary, less durable PVC-based systems.
• The LED wall and live streaming system in the church provide dual benefits to both camp meeting and the college.

Partnerships and Donor Contributions

• Many facility upgrades were funded by specific donors rather than the general camp meeting budget.
• The college provided additional support, such as the aviation day, at no extra cost to the camp.
• T-shirts were provided at no cost to attendees this year due to financial contributions from the college.
• VBS water slide activities were organized by a local pastor as a community service initiative.

Addressing Volunteer Burnout

• There is concern that volunteers burn out by serving only when their specific church is hosting.
• Organizers are exploring ways to simplify the Garden Cafe to reduce the burden on volunteers.
• The goal is to ensure volunteers can participate in EM adult services rather than working the entire week.
• Cross-training program coordinators is being considered to prevent over-reliance on the same small group of leaders.

Meal Service and Logistics

• The current two-meal requirement exists to help organizers project attendance and minimize food waste.
• Attendees expressed mixed feelings about committing to specific meal times in advance for better accuracy.
• Unused meal tickets will be processed as a donation receipt at the end of the week.
• A sack lunch option was suggested as a potential solution for those unable to attend scheduled meals.

Future Hosting and Scheduling

• The committee is considering decoupling Garden Cafe from the main host church rotation to allow for more flexibility.
• VBS remains a high-effort program that requires significant youth leadership, often sourced from larger churches.
• The 2025 camp meeting dates are set for July 18-24.
• Future scheduling for 2028 and 2029 is complicated by the college's transition to a semester system.

Lines Worth Remembering

• “I wouldn't be surprised if there is a disconnect there.”
• “It's a vicious cycle if we don't get it right.”
• “Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

One-Sentence Takeaway

The EM Adult leadership is actively seeking feedback to balance operational sustainability, volunteer workload, and future scheduling challenges as the camp continues to grow.

If You Only Have 2 Minutes

• EM attendance has grown significantly, reaching over 700 participants in recent years.
• Operational upgrades like permanent shower dividers and improved tech were largely donor-funded.
• Volunteer burnout is a primary concern, leading to discussions about restructuring host church responsibilities.
• Garden Cafe may be separated from the main host church rotation to ease the burden on smaller congregations.
• Meal planning remains difficult, and the committee is looking for ways to reduce food waste.
• The college's shift to a semester system will likely force a change in camp meeting dates by 2029.
• Attendees are encouraged to communicate their preferences to their local pastors before final rotation decisions are made.

References & Rabbit Holes

• Pacific Union College (PUC) — The host institution for the camp meeting, currently undergoing changes to its academic calendar.
• Central California Conference — The governing body involved in coordinating the Korean Ministry (KM) side of the camp meeting.