Camping Inquiry Program participants selected;

Six Goshen College students to learn and seek at Mennonite camps and retreat centers

GOSHEN, Ind. – Six Goshen College students are spending the summer pursuing an interest in outdoor ministry at a church-related camp or retreat center through the college’s Camping Inquiry Program (CIP).

The summer 2007 group of CIP participants includes:

Paul Boers, a sophomore communication major from Elkhart, Ind., is spending his summer at Silver Lake Mennonite Camp in Hepworth, Ontario. Boers, the son of Arthur Boers and Lorna McDougall, graduated from Bethany Christian High School in 2005 and attends Prairie Street Mennonite Church.

 

Charity Grimes, a sophomore environmental studies major from Goshen, is spending her summer at Amigo Centre in Sturgis, Mich. She is the daughter of Daniel and Brenda Grimes. A 2005 graduate of Bethany Christian High School, Grimes attends Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship.

 

Tony Janzen, a junior physical education major from Elkhart, Ind., is spending his summer at Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp in Divide, Colo. Janzen, the son of David and Cynthia Janzen, graduated from Elkhart Central High School in 2004 and attends Fellowship of Hope.

 

Hannah Miller, a sophomore elementary education major from Scottdale, Pa., is spending her summer at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Mount Pleasant, Pa. Miller, the daughter of Merrill and Cindy Miller, graduated from Southmoreland Senior High School in 2006 and attends Scottdale Mennonite Church.

 

Mercy Oyana, a sophomore American Sign Language interpreting major from Philadelphia, Pa., is spending her summer at Spruce Lake Retreat in Canadensis, Pa. Oyana, the daughter of Crispin and Annette Oyana, graduated from Central High School in 2005 and attends West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship.

 

Libby Smith, a sophomore social work major from Iowa City, Iowa, is spending her summer at Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Center in Tiskilwa, Ill. Smith, the daughter of Robert and Margaret Richer Smith, graduated from Iowa Mennonite School in 2005 and attends First Mennonite Church of Iowa City.

 

CIP provides students with the opportunity to spend three months interning at one of several camps and retreat centers affiliated with the Mennonite Camping Association. According to Bob Yoder, campus pastor at Goshen College, “CIP allows students to test out a variety of interests and skills, often since camps provide a setting where demands and opportunities are wide-ranging.”

 

Now in its sixth year, CIP involves a collaborative effort by Goshen College, students’ home congregations and the host camps. With the help of endowments, CIP enables students to participate in a leadership internship and receive a $2,000 scholarship toward their return to college in the fall.

 

CIP grew from a donor couple’s life-long interest in camping. Larry and Janet Newswanger, former residents of Goshen and friends of Goshen College, envisioned a camping internship program that would parallel existing programs in congregational ministry (Ministry Inquiry Program) and church-sponsored voluntary service (Service Inquiry Program).

 

Also, for the first time this year, participation in the inquiry programs included the opportunity to take a one credit-hour May term course that explored vocation, goals for the summer, prayer methods and a blessing ceremony with President James Brenneman.

 

Yoder currently coordinates the CIP program, with help from Mennonite camp and retreat center administrators.

 

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

 

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a residential Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college’s Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron’s Best Buys in Education, “Colleges of Distinction,” “Making a Difference College Guide” and U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” edition, which named Goshen a “least debt college.” Visit www.goshen.edu.