Registration for this conference is now closed.
We are excited to offer a special conference that seeks to address the needs of outdoor ministry leaders from across the United States and Canada. We look forward to seeing everyone at the “Abiding Presence” Conference at Heartland Center (near Kansas City, MO) on November 13-18. Please check out the details below related to this event.
Sponsoring Organizations
OUR CONFERENCE IS HOSTED BY HEARTLAND PRESBYTERIAN CENTER
In response to the Good News of Jesus Christ, Heartland Presbyterian Center provides hospitality and programming in a natural setting for individuals, families, churches, and the community. Heartland is located in the Northwest part of Kansas City just 20 minutes from KCI airport and downtown Kansas City.
OUR THEME
Abiding Presence
Gather with us to explore what it looks like to welcome people into God’s Abiding Presence through camp and conference ministry. No matter the shifts we continue to make in our ministries, what hasn't changed is our call and mission. Join us as we delve into how we can be conduits of this Abiding Presence of welcome, transformation, and service by doing what we do best - teaching and learning from one another as we discern what Matthew 25:31-46 is saying to us today.
Our Keynote Presenters/WORSHIP LEADERS
Amy Kim Kyremes-Parks serves as the Director of Formation for Children, Youth and Their Families at Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Asheville, NC. She loves creating space for folks to interact with the Holy through art and opportunities for disruption. Amy Kim is a Co-Director of the Board of More Light Presbyterians, leads workshops and conferences nationally for the PCUSA, and has been published in ministry periodicals about Spiritual Formation and disrupting Racism. Her life is shared with her amazing spouse, Justin, children, Natalily and Isaiah along with Bella and Obed, the poodles. She is thankful for the ministry of camps and conferences in her own formation and looks forward to sharing space at the conference!
Anne Russ is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and has been in ministry for over 20 years. She has been a camper, counselor, volunteer chaplain and board member at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center (where you can hang out on the Anne Russ deck) and currently serves on the board at Johnsonburg Camp and Conference Center. Anne is a free-range pastor living in New York and runs a digital ministry platform at doubtingbeliever.com. She teaches online classes, creates liturgy and worship experiences, leads workshops, and fills pulpits when needed. She is a fiercely supportive mom to a 21-year-old BFA musical theater student and has been married for almost 25 years (to the same person).
OUR Music LEADER
Dale Bolyard serves as full-time Director of Music Ministries at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Missouri. In his nineteen years at Pine Ridge, he has directed ensembles of all ages. In his high school and college years, he spent his summers serving on the summer staff of multiple Kiwanis and church camps in the St. Louis area. At Heartland Center, he has been a facilitator on the high and low ropes courses, volunteered as a counselor for multiple Heartland amazing races camps, and can be seen leading camp songs for all of Pine Ridge’s summer camp festivities.
WORKSHOPS
Do you want to learn about the 44 workshops that will be offered during the Annual Conference? Click on the link below for full descriptions and leadership bios for each session.
Conference Schedule
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00-6:00pm | Shuttles and Check-in | |
| 2:00 | Sunday Afternoon Snack Reception sponsored by Reflective Energy Solutions | Nunemaker Lobby |
| 6:00-6:45 | Dinner | Grace Hall |
| 7:00-7:45 | Conference Orientation | Upper Genesis |
| 7:00-7:45 | Social Time | Lobby |
| 7:45-8:30 | Welcome Gathering and Worship | Great Room |
| 8:30 | Wine and Cheese Reception sponsored by Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary | Fireside Room and Nunemaker Lobby |
We have a variety of lodging options for your five-night stay during the conference. All of the accommodations are located within an easy walk to meals, workshops, and plenary sessions. For families that will be attending the event, we suggest Oak Place.
The Nunemaker & Cray Lodge
Hotel-style lodging with private bathrooms, centrally located and connected to Nunemaker Conference Center by a covered walkway.
Please note: This lodging option is sold-out. If you are seeking double occupancy with a roommate or spouse, there are still rooms available in the other lodging options.
Double Occupancy (private bath, 2 full beds, linens/towels, wifi) $250 per person
Triple Occupancy (private bath, 3 single beds, linens/towels, wifi) $165 per person
Pete's Cabin
Cabin-style lodging, tucked in the woods. Each bedroom has bunk-style beds (twin over full) a bathroom with separate rooms for toilet, shower, and lavatory.
Cabin-style accommodations with a private bath for each room. double occupancy: $220 per person
Cabin-style accommodations with a private bath for each room. 3-4 people per room: $145 per person
Oak Place
This building has four bedrooms and private bathrooms with separate rooms for toilet, shower, and lavatory. The bedrooms all open into a large meeting room with a full kitchen.
Double Occupancy (cabin-style accommodations with private bath for each room.) $220 per person.
Triple Occupancy (cabin-style accommodations with private bath for each room.) $145 per person.
Family - Cabin-style accommodations with a private bath for each room. As many as 8 people per room: $500 per family
Trask Lodge
The building has three bedrooms, three full bathrooms (off of the hallway), a kitchen, two meeting areas, and a large front porch.
Double Occupancy (dorm-style accommodations with hall bathrooms.) $160 per person.
House of Faith
This building has 9 bedrooms, three bathrooms (off the hallway), and a full kitchen.
Single Occupancy (dorm-style accommodations with hall bathrooms.) $320 per person.
Double Occupancy (dorm-style accommodations with hall bathrooms.) $160 per person.
Creekside Hotel
The limited number of hotel-style rooms at Heartland Center do not allow us to offer single-occupancy lodging on site. A new hotel has just opened only one mile away from Heartland. We will offer shuttle service to those participants who chose to stay there. You can book a hotel room here for $92.00 a night ($114.68 with all of the taxes). You can learn more about the hotel (and reserve your room) by going to their website. If the website does not quote you this lower rate, call them and make sure they understand that you are part of the PCCCA Annual Conference.
MEALS
The conference meals are Sunday Dinner through Friday Breakfast (but not dinner on Wednesday due to the free afternoon). Heartland guests are treated to hearty main dishes, attractive salads, and yummy desserts. All meals are served buffet style in the beautiful Grace Hall. Each dish incorporates nutritious options for guests including those with most special dietary needs.
Adult $164.00
Children (Age 4-10) $94.00
Children (Age 3 and under) Free
TrANSPORTATION
PCCCA will be providing a shuttle service from the Kansas City International Airport (MCI). The conference is about 15 minutes from the airport and there will a be a $20 per person, round trip fee for airport transportation. We will start running shuttles at 1:00pm on Sunday, November 13th and our last one will leave the airport at 5:00pm that day. We will be running shuttles to the airport on Friday, November 18th from 6:00am – 12:00pm.
Fee for Round-Trip Shuttle: $20.00 per person
Registration INFO
We encourage everyone with a role related to outdoor ministry or youth ministry to attend this amazing event. All staff (executive, program, office, facilities, hospitality, kitchen), board members, and volunteers will all benefit from outstanding workshops, worship, and professional connections. The registration fees for the conference can be found below.
| Participant | Non-Participating Spouse | Children & Youth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee | $249 | $149 | $249 |
Children and Youth Program
While attending workshops and keynotes, your kids will have a great time in the Children and Youth Program. Your child's days will be jam-packed full of games, crafts, story-time, snack-time, outdoor adventures, and a different special activity each day. Programs are designed for the following age groups: preschool, younger elementary, older elementary, and youth. Some of the daily special activities we are planning are horse rides, a trip to "The Summit" high ropes course (10 and older), archery, disc golf, nature hikes, treasure hunts, and a field trip to Moon Marble factory in nearby Bonner Springs, Kansas. When you see how much fun your kids have, you may lie about your own age.
The Children and Youth Program runs for the duration of the conference and is priced at $100 per participant. In order to give Heartland Center enough time to recruit the appropriate number of staff, we ask that you register children and youth by Friday, October 14.
Cancellation Policy
Prior to October 14, all but $100.00 will be refunded to you. After this date, the entire fee is nonrefundable.
Scholarships
If you need financial assistance in order to attend the conference, please contact
Joel Winchip for PCCCA and the Campfire Collective
Joe Richards for OMI-UCC
Bill Bourdon for OMA-UCC
Registration for this conference is now closed.
FAQ
