The Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Network will award a $2,500 grant for an outdoor ministry organization to initiate a new project or a new element of an existing program that promotes diversity within the ministry and community. Applications will be reviewed by the Recognitions Committee. A selection will be made, and the grant will be awarded at the LOM Conference each November. Each year, the grantee from the previous year will give a brief presentation about their project at the LOM conference. All materials, including the application and all required emailed attachments, must be completed and returned by October 1, to be eligible for the grant. The grant will be presented at the Annual LOM Conference in November.
Application Details
- Applicants may complete the application in the packet linked below or use the Google Form. All applicants will need to email attachments to recognition@lomnetwork.org.
- All materials must be submitted by October 1st to be considered.
- Successful proposals will:
- Make possible a project that will meaningfully and sustainably facilitate diversity within an outdoor ministry. Proposals should be for new projects. New components of existing programs are acceptable.
- Collaborate with other organizations and communities to embrace diversity.
- Have a one-two year timeline with realistic goals for completion with measurable outcomes.
- Address a need in the organization and community.
Click here to submit nomination
Grant History:
LOM presented the sixth Diversity Grant in 2023. The grant went to Mar-Lu-Ridge (MD). In 2023, Mar-Lu-Ridge received a Connectedness Grant from the DE-MD Synod to partner with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services (LIRS) to create a retreat for recent migrant/refugee families at no- cost. The retreat provided space for community, rest, and renewal, away from the stresses of everyday life in a new country. In August, six Afghani families, now living in a Washington DC suburb, visited MLR for one night and three meals. There were 24 guests, including seven children. The families enjoyed programming and group mental health facilitation by LIRS staff and custom menus crafted by LIRS and the MLR chef. Mar-Lu-Ridge will use the Diversity Grant to expand their partnership with LIRS and offer additional retreat guest spaces in 2024. LIRS identified Latin American migrant/refugee families as a good fit for this program; MLR will work with LIRS to serve specific needs (programming, facility, dietary) of this population to provide sanctuary space for rest and renewal.
LOM presented the fifth Diversity Grant in 2022 to Bear Creek Camp (PA). Bear Creek Camp stands on 3,000 acres of land that belonged to the Lenni-Lenape people. We often do not know or care to know this history, but we are indebted to the caretakers and stewards of this land where our ministry flourishes. With that, they currently have a trail named “Lenape.” The camp’s goal is to take this beautiful trail that goes over a bridge, crosses through hemlocks, and walks alongside water and create a dedication trail for all to enjoy, learn, and reflect.
Travelers will begin at a Land Acknowledgement and walk-through indigenous prayers, stories, and conversations. They will work with local tribal leaders and commission hand-crafted trail signs for the path. Mainly, this will be a space dedicated to the Lenni-Lenape people and an educational tool to bring our community together across all generations and backgrounds.
The camp plans to work together with tribal leaders to learn and understand how to best share their story and craft a Land Acknowledgment with them and the BCC community. In the spring, they will gather supplies for trail maintenance and all signage that will be along the trail. They will have a dedication in June during staff training where all staff, tribe members, and any community will be invited to celebrate. The trail will officially open for summer camp and will continue to exist at Bear Creek Camp as we continue the stewardship of our land and people.
LOM presented the fourth Diversity Grant at the LOM Conference in 2021. The grant this year went to Metigoshe Ministries (ND). Metigoshe has a longstanding connection with Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation (TMIR) located 30 miles from their camp with Ojibwa programming dating back to 1988. Ojibwa programming incorporates a mixture of practicing and learning about Ojibwa culture from Ojibwa elders and Camp Metigoshe daily programming. Metigoshe provides two weeks of day camp on the housing sites and one week of onsite programming for youth ages 6-10. After age ten most campers stop attending camp. Metigoshe is looking to focus on sustaining our Ojibwa programming by better supporting the “aged-out” campers in attending camp. They hope to do this through intentional marketing, seeking out individuals to be a counselor in training during Ojibwa week programming, or helping to find them a program that fits their age group and help them register for camp. The funding from the LOM Grant will help provide an opportunity to give all older Ojibwa campers a scholarship to continue experiencing camp. This grant will ensure that the funding is available for at least five older youth from TMIR to attend camp with no worries about cost. Congratulations!
LOM presented the third Diversity Grant at the LOM Awards (virtual) Ceremony in 2020. The winner was Camp Ma-He-Tu (NY). Since 1937, Camp Ma-He-Tu has focused on empowering young women to become the best that they can be. They provide them freedom from the daily pressures of life so they may grow together in a supportive and fun camping community to develop and embrace their spirituality, appreciation of others, and their value as individuals. They provide a safe and fun outdoor camping experience in a supportive environment that fosters mental, spiritual, physical, and social growth. Seeking to expand and improve its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, the Camp Ma-He-Tu Board of Directors is investing in DEI organizational analysis and training through a professional consultant to evaluate, acknowledge, and dismantle inequities, invisible culture, and implicit bias that exist within the organization. The consultant will first provide training to all Board members, providing them with increased knowledge and common language to engage with diversity and equity issues and how they can foster increased inclusion across the Camp Ma-He-Tu community. Staff members will then undergo similar training, leading them to foster a safer, more inclusive, and positive environment for all campers. This training will provide them with the tools to better understand and manage sensitive issues that may arise among our diverse body of campers, many of whom will be attending camp in the wake of extended social unrest across the nation.
LOM presented the second Diversity Grant at the second LOM business meeting on Wednesday morning of The Great Gathering in 2019. The winner was Luther Height’s New American outreach program. Executive Director Kelly Preboski accepted the award from Recognitions Committee Member Tracy Polzin. The camp has worked for the past two summers to bring youth to camp to provide a safe haven and quality experience to youth who likely would not get a camp experience within the refugee population. Summer 2018, they brought 14 youth to camp. With expanded efforts in fundraising and partnering, they were able to bring 26 youth to camp, two different weeks in 2019. In summer 2020, they would like to bring more youth to camp, but begin an outreach effort in Boise, where a high population of New Americans are located. They hope to create a family night during one of their day camp events in the city where summer staff can create a camp night for families who have registered their youth to come to camp or are interested in sending their youth to camp. The Diversity Grant of $2,000 was made possible with the funds coming from “ELCA Outdoor Ministries Endowment Fund.”
LOM presented the first Diversity Grant at the recognition ceremony on Thursday night of the 2018 LOM Conference. The winner was Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp’s Burmese refugee program. Wilderness Canoe Base (WCB) has begun a new partnership with the Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM) – an organization working specifically with Burmese refugees across Minnesota. Their goal is to begin a new program that will invite youth associated with the KOM to participate in a WCB trip. While interest is incredibly high from the youth, there is skepticism –specifically when it comes to the financial commitment – about whether this is a worthwhile investment. With the grant, the camp will be able to off-set the prices for this group and help the leaders to know that WCB and the broader LOM Network is committed to creating a space for youth from KOM. With that, they would anticipate a deeper partnership and a new opportunity to bring even more youth from KOM up to experience WCB in future years.