We have identified two major needs in our community that we feel our project can effectively address. First of all, there is a large need for leadership development & faith development, especially for Youth and Young Adults who are traditionally under-served in most of our local UMC congregations, but also for all ages. Many people are connecting to our local and global church in different ways than previous generations, and it’s important that we build bridges to connect with them in different environments & capacities. At camp we believe in exploring unique ways that people can be and do church, and we are not limited to a specific or traditional set of ways that people relate to God. Camp experiences (for participants AND for leaders) is a way of doing church revitalization because we are helping people experience God and church in all sorts of ways; the work we do, especially with young people, is an investment in the spiritual lives of our church now and in the future. We are connecting with people in a meaningful way and we are helping them connect to their Creator. In addition, we see a need to serve the aging population in our community now that Alaska has been a state for almost 60 years. When our camp was built, it was designed with young, agile campers and guests in mind and is not particularly welcoming to older adults. For example, none of our lodging facilities have indoor bathrooms. Everyone shares a centralized bathhouse at the middle of camp; this isn’t usually an issue for kids but it is for older adults. We have an large number of guest groups and organizations that are looking for spaces in our area to do learning events or retreats but our facilities do not meet the needs of older participants or participants with limited mobility. We have made a major effort towards inclusive facilities by ensuring our buildings have ramps and are wheelchair accessible, and we stand out in accessibility compared with other sites nearby. However, we need to do more to make our facilities inclusive to our state’s aging population so that everyone can experience rest, renewal, faith-building, and community at Birchwood Camp.