news article
Casowasco Discernment Team Update
September 8, 2025 / By Casowasco Discernment Team / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The Casowasco Discernment Team has begun work on their first “sprint.” In project management terms, a sprint is a short, focused burst of work where each member takes on specific tasks, then regroups to review progress, refocus priorities, and assign the next steps.
What We’re Working On
This sprint is focused on five key areas: staffing & operations, finances, physical property, programming, and relationships & communication. Here are a few specific highlights of that work:
Staffing & Operations: The team is creating a budget revision process and developing a staffing strategy for the future. Interim Site Director Colin Kerr-Carpenter continues to help facilitate team progress while also fielding inquiries from groups interested in the camp. Colin has been tasked to explore the start up for renewing operations. A call with the Cayuga County Health Department confirmed that the Temporary Residence Permit is in effect for the calendar year.
Physical Property: The team is drafting a multi-year capital repair plan to prioritize and sustain the site. The walk-in freezer, which was malfunctioning and not holding temperature, has since been fixed. The health inspector has indicated that a deep clean and equipment check will prepare the facility for being re-approved.
The other pending capital project is to address flood damage from 2021 and 2022. We have contracted with Redfish Engineering to do a study of the watershed from the Highlands down to the main site. This will help us to determine the condition of our dam and what measures we must do to mitigate the risks of future floods. At the end of this study Redfish will assist Casowasco in applying for grants to help us in this mitigation project.
Programming: The team is exploring new year-round opportunities at Casowasco. Since the Discern & Design retreat, multiple new groups have reached out about using Casowasco, while several past groups have expressed interest in returning next year.
Relationships & Communication: The team is re-engaging key stakeholders and preparing updated communications. In addition, Colin has heard from individuals eager to volunteer and help with the work ahead.
This doesn’t mean the camp is back to normal operations, but that the team is building a foundation for what comes next. Much of this work involves gathering information, but each step is a meaningful part of discerning the camp’s next chapter. Leadership from the Annual Conference has been engaged and invested in the work of the Discernment Team, and before any next steps are finalized, key teams from the Annual Conference will be consulted to ensure alignment.
Looking Ahead
The team remains grateful for the many ways the Holy Spirit is guiding this process. As Casowasco Camp & Retreat Center continues this season of discernment and design, your prayers, encouragement, and continued support mean more than ever. You can help shape the next chapter by:
- Praying for wisdom, courage, and unity in this season.
- Giving to support immediate capital and program needs.
- Sharing the story of Casowasco’s renewal with others who care.
- Offering your skills, time, or input to one of the project teams.
Casowasco’s story is still being written. Together, with faith and imagination, we trust God is not finished with this holy ground.