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    United Methodists of Upper New YorkLiving the Gospel. Being God's Love.


    news article

    UNY Conference welcomes Robyn Vernon as Site Director for Skye Farm Camp & Retreat Center

    February 1, 2022 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

    The Upper New York (UNY) Conference is pleased to welcome Robyn Vernon as Site Director at Skye Farm Camp & Retreat Center. Robyn has a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation & Leisure Studies from SUNY Brockport and a Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Public Administration from Binghamton University.

    Robyn has held leadership positions related to camping since 2019. In 2019, Robyn served as Waterfront Director at Sky Lake Camp & Retreat Center. From 2019 to 2021, Robyn was the Assistant Aquatics Director at the Broome County YMCA and in 2021, Robyn served as the Recreation Leader and Day Camp Co-Coordinator for the Binghamton Parks & Recreations Department.

    The roles that Robyn has held have involved ensuring safety of all employees and campers, recreation programming, budgeting, program evaluation, human resource management, and many more skills needed to be a site leader at a UNY Camp & Retreat Center.

    Robyn said, “My first experience at Sky Lake Camp and Retreat Center I was six years old at Try-Camp. I then continued to attend camp there until I was in high school. I had known that I wanted to work there since I was a kid because I saw how awesome and impactful the staff were. I wanted to be that for other kids. After my first summer, I couldn’t imagine spending my college summers doing anything else. My time at Sky Lake as a camper and staff member were incredibly impactful on my life. I felt safe with the Sky Lake community, and I hope to create that for people at Skye Farm.” 

    Robyn continued, “I am passionate about providing people of all ages with the opportunity to experience Christ through the outdoors and recreation opportunities in a community setting.”

    The Rev. Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, the UNY Director of Connectional Ministries and Assistant to the Bishop was part of the hiring process for the Skye Farm Site Director position. He said, “We are so excited to have Robyn as the new site director at Skye Farm. She brings many gifts, but chief among them are her faith in Christ and calling to CRM ministry, her experience as a camper and as summer staff at one of our sites (Sky Lake), and her master- level work in administration and management.”

    Robyn and her husband James will be moving to the residence at Skye Farm on Feb. 17.

    One of Robyn’s immediate goals for Skye Farm is to begin hiring summer staff and to find a healthcare professional for the summer. She is also hoping to finalize summer so that registration can open.

    When Robyn isn’t working, she loves spending times outdoors with her husband and dog kayaking, hiking, swimming, camping, snowshoeing, or cross-county skiing. When she can’t be outside you can find Robyn crocheting or doing some other sort of craft. 

    TAGGED / Camp and Retreat Ministry (CRM)


    With more than 100,000 members, United Methodists of Upper New York comprises of more than 675 local churches and New Faith Communities in 12 districts, covering 48,000 square miles in 49 of the 62 counties in New York state. Our vision is to “live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places."