United Methodist Church leaders recently announced they are closing the Wilderness Retreat and Development Center, as well as three other camps the denomination operated in Missouri. Together, the camps served about 2,000 children this summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve wanted to get married at Wilderness since I was 11,\u201d\u009d Dyer said. \u201cI have a boyfriend I want to marry, and now they\u2019re taking away my camp.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The announcement by the church\u2019s Camping and Retreat Board sparked an instant social media campaign \u201d\u201d complete with hashtags, blogs, online petitions and more than 2,000 Facebook likes \u201d\u201d in an effort to roll back the decision.<\/p>\n
The discussion in the Kansas City area has been particularly lively because of its proximity to Wilderness, which hosted more than 600 children at summer camp this year, said D. Garrett Drake, a clergyman and conference staff member who advises the camping board.<\/p>\n