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Pathways to the Holy


  • Camp Whitman 150 Whitman Road Penn Yan, NY, 14527 United States (map)

Join us for one, two, or three days of workshops and restorative activities focused on creative spiritual nourishment. Learn new ways to build your faith and see God at work in new parts of your life!

You can choose the workshops, activities, meals, and accommodations that fit your schedule and your budget.

VIEW THE SCHEDULE for the weekend, with the prices for each workshop and activity.

VIEW THE MENU for the weekend.

REGISTER HERE for workshops, activities, and/or meals.

If you are interested in spending a night at Camp Whitman in one of our cabins or cottages, please complete the ACCOMMODATION REQUEST FORM. A member of our staff will contact you to finalize the reservation.

  • The Enneagram is a personality typing system with ancient mystical roots that can help people better understand themselves and their core motivations and anxieties. The Reverends Paul and Susan Joseph Rack will demonstrate some of the many ways that the Enneagram has been and can be used to unlock new and previously unexplored Pathways to the Holy. This afternoon-long workshop will introduce participants to the nine Enneagram Types, help participants identify their own Enneagram Type, and show participants how this self-knowledge can draw them closer to God and other people.

    Paul and Susan Joseph Rack have served in a variety of ministerial contexts in their decades of ordained ministry in the PC(USA); Susan currently serves the First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses in Trumansburg (Presbytery of Geneva). Paul and Susan studied under Riso and Hudson at the Enneagram Institute. Susan is an authorized teacher.

    $50/person

    This workshop is open to participants aged 16 and older.

  • Competent paddlers will launch from the waterfront of Camp Whitman and paddle south down the western shore of Seneca Lake to Miles Wine Cellars, where they can dock and sample some of the winery’s offerings. John DeHority, an experienced paddler and Camp Whitman’s Waterfront Director emeritus, will navigate and ensure that everyone returns to camp safely.

    Activity is dependent on weather and lake conditions; available only for those aged 21 and older. Participants must be able to walk to and from the waterfront without assistance, as well as navigate the uneven shoreline. All equipment except for water shoes provided.

    $25/person

  • The Reverend Vinod and Kavita Gnanaraj, the Pastor and First Lady of the First Presbyterian Church of Caledonia (Presbytery of Genesee Valley), will lead a group of enthusiastic foodies in preparing some of their favorite dishes from the Indian subcontinent: dosa (Indian rice crepe), coconut chutney (coconut sauce seasoned with spices and curry leaves), and chicken curry. Participants will have the opportunity to enjoy their prepared dishes at lunchtime that same day!

    $20/person

    This workshop is open to participants aged 10 and older; children between the ages of 10 and 16 must be accompanied by a caregiver.

  • Becka Fergusson-Lutz, Camp Whitman’s Assistant Director for Camp Administration, and her sister Joelle Rooney will lead a relaxed, informal time of experimenting with two of their favorite textile crafts: tie-dye and batik. Becka and Joelle will offer a primer in the Indonesian art of painting with wax-resist, then dyeing with non-toxic RIT dye. Participants should bring items of white cotton or silk to work with, although some fabric will also be provided.

    $20/person

    This activity is open to participants aged 6 and older; children between the ages of 6 and 12 must be accompanied by a caregiver.

  • “Nothing has ever been said about God that hasn’t already been said better by the wind in the pine trees,” said Thomas Merton. Join Brother Kevin Hershey for a time of contemplative walking down (literal and figurative) holy paths. Participants will take a “Sensory Walk” through the camp, ending at the Labyrinth. There, participants will have guided and self-guided options available to help employ this ancient and sacred tool to see how God is walking with us, guiding our steps forward.

    Kevin is the pastor of the Scottsville Union Presbyterian Church and Companions on the Way, a New Worshiping Community in the PC(USA). He is a New Monastic monk, contemplative, and Friend of the Northumbrian Community.

    $20/person

    This workshop is open to participants aged 10 and older; children between the ages of 10 and 16 must be accompanied by a caregiver. Participants must be able to ambulate over uneven ground, as the "Sensory Walk" will cover much of the camp's property.

  • Have you always wanted to try canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddle-boarding? Camp Whitman staff will offer a safe space to try personal watercraft. They will provide a safety orientation and coach participants through the basic techniques of these personal watercraft.

    $20/person

    Activity is dependent on weather and lake conditions, open to participants aged 10 and older. Participants must be able to walk to and from the waterfront without assistance, as well as navigate the uneven shoreline. All equipment except for water shoes provided.

  • What does it mean to truly savor something? How might we learn to rest, like God, in the beauty of the created order? How might we learn to observe the overlooked parts of our world like Jesus did? And how might we learn to savor like the Spirit through all moments that our lives provide? In this workshop, Emily Harris will help participants hone into their senses and delve into what savoring the moment looks like as an embodied spiritual practice. Participants will engage with one another through mindfulness, meditation, reflection, embodied prayer, and biblical study… developing skills to not just savor outwards, but savor inwards.

    $20/person

    Emily is a student at Princeton Theological Seminary, working toward her Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education degrees. In the summer of 2023, she served as Camp Whitman’s resident chaplain.

    This workshop is open to participants aged 14 and older.

  • In this workshop, Bruce Howard will guide participants in one of his special talents: using found objects in nature to create beautiful three-dimensional sculptural pieces. Bruce utilizes bark and branches, stones and screws to make installation art. Bruce is a former camp director and current organizational consultant specializing in team-building and problem-solving, especially in outdoor settings. All materials are included in the cost of the workshop.

    $20/person

    This workshop is open to participants aged 16 and older.

Earlier Event: May 13
Spring Volunteer Day
Later Event: September 29
Fall Harvest Fun Day