Families will sometimes contact such centers for permission to to spread someone’s ashes on their property.
Those life-changing experiences guests and campers have in the context of the Presbyterian Church Camp and Conference Association ministries are so powerful that many wish to have their earthly remains spend eternity with their earthly memories. Ghost Ranch has developed a formal columbarium, providing families a way to leave a memorial plaque while also collecting some revenue to maintain the facility. At Makemie Woods Camp and Conference Center, a building was named in memory of a summer staff member who died several years ago, and his ashes were cast into the water.
In recent years, “alternative green burials” have been growing in popularity. The overwhelming cost of the traditional burial in a cemetery, along with the growing concern for the environment and land use, have led many to question this practice. Ecologically-minded people are considering cremation at a minimum, or burial in biodegradable caskets in natural places. Another of these alternatives is the EcoEternity Forest. Cremated remains are buried in a biodegradable urn at the dripline of a selected tree. As the urn dissolves, the nutrients from the remains are absorbed into the tree, which becomes a living memorial. A small plaque is placed on the tree, away from foot traffic. There are no plastic flowers or teddy bears. The forest is otherwise left in a completely natural state, and used for whatever purposes the camp has always used it. The EcoEternity concept is very popular in Europe. Now one in every three people who dies in Germany is interred at an EcoEternity forest.
Jack Lowe, president and co-founder of EcoEternity Forest LLC, approached Makemie Woods with this concept in November 2007. If Makemie Woods, located in Lanexa, Va., near Williamsburg, would be interested in designating two acres as a memorial forest, EcoEternity would do all the marketing and publicity, handle all inquiries, process all contracts. Because the trees are leased, not sold, the deed to the property remains with the camp. The leases are for 99 years, which protects the forest from clear cutting or development for at least a century. All revenues would be split evenly between Makemie Woods and EcoEternity. The potential revenue from the first two acres could be as much as $250,000.
The Makemie Woods committee was very resistant at first. What if Presbytery of Eastern Virginia wanted to sell the camp? What about security? How much time would “tree tours” take away from the MW staff? How much would the camp need to invest? This was a new concept, what if it didn’t take off and the land was encumbered for only a few trees?
After three months of meetings and research, Rick Dawson (director of Camp Highroad, a UMC camp and the first EcoEternity forest in the U.S.) spoke with the committee. There were many financial and ecological issues involved in considering opening the memorial forest. He indicated that other than signage and the encumbrance of the land, the investment was less than $1,000 to prepare the camp. Dawson told about leasing a tree for his own family. His stepdaughter died in a car accident, and now his wife visits their tree as a way of reflecting on her life. This could be a ministry consistent with the vision and mission of Makemie Woods.
Last April, the Presbytery voted in favor of the concept, and on October 5 the Makemie Woods Memorial Forest was consecrated. The camp received press coverage in the large metropolitan, as well as local, newspapers, and was mentioned on an ABC news feature. The camp staff has received messages from church members along the lines of, “Oh I saw that great article and I am so glad you are offering the memorial forest.” In this economy, others have commented on the forest as an affordable and meaningful burial option.
So far Makemie Woods has committed to eight leases, and performed one interment. Staff time spent in “tree tours” has been less than 15 hours. Camp Highroad opened their EcoEternity forest one November, and the next summer, their program grew by 18%.
A camp can host a memorial forest without partnering with an outside organization, especially if the forest is specifically for people who have a connection with the camp, such as the Ghost Ranch model. The camp would assume all responsibility for the legal transactions, marketing, and record keeping. The EcoEternity partnership is proving to be a viable way to create an alternate revenue source and valuable ministry while conserving precious forest and using minimal staff resources.
More information about EcoEternity and the Makemie Woods forest can be found at www.ecoeternity.com.
Mike Burcher is director of Makemie Woods Camp and Conference Center in Lanexa, Va.
