Fall Camp 2026
October 19 – 22
Fall Camp is a four day adult conference hosted by the Tri-Diocesan Council on Aging and sponsored by the three Episcopal dioceses in Virginia — the Dioceses of Virginia, Southwestern Virginia, and Southern Virginia. It is held on a Monday through Thursday in late October each year at Shrine Mont Conference Center, in Orkney Springs, Virginia. More information on Shrine Mont itself is available at shrinemont.com.
Fall Camp is an opportunity to relax in the mountains of Virginia with other, mostly retired, seniors (But we don’t have an age limit!) from across the Commonwealth and beyond. It can be an oasis on your spiritual journey by providing a break from the busyness of modern life. It can broaden your spiritual horizons through the insights of our keynote and other speakers. It can stimulate your spiritual imagination through workshops, worship, and private conversations.
A typical day at Fall Camp includes worship, fellowship at mealtimes, sessions with speakers that challenge and entertain us, opportunities to participate in one or two workshop sessions on a wide variety of topics, and informal late evening get-togethers for conversation and the occasional card game. The “happy half-hour” before dinner each evening is a time for greeting longtime friends and meeting new ones. Part of the fun of this half hour is sampling the delightful finger foods donated by participants for enjoyment with wine or non-alcoholic beverages. Giving us an idea of what you might bring is helpful to avoid excessive duplication.
Folk theologian Ed Kilbourne, a Fall Camp institution, entertains us, leads us in song, and tells amazing and occasionally irreverent stories.
In addition to the scheduled activities, there is plenty of time to sit on the porches, visit with friends, relax, enjoy the amazing scenery, and explore the area.
Costs for 2026:
Double Occupancy Housing:
Single Occupancy Housing:
Commuter: No housing, limited meals
$320.00
$425.00
$240.00
NOTE: Commuter registration includes Happy Half-Hour, dinner, and the Ballroom session on Monday evening, all sessions plus Happy Half-Hour, lunch and dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Ballroom session only on Thursday morning. Housing, breakfasts, and lunch on Thursday are NOT included.
Registration will begin August 1 and end October 12. Please visit the Register page on this site to learn how to register.
If you would like to receive email notifications about Fall Camp, please use the form at the bottom of this page.
Keynote Speaker:
The Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas,
Canon Theologian at the National Cathedral
The Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas is the Canon Theologian at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. In 2017, she was named Dean of Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and in 2019, she was appointed to the Bill and Judith Moyers Chair in Theology at Union. Kelly is considered a leader in the fields of womanist theology, racial reconciliation, social justice, and sexuality and the Black church.
Prior to joining the Cathedral and EDS at Union, she was the Susan D. Morgan Professor of Religion at Goucher College in Baltimore. Previously, she was Associate Professor of Theology at Howard University School of Divinity (1987-2001) and Assistant Professor of Religion at Edward Waters College (1986-1987).
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Dr. Douglas was one of the first 10 Black women to be ordained a priest in the Episcopal Church. She was an Associate Priest at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. for more than 20 years.
She holds a degree from Denison University and a Master of Divinity and Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary. Her most recent books are Resurrection Hope: A Future Where Black Lives Matter, released in October 2021, and Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God, released in May 2015, both by Orbis Books. She splits her time between New York and Washington.
In December 2022, she was announced as the 2023 winner for the Grawemeyer Award for Resurrection Hope, one of the most prestigious prizes in religion, given by the University of Louisville and Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Folk Theologian: Ed Kilbourne
A Fall Camp perennial favorite, Ed is a folk theologian known for his collections of moving music, quirky humor, and insightful monologues. He has earned a reputation as one of America’s cutting edge religious communicators, offering his teaching in story and song. Ed combines acoustic guitar, singing and commentary. Ed also offers a half hour devotional each morning before breakfast. To read more about Ed, go to www.edkilbourne.com.
Chaplain: The Rt. Rev. Martin Townsend
Martin is a retired Bishop of the Diocese of Easton, Maryland. He was born in England and emigrated to the United States in 1957. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Central New York in 1969, serving as Rector in several parishes. In 1992 he was consecrated Bishop of The Diocese of Easton, where he served until his retirement in 2001. Martin loves teaching and has shown us fascinating insights into scripture and poetry as well as leading us in worship.
2026 Outreach Project:
Tabasamu Oral Health Initiative
Please bring toothbrushes, toothpaste, and dental floss to Fall Camp for donation to this project.
The work of the initiative is to provide oral health education programs in schools of the Rift Valley of Kenya, from kindergarten through university. The project is building a foundation of oral health to help prevent oral health problems that could contribute to other illnesses in the future. The project team visits the schools every four months to provide new toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss.
To learn more about the Tabamasu Oral Health Initiative, visit https://tabasamtoto.org.
Fall Camp 2026 Brochure:
Click here to view and download the Fall Camp 2026 brochure.
Click here for instructions on how to print and fold the brochure.
To Learn More About Fall Camp:
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