Designing an outdoor meditation space.

You've probably felt the sense of spirituality that comes from the outdoors . . . the awe and wonder at the enormity, intricacy, and beauty of the natural world. Many children and teenagers find their first personal sense of spirituality in the outdoors. A sense of place in the universe and of being a part of something greater than oneself is a gift all people should have the opportunity to experience.

Your facility can help support campers' and guests' spiritual growth by providing an area just for this purpose. An outdoor chapel, a place of inspiration, or a spot for meditation will emphasize how serious your guests perceive your commitment to serving their needs. This spot could be an elaborate outdoor place of worship. It could be a bench strategically placed at an inspirational view. It could be an alcove of a nature center with a window, a bench, and some books of poetry. However you see this place fitting into the mission of your organization, certain common ingredients can't help but add to the depth of your guests' experiences.

Creating a Focus

In everyday life, the senses are bombarded by overlapping stimuli that keep you from thinking about deeper issues. If you can block some of this "noise," the breathing room created can be a wonderful contrast for both kids and adults. This focus is the most important element in a place of inspiration. Creating focus involves a peaceful journey, auditory stimulation, a great destination, and an inviting environment for thought.

Please come

First, there's the invitation. In most cases, your guests are usually looking for things to do. Put up a nice sign pointing the way to your meditation spot. After all, if you don't advertise, you won't get many visitors. Include the spot on your site map, and list it as an option on your daily schedule. Discuss it's construction in your newsletter.

A peaceful path

The area leading up to your inspirational spot should create a bridge to the separate place and prepare the visitor for the possibility of a spiritual experience. If guests aren't "warmed up," they could waste their visit or ruin it for someone else. Architects call the approach a sequence of experiences. It can be a defined pathway that is different from any other pathway at your center. Maybe it's lined with large rocks; cut through a dense piece of woods; or planted with new trees on either side. Maybe it's paved or goes over a bridge. The longer the approach, the better. The more contrast, the better.

For an example of an effective approach, think about a great church. The steeple is an invitation. The approach includes entering through impressive doors and going through a low-ceilinged narthex before suddenly emerging into the nave, or main place of worship.

The photographic experience

A great destination has the quality of being such a perfect view that people grab for their cameras. Think of a national park, and one with a classic view often comes to mind. A great view, more than anything else, can create the focus and separation you're looking for. The view doesn't necessarily have to be of a distant mountain. Japanese gardens are known for focusing the visitor's view at internal objects: plants, rocks, water, and icons. What focuses your attention on a good view is most often the frame around the view, such as trees, fences, and gateways. Trim trees to hold your view in from the sides and keep your eyes from straying upward.

Soothing the auditory senses

Sound can help with focus, too. The lack of it could be most unique! But if that's not possible, sounds from nature could be used to hide the outside world. Construct a fountain or waterfall. Plant tall ornamental grasses that make a soothing sound when the wind blows. Attract birds with appropriate

plants and feeders. If you're indoors, play tapes of nature sounds.

Smell also has a powerful impact on emotions and memory, but is more difficult to control.

Come, sit down

Comfortable seats at the destination will be a welcome sight. Kids will sit, if even briefly, and look at the view you intended. Adults will sit longer, and if time permits, start the mediation and relaxation that will deeply affect them.

A log with the top flattened can provide a sufficient seat. But to be truly useful in affording a place for adults to think, a seat with a back is important.

Provide inspiration

Provide tools, such as inspirational messages or small quotes, for guests to use as a catalyst for focus. In a place of worship, a minister or rabbi would provide the tools of prayer and song or an inspirational story. At your meditation spot, an inspirational plaque at the entrance can get people thinking. An inscription on an alter, small inspirational quotes at each seat, or a mailbox with printed devotional readings, prayers, and hymns will start and focus spiritual thinking.

Recognize donors

Enlist the help of volunteers and donors to enhance the meditation site, and include dedications to them. This will pay for improvements and be a wonderful gift for donors by providing them with a vehicle to exercise their faith. They often come back year after year to see the bench they built or the alter they paid for. This also provides children a lesson in charity.

A closing thought

And finally, a benediction. Upon leaving, you want your guests to be rewarded for their journey with a pat on the back, a blessing, or a closing thought. This can be as simple as a plaque thanking them for visiting or a printed traditional benediction at the exit. It could be an environmental call to action or words of hope. At the very least, it should be a concern that the path back is as pretty as the pathway in.

By providing a unique sensory experience for your guests, you give them the opportunity to experience the spirituality of the outdoors and find a moment of peace in their lives. After all, the real test of whether you've done your job well is what people internalize and take home with them.

Gary Forster is vice president, camping, of the Greater Hartford YMCA and executive director of YMCA Camp Jewell. He is the author of "Organizing with Story Boards," which appeared in the March/April issue of Camping Magazine.

"Idea Corner" is open to anyone who has innovative ideas or management solutions to share. If you would like to contribute, please send an article to: "Idea Corner," Camping Magazine, 5000 State Road 67 North, Martinsville, IN 46151-7902. Published writers receive three copies of the magazine in which their article appears.