Camp Luther runs several Group Events throughout the year:

• Outdoor Education (Sept)

• Jr Youth Retreats (Oct)

• Confirmation Retreats (March)

Specific Group Registration Forms can be found on each event’s web page. A representative of your church/group will complete and submit this as directed.

Forms and questions can also be directed to discipleship@campluther.org

Camp Luther currently offered two Adult Retreats:

• Woodcutters Man Camp (February)

• Women’s Retreat (November)

Details for registering for these events can be found on their info pages.

Please see our Custom Retreats page for info on creating your own retreat. You can also email discipleship@campluther.org

To register as a participant for your group’s Custom Retreat, please contact your event coordinator.

Camp events have a Group Registration Form. Please complete and return this to us as soon as possible.

We provide two additional forms for camp events. Please DO NOT print these front to back when providing them to campers and families.

Camp Luther asks that each participant complete a General Risk and Photo Use Waiver. It works best if your event coordinator collects these and turns them in upon arrival at camp.

Camp provides you with a Health Information Sheet. This is the one we use for summer campers, and it is available for you to use if you don’t already collect this info from your participants. Camp Luther DOES NOT need this information, and these forms should stay with your group leader during the event, in case of an emergency.

For Custom Retreats, use of our General Risk and Photo Use Waiver may be recommended or required. Please see your Event Contract for specific details.

• A waiver is strongly recommended for custom retreats where youth (age 18 and under) participate in activities led by camp staff, especially at times when your adults might step away from the group.

• A waiver is required for custom retreats that include elements of TIP Team Building, either for field activities or our challenge course.

• Our staff reserves the right to request participant waivers for other circumstances. This request will be made in advance, as we discuss the details of your custom retreat and before your group arrives.

One goal of our Group Events is to provide youth from smaller churches or schools with opportunities to interact with other Christians their age.

We have served groups as small as three - two youth and a chaperone.

It helps if you reach out to our Discipleship Director in advance. That helps us plan activities, and if needed to help arrange a partnership with another group for housing or supervision assistance.

This is a rare question, but it’s valid. Camp Luther can house about 84 during our seasonal retreats. Registration is first come, first served, but we have the experience and creativity to fit groups in if they are flexible.

Please contact our Discipleship Director about this. We are open to hosting additional retreats beyond our own schedule to accommodate larger groups. You could also consider working with us to create a Custom Retreat that matches the needs and goals of your group.

If you are part of a church youth group that does not currently attend our events, ask your pastor or youth leader to consider bringing your group.

If you are not part of a church youth group, the first step would be to contact your local LCMS Lutheran Church and ask if they are attending a Camp event and if you can join them.

If neither of these options work, please email discipleship@campluther.organd ask for options. Perhaps we can connect you with a group that is already attending or find another way to help you attend the event.

Camp Luther provides bunk style cabins with heating/air conditioning. Indoor restrooms and showers are located in our Lodge and Cabins, but not in our treehouses.

Participants should plan to bring a pillow and either twin sheets and a blanket, or a sleeping bag.

See our Packing List for additional ideas of what to bring for a weekend retreat.

Our primary expectation for Chaperones is to supervise your youth. We recommend bringing at least one chaperone for each cabin (boys and girls), and for larger groups at least one for every 10-12 youth.

During camp events, your adults are responsible for supervising your youth, even when our team is leading an activity or session. We recommend at least one adult attend each activity alongside your youth. This is not required, and you can discuss with our team how to best care for the needs of both you and your participants.

Activity Sessions are often led by a team member or guest speaker. This typically require little support and allow your adults to observe or interact with your youth outside of a “leadership” role.

Archery Range. We ask that one adult be present with our staff during archery to supervise youth when they are not actively participating.

Group Choice or School Choice activities may be led by our team or by your adults, depending on the activity chosen, the number of staff we have at an event, and the number of groups choosing activities.

Boats and Waterfront activities. Your adults are responsible for supervising your youth during these activities. Boats is often staff led, and they may fill the role by habit, but youth remain in your care during this time. Beach use during retreats is swim at your own risk, following our guidelines.

During Cabin Time or Congregation Time, your group is under the supervision of your adults. This includes meals, transition times, evening activities, and times where activities are not specifically scheduled.

Archery is led by a camp staff member and we ask that one adult be present to supervise youth not actively participating.

If a second adult is available, our staff can explain Hatchet Throwing to your participants and your second adult can run that event simultaneously.

Boats. Most often, camp staff will lead or give directions to a boating group. This ensures that the equipment is used safely and respectfully, and to help put everything away properly so it is ready for the next group. PFDs are required for anyone boating on the lake. You are responsible for supervision of your campers, including those on the water - although any lifeguard on staff will probably assist in that role out of habit. Tipping boats and swimming near the boat launch is discouraged. Please do not allow campers to jump off of the dock.

Beach and Swim Area. Our lake is swim at your own risk, following specific guidelines. At least two adults must be present at all times, with one acting as a Lookout for swimmers, and the other to provide supervision. Swimming is at the beach, and swimmers should avoid going too deep or near any boats. Letting swimmers cross the lake to Calvary is up to the discretion of your adults. We discourage swimming by the Boat Launch, but we can mark of swimming and boating areas if necessary to keep your campers together and safe. PFDs for less confident swimmers are usually available upon request.

Lake Safety. The blue metal cage and floating aerators are required to keep our lake clean and healthy. Please keep your youth away from these areas.

Camp Luther’s snack policy adapts to the needs of our groups.

We recommend that snacks be eaten in our dining hall or outside, to reduce the chance for spills or crumbs in our bunk areas. Some group leaders collect everything in a common location, and others permit campers to keep their own snacks. We just ask - whatever method best serves your group - that your campers and group do their best to keep food items cleaned up and stored properly to avoid visits from little forest critters during or after your stay.

Our Camp Store can be opened upon request of your group. We stock limited food items, however it is always fun to return home with a new Camp T-Shirt, stickers or other “SWAG” items.

Most often, this is scheduled in advance, or during Check-out time on the last day of an event. This allows leaders or parents the option to collect and hold onto any cash during the event so campers do not have to worry about carrying and potentially losing it. Camp is not responsible for any misplaced cash.

If possible, helping your camper unplug during their camp experience is always the best option.

Use of cell phones and electronics during your retreat is left to the decision and preference of your group leaders. Some leaders schedule time for their youth to check in with family and friends. Some leaders collect devices, while others ask that the devices are left in the bunk rooms outside of schedule use times.

We ask that electronic devices be put away during Camp-led events. Taking the occasional photo during activity times is acceptable, but calls or other use - especially during safety briefs or instruction - can negatively impact the experience for everyone. Our team reserves the right to ask that a device be put away, or to remove a participant from an activity, if their electronics use becomes a risk to themselves or to others.

Camp staff WILL NOT share WiFi access with participants. Access can be provided to adult leaders and to chaperones upon request. Your leaders may chose to provide that info to their campers if desired, and are responsible for supervising any online activity.

Camp is not responsible for lost or broken equipment, or for charging a device’s battery if the power cord is forgotten.

Camp Luther collects the items lost each week. Our team does its best to return these items to their owners while they are still at camp. Be sure to check your camper’s bunk area and our Lost & Found in Gerwick Lodge to confirm that you have everything your camper brought to camp.

Please contact our office as soon as you realize something is missing and we will do what we can to help find it for you. We generally do not keep lost underwear or socks. Unclaimed items may be donated after a sufficient period of time.

Our goal is to provide adult leaders with the time they need to rest - our camp retreats are for you too - but we will never turn down an offer to help.

Ways you can help include:

• Coordinating cleaning efforts with your youth in the dining hall and cabins - sweeping, washing tables, picking up unused items or trash.

• Assist in the kitchen with meal prep or clean-up.

• If your group has a cookout, you can offer to build or watch a campfire.

• If your group is supervised and you have extra chaperones or someone looking for something to do, you can ask if we have any small projects available around camp. Most take some prep time, but depending on the time of year we may have something ready to go.

Yes! Camp Luther is blessed by the help of our many volunteers.

Visit www.campluther.org/volunteer to learn more. Volunteers must be willing to submit to a background check. We hope you will prayerfully consider joining our team!

Yes, we actually have two versions on our Wishlist page.

One is a running list of bigger ticket items or regular camp supply purchases.

The second is an Amazon Wish List. Items here range from the nuts and bolts that keep Camp running (or art supplies, guitar strings, replacement tools… you get the idea) to one-off items for a particular project or camp improvement. This list is always changing, so please return as you are able and consider how you can effortlessly support Camp Luther’s ongoing projects the next time you are shopping for online deals.

1. Pray, pray, PRAY!
   For safety of our guests and staff. That God would raise up leaders to serve. That God might reveal Himself through the time campers spent here.

2. Share your camp experiences and stories on social media! Following our posts and liking/commenting or leaving a review helps too.

3. Share a written or video quote or story with us. If you loved your camp experience, your testimonial can encourage others who would enjoy similar experiences to attend.

4. Guide your friends and family to our website and online brochure.

5. Share our Church Resources on your church slide shows or bulletin boards.

6. Provide feedback. Did you experience something that could have been better? Please reach out and let us know how we can improve in the future.