Frequently Asked Questions
This is a list of our frequently asked questions! If you still have questions left unanswered after going through this page, please contact us at campluther@campluther.org or by calling (402) 352-5655.
Registration
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Summer camp registration opens in January with our Registration Blitz. Registration is completed online using a secure web service. A $50 non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot. Full tuition and completed health forms are due two weeks before you arrive at camp.
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Yes we do!
Our Registration Blitz in January offers our best discount of the season!
An Early-Bird Discount is available if you register before February 15th.
A multi-child discount of $50 for each additional camper from the same family. (Families with 3 or more children may qualify for special pricing. Please email discipleship@campluther.org for more info).
Winners of our Art Contest receive prizes towards either their summer registration or Camp Store purchases.
Financial assistance is often available through congregations and auxiliary groups, so be sure to ask your pastor or church office about scholarships prior to registration.
If financial need persists, please see below to learn about our campership program.
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Yes, Camp Luther does have a campership program!
We believe no child should be denied a summer camp experience due to lack of funds. If you are in need of financial assistance and have already checked out the options listed in the discounts section above, we ask that you and your pastor or church worker fill out our Campership Form.
You can complete the top portion, and your pastor/church worker can fill out the rest and submit it to us. We will work with your church from there to ensure that your child is able to join us at camp this summer.
For further questions or concerns, please call the office at 402-352-5655 or email campluther@campluther.org.
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Summer camp registrations may be canceled for a refund, not including the deposit, up to two weeks before the first day of the camp being canceled.
Payment in full is due two weeks before the event to keep your reservation, and reservations are nonrefundable after that point.
Preparing for Arrival
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Please visit our "What to Bring" page.
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Camp Luther's kitchen team is equipped to adapt meals for common dietary allergies or restrictions.
If your camper has food allergies or specific dietary needs, please list them on the registration form and be as specific as you can.
Example, a peanut allergy might mean that a person cannot eat raw peanuts or peanut butter but we can still serve it in sandwiches or cookies to other guests. In an extreme case, it can also mean no contact with others who have eaten or touched peanut products. Knowing the level of severity helps us plan meal options and kitchen practices to keep your camper safe.
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All medications are collected and stored in a secure location. The exception is Inhalers, Epi-pens and similar items requiring immediate action - these are kept in the care of your camper's Counselor or activity leader.
Medications are dispensed at meal times and at bed time by our Camp Medic, or by a designated, trained staff member. Medications dispensed outside of these times should be discussed at Check-in so that they are not overlooked.
Owl Night Medications may be dispensed on an "opposite" schedule (since their "Breakfast" is at 12:00 pm and "Dinner" is at 12:00 am - yes, midnight!). You may need to discuss this with your child's physician and our Camp Staff in advance to determine the best time to dispense certain medications.
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Safety is important to us at Camp Luther, and we take great measures to ensure that every camper is having a safe experience.
Every full-time staff member, summer leadership team member, and camp counselor is trained in First Aid and CPR.
Medications are dispensed by a Camp Medic, or a trained, designated member of our leadership team.
We enforce the Rule of Three, ensuring that no camper is ever alone or without a member of staff close by. During waterfront and at large group games we use the Buddy System and hold regular buddy checks and cabin role calls to confirm that everyone is accounted for.
Trained lifeguards watch over swim time. Campers must pass a swim test or wear a PFD to swim in the deeper water. A trained team member supervises Boats. Appropriately sized PFDs are mandated for every child going out in a canoe, kayak, or pedal boat.
Our TIP Challenge Course, archery, campfires, off-site trips (Teen Camp), and other activities with potential risk are led by qualified, trained staff members. Every effort is taken to reduce or eliminate risk factors during these activities.
We have tornado shelters and storm shelters on camp. Our facilities and kitchen receive regular inspections and maintenance.
All staff are trained in our an emergency response plans. Our leadership team carries cell phones for instant communication and weather updates. Our leadership team and summer staff all carry and maintain radios for communication, especially the case of an emergency or in locations where cell service may not be available.
Questions about Camp Luther’s emergency action plans can be directed to discipleship@campluther.org - please ask in advance, rather than seeking immediate answers during a potential crisis.
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Camp Luther’s Leadership Team includes full-time staff members and summer leadership positions.
Camp’s programs are lead by our Director of Discipleship. Our Executive Director oversees all camp operations, and leadership is also provided by our Maintenance Director and Engagement Director.
Camp Luther also employs a Summer Leadership Team.
Our Program Managers provide leadership and supervision to campers, Counselors, and other summer staff.
Our Camp Medic dispenses medications and provides medical care as needed.
Our Head Chef oversees the Kitchen and addresses any special dietary needs. They provide supervision to our kitchen team and to any staff or volunteers who assist in providing food service.
Our Media Technician is your eyes for the week, taking photos of camp activities and sharing them with you through our online photo album. They provide an extra set of eyes/hands at activities and provide help where it is needed.
Camp Life
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Week-long campers can plan to spend about $12 in snacks. Explorer campers can plan to spend $3.
Campers do not need to carry money with them. Our team keeps a tally sheet for each camper listing what they can spend, based on what you add to their account at Registration (online) or at Check-in.
Campers visit our Snack Shack each day to purchase snack items or a soda. Snack items include candy, cookies, chips, or snow cones, depending on current supplies.
The Camp Store is open Sunday and Friday during Check-In and Check-Out. Each camp group also has an opportunity to visit the Camp Store once during their week.
Remaining Camp Store Funds over $10 are refunded at the end of your camper’s stay. Most families tend to donate anything below that, or spend it on snacks for the trip home.
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Camp Luther does not permit campers to bring electronic devices to camp or to carry them during camp activities. This growing list includes, but is not limited to:
Cell phones
Tablets
MP3 players
Smart watches
Portable video games
Portable DVD, BlueRay and similar devices
“Found” electronics are given to the care of our leadership team and returned to you at Check-Out. Our staff does not search camper belongings, but these devices tend to surface on their own.
Please help us provide your child with their best possible camp experience. In our many years of running youth camps, we have seen that children receive better camp experiences if they “unplug” and leave some things at home for the week. There is also a higher risk of damaging or losing this expensive equipment while at camp.
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We have several ways for you to send some love to your camper during their camp session. Please visit Contact Your Camper next!
Camp Luther’s phone number is 402-352-5655
If our team is out of the office, please email discipleship@campluther.org and our Discipleship Director will respond at the first available opportunity.
If you prefer to leave a cell-phone at camp for your child, please give it to a team member at Check-in, as you would with medications. These items are kept in a secure place by our team and returned at Check-out.
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The following are examples of when Camp Luther might contact a child’s parent or guardian.
Extreme weather updates may be posted on our Facebook page when our campers are safe and calling every parent in a timely manner would be difficult. Please be patient - our first priority is the safety and care of our on-site guests and staff.
A courtesy call may be received in situations where a parent or guardian may be concerned if they are not informed of the situation before the end of their participant's program, but where the participant can remain at camp.
Minor injuries or bruising, especially on the face or arms, where the injury does not detract from their experience but seeing it may cause alarm, especially if it showed up on our online photo album.
Consistent homesickness, especially if it results in symptoms like headaches or stomach aches, or when other methods to care for and console the camper are not effective.
Parents and Guardians may receive a call for behavior issues, such as a child being hit by (or hitting) another participant.
Any injury or illness the Program Director deems important enough to give a call home.
Note: Parents will not receive a call for minor incidents - scrapes, bruises, minor burns from campfire building, insect stings, lost tooth from natural causes, muscle soreness or simple first aid situations. The Camp Medic or a trained team member will provide care, and Parents will be notified of these incidents when their camper is picked-up.
For moderate injuries, illness or behaviors.
During daylight hours (8:00 am to 8:00 pm), our leadership team or camp medic may call to discuss your preferred treatment of a situation. We may ask for advice, or perhaps request that the camper return home.
Ongoing head-aches, stomach aches or illness.
Visible bruising accompanied with constant or reoccurring pain, or concerns of a deeper injury.
Extreme behaviors of physical or verbal aggression towards self or others.
Circumstances where an injury/illness is detracting from the value of the participant’s experience.
During nighttime hours (8:00 pm to 8:00 am), Our leadership team and camp medic will care for your camper as they require and attempt to keep them comfortable through the night. Parents or guardians will be notified of the incident and care received the following morning.
A call home may still be made if a situation worsens, based on the judgement of our leadership staff.
For serious incidents requiring emergency care, the parent or guardian will be contacted at the first possible moment, following any immediate care required by the camper. This may include calls to alternate emergency contacts if the child's primary caregiver cannot be reached.
A sustained temperature over 104.0˚F (Reads high twice over a 20-minute period).
A request for an x-ray to determine between a sprain or a break.
Severe allergic reactions or vomiting.
The call to a parent or guardian will be made if a situation requires EMS care or a hospital visit. Often a program leader will call you while the camp medic or another team member provides care, to shorten any delays in communication.
Questions about Camp Luther’s emergency action plans can be directed to discipleship@campluther.org - please ask in advance, rather than seeking immediate answers during a potential crisis.
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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 table during Check-Out 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 are donated at the end of the summer.
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R&R is a time for campers to rest before their afternoon activities, and usually lasts about 20 minutes.
Many campers use this time for a quick nap, but it is not required. Others bring a book to read, write letters and stories, draw pictures or bring other quiet, restful activity options that will not disturb the other campers.
Electronic recreation (cell phones, tablets, etc.) will not be an option.
TAWG Time (Time Alone With God) is a daily activity where campers (and their counselor) take 20-30 minutes to spend personal time in the Word of God. Campers can read their Bibles, journal about the day’s devotions or Bible Study, or just sit and pray while surrounded by God’s Creation.
Camp has extra Bibles available for campers who forget to pack one. Please do NOT pack a Bible with personal significance (Confirmation Bible or family heirlooms) to avoid loss or damage due to time in the outdoors.
Growing Camp Luther
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It takes many helping hands for Camp Luther to run our summer programs. Volunteer options include
Be a His Kids Camp Buddy! We average 25 campers per session and aim for a 1:1 camper to volunteer ratio.
Church Worker of the Week
Pastors, DCEs, DCMs, Deaconesses, teachers, or missionaries of our LCMS partner churches, schools, camps, or RSOs.
Nurse of the Week
Future Leaders (for high school students)
Grounds-keeping, Maintenance or Kitchen
Camp promoter to your home congregation or community
…and more!
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!
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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.
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Camp Luther offers Tiered Pricing because of generous donors who partner with us to reduce the true cost of camp for campers and families who might not otherwise be able to attend.
All campers receive the SAME camp experience regardless of what families pay. Families are encouraged to pick the tier that best fits their situation, without any obligations.
By choosing a higher tier at registration - as you are able - you take an active role in supporting the true cost of your child’s camp experience, which enables us to direct those gifts to support other areas of need.
Offering tiered pricing to our campers is one way we try to live out 2 Cor 8:14 - “Your abundance at the present time [can] supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need.” Ultimately, Camp Luther exists to glorify God by creating and renewing disciples, and this is one way we can make camp available to any child who wants to attend.
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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.Share your camp experiences and stories on social media! Following our posts and liking/commenting or leaving a review helps too.
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.
Guide your friends and family to our website and online brochure.
Share our Church Resources on your church slide shows or bulletin boards.
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.