The Camp Luther Log

Before joining the staff team at Camp Luther, I didn’t have much experience with camp in the winter, but the one time I did will forever remain a favorite memory.  It was my senior year of high school. Our small youth group loaded up my Aunt’s SUV (she was also our youth leader) to start on the four-hour drive to Camp Luther for the Sub Zero Youth Retreat. A few of us had been to camp in the summer, and for everyone else this was their first Camp Luther experience ever! Along with trying to get some homework done, our ride was filled with lots of laughs and licorice. We arrived, got settled in, and sang some favorite camp songs during devotions, before plunging into our first winter activity: night tubing!  Enjoying camp's tubing runs at night Saturday morning, we broke into small groups for Bible study and talked about who God is to us and who the Bible says he is. Later that morning everyone hit the ice for some broomball! It was Team Colby Cheese versus Team Cottage Che

We’re excited to be offering FOUR new programs at Camp Luther this summer! Sailing Camp This is a 5-night program for 6th-8th graders that teaches you how to sail over the course of the week. Under the instruction of an adult with extensive sailing experience, you’ll learn how to ride the wind and waves! Sailing Camp is a “Choose Your Own Adventure” camp, which means you’ll still be able to participate in many of your favorite youth camp activities (swimming, angleball, all-camp games, devotions, etc.), but each day you’ll also spend several hours practicing your sailing skills and having a blast on the water. Campers in this program should be comfortable in the water.  Quest This is a 5-night program for 7th-9th graders focused on adventure! Quest campers will participate in off-site adventure trips during the day, such as mountain biking, river canoeing, and high ropes challenges. Quest groups will return to Camp Luther in the evening to spend time relaxing and hanging out as a

Clay & Louise Reisler, Camp Luther's Volunteers of the Year Congratulations to Clay and Louise Reisler, Camp Luther’s 2016 Volunteers of the Year!  “Gator” and “Weezy” met at Camp Luther in 1992 while serving on the Camp Luther Summer Staff.   That commitment to serving, which flows from their faith in Jesus Christ, has continued to be a part of their purpose and vision as a family.   Last fall Clay and Louise agreed to serve as the chairs of the 70th Anniversary Alumni Staff Reunion. Their leadership was instrumental in the success of that event.  Consistent meetings and coordination took place with an alumni staff as part of a planning committee from areas all over the county. In previous years, the Reislers have organized Thrivent Service Teams to assist with maintenance projects, and were regular volunteers at our annual 5k trail run.  Louise has served on strategic planning committees in the past, and Clay is a member of the Camp Luther Advisory Council. Clay and

A summer spent working at camp immerses you in a community where you get to explore together what it means to love Jesus and love like Jesus. It’s kingdom ministry that’s intense, and deep, and life changing. Camp Luther is just one of 24 NLOMA (National Lutheran Outdoors Ministry Association) camps that are located around the country. For more information, or to learn how to apply, visit www.campluther.com/summerstaff . To request an application, visit www.nloma.org/request.html Those chosen to serve can expect to grow professionally and spiritually. Many life-long friendships were born during summers at Camp Luther. This is the hardest job you'll ever love. Here is what past staff members say about their summer(s) at Camp Luther: "Working at Camp taught me how to be a leader. It's more than just teaching kids how to play Gaga Ball, or making sure no one gets lost (though these are important). I've learned that to lead others, you have to lead yourself. Being

My family (husband Aaron, seven year old daughter Samantha and our chocolate lab Caddie) moved here a year ago from Eau Claire.  We love living in the Northwoods; enjoying the outdoors and being close to family. I worked the last 8 years in government administration; working on projects, budgets and HR. I am excited to be a part of the Camp Luther team as the Business and Finance Manager!

If you’ve called Camp Luther or walked into the Welcome Center within the last 13 years, you’ve likely talked to her. Most people call her MaryAnn, but her camp name, Welcome, is very fitting as she greets everyone with a smile and answers their questions so they feel at home. She is Camp Luther’s Administrative Assistant, and is an integral part to things running smoothly. She completes countless tasks, from working extensively with camper registrations, to answering and directing incoming phone calls, to making sure the office supplies stay stocked. This November, she’ll have her last day in the office – and in the Northwoods – as she and her husband move to Florida! We asked Welcome for her most memorable moment behind the desk at Camp Luther, and she was quick to laugh and retell a story involving winter and a slippery parking lot… Woody and I were at the front desk one winter, and looked out the window to see Pierre, the Facility Maintenance Manager at the time, driving d

Hello! My name is Sojo, and I’m thrilled to join the Camp Luther full-time staff as Program and Communications Manager! I call the very small town of Clear Lake, Wisconsin my hometown, but am enjoying settling into my new home in the Northwoods. When someone asks me how I’ve come to work at Camp or how long I’ve been working here, I have to laugh a little. My journey here is full of twists and turns, and different positions, but I can see God working in all of it. As I grew up, Camp Luther had a clear impact on my social and spiritual life as I participated in youth camps, IMPACT, and youth retreats. Some of my biggest “aha” faith moments happened during Camp Luther programming. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication in May 2014. During the summer of 2015 I served as Camp Luther’s Congregational Day Camp Coordinator. That fall I continued at camp, but in the position of Program Assistant. In April 2016, I came back o

It began with a vision that every child in the North Wisconsin District should have the opportunity to go to camp.   District and camp leaders knew from decades of summer camp ministry that the Camp Luther experience has a significant impact in the faith development of children fortunate enough to attend. A vision began to take shape. What if, through the assistance of others who believe in the mission of Camp Luther, we could provide the opportunity for hundreds of children to attend each summer at no cost to their family? Now 10 years later, through your support and prayers, more than 2000 children have come to Camp Luther through Every Kid to Camp! The vision of Every Kid to Camp has grown as congregations and individuals have used the ministry to reach out to those in their communities who don’t know Christ. Each year 300 children come to Camp Luther for the very first time at no cost to their family. We are careful not to refer to Every Kid to Camp as ‘free.” It’s a gift of

Congratulations Dr. Rick and Ruth Steinke of Green Bay, WI, the 2015 Camp Luther Volunteers of the Year! Rick and Ruth’s passion for the mission and ministry of Camp Luther has been evident in their decades of service to camp and the North Wisconsin District.  Rick and Ruth (Winter) both attended Camp Luther briefly as children. Their interest grew as they served on the Camp Luther summer staff in 1964-1966; Rick as the summer Camp Director.  They passed on their passion for camp to their children Robin and Renae who both served as Junior Counselors and summer counselors in the 1990s; Robin also later on the Camp Luther year-round staff. In the early 1990s, Rick was elected to the North Wisconsin District Board of Finance.  He served continually on district boards through 2011, always with a special passion caring for the district’s camp. In 1999-2001, Rick and Ruth served as chairs of the Entrusted with Treasure campaign which raised approximately $2 million for t

A little over a year ago, my family took a leap of faith that brought us to Eagle River as my husband became the Assistant Principal at the High School, and is now the Middle School Principal. God wrapped his arms around us and showed us how this is where we belong. I have been married since 1997 to the most wonderful man,  Dan ; and we have three wonderful boys, Harmon who has a passion for Bass Fishing and Hockey, Gaige who is full of adventure and loves hockey and baseball, and Danny Jr who brings excitement to every day. Some days it seems like a dream, but then I know it is all part of God's plan to be able to live on a lake, close to the hockey rink and be surrounded by so many people who really enjoy life and treat others with so much love. I played basketball through college, love to fish, hike, play in the lakes and spend time with family. My passion for veterans, seniors and youth has brought me many opportunities and my love for the outdoors, nature, and helping o

Hello everyone, my name is Kardia!  I’m a native Wisconsinite who grew up in a family that loved me and loved Jesus and showed me what it looks like to follow Him. Regarding my choice of careers, my mom always tells me that she’s happy I’ve found people to go on adventures with—it means she doesn’t have to! I got my foot into the camp world in 2009, when I spent my summer working as a counselor at a camp up in the Northwoods of Wisconsin that may sound a little bit familiar...it was called Camp Luther. That experience involved pouring myself into the lives of kids of all ages and wondering (often) just what I had gotten myself into. The year following my first summer at camp, I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a degree in Secondary Education, but I found myself increasingly drawn to the world of outdoor ministry. After spending a second summer working as a counselor at Camp Luther, I plunged full-time into the world of camp and have never looked bac

They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” - Luke 24:32 As Jesus opened up the scriptures to the two travelers on the road to Emmaus, a fire began to burn within their hearts. Scripture tells that God’s Word is “living and active.” It starts a fire in our hearts because it is where we encounter Christ and are reminded of the love that he has shown us through his life, death, and resurrection.  It is our prayer, that the fire that was lit on the day of our baptism may be rekindled in the hearts of all who visit Camp Luther. May it burn so bright that others may see Christ in us!

It was an investment driven by a vision to provide a place of ministry for children and families where they could be built up and encouraged in their faith. Who could have imagined the dividends that have been received thousands of times over? The Camp Luther property was purchased in 1946 for $22,000.  At a time when gas was just $.21 a gallon and a new home would set you back $5150, this was a lot of money! Despite the costs, the leaders of the district and those serving on the Young People’s Board would not be detoured from their vision. They were determined to provide a place of ministry where children and families would be built up in the faith through Christian educational experiences, relationships between campers and counselors, and the fellowship of other believers all in the midst of God’s beautiful creation. The vision began to become reality when on May 6, 1946, the North Wisconsin District LCMS approved the purchase of land near Three Lakes, WI for a camp ministry.

Submit your photos for our 2017 calendar. Help us share the beauty, the fun, the peacefulness, the spiritual growth, and the people of Camp Luther and Keweenaw Base Camp. So grab your camera, head to camp and start shooting! We have changed our calendar timeline so all those who submitted photos for our 2016 calendar will be considered for our 2017 Calendar.  But we still need more photos submitted, especially winter photos.  Our 2017 Calendar will be available for sale in our canteen this summer. Here are the details: Submit your photo by May 1, 2016 via email to woody@campluther.com; or place on a CD  or DVD and mail to Camp Luther along with your name, address, and phone number.   Close-up photos of individuals must include signed permission to use their image in the publication of this calendar. Maximum of five photos per submission, please. Photographer agrees to allow Camp Luther to use photos in our calendar and other potential promotional publications. Pho