Camp Luther

Camp Luther report to the Assembly

Greetings from Camp Luther!

Camp Luther 2024 is staffed and preparing for what promises to be an amazing week of Being! Our LOM curriculum theme this year is Created to Be, and the daily themes are: Created to be Free, Created to be Authentic, Created to be Brave, Created to be Disciples, Created to be Disrupted. The theme Verse is: “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.” —Psalm 139:14

Registration forms are beginning to roll in and we are excited to share the love of God through worship and study, adventures and nature, crafts and creativity, and a whole lot of play and silliness. The staff is busy planning activities and experiences that will grow faith and build community.

We have been experiencing a decline in camper numbers for a few years, and since Covid the decline has been more steep. This mirrors the decline in attendance that many of our churches are experiencing. We hope to increase numbers this year but no matter the number, the Spirit will be present and campers will be loved and encouraged, the way of Jesus will taught and lived out, and God will be praised.

The shortage of campers has brought us some financial concerns and we are facing some questions about what is in store for Camp Luther in the future. We are in the process of organizing a board of directors that will work together to support the ministry of Camp Luther. In the meantime we were given Synod Council’s approval to appeal to the congregations for support. A letter was sent out in April to the congregations of the synod asking them to consider supporting Camp Luther thereby helping us to keep camper registration fees low. It is important to us that Camp Luther is affordable for all youth in the WV-WMD synod and the congregations that support them.

We appreciate the support of the synod and of the congregations that send campers and staff. Camp Luther is truly a ministry of love that has nurtured the faith of so many. It is an honor and a privilege to serve God and the church through Camp Luther, and I invite you to join us through your prayers and with your influence. Send a kid you know and love to camp! Registration forms can be found on the website at camplutherwv.com.

Respectfully submitted,
Karen Erskine-Valentine
Serving Director, Camp Luther

Camp Luther
Registrar & Director’s Office
c/o Shepherdstown Lutheran Parish
P.O. Box 2008 Shepherdstown, WV 25443