Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center

Caroline Furnace Camp and Retreat Center –
Annual Report to the W. VA/ W. MD Synod March 2024

Created to Be . . . Free, Brave, Authentic, a Disciple, and Together

We thank you for your commitment to Caroline Furnace in 2023! Your financial support is much appreciated and was used to further the ministry and mission of the wider church. Here are some highlights from 2023:

Building in 2023 ~ We finished framing construction and enclosing the ceiling of our Solar Pavilion. We dedicated the Solar Pavilion at our Open House in May and began using it during summer camp for camper drop off and pick-up and for our closing worship. In 2024, we will finish the pavilion with the solar panels and catering kitchen.

Summer Camp in 2023 ~ We had 300+ campers and volunteers and 10 domestic and 4 international counselors! It was the first time in a while (due to pandemic travel restrictions) that we had international counselors. We are building our staff diversity and plan on more campers and international staff in 2024.

Retreats in 2023 ~ We had 95 events and retreat groups with people coming to experience the beauty and peace of our space. We had so many groups who came for their 2nd, 3d, 4th . . .. . or 47th visit (a private school has been coming for 47 years!) You’re invited to join us for an event or retreat in 2024!

Faith in 2023 ~ We had too many faith moments to count! We had faith moments every day as we prayed for you and for each other. We had faith that you were there to pray for, visit, and support us as Your Outdoor Ministry and our faith was well-placed! Let’s do it again in 2024!

Did you know 55 former summer camp staff from Caroline Furnace are serving as clergy in congregations or synod offices and five more are currently in seminary? Let us not forget the thousands of other adults who have hiked our trails over the last 67 years that are now involved in mission work and leading congregational teams.

Donors – over 300 individual donors, and 40 congregations and businesses in 2023
Volunteers – over 178 individual volunteers providing 2,498 volunteer hours.

Expenses: $525,071 (44% staffing, 16% Operations, 20% programs, 7% Maintenance, 8% Utilities, 5% Insurance)
Revenue: $571,664 (43% donations, 27% programs, 13% rental, 11% Grants and Logging, 6% Synod Support)

Total Inclusion: We continued our commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by developing 14 action steps around becoming more welcoming for people in the LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC community, and people living with diversabilities community.

These are just a few examples that provide a clear vision of the impact outdoor ministry has across the ages and well beyond our three synods. What a blessing it is to share this journey with you again this year. Wherever you are in your spiritual and earthly life, there is a place for you here at Caroline Furnace.