Camp Luther

Camp Luther report to the Assembly

Greetings from Camp Luther!

Camp Luther 2025 is staffed and preparing for what promises to be an amazing week of drawing near to God and one another! Our LOM curriculum theme this year is “God’s Word Comes Near”, and the daily themes are: God’s Word Comes Near in Trusting, God’s Word Comes Near in Blessing, God’s Word Comes Near in Listening, God’s Word Comes Near in Serving, and God’s Word Comes Near in Following. The theme verse is: “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart.” Romans 10:8

Registration this year is online thanks to a cooperative relationship with Camp Caroline Furnace. Our Registrar is being kept busy with all the forms being submitted. 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 are continuing our efforts to increase our camper numbers after the Covid decline. Our numbers this year are looking good so far, 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 Board of Directors has been meeting throughout the year under the leadership of Bishop Riegel. We are addressing financial concerns, writing bylaws, and looking ahead to the possibilities of the future. The board has taken some of the challenging decisions off the shoulders of the director and the business and administration of Camp Luther has become more of a community effort. This year the board set the registration fee significantly higher from last year, but also made scholarship money more easily accessible, offering $100 scholarships to every camper. This allows us to access funds that are restricted to camper scholarships and raise the fee to a more sustainable amount. Our registration fee is still significantly lower than other comparable camps and we remain committed to keeping Camp Luther as affordable as possible.

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! The link to registration can be found on the website at camplutherwv,com.

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