Camp Becomes Home

They arrive from different corners of Minnesota—some from small rural congregations, others from bustling suburban churches. Throughout the year, they are separated by miles and very different ministry realities. But each summer, they gather by the water’s edge, and the distance disappears.

For one week, camp becomes home.

The Resource Staff community is made up of ministry leaders, deacons, and pastors who return year after year. “The moment you step into camp, you step back into relationship,” shared Deacon Erin Kuehl of First Lutheran Church in St. James. “We listen, laugh (a lot!), share, and lift one another up.”

Between meals and camp activities, these leaders trade stories of ministry highs and lows, pray together, and rediscover joy in their call. That connection doesn’t end when camp does. “There’s a group text that continues all year,” reflected Shannon Anderson, Children and Family Minister at Faith Lutheran Church in Waconia. “It’s a safe space to ask questions, share ideas, and encourage one another without judgment.”

Their presence also deeply shapes the experience of campers. Sometimes, they are the first to notice the anxious camper or the quiet child on the edges. They cheer when fear loosens its grip, high on the ropes course or simply in making a new friend. “There might be tears and ‘I can’t do this,’” Deacon Erin shared, “but with encouragement, you can actually see confidence flourish.”

These leaders know their youth well back home, yet they are still moved by the transformation that unfolds in just a few days. Anna Wencl, Family Faith Formation Director at Bethlehem Lutheran in Mankato, described watching one camper “feel so included and accepted… more at ease, more willing to try.”

Camp offers freedom from pressure and space to be fully oneself—away from social media and daily expectations. As Shane Marcus of Faith Lutheran Church in Waconia shared, what makes camp a place where young people feel safe is “the music, the activities, the messaging—everyone is welcome to challenge by choice all week long. The staff are gracious and inviting at all times.” Over time, that consistent welcome forms faith, courage, and belonging that campers—and leaders—carry home into their congregations and communities.
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It is a place where all people are invited to be who God created them to be.