News about the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central PennsylvaniaKirchenwald, Nawakwa, and The Wittel FarmPO Box 459, Arendtsville, PA 17303-0459717-677-8211 (voice) / 717-677-7597 (fax)www.LutheranCamping.org

Stay up-to-date at

LutheranCamping.org

Spring 2014

Karl and Lillian regularly donated to Lutheran Camping Corporation because they believed in strengthening the Church through outdoor ministry, and in strengthening campers’ faith through experiences at Kirchenwald and Nawakwa. They gave to help grow and sustain the camps’ programs and facilities, yet wished to do more. This desire to do more led Karl and Lillian

to include the LCC in their estate planning.

A recently received bequest from Karl and Lillian is helping to jump start a multi-phased renovation at Kirchenwald’s main camp kitchen that will allow Kirchenwald to better serve retreat groups. This

improvement is only possible now because of Karl and Lillian’s generosity. “We know others want to have an impact like Karl and Lillian and have included LCC in their estate plans. The gift is often a surprise we learn of after they’ve passed, which means we’ve not had a chance to thank them or talk about their generosity’s impact. That’s the reason for establishing the LCC Heritage Society,” explained Mike Youse, Executive Director.

The LCC Heritage Society is an organization of caring people, committed to assuring the financial stability of the LCC for generations to come. They express their concern and give concrete help by including LCC in their thoughtful estate plans.

Bequest Boosts Ministry: LCC Heritage Society Launched

If your estate plans include LCC, we want you to be part of the LCC Heritage Society. The problem is, we don’t know who you are. Please contact Mike Youse if you have already included LCC in estate plans, or if you wish to do so. Mike can be reached by phone at 717-677-8211 or email at myouse@lutherancamping.org.

Kirchenwald’s Diaconos program celebrated its fifth anniversary last summer. As we look forward to our focus of service-minded ministry in the future, the number of lives touched by the camp experience continues to grow. With an emphasis on Christian leadership and service, numerous youth groups from our synod and beyond have been learning what it means to be a disciple of Christ though programs at camp. “Everywhere you look, there is someone in need. And as Christians we are called to help,” said Colleen Sites, Youth Ministries Director at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elizabethtown. Last summer Sites

brought youth from her congregation to participate in Diaconos. “Diacanos has inspired us to broaden our focus on mission work with our youth. It is important for our young people to see the need that is close to them,” said Sites.

See Diaconos, Page 3

Diaconos Does GoodKarl & Lillian Youse

2 Camping! Spring 2014

A Garden and Tea Party

at The Wittel FarmSaturday, May 17

9am - Noon

Kirchenwald and Nawakwa will be hosting two events for women during the summer camping season. “We are trying to raise awareness of how faith formation happens at camp, but we also want more people to see just how comfortable camp can be for adults,” said Marianne Brock, Associate Executive Director of the LCC.

At Nawakwa, there will be an afternoon tea on Thursday, July 10th, including devotions offered by campers and a sneak peak at the show being prepared by the Music campers. “If a tea party doesn’t seem very ‘camp-like’,” says Brock, “just take a look at Nawakwa’s old yearbooks. This sort of thing was done frequently in celebration and to welcome special visitors.”

Women from Lower Susquehanna Synod congregations are invited to a day of fun at Camp Kirchenwald on Friday, July 18th. Guests can meet campers and staff, tour the camp, share in a Bible study, and learn more about the ministry and activities that support our synod. Lunch will be included.

More details on each of these events will be available on our website.

Summer Events for Women

Thrivent Choice, the charitable grant program from Thrivent Financial, continues to be a welcome funding source for nonprofit organizations nationwide.

If you are a member of Thrivent Financial, you likely are aware of this easy, convenient way to help support what matters most to you. The Thrivent Choice program offers two ways members can recommend where Thrivent Financial distributes some of its charitable grant funds each year.

The first is through Voting Events, which are held periodically. During these Voting Events, all members age 16 and older can recommend how Thrivent Financial distributes a set amount of charitable grant funds among a short list of national organizations.

The second component of Thrivent Choice is Choice Dollars®. Eligible benefit members are designated Choice Dollars that they can direct, thereby recommending charitable grant funding for their choice among thousands of nonprofit organizations, including the Lutheran Camping Corporation. To date, the LCC has received over $73,000 from this program.

If you are eligible to participate in Choice Dollars, or are uncertain about your eligibility, visit Thrivent.com/thriventchoice. Or contact your local Thrivent Financial representative.

Thrivent Choice®: Your community. Your support. Your choice.

The Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania 3

Each Wednesday of the summer camp season, pastors and other rostered leaders are invited to visit campers (and staff) from their congregations who are attending Kirchenwald or Nawakwa summer camp. This invitation is intended to encourage pastors to observe the summer camp program while it is going on, to connect with their campers, and to reinforce the relationship between camp and congregations.The guests are invited to have lunch with their camper’s cabin group, and are welcome to remain in camp for the afternoon to enjoy afternoon activities.

Advance notice is requested; please RSVP to Kirchenwald (717-964-3121) or Nawakwa (717-677-8211).

Dear Pastor, You’re invited…

Summer Camp Kick-offWorship & Picnic

at Kirchenwald

Sunday, May 18Worship Begins at 3:30 pm

That message stays with the youth long after they leave camp. “It definitely made me want to help people more and it gave me a really good feeling to know that I was making a difference in people’s lives. I would recommend the program to everyone because it is a great mix of fun and service,” said Nicole Faiola, a high school student in the group who is now planning to get her school’s Key Club involved at one of the locations at which she served through Diaconos.

By mixing community service with camp experiences focused on group building and discipleship, Diaconos offers a unique ministry to our synod. Participating in Diaconos has inspired some youth to attend other Kirchenwald ministry programs. Running the service camp alongside regular summer program has encouraged some campers to participate in Diaconos with their own congregations. As one element of the Kirchenwald experience grows, so does the other.

Just like the disciples of Jesus’ time, we are sent into the world to proclaim God’s love with joyful care for and service to our neighbor. Camp and programs like Diaconos help to prepare us and develop our gifts to be good stewards of the earth and to those who share it with us.

Diaconos (from page 1)LCC depends on faithful support from friends of the camp. The list below shows items that LCC needs to operate well and that would greatly benefit the ministry.

Contact us by e-mail at lcc@lutherancamping.org or by phone at 717-677-8211 if you have any of the items listed, new or used.

• Gently used van or minivan• ELW’s • Gently used or new golf cart• Gently used or new “gator” type

work ATV• AED• Flat screen TV’s• Beach umbrellas• Office chairs• Adirondack chairs or outdoor

rocking chairs• Youth-sized hiking backpacks

(NOT school book bags)

Wish List

4 Camping! Spring 2014

The Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania 5

6 Camping! Spring 2014

More Congregations Join Seeding the Future

Lutheran Camping Night at the Harrisburg Senators

Friday, May 16, 7 pmHarrisburg Senators vs. New Britain Rock Cats

Lutheran Camping Night at the York Revolution

Sunday, September 14, 2 pmYork Revolution vs. Long Island Ducks

A portion of each Advance Sale Ticket

will benefit the Campership Fund.

Thank you to all those individuals and churches that have joined in supporting the Seeding the Future campaign. That number continues to grow. Your gifts make a difference; keep them coming! Since the beginning of the year, these churches have given gifts, completed campaigns, or have campaigns planned for later this spring.

More congregations are planning to join Seeding the Future this summer and through the fall.

Annual Golf TournamentSaturday, July 19

1:30 shotgun start$90 per golfer

Range End Golf ClubDillsburg, PA

All proceeds benefit the Campership Fund of

Kirchenwald and Nawakwa.

LutheranCamping.org/golf

Advent, YorkChrist, GettysburgChrist, SpryEmmanuel, LancasterEmmanuel, Red LionEvangelical, WaynesboroGrace, LancasterHoly Spirit, LancasterHoly Trinity, LebanonMessiah, HarrisburgMillcreek, NewmanstownMt. Zion, Boiling SpringsMt. Zion, GardnersSt. David, HanoverSt. James, GettysburgSt. John (Hampton),

New Oxford

St. John, HornerstownSt. John, New FreedomSt. Luke, SchafferstownSt. Mark, HeidlersburgSt. Mark, MechanicsburgSt. Michaels, KlingerstownSt. Paul LittlestownSt. Paul (Broadway),

HanoverSt. Paul, FayettevilleSt. Paul, LititzTree of Life, HarrisburgTrinity, East BerlinZion (Erdman)Zion, York

I / We are pleased to sponsor the 2014 Lutheran Camping Corporation Golf Tournament with a gift of:__$50 __$205 __$410 __$500 Other $_________

In Honor Of: In Memory Of: Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Email: □ Send my gift receipt by email

Mail gift and this commitment card to: The Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central PA, PO Box 459, Arendtsville, PA 17303

“Are there ever kids who want to go to camp but can’t afford it? Because I’d like to help out with that.”These are the words of Bill, a Nawakwa camper from many years ago. Now advanced in years with no family in the area, Bill wants to help make a week of summer camp a reality for kids in need. “When I was a kid, the church paid for us to go to camp. My church doesn’t do that, but maybe I can help,” said Bill.While many congregations in our constituency offer partial or full financial assistance to campers, there are still plenty of families for whom the basic registration fee of $410 is a stumbling block. In 2013, over $33,000 from the LCC Campership Fund was granted to 106 summer campers. That money was the result of outright gifts from people like Bill and from Campership fundraisers such as the Golf Tournament and the Senators game.Through careful management and good stewardship, the LCC has not raised camper fees for three consecutive years. “There are real costs to maintaining facilities and running programs,” says Mike Youse, LCC Executive Director, “We’d love to give camp away for free, but that wouldn’t enable us to maintain the high quality expected in all aspects of our operation, including summer staff, program effectiveness, food service, building and grounds.Daryl Ackerman, chair of the LCC Finance Committee agrees with Youse. “We’re especially proud of the high caliber of staff we are able to recruit, and that we can offer them a competitive salary, making a summer camp job a viable option for faithful, enthusiastic college students, who are great role models for our campers.”

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Give online at http://www.lutherancamping.org/giving

14SpringGolf

Campership Giving Makes a Difference!!!

For many years, Jody Silliker, pastor of Christ Lutheran in Harrisburg’s Allison Hill, has been on the lookout for children who might benefit from the Campership Fund. “It’s become a great partnership

between our congregation and the LCC,” says Silliker, “The children in our neighborhood are supported by the congregation with all of the

‘things’ needed for camp (sturdy clothing and shoes, flashlights, sleeping bags, etc.) and the Campership

Fund has relieved the concern of covering the registration fee. All of our kids have benefited greatly

from their experiences

at camp. I’m hoping we can

continue to offer them.”

Sponsoring the LCC Golf Tournament is a meaningful way to honor or to remember someone special. Individuals donating at least $50 can have an “In Memory Of” or “In Honor Of” sign placed at one of the tee boxes throughout the course. All

Sponsorship Gifts to the Golf Tournment benefit the Campership Fund and will be supplemented by funds provided by local chapters of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Corporate Sponsorship information is available on the website, also.

□ I have included LCC in my estate plans.□ I wish to include LCC in my estate plans. Please contact me.

...and Here’s How You Can Help

The Lutheran Camping Corporationof Central PennsylvaniaPO Box 459Arendtsville, PA 17303LutheranCamping.org

Nonprofit OrgUS Postage

PAIDPermit #762

Harrisburg, PA

Spring 2014

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April 25-26 Men’s Retreat at KirchenwaldApril 27 Earth Day at Kirchenwald & NawakwaMay 3 Work Day at All SitesMay 14 Bishop’s Bible Study at The Wittel FarmMay 16 Lutheran Camping Night at the Harrisburg SenatorsMay 17 Garden & Tea Party at The Wittel FarmMay 18 Summer Camp Kick-off Worship & Picnic at NawakwaJuly 19 Annual Golf Tournament at Range End Golf Club, Dillsburg

Retreat Groups Enjoy Record Snow FallsThis winter’s record-setting cold and snow provided groups with opportunities to enjoy the camps as winter wonderlands. With snow on the ground from early January through early March, this was the best winter for sledding in recent memory at both Kirchenwald and Nawakwa. Kirchenwald’s safely frozen lake provided slippery fun and rousing broom ball games. Retreat groups enjoy our ministry sites and facilities in all seasons.

Kirchenwald’s SchreiberHaus Lodge has received rave reviews for its comfort and Grove Lodge and Zinn-Tozer Lodge at Nawakwa remain favorites. Visit www.lutherancamping.org to view facility photos and for information about all the retreat facilities. There are

cabins and lodges for individuals, families, and groups of all sizes. Plan to have LCC staff facilitate group building activities, high ropes and zip line sessions, and more.

Call the camping office now to book your next youth, family, adult, or

personal retreat.

Spring Work Dayat all sites

May 3