Summer Camp FAQ
Greetings in Christ from Camp Luther, General PhilosophyCamp Luther was created in 1946, when the North Wisconsin District – Lutheran Church Missouri Synod purchased a beautiful tract of land just north of Three Lakes, WI. Camp Luther exists today as a ministry of the church providing Christ-centered programs, facilities, and activities for all people in the uniqueness of God’s creation. We are not a church, but our ministry supports the church and its ministry. Our StaffCamp Luther has a dedicated, professional year-round staff. Will my child be supervised every waking hour?Absolutely! We strive to maintain a camper to counselor ratio of 8 to 1. In villages 16 campers are supervised by 2 counselors and 2 junior counselors. In the retreat center each counselor is responsible for their group of 8 campers. There are occasions when there may be more than 8 campers in a group. Groups remain the same for the entire stay at camp. We strive to create a comfortable atmosphere for each camper to bond with others in their group. Counselors sleep in separate rooms from the campers, but are considered ‘on call’ during sleeping hours. What is village life like?Camp Luther villages provide the unique opportunity to be surrounded by nature! Each village is a quarter mile from main camp and contains its own outdoor kitchen. At least one meal per day is prepared as a group in the outdoor kitchen. Campers will learn about fire safety, food preparation and team work. Life at a village is more rustic than life in the Retreat Center. We suggest that village campers bring weather appropriate clothing, a rain coat and backpack to carry personal items back and forth throughout the day. What if my child is Homesick?Homesickness can be a difficult situation for campers, counselors and parents. It can affect the experience of the entire camper group. PLEASE spend time talking to your child about what a Camp Luther experience is like so that they are mentally prepared before they arrive. If homesickness does occur, our staff will do all they can to comfort and enable the child to overcome their fears. Phone calls home are discouraged because they usually seem to make the homesickness worse! If the situation gets to the point where the child can no longer function as part of the group, our staff will contact you to discuss options. Campers are sent home only as a last resort. We don’t want any child to miss out on the fun of Camp Luther! Refunds are not provided for homesickness. Can I contact my child while at camp?Families are welcome to send their child mail while at camp. You can send letters to our camp address with your child’s name and camper group listed in the attention line. Campers are allowed to receive only one email while at camp. Due to internet variability we cannot guarantee the reception of emails. Emails can be sent via the link on the home page of the Camp Luther website titled “Summer Camp Corner, Email a Summer Camper”;however campers are not able to respond to email messages. They are encouraged to send letters and postcards home. Postcards and stamps are available in the Canteen. Mail/Email will not be delivered on Friday. Campers are not permitted to use the phone unless special arrangements have been made for specific needs. Can I/We Visit?We discourage parents from visiting campers during their stay at camp. Camp provides an opportunity to develop independence and personal responsibility. Sometimes interruptions from family members can detract from the experience and even increase homesickness. We have found that the separation is usually harder on the parents than on the campers! What is the canteen?The Canteen is our camp store filled with clothing, souvenirs, and food items. Campers have two canteen times per day when they may purchase snacks. In order to make purchases you must buy prepaid Canteen Cards for your child during the registration process on your registration day. As your child makes purchases from the Canteen during the week, the card will be marked accordingly. Cards will be kept securely in the Canteen and will be distributed prior to each Canteen time. You may cash in your Canteen Card at the end of your stay or donate the balance to our summer mission project. How are lost items handled?We highly recommend all of your child’s belongings are marked with their name. This will make it more possible to return items to their owners. At the end of each camp session, all lost and found items will be gathered and displayed in the main courtyard or placed in the Lost and Found box. Valuable items may be found in the camp office. Please take a few moments to look over the lost and found items. Camp Luther will gather and date lost and found items and have them available through September. After that time they will be donated to a charity. If you would like any items sent to you, we ask that you pre-pay for the mailing costs either with check or credit card What if my child is injured or ill while at camp?Every effort is made to provide a safe environment for campers. Our first aid coordinator and volunteer professional medic are on-call 24/7 to assist with any health care needs. All counselors are first aid and CPR certified. We will not hesitate to call emergency medical personnel if warranted. We will make every effort to contact parents/guardians immediately if any serious injuries or illness occur. In cases of prolonged illness parents will be asked to take their child home. Professional health care providers who are interested in serving as volunteer medics are encouraged to contact us. How does camp Luther handle disruptive campers?Our counselors are trained in behavior management and positive reinforcement to proactively prevent disruptive behavior. We attempt to keep campers too busy having fun to think about misbehaving! Our full-time staff will step in if any serious infractions occur. Campers will be sent home if they are a disruption or danger to other children. |
