Unplug & Connect with God
Romans 12:2 says, “Don’t conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, so that you can judge what God’s will is – what is good, pleasing, and perfect.”
This summer we will be doing just that. Unplugging ourselves from the modern world and connecting with God through learning about all of God’s creations, environmental activities, bible studies, worship, adventure, and play.
Early Bird Discount Deadline March 1st. $50 off full week of camp/$25 off half week or day camp. *Some camps do not qualify. *Limited to 1 week per camper.
Sibling Discount: $15 off per week for each additional sibling.
Multi-Week Discount is $15 off each additional week.
First Time Family Camper discount is 15% off the entire cost of camp if this is your first year.
The true cost of camp for a full week is $1218 per camper. With the support of our congregations, grants, families, and individual donors we are able to give EVERY camper a scholarship. If you feel that you do not need this scholarship and would like to pay it forward, you can give a donation to help more campers attend camp.
If you need additional scholarships we have those available as well. Many local congregations offer scholarships for camp, and if you still need more funding please call the office and we can arrange that. We can give up to 50% scholarships for any camp.
LSI Scholarships are for individuals who are being served by LSI. Through special grant funding, all LSI clients are eligible for a 100% scholarship.
All registrations are done online. You will have to create an account or login to an existing account. You can access your account by clicking the “Camp Registration” button in the top right corner. You will create a family profile with guardian information then adding campers to the profile. There are health forms, insurance information, and several other questionnaires to complete regarding each camper. You can start the registration process, save and exit if needed. It is helpful to have insurance, vaccination, and physician information readily available before you start.
If you have problems registering or logging into your account contact us and we can walk you through it or help where needed. You can reach us by phone 712-336-2109 or email officemanager@lutheranlakeside.com
There is a $100 non-refundable deposit required at registration for full week camps. Day camp and Explorer Camp have a $50 non-refundable deposit. Little Lakers, Camp at a Glance and mission groups do not have a deposit.
If you have to cancel before arriving at camp, you will be refunded the whole cost of camp, minus the non-refundable deposit.
If something happens and the week you originally signed up for no longer works, we will allow you to transfer to another week with no penalties.
If you have to cancel or remove your camper after they have arrived there is no refund and you are responsible for the full cost of registration. This includes if your camper is removed due to behavioral, medical, or safety issues while onsite.
We know camp is better with a familiar face, and we encourage campers to bring friends or family with them. Cabins are assigned by age. For the overall camp experience we strive to keep ages close in cabin groups. If you have siblings attending the same week, but registered for camps in different age categories, they will not be housed together. Our camp is centralized, so our campers all see each other all day every day. Not being in a cabin together, does not mean they wont have time to interact.
If you have a buddy who is in the same age and camp then you can request to be in the same cabin. This is done in the registration process, there is a line for buddy requests you just put the buddy’s name. It is helpful if BOTH campers list each other during registration as buddy requests.
To ensure the entire cabin group can have a successful week of bonding we may limit how many “buddies” are in each cabin group.
We encourage campers to unplug and connect with creation, each other, and the incredible experiences around them at camp.
Campers who have not completed 5th grade are not allowed to bring cell phones or other communication devices. We have seen first hand how these devices make home sickness worse and really limit the camper’s ability to immerse themselves and to have the best possible experience.
Campers who have completed 5th grade and above can bring a phone with parental permission. They will have designated times in the morning and evening to use them. Phone calls are not allowed, only messages and camera. If campers can not follow the expectations, then the phone will be removed. Lakeside is not responsible for lost, damaged, or ruined property including cell phones. We strongly encourage leaving ALL phones at home for the week.
Overnight Camps: Campers arrive at Entrance B, between 2-4pm on Sundays. Staff will greet you, get you signed in, take medications, any remaining payments, and canteen money. You’ll get your cabin assignment and meet your Cabin Leader at the cabin. You’ll off load your things, say your goodbyes, and start the BEST WEEK EVER! *Late arrivals need to be coordinated with the office.
On Friday campers will be picked up at entrance B. Campers will have all of their belongings with them. A photo ID is required to sign a camper out. There will be a table to pick up any remaining canteen money and/or medications.
Onsite Day Camps: Campers will arrive each morning at 8am Monday through Thursday at Entrance B. The first day we will have paperwork at a check in table and will take any canteen money or medications. After checking campers in they will go with their Day Camp Leader to breakfast. Tuesday through Thursday, Day Camp Leaders will be waiting at the entrance and campers can join them without doing paperwork. *Medications can be left for the week or returned each day.
Pick up is 5:15pm each day at Entrance B. A photo ID is required to pick up and a sign out is required.
Please do NOT call your camper. If your camper is sending you messages about wanting to come home or issues they are having please notify the camp staff. If they call you they are violating the cell phone policy.
Great ways to stay in touch:
You can send your camper daily messages by emailing camper@lutheranlakeside.com. Put your camper’s name in the subject line. These messages are checked and printed off daily and handed out at lunch.
If your camper has a phone (Junior High and Older) you can send reassuring text messages.
When you drop your camper off you can give pre-written letters to the staff and they will hand them out during the week.
You can give the camp staff packages that can be delivered throughout the week.
You can send letters and packages to your camper in the mail, just include the camper’s name under Lutheran Lakeside when addressing. Using the mail is not always reliable and sometimes things are delivered after campers have gone home. If mail is delivered after departure, we will coordinate with families to get it back.
We enjoy Challenge by Choice, which means every camper has the opportunity to set their own comfort levels and to push themselves when they are ready. Our staff support and encourage campers in every activity and meet them where they are. Our schedule and variety of activities are designed to give campers the opportunity for self reflection, building confidence, learning life skills, developing problem solving, nurturing faith, and creating healthy relationships.
Zip Lining (6th grade and up)
Low Ropes Challenge course
Archery
Sailing
Canoeing
Kayaking
Boating
Paddle Boarding
Swimming
Fishing
Singing
Bonfires
Yoga
Arts and Crafts
Tie Dye
Bracelet Making
Painting
Leather working
Gaga Ball
9 Square in the air
Volleyball
Basketball
Worship
Nature Walks/Exploration
Bible Study
Roller Skating
Disc Golf
The Canteen is the camp store. We have 2 canteen stops a day for overnight campers and 1 stop for day campers. They have the opportunity to purchase a snack and drink as well as Lakeside merchandise. Shirts are on average $12 and hooded sweatshirts are $30. We have water bottles, sunglasses, and more. You are not required to send money for the canteen it is optional. During registration there will be a “Store Deposit” and that is the canteen fund. You can put money in at that time or bring it with you to check in.
Campers can purchase items for tie dying.
Mornings
Afternoons
Evenings
When assigning cabin groups safety and camper experience are the deciding factors behind every decision. We put lots of thought and care into these decisions. Here are a few ways we decide cabin groups.
Cabin groups are determined first by camp attending (Cultivator’s, Trailblazer’s, Voyager’s, etc.), then age, then identifying gender.
Campers spend limited time in the cabins. They get ready for the day, get ready to sleep, and sleep in the cabins. The rest of the day is spent out mixing and mingling with the rest of camp.
It is our policy that all campers and staff change in private regardless of the gender. Each cabin has a private toilet with a door, a bathroom with 2 sinks and a door. Each cabin has an extra room with a door for changing.
Our staff are trained to teach boundaries and appropriate conversation topics with all campers and cabin groups. Each camper and staffer have their own designated sleeping space.
Campers and staff shower at their own scheduled times. All campers shower in private at the shower house. Only 1 gender is allowed in a shower house at 1 time.
Sometimes we will have co-ed cabins.
We will mix genders in a cabin only if we do not have a safe number of campers or staff of one gender. This would mean we have less than 4 campers of a single gender to make their own cabin group.
When we have a co-ed cabin we take these additional safety measures:
If all the campers are a single gender, but their Cabin Leader is a different gender (i.e. A female Cabin Leader leading an all male cabin) they will usually stay in our traditional cabins, but have an additional staff assigned for overnights in the cabin.
Other times we may mix cabin groups is if we don’t have enough campers in a particular camp to create their own cabin group. An example would be if we had 2 boy campers and 4 girl campers, they would be housed together if they are in the same age group. They would have their own daily schedule, but share the sleeping space for safety.
If you have more questions about how and why we choose cabins groups the way we do, we’d love to talk to you about it. Just call the office.
We welcome parents, grandparents, family friends or others to attend camp for the week. Maybe you don’t want your camper to be alone so you or someone they know comes with. Maybe Grandma/Grandpa have the week and want to experience camp with their grandchild, maybe your camper has exceptional medical needs and you’d feel better being close. Whatever the reason is, you are welcome.
We have many opportunities for individuals to get involved. It is important that campers still have their own space and opportunities so they can have the best possible camp experience. Adults stay in separate housing than campers. Adults enjoy meals and worship with the campers. Adults are given the camper’s schedule so you can witness them at the zip line or waterfront. We enjoy finding ways for the adults to have their own unique camp experience. After conversations we can find the best way for you to utilize your time.
Adults in the past have assisted in the kitchen, mowing, painting, office work, leading crafts, landscaping, and helping lead other activities. We only ask adults to do what they are comfortable with. If they will be leading activities with campers we do require a background check. You would register as a volunteer for the same week as your camper. You’d be housed in a modern facility with AC/Bedding/WIFI.
Please label all of your camper’s items. Campers should plan to bring 1 bag that fits all their belongings excluding bedding. Every camper deserves to experience the BEST WEEK EVER, so if there is something on this list that you do not have and/or can not purchase we can help, just contact the office.
Stationary / Writing utensil / stamped envelopes to write letters
Bible
Watch
Clothes
Please make sure to send appropriate clothes for 5 full days.* Be aware, your camper may want clothes for both warm and cold weather as it can get chilly at night and may want extras if something gets dirty or wet. We recommend…
5 days worth of appropriate undergarments
1 set of pajamas
5 pairs of shorts
2 pairs of long pants
5 t-shirts
A sweatshirt or jacket
8-10 pairs of socks
Bedding (Either Sleeping Bag or Blankets and Sheets size twin)
Pillow
Beach Towel (remember that campers may be at the Pool or Waterfront often)
Sunscreen (SPF 30+)
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Shower supplies
Caddy or container to take supplies to shower house
Shampoo and soap
Shower shoes
Towel
Other Toiletries
Swimwear appropriate for Water Sports (Lakeside policy states that tie straps are not allowed, swimwear must have solid straps or secure clips. All bottoms need to be secure at waist to avoid falling down, and cover enough surface area to remain comfortable and functional.)
Water Shoes
Sandals with Heel Straps (Mandatory)
Tennis Shoes
Jackets and/or Rain Poncho
Laundry Bag
Bug Spray
Refillable Water Bottle
Flashlight
A Smile!
Optional
Rainboots and Umbrella
Canteen Money
Sunglasses
Reading Book
Disposable Camera
Feminine hygiene products
Discs for Disc Golf
Avoid
Tie bikinis
Muscle tank tops
Beauty accessories and heavily scented products
Sandals without heel straps
Slip on shoes of any kind
Anything you don’t want to get dirty, torn, or ruined
Anything you cannot run, jump, and play in
Snacks (food is not allowed in the cabins, the mice and turkeys will find your snacks)
*Little Lakers make appropriate adjustments for 2 full days of camp. Thank you!
Belongings are brought to and from each day. They will have a cabin to leave things in when not in use.
Backpack/Satchel
Bible
Beach Towel
Sunscreen (SPF 30+)
Swimwear appropriate for Water Sports
Water Shoes (or sandals with a heel strap)
Tennis Shoes
Jacket or Rain Poncho
Bug Spray
Refillable Water Bottle
Spare change of clothes
A Smile!
Optional
Rainboots and Umbrella (Weather dependent)
Canteen Money
Sunglasses
Disposable Camera
Item for Tie Dying 100% Cotton (bring by Tuesday)
Beauty accessories and heavily scented products
Sandals without heel straps
Slip on shoes of any kind
Anything you don’t want to get dirty, torn, or ruined
Anything you cannot run, jump, and play in
Snacks (food is not allowed in the cabins, the mice and turkeys will find your snacks)
Thank you for considering Lakeside for the BEST WEEK EVER. If you still need information or have questions please call us at 712-336-2109 or email our Camp Director at campdirector@lutheranlakeside.com
