| Welcome to the Luther Park Family!
Whether you’re in elementary school, middle school, or high school, you are an important part of our ministry here at Luther Park Bible Camp. We thought you might like to have a little extra information before you arrive so you’ll be comfortable and have a great experience while you’re here!
Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions:
Where and when should I check in?
Check-in is held in the lower level of the Welcome Center for most programs. If you will be attending the Trailblazers or Adventurers programs you’ll see your counselor(s) greeting campers outside of the Welcome Center (weather permitting). We will be available to check in campers at the times specified in the enclosed instruction brochure. If you arrive early you are welcome to see the sights around camp; however, staff will not be available to help you or to supervise campers at that time. Do you want to save time checking in? If we have received any outstanding balance due and a completed health form (for week long programs only) prior to your camp start date you can take advantage of our express check in!
What if I don’t know anyone else at camp?
Sometimes campers make arrangements to come to camp with their friends, but many kids don’t know other campers when they arrive. Your counselor will greet you and you’ll be assigned to a cabin/tent group with 6-8 other campers. You’ll be spending lots of time together and the fun begins right away with games, icebreakers and getting acquainted activities. It won’t be long before you’ll feel right at home.
What will I need to bring?
Refer to the instruction brochure for a complete list of items to bring to camp. Keep in mind that the weather in Wisconsin can change dramatically during the week, so be sure to bring clothing for both warm and cool weather. There are also items you should not bring - cell phones, electronic devices, fireworks, weapons, food, drink, etc. Again, refer to the brochure for specifics.
Where will I sleep?
If you have signed up for the middle school program - Power of Faith - you will be housed in one of our duplex cabins. If you’re part of the Trailblazer program, you’ll sleep in a wall tent on the Luther Park property. If you’re attending Adventurers at Luther Woods, you’ll be in a wall tent at Luther Woods which is near Birchwood (about 35 miles north of Luther Park). Your counselor will stay in your tent/cabin with you.
What if I don’t attend a Lutheran Church?
We welcome campers from all denominations. Because we are a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America our programs reflect Lutheran theology.
How will we spend our time at camp?
Here is a schedule for a typical day at camp (for the week long campers):
7:45 a.m. All-Camp Devotions (Alpha)
8:00 Breakfast
Cabin Clean Up
Introduction to the theme of the day
Bible Study in small groups
12:15 p.m. Lunch
Recreation Opportunities:
- Crafts
- Water Skiing, Canoeing, Pontoon Rides
- Volleyball, Basketball, Foosball, Ping Pong
- Swimming
- Canteen
5:30 Dinner
All camp recreation
Worship/Musical/Christwalk
Campfire
10:30 Cabin Group Devotions (Omega)
What if I don’t know how to swim?
We do have a swimming pool at camp; water skiing is also an optional activity. Because of this all campers are encouraged to take a swim test when they arrive. Each camper will then be designated a deep or shallow water swimmer. If you do not swim at all just tell the lifeguard and you will not have to go in the water.
Who are the counselors? What training have they had? What is the camper to counselor ratio?
We know that the summer staff has a significant influence on the lives of our campers; therefore, Luther Park carefully selects and trains the summer staff. For the most part they are college students, many of whom are planning careers in helping professions such as teaching or ministry. All summer staff members attend two weeks of intensive training prior to the beginning of the camp season in addition to another training period mid-summer. Each year approximately half of the staff is returning counselors from previous years. We have no more than 8 or 9 campers for every counselor and it may be fewer, depending on the number of campers registered in a given week.
I have registered for the Adventurer program at Luther Woods. Where is that and how will I get there?
Luther Woods is a beautiful wilderness area located just outside of Birchwood, WI (about 35 miles north of Chetek). You will check in at Luther Park in Chetek on Sunday afternoon. You’ll have dinner at Luther Park and then board a bus that takes you to Luther Woods. On Friday morning you will return to Luther Park on the bus and have a picnic lunch followed by the closing worship service.
What if I get sick or have an accident?
Our counselors and lifeguards are trained in first aid and we have a health supervisor on duty throughout the camp week. Volunteer nurses staff the infirmary, distribute medication and deal with minor illnesses and injuries. For more serious problems we transport campers to local healthcare facilities (in Barron or Rice Lake). It is critical to have a completed health form (with health history, insurance information, and permission to seek treatment) on file for each weeklong camper. We will not allow a camper to check in at camp without this form.
I take medication daily, how will that be handled?
At check-in you will meet with the volunteer nurse to discuss any special needs you may have and to turn in your medication (including Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc). At specified times throughout the day you are reminded to report to the nurse’s office to take your meds. Campers who use inhalers and/or EpiPens are allowed to retain them in their possession.
What if I get homesick?
We understand that sometimes campers do miss their families and friends while at camp and our counselors are trained to help through those difficult times. Usually feelings of homesickness pass fairly quickly and by the end of the week campers are making plans to return next year.
What happens if we get bad weather during the camp week?
We have storm shelters at both the Luther Park and Luther Woods locations. We continually monitor the weather and, in the event of a storm warning, we immediately move campers into the storm shelters where they stay until the all-clear signal is received.
Are there any activities during the camp week that are open to the public?
Yes, the camp musical (performed by the summer staff every Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.) and the ChristWalk (held every Thursday at 8:00 p.m.) are open to the public. No registration is required. You are also invited to attend the closing worship on Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
If you have any questions please call us at 715-859-2215, or e-mail us at becca@lutherpark.org. We look forward to your stay at Luther Park - where faith is nurtured through holy play!
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