Headline News

Caroline Furnace Camper Registration

Caroline Furnace is already underway, but there may be some openings. For details, click here.

Camp Luther Concludes

Camp Luther wrapped up its Summer 2023 season 24 June 2023. We're awaiting photos. You can track things on Camp Luther's website and facebook page. For links, click here.

Camps

Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center

Caroline Furnace's summer camp registration is open. Click here for information on summer camp and for on-line registration.

Established in 1957, Caroline Furnace provides year-round retreat center services and eight weeks of summer camp. Caroline Furnace's primary facility is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley in Fort Valley, VA. Enumerating everything Caroline Furnace offers on this page would be difficult. Explore the surprising options at CarolineFurnace.org.

Caroline Furnace is a constituent camp of the WV-WMD Synod, i.e., there is a formal relationship, and the WV-WMD Synod has seats on the Caroline Furnace Board of Directors. This relationship has its roots in pre-ELCA days. The Eastern Pandhandle of the WV-WMD Synod was part of the Virginia Synod of the LCA. When the CNLC proposed that those congregations be part of the newly forming WV-WMD Synod (called "West Virginia Synod" at the time), the Eastern Panhandle congregations asked that their historic support of Caroline Furnace (their church camp) be continue in the new synod. Part of that support is maintaining financial support for Caroline Furnace in the synod budget.

Summer 2023

Caroline Furnace is offering eight weeks of camping this summer, several of them with special themes. There is even one session of a two-week camp and also family camp and and adult camp. There are camps for those as young as children entering first grade. For descriptions of each of the camps, visit Caroline Furnace's Summer Camp 2023 page.

Support the Caroline Furnace Summer Staff

• send mail,
• send snacks, and/or
• fund a Friday lunch.

Camp Luther

Camp Luther has met for seventy-five years at Camp Caesar, the Webster County 4H camp. For many decades, the Camp Luther has operated for one week in June with an all volunteer counselor, teaching, and program staff, at its high point serving over 400 campers grades 3-12, divided into junior, intermediate, and senior camps. Learn more by visiting CampLutherWV.com.

Camp Luther is a constituent camp of the WV-WMD Synod. The relationship has its roots in the West Virginia Synod of the ULCA.

Camp Agapé

Camp Agapé, a Lutheran camp located in Pennsylvania just over the line from West Virginia's Northern Panhandle and has historic ties to the some of the congregations of the Northern Panhandle. WV-WMD was not included as a constituent synod when ALC de-districting took place at the formation of the ELCA. Nevertheless, WV-WMD is happy to share information about Camp Agapé's offerings. You can also check our Camp Agapé's website: https://www.campagape.org.

Summer 2023

Camp Agapé will be offering its first full summer programming since the pandemic began.

• 

  For traditional youth camping...
• June 18-23 — Science Week
• June 25-30 — Arts Week
• July 9-14 — Outdoor Living Week
• July 16-21 — “From Farm to Table” Week
• July 23-29 — Performing Arts
• And two intergenerational camps...
• Grandparents/Kids Camp —  July 5-8 —  This is a special camp where Grandma and/or Grandpa bring their grandkid(s) and leave mom and dad home. Limited cabin housing, but lots of room for your RV or camping unit.
• Family Camp —  July 31-Aug. 5 —  A vacation for the whole family! No one has to cook, drive, decide what to do, etc. Limited cabin space, but lots of space for RV’s or Campers, etc.

Camp Agapé provides a downloadable bulletin insert in PDF that explains its programming. Download and use in your congregation

Camp Melanchthon

Camp Melanchthon operated from the late '90s into the late '00s. It provided a camping ministry to collegiate-age young adults during the Christmas recess. Throughout its history, it met in Garrett County, MD, moving between Herrington Manor and New Germany State Parks. At its largest, nearly twenty collegians attended the largest year. It's educational ministry, the hallmark of the camp, centered on a different book each year, including Bonhoeffer's Life Together, Ralph C. Wood's The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-Earth, and Karen Armstrong's A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Worship, common meals, recreation (including rather cut-throat games of Scrabble) and continually burning fire were all part of the camp. Camp Melanchthon ceased operations when shifts in the economy, society in general, and WVU's football fortunes changed the collegiate culture surrounding Christmas recess. Camp Melanchthon was a constituent camp of the WV-WMD Synod. For more information, contact +Riegel.

Scouting

National Lutheran Association on Scouting

The National Lutheran Association on Scouting. describes itself as "a resource for youth and adults who wish to know more about the religious emblems program, endorsed by the Lutheran Churches for members of Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts USA, American Heritage Girls, 4H and Camp Fire USA." It also coordinates Lutheran chaplaincy services during jamborees.

The NLAS Facebook page featuring news of particular interest to Lutheran scouts and leaders.

Jamboree

The Jamboree 2023 is underway at Becthel Summit Reserve, having begun 16 July 2023. It will run through 29 July 2023.

Bishop Riegel participated in the 23 July 2023 Lutheran service at the Jambo. 475 scouts and scouters attended. We have a pic here, but, if you would like to see more, visit the NLAS Facebook page.

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