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First
Lutheran Church in Decorah, Iowa, brought 25 youth and adults to the retreat. “Ewalu has been a great springboard for our
Youth and Family Ministry.” said Adrian Walter, Director of Youth and Family
Ministries at First Lutheran Church. “Ewalu
has been a great way for our kids to get excited about their faith and to bring some of
that excitement back here to First Lutheran. We do not see Ewalu as just a place to
send our kids, but rather another stepping stone in their faith journey. As our
youth and family ministry grows, we see Camp Ewalu as a key component of that
growth.”
 The
weekend retreat was packed with all kinds of fun and exciting activities for kids
including the high ropes challenge course, parachute activities, large group games, and
stargazing. A favorite activity was the Zip Line, a 250-foot screaming cable ride
through the trees of Ewalu. Evening activities featured a campfire program in the
woods that included songs, skits, prayers, food, and fellowship topped off with s'mores
and roasted hotdogs.
The highlight of the retreat, however, was the evening meal, a reenactment of the Passover
Seder that Moses and the Israelites observed 4,000 years ago as slaves in Egypt. The
youth and adults helped to prepare the Seder meal, which included Cheroseth (a traditional
Jewish dish of nuts and fruit), as well as unleavened bread, wine (sparkling cider), and
bitter herbs (salad dipped in vinegar). But
the centerpiece of the meal was the roasted lamb; which for Christians signifies how
Christ (the Lamb of God) was a sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.
 “The
retreat explains for kids the ‘who, when, where, why and how’ of the Lord’s
Supper.” said Jesse Klosterboer, Ewalu Program Director. “That because of God’s sacrifice in Jesus
Christ, Christians receive, remember and celebrate God’s grace with Communion. It’s fun, tangible and memorable. You hear a
Biblical story of God’s grace while tasting, seeing and smelling the traditional
Passover meal. In the midst of this, we explain the Lord’s Supper and how Jesus
relates to the Passover story.”
The
Seder meal was eaten in stages. Time was taken
to explain each part of the meal and the meaning of each tradition. Following the
meal, Bible study and discussions helped make the connection between the Jewish Passover
and the Lord's Supper which we celebrate as Christians.
Evening devotions in cabins centered on the story of Jesus washing his
disciples’ feet during the Passover celebration.
After a busy first day of fun and learning, everyone went to bed tired,
full, and satisfied!
For those able to roll out of bed and face the chilly morning air, Sunday morning began
with a sunrise hike at 7:00 a.m. The hike was
led by Paul Frantsen, Ewalu’s Environmental Education Director, who guided the youth
through fields, forests, and along the banks of the Maquoketa River that winds through
camp. The kids explored caves and rock outcroppings along the Grotto Trail
overlooking the river valley, then hiked out onto the prairie where they learned about
edible plants, smelled tea leaves, and scattered milkweed seeds.
 ”It’s
great for kids to get away from the comforts of their home and experience a whole new look
on life.” said Paul Frantsen. “These kids will remember little things like
smelling tea leaves, exploring the caves, and going on the Zip Line for a long, long time. These ministry moments impact kids for the rest of
their lives. They’ll leave this place
encouraged, renewed, challenged, and changed.”
Once the hikers returned from their morning trek, everyone enjoyed a hot, delicious meal
in the dining hall. During breakfast, it was revealed that some kids actually did
not get very much sleep, but chose to stay up late talking in their bunk beds. (That
never happens at camp does it?) After breakfast the youth divided into their cabin
groups to prepare for worship. Each cabin group along with their counselor led a
different part of the worship service, which included an invocation, songs, prayers,
skits, statements of faith, and a benediction. Ewalu Program Director, Jesse
Klosterboer, shared the message with the kids during the service.
“Communion is important to Christian faith. Kids hear that Jesus is like the Passover
lamb, but the connection can be hard for kids to understand.” said Jesse Klosterboer. “Here kids learn this story hands-on. If they find they have a role in the story, even a
simple role, they have to wonder what it means and how it affects them. With Communion, we
want kids to ask how it affects them, because
the answer is a really big deal – it defines who they are as Christians.”
After Sunday morning worship, the weekend was drawing to a close. Thanks to the energetic counselors, committed
chaperones, and fun-loving kids, the retreat included a host of enjoyable moments and
memories shared by all. It was tough to say goodbye, but all in all, everyone had a
blast, made a bunch of new friends, and hopefully went home encouraged and renewed in
their faith! After all, that’s what
it’s all about!
We at Ewalu hope to see many of you back
again for summer camp and other retreats next year! For photos from
the elementary retreat check out the Ewalu Photo Gallery at www.ewalu.org/gallery.
 By Paul Frantsen
Camp Ewalu
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