Weekends at Ewalu are often buzzing with excitement as youth and adults from churches across Iowa arrive for retreats. For the past three years, Camp Ewalu has offered a fall retreat for elementary youth called, "What’s Up With Supper?" The retreat focuses on the Lord’s Supper and is designed to prepare youth to receive their first communion or just learn more about communion if they already receive it. The response from area churches, pastors, and youth has been enthusiastic! The fall retreat has grown from 15 to over 50 youth last year.

"Camp 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," said Adrian Walter, Director of Youth and Family Ministries at First Lutheran Church, Decorah. "We do not see Camp Ewalu as just another place to send our kids, but rather as a stepping stone in their faith journey. As our youth and family ministry grows, we see Camp Ewalu as a key component of that growth."

Ewalu retreats are packed with fun activities for kids, including the high ropes challenge course, parachute activities, hayrides, and large group games. A favorite is the Zip Line, a 250-foot screaming cable ride through the trees of Ewalu. Evening activities feature night hikes, stargazing, and campfire programs in the woods that include songs, stories, skits, and s’mores. Sunrise hikes, morning devotions, and worship at the outdoor chapel round out a great weekend retreat at Ewalu.

Ewalu is set apart to be a place for spiritual renewal and personal growth. It’s important for kids to get away from the comforts of their home and experience an entirely new look on life. Youth will remember specific things like a campfire song, a morning nature hike, or going on the Zip Line for a long, long time. These ministry moments impact kids for the rest of their lives. We pray they leave this place encouraged, renewed, challenged, and changed.

Since the first communion retreats have been so successful, Ewalu is offering a new spring retreat for elementary youth which focuses on the sacrament of baptism. The retreat, called "Walk in the Water," will include a river walk, water olympics, and other wet and wild activities to bring the baptism theme to life. It’s important for kids to make the connection between daily life and the deeper truths found in scripture. The sacraments, being so visual and physical in nature, are especially powerful at doing that for youth. They reveal the life-giving, sacrificial love of God in Christ Jesus and empower us to walk by faith in God’s grace, forgiveness, and love.

Ewalu retreats like this are a team effort. Thanks to the energetic counselors, committed chaperones, and fun-loving kids, the Ewalu retreats include a host of enjoyable moments and memories shared by all. It’s always tough to say goodbye after a fun weekend at camp, but the new connections, friends made, and the lessons learned make it all worthwhile. Our goal is to send the youth home encouraged and renewed in their faith. After all, that’s what it’s all about!

The Ewalu staff hope to see you at one of the camp retreats this year.