2024 Summer camp registration is open!

Individuals may register online or fill out a form in our brochure, or print a registration form to submit by email or mail.

PLEASE NOTE: Youth in grades 1-7 may register for programs one year above or below their current grade level. If you would like to register your child/youth for a program other than for their listed grade, please call our office to inform our registrar. (Youth completing 8th grade may register down one grade level if desired, but cannot yet sign up for High School youth programs.)

Program Availability

Programs fill up quickly! The green numbers below show the grade range for each program (remember, grades 1-7 can go up or down one grade from that range). The X indicates a Monday-Friday Session, A indicates a half-week program from Sunday to Tuesday, and B indicates a half-week program from Wednesday to Friday. Go to our online registration site for availability, or call the Ewalu office at 563-933-4700.

Discounts and Deposit

Registration forms received or postmarked by February 29, 2024, are eligible for the First Early Discount ($40 off most full-week youth programs). The Second Early Discount ($20 off most full-week youth programs) is eligible until April 18, 2024. See program descriptions for early discount amounts for each program. NO CODES NEEDED! The discount will be applied automatically during checkout.

A $50 sibling discount is also offered for each additional camper from the same family (i.e. a household registering 3 children would receive 2 sibling discounts). NO CODES NEEDED! Discounts will be applied automatically during checkout.

We must receive your registration form and deposit to reserve your spot. A $100 non-refundable deposit is due at time of registration; full payment is due 3 weeks prior to camp.

Financial assistance is available up to the full price of a week at camp; contact Ewalu for information at 563-933-4700. No child is turned away due to financial need! (See below)

Camperships

It is the desire of the whole Ewalu community of churches and individuals that no child is ever denied an amazing camp experience due to a family’s financial constraints. Through the help of many generous donors, Ewalu has campership funds available for those in need. Please contact Ewalu to learn more at 563-933-4700 or email office@ewalu.org. We want to make sure your child has this safe, uplifting, adventurous life experience every year!

Special Dietary Needs

The Ewalu food service staff aims to provide a fulfilling week for your camper while they are here in the summer. We offer campers hearty breakfast options, as well as a healthy variety of hot food with a large salad bar at all noon and evening meals served in our dining hall. We do not, however, have a separate kitchen to prepare allergen-free items, and we cannot guarantee that specific allergens are not present in your menu items. Ewalu makes every effort where safety is concerned, but our ability to customize many menus at once is limited.

In the case of certain medical dietary needs such as a diagnosed gluten allergy, peanut allergy, or lactose-intolerance, Ewalu offers some alternative items at meals served in the dining hall. These items will be reserved by our kitchen team for certain campers to enjoy. However, some meals served at camp will not be in our dining hall, but rather in a camping setting. For that reason, it is important that we are made aware of all dietary restrictions ahead of time. We will work with you to assure that your campers needs are met.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please refer to our special dietary needs statement, or call Food Service Director Maury Landt at 563-933-4700, or email Maury at foodservice@ewalu.org.

Additional Information

When registering online, after our office receives your registration form and deposit, you will receive a link to download information specific to your child’s program. When registering by mail, you will receive information and a health form by email. Please watch for this important email. If no email is provided, your packet will be mailed within 2-3 weeks to your billing address.

The packet includes information about your child’s specific program, expectations, and a detailed list of what to bring to camp for your specific program.

Registration/check-in for most programs is Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at the Creation Center, and the week concludes on Friday at 2 p.m. with a closing program for families just outside Cedar Lodge. Click here to see more details about check-in.

Directions to Camp Ewalu

Ewalu is located 3 miles west of Strawberry Point on Iowa Highway 3. Follow the signs from Highway 3, turn onto Alpha Avenue, and travel south about one mile to Ewalu’s main site. Continue through camp another 1/4 mile (passing the swimming pool and office) until you see a lot of friendly people who will welcome you to camp!

Cost of Camp

Traditional week-long, for-profit summer camp programs in the Midwest, such as ACA-accredited sports camps, usually cost about $850-$1,200/week. At Ewalu, an ACA-accredited and 501c3 nonprofit organization, the “true cost” of providing your child’s Ewalu experience has for years been greater than the prices listed. Thanks to your generous donations, year-round rental income, volunteerism, and careful management in partnership with congregations, all campers receive a large subsidy to attend Ewalu: the listed price for a typical program is reduced from $800 (true cost) to $525, or $485, if registering early.

We realize not every family needs this financial gift from Ewalu in order to attend camp, while others require more assistance. We hope to serve all, and therefore trust in the honesty of each family and in God’s ability to provide for your participation. If you are able to pay your actual cost for a program, this ministry will redirect your family’s subsidy so children who need more assistance can come. To help families for whom the reduced rate of $525 is a hurdle, additional campership funds are available. Please contact our office at 563-933-4700 for more information about financial assistance.

You are welcome here!

Questions?

Call 1-563-933-4700 or email camp@ewalu.org. We want each youth and adult to have a faith-forming, character-building, empathy-growing, leadership-inspiring, life-empowering, and FUN summer camp experience! Your questions and concerns are important. An Ewalu outdoor ministry professional would love to help if we can.

Ewalu is a non-profit organization, serving all people regardless of race, orientation, creed, sex, or national origin.