Ewalu’s new servant adventure for high school students

Find Your Adventure—Find Your True North!

What is True North?

True North is part service camp and part adventure camp with a reality game show-inspired format. It is a unique, immersive experience for 9th- to 12th-grade youth to come together and build resilience in a faith-centered camp environment while serving and playing in the beautiful driftless region of NE Iowa.

Rooted in the fruits of the Spirit in the book of Galatians, True North is designed to help high school students develop character and build inner strength through every challenge and adventure. Whether campers join us for a week of adventure at Camp Ewalu or a dynamic day at Wartburg College, True North is where adventure builds resilience.

2 programs for high school youth

For 2026, True North has 2 different programs for students in Grades 9-12 to take part in:

• True North Spring Event is Saturday, March 14, at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. This event is intended for youth groups of 2+ with an adult chaperone. DETAILS BELOW.
• True North Summer Camp is July 26-31 at Camp Ewalu, just west of Strawberry Point, Iowa. Groups or individuals can sign up, and trained staff from Ewalu will lead the program. DETAILS BELOW.

Watch the video below as Frank and Emily share more about the program, which will begin in 2026:

Download the True North brochure!

True North in a Day – Spring Event

“True North in a Day” is a one-day event at Wartburg College (Waverly, IA) on Saturday, March 14, 2026.  It is open to youth groups in grades 9-12.
Students must register as part of a church or community group with an adult chaperone. Students will have a mini “Amazing Race” across campus and serve in the local community. The program is designed to strengthen resilience, leadership, and community-mindedness.

Where: Wartburg College, 100 Wartburg Blvd., Waverly, IA
Building: Wartburg Chapel (southeast side of campus)
Time: 9 am to 7 pm
Cost: $40 per student or adult (lunch and supper included)

To Register online – Click link above (Sign in or create an account, then choose “2026 Ewalu Events“)

Individuals: Register under your own Household account
Group Registration: Have each youth fill out paper form, then email to office@ewalu.org and our Registrar will register for you.

Download a printable Spring Event flier!

Summer program in 2026

True North is a high school servant leadership camp modeled after a reality game show model where participants work collaboratively—rather than competitively–to complete challenges. The camp is designed to build resiliency and grow faith in high school youth through service, team-building, and high adventure activities. Participants will attend Sunday through Friday, staying in cabins at Camp Ewalu and working in teams to complete service and adventure challenges. Teams will be guided by an Ewalu counselor, receiving daily bearings with instructions for the day that include guiding questions that are designed to dive deeper into faith and fun challenges that are meaningful and oriented toward building character and developing resiliency.

Themes of the day include:

Monday: Exploration – Teams will evaluate their resources and learn about themselves.

Tuesday: Service – Teams will grow in love and empathy as they complete service projects in the local community

Wednesday: Connection – Teams will grow together through fun activities centered around water—including a pool party—with connections to baptism and our unity in the body of Christ.

Thursday: Adventure – Teams will face their capstone event for the week. A series of challenges set in a beautiful wild space will help teams build resiliency through cooperation by participating in a scavenger hunt/adventure event unlike anything they’ve experienced before!

Friday: Reflection – Teams will bring it all together, debriefing their week and asking, “Where do we go from here?”

COST: Individual registration – $380; Group registration – $360 per person
Campership rate – $240 (please contact office at office@ewalu.org – reserved for those needing more financial help to afford camp)

All lodging, meals and activities covered!

EARLY DISCOUNT: Save $20 on any tier if you register by February 28! From March 1 to April 15, save $10 off any tier.

To Register online – Click link above (Sign in or create an account, then choose “2026 Summer Events,” then find “True North”)

Individuals: Register under your own Household account
Group Registration: Have each youth fill out paper form, then email to office@ewalu.org and our Registrar will register for you.

Why True North is a great option for youth group service trips:

Serving our neighbors is one of the pillars of True North. At True North, service is done in the context of group-building, faith, and character development that will create a lasting impact on your young people. Not only will youth serve in the local community, they will also consider how that service changes them, as they learn and grow as individuals and as a team. From rappelling and exploring underground caves at Backbone State Park, to making a real impact through community service projects, campers will be challenged and grow in their faith AND their sense of belonging.

Want to learn more?

Connect with Frank Johnson, Ewalu Executive Director, at frank@ewalu.org, or Emily Dreessen Tull, Ewalu Program Director, at program@ewalu.org.

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Great Give Day launches new program in 2025

On May 21, 2025, Ewalu raised $33,000 to help launch True North during Great Give Day, a 24-hour online fundraising event. Funds will help pay for staffing, development and other resources for this brand-new program at Ewalu! Thank you to all our donors who are helping make this new program a reality for high school students.