Ewalu's mission and what makes it unique — small-group, decentralized camping
What makes Camp Ewalu's summer ministry unique and highly regarded is its decentralized, small-group camping environment. The advantages of this style include more camper participation, more counselor responsibility, and greater utilization of the whole facility (we have 500+ acres of forest at our main site). Though there have been some modifications to the individual programs, the overall format of the summer camp program has remained the same.
Cabin buddies and first-timers — coming without knowing anyone
Many campers also come without knowing anybody, and by the end of the week, they have made great, sometimes life-long, friends through the experience of a week at camp. Whether you come knowing many people or nobody, you will have a great experience at Ewalu! We honor all requests to share cabin space with friends.
We take seriously the health and well-being of all our campers, and we strive to provide the best week at camp possible. When a camper is sick or homesick, expect a call from our office — typically from the Program Director or Program Assistant — to collaborate on how best to provide a positive experience for your camper. Sometimes campers are sick and simply need to go home, but other times, campers can rest up and recover at camp and still end up having a great experience. Typically, homesickness can be worked through, but we recognize that parents tend to know best, and we will strive to work with you (the parent) on solutions that honor the particular reasons a child may be missing home. We always seek to make decisions on campers' participation in programs in a collaborative way with parent involvement.
Setting — 500+ acres, Maquoketa River, trails, facilities
Camp Ewalu's wonderful facilities include a large swimming pool, high ropes course, team-building games, 10+ miles of trails, the pristine Maquoketa River for creek-stomping, a working farm with animals and a garden, plenty of indoor meeting spaces, over 50 campfire rings, a dozen worship sites, hands-on environmental education tools, and much more!
Cost and value — true cost vs. what families pay, tiered pricing
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 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 already reduced from over $800 (true cost). Many programs as low as $240 for a whole week with tiered pricing.
Benefits of camp — faith, confidence, empathy, relationships
Ewalu programs are relational. Campers will grow in lifelong faith and confidence, experience a truly uplifting Christian community, enjoy outdoor adventures, make new friends, and go home more comfortable with themselves and able to better connect with other people. A decade's worth of survey results have shown a strong positive influence on campers when it comes to their faith, self-confidence, and even their capacity for empathy!
Program breadth — what campers do at Ewalu by age group
Elementary campers will spend their weeks creek stomping, visiting the farm, swimming in the pool, playing games, and exploring camp. Middle-school campers can expect to do some high ropes or the climbing tower, and to attend program-area specific off-site trips (such as visiting the Amish, the Clayton County Conservation Center, or Backbone State Park). They may also elect to attend M.A.D. (Music-Art-Drama) Camp or stay up all night with Night Camp! High-schoolers should expect additional adventures consistent with the program area they choose — everything from overnight canoe trips to river rafting to sleeping in hammocks or cruising the Mississippi River on a houseboat.
Financial aid — camperships, tiered pricing, no child turned away
No camper is EVER turned away from Ewalu for lack of ability to pay. Generous donations from Ewalu supporters bring the true cost of a week at camp (over $800) down for every camper already. On top of that, we have reserved funds at Ewalu to make sure camp is possible for all families, no matter what you can afford to pay. Camperships are camp scholarships that can be for 1/3 cost, 1/2 cost, 2/3 cost, or even the FULL cost of camp and are dependent on the need of the campers.
Three nutritious meals a day! Younger campers will eat most of their meals at Cedar Lodge, while older campers will often eat trail lunches and even cook some of their meals over a campfire. Meals are kid-friendly and planned to provide the energy necessary for your child to go-go-go while they are at camp! Campers will also have the opportunity to purchase snacks from the Canteen, typically once per day. Many campers spend roughly $3–5/day on snacks. Starting in 2024, we have been utilizing our camp garden for fresh seasonal vegetables — grown and picked in part by campers themselves!
For typical restrictions, such as gluten-free (Celiac's), dairy-free, vegetarian/vegan, and nut allergies, we will have no problem making substitutions. For more complicated dietary restrictions, our Food Service staff will reach out before the camp week to talk with parents to make a game-plan for the week. 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.
Should your camper experience a medical emergency, we will notify you immediately via a phone call from our Health Officer or other leadership staff member. We will also make contact in case of injury requiring off-site treatment, high fever, or any incident that keeps your camper out of regular camp activities for an extended period of time. While we do not typically call home for minor scrapes or bug bites that are routinely managed by our summer staff, we will make contact if we have any questions or concerns.
