Plan a Retreat

Enjoy a restful time away for fellowship, learning, worship, and exploring nature.
Camp is open for retreats of all sizes year-round. Plan your own gathering for church, work, or family. Enjoy an opportunity to connect with God’s creation at Ewalu.

Summer Camp

Fun. Friends. Faith. Join us this summer for your adventure at Ewalu!
Summer camp at Ewalu provides a unique opportunity for kids of all ages to enjoy God’s creation, explore their faith, make new friends, and challenge themselves.

Support Ewalu

Explore a variety of many ways to support Ewalu’s mission and ministry.
Dozens of people gather in the Creation Center for a presentation at Ewalu.
Your financial support and ongoing prayers powerfully impact our mission. Thanks to your generosity, people of all ages have life-changing and faith-filled experiences at Ewalu.

NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Click each card below for a link with more details!
Quilt Auction logo with dates of event

Our Quilt Auction fundraiser is HERE!

The 39th annual Ewalu Quilt Auction actually has TWO separate auctions: one that’s online and one that’s a live in-person event at camp.

ONLINE AUCTION: September 14-20
Over 150 quilts and handmade items up for bids! Online Auction items will be on display at camp on Saturday, September 19, the same day as Ewalu’s Live Auction. Come see the online items in person, then still have time to bid before the Online Auction ends at 7 p.m. Sunday, September 20. Bid on items now at THIS LINK.

LIVE AUCTION: Saturday, September 19
Over 120 quilts and items up for bids at 1 PM, plus our Country Store has fabric, finished pieces, odds and ends, and much more starting at 9 AM. Free admission, come for the whole day! Lunch served at noon (freewill offering), plus baked goods available at the Canteen. Rain or shine at Ewalu’s main site, just west of Strawberry Point, IA. DETAILS at the link.

Join us for our 55+ retreat, seniors!

Camp is not just for kids! Those age 55 and older are invited to Autumn Odyssey, our retreat just for seniors at the comfortable Stone Center. Learn from meaningful speakers, enjoy real relaxation and take part in activities like hiking and chair yoga, all in the scenic Driftless Region of northeast Iowa during peak fall color! The dates this year are October 14-16. Click here for more details and to register now.

Dirty Feet Retreat for junior high

Calling all junior high students in grades 6-9! Enjoy two nights of lodging in cabins, relevant Bible studies, quality meals & snacks, energetic camp counselors, active praise music, the High Ropes Course, campfires and much more! This special weekend at Ewalu will help you grow in faith and meet new friends.
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, through 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 18
COST: $100/youth, $75/chaperone
All lodging, activities and meals included! Click here for details and to register.

Ewalu awarded Character at Camp grant

Camp Ewalu has been selected as a grantee in the American Camp Association’s Character at Camp Grant Program, a competitive national initiative supported by Lilly Endowment Inc. A grant of $172,149 will support Ewalu’s new True North program for high school students, including the hiring of Heather Swartz as the full-time True North director. The Character at Camp program is designed to strengthen character development in camp settings and highlight camps as impactful environments for youth growth. CLICK HERE to learn more about the grant, and CLICK HERE to see details about True North

Benches at Outdoor Chapel and the Gathering Expedition logo

Gathering Expedition for youth in Grades 8-12

This weekend retreat helps youth and their adult leaders step away from the noise to explore faith, purpose and leadership. It’s a time to pause, listen and prepare for what God is doing next. Young people are invited to discover their voice and practice leading alongside others October 30 to November 1 at Ewalu. Through worship, service and shared learning, they will grow skills and confidence to live their faith boldly in daily life. This retreat will also serve as a stepping stone on the faith formation journey—building connection and momentum before the 2027 ELCA Youth Gathering, where the shared experience peaks in a powerful churchwide celebration of faith.