Register now for 65th anniversary in August
Join alumni and friends of Camp Ewalu for a weekend of events to celebrate camp’s 65th anniversary and to re-dedicate Cedar Lodge after the renovation project. Save the dates: August 28-30, 2026, at Ewalu’s main site. Click the link below to see the tentative schedule for the weekend, which includes Minnesota singer-songwriter Peter Mayer in an outdoor concert on Friday night! Also part of the weekend: 5K trail run, color run (geared toward kids), alumni group photos, celebration worship, camp activities, coffeehouse trivia, and meals. Book your lodging now! Premium and discount options can be found 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
Gloria Dei Challenge to help us ‘cross the finish line’
We have crossed the $3 million fundraising mark for renovations of Cedar Lodge, construction is nearing completion, and we have ONE FINAL CHALLENGE courtesy of an Eastern Iowa congregation who wants to help us finish this project without any debt! Gloria Dei Lutheran Church of Cedar Rapids is challenging your congregation to meet the call. Gloria Dei will MATCH all congregational gifts dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 to help us raise $100,000 to finish the Cedar campaign. Every dollar raised by congregations now through September 15 will count toward this match! Can YOUR congregation make one final gift to this project? Each ELCA partner church was mailed information about this match in June 2026. Click below for details about Cedar Lodge!
