Camp Okoboji can accommodate families and small or large groups of up to 500 persons in the summer and 195 in the winter. Facilities include 17 dormitory-style cabins, 16 modern housekeeping cabins, 2 retreat/reunion centers, The Refuge Chapel for small wedding seating for 50, Emmaus Outdoor Worship Center at the Point, a small Camp store with snacks and souvenirs, and a beautiful dining hall. Camp Okoboji hosts family reunions, youth group retreats, marriage enrichments, congregational board retreats, and weekend getaways for couples, singles and families! Consider Camp Okoboji when planning your next retreat or vacation!
Camp News
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Our 2015 Camp Theme is G.E.M.S. - God's Eternal Mercy Saves. The theme verse is " The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies… more...
Year-end Gift Considerations
Blessed to be a blessing. If God has blessed you this year... and Camp Okoboji is on your support list... some areas of support to consider. Dining Hall Renovations: Goal- finish exterior *… more...
Information Updates Needed!
Abandoned land lines, missing email addresses, no cell phone numbers listed, moved, family changes. We need to upadate our information on our camp friends. Please e-mail us your key… more...
Decorating Event Dec. 1
Help Decorate the Camp for Christmas. Monday Dec. 1, 9am - 2pm. Lunch Provided, Contact the camp to attend. Sponsored in part by Thrivent Financial Action
Women's Retreat Cancelled
We are sorry to announce the cancelation of this years fall retreat.
Music Invitation!
Calling all choirs (Church / Schools) & Music Ministry Groups & Musical Talent! Camp Okoboji has a strong tradition of Sunday Morning Worship Services. We want to further enhance our… more...
Camp History Display
Got Camp Items Lying Around? We are making a historical camp display and are looking for camp artifacts, Cub Week buttons, Stories, Important Dates, and display input. Contact the camp if… more...
2015 75th Anniversary Plans
Start Preparing! Plans are underway to celebrate this tremendous milestone, and we plan on taking the whole year to do it right! Plan on attending several events! Special Weekends: June 5-7… more...
Thank you, staff!
As some of our summer staff are leaving and others have already returned home, we'd like to take a moment and thank you all for the hard work and wonderful memories made this summer. For staff… more...
Youth Week 2014
Campers and the camp newspaper staff talk about what makes Youth Week so special to high school
Heading north: from White House, TN to Camp Okoboji
Before Pastor Tom Vanderbilt came to Wendy Golter’s church almost six years ago, Golter had never heard of the small Iowan camp in his stories.
Giving back: service projects bond Davis family reunion
For the Davis family reunion, service to Camp Okoboji started with the playground set in 1997.
“There was a group effort for putting it in and paying for playground equipment,” said… more...
Youth Week: avoiding RAGBRAI roads
This year RAGBRAI will be coming in to Milford on A34 from the west and then up HWY 71 North into the Lakes region during check-in time for Youth Week. We have done what is under our control to… more...
Jr. High Camp overview
What were Jr. High campers up to this week? Take a
Jr. High campers give back
After being fed and served by Camp Okoboji staff, Jr. High campers take matters - and lunch - into their own hands and serve homemade Hobo Stew to their counselors, leaders, and camp staff
Bike Challenge: Windy yet successful!
Ministry Advancement Director- Paul Golke, took on a windy day for his bike-a-thon Challenge. "The first 70 miles went pretty well, but the last 30 were tough, real tough." But the event is… more...
RAGBRAI friends welcome to camp July 20th
RAGBRAI friends of Camp Okoboji have a new housing option available for July 20-21! Tents, campers, and bicycles will be welcomed to stay overnight in the recreation field, and a limited number of… more...
Look back: Minneboji 2014
Every year we look forward to the return of Minneboji, a camp geared towards 4th-9th graders who mostly hail from South Dakota and southern Minnesota. Check out why campers say they love to return to… more...
'Fitness at the Lake' finds new outreach
Ministry can present itself in many ways at camp, as summer staff member Sarah Rethswich knows well. Her new program ‘Fitness at the Lake’, open to camp residents and community members,… more...
RAGBRAI
RAGBRAI: The Okoboji area prepares for the Invation! Camp Okoboji offers overnight space and meals. Tell your RAGBRAI friends that we are opening our doors to the "quieter side riders of… more...
Quilt Auction raises over $24,000!!
This years auction again lived up to its long history by offering an exciting afternoon of bidding and fund raising. When the auction gavel hit for the last time, nearly 160 quilts were sold to… more...
Available: the best week ever at Junior High Week 2014
Where are your kids going this summer? The pool is fun. Family vacations are awesome. But if they need a week on a lakeside, don’t think they’ll be alone – they’ll have Jesus… more...
IDW Women's Convention: Why join LWML?
Auxiliary president Judy Rozek talks about the highlights from today's auction and how the donations will benefit
New Adventure Camp challenges boundaries
Attracting all scraped knees, underused bicycles, and general thrill-seeking kids, Adventure Camp brings something a little different to campers who want more than kickball during recreation. Biking,… more...
Summer chaplain list
Thanks be to God for the chaplains who share their time with us on Sundays here at camp. The pastors you can expect to see here in coming weeks are:
June 22nd - Rev. Bruce Lesemann from St. John… more...
Video: Kids' Kamp
What did we do this year at Kids' Kamp? Christian the Bear
H.U.G. Puppets come to Joy camp for June 8th evening performance
Hailing from Estherville, IA come a few animated friends who have a lot to share with the Joy campers and other camp residents this week. The H.U.G. Puppets ministry will be performing a show tonight… more...
Dining Hall additions open Camp to colder seasons
Returning campers and staff members can be forgiven if they don’t immediately recognize the Camp Okoboji dining hall among all the new changes. The current overhaul of the dining hall focuses… more...
Chapel Gets Stain Glass Windows
Four (4) Stain Glass windows were recently installed in the Refuge Chapel. They were designed and created by Bogenrief Studios in Sutherland IA. They are a moving and colorful addition to… more...
Needs List Spotlight: Paddle Boards
Imagine gliding gracefully across Emerson Bay, enjoying a unique camp view. Your gift can make that possible. Memo 'Paddle Board' with your donation. Thanks!
What's Happening
2014 Theme "God's love is higher than the mountains" Psalms 36: 5-6a Check out the schedule and reserve your space! Youth Camps * Family Camps * Family Ministry Cabins *… more...
Operation Barnabas
The Iowa District West Operation Barnabas Task Force and Camp Okoboji have partnered together and received an ABLAZE grant and other donations to allow for all youth of military… more...
A big THANK YOU to all of the men and women who came to camp to help us cleanup our canal. The equipment you brought with you certainly helped to make this job much easier. God provided… more...
THANK YOU!
Thank you to all of the volunteers who came to Camp Okoboji and helped us do the recent mailings. It was so good to see many of you once again after all of the winter weather we've been having… more...
FEB. 28th --VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Camp Okoboji is looking for some volunteers to help with cleaning up the canal at Camp. The Canal Cleanup Day is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 28 beginning at 8:00 in the morning and will end in… more...
Winter Fun!
Thank you to all of the volunteers who came and helped with our Family Winter Fun time on Saturday, January 24, 2014. We had a very good turnout this year, and we are already making… more...
Come One, Come All!
Help decorate the trees in the Ginny DeWall Dining Hall and other cabins at Camp Okoboji for the Christmas Season on Monday Dec. 1, 9am - 2pm. We will have hot chocolate, cookies, and a light… more...
THANK YOU, VOLUNTEERS!
THANK YOU to all of the adults and youth that came to Camp Okoboji for our Fall Clean Up Days! There were many projects to complete today, and we will have to do some of them another day due to… more...
WE DID IT!
Our mailing volunteers recently completed a very large mailing, so I'd like to thank them for folding brochues, letters, etc. As I figure it, we folded over 24,000 items, and some items had two… more...
Thank You, Volunteers!
A big THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who worked at today's Omelet Breakfast. We served many people today, and your efficiency was very much appreciated. Our next Omelet Breakfast is… more...
THANK YOU, RAGBRAI VOLUNTEERS
A big THANK YOU to all of our RAGBRAI volunteers. You did a superb job of welcoming the bicyclists to Camp Okoboji! The kindness you showed and the help that you gave will be remembered… more...
Ragbrai Volunteers Needed ASAP
Volunteers are needed to help with Ragbrai at Camp Okoboji and along the route. Duty possibilities may include directing traffic, handing out information, helping in with kitchen duties, etc.… more...
Volunteers are "Good-Eggs"
Thank you to all of the volunteers for helping with Sunday's Omelet Breakfast. We had a large group of people join us for worship in the Christian Life Center and many stayed for the Omelet… more...
Omelet Breakfast Volunteers
Thank you to all of the volunteers who came and made omelettes and helped serve the breakfast for all of our guests on Sunday. We had a great turnout! I personally visited with some… more...
We got it done!
A BIG THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who came to Camp Okoboji and worked on our recent mailing. It would have taken us many days to complete the mailing without your help. We very… more...
In the Garden
God blessed us with another beautiful day to do some gardening at Camp Okoboji. Thank you to all of our great gardeners! (We may need to start a Gardening Club!) A special thank you… more...
WANTED: God's Great Gardeners
On Friday, May 23 from 1:00 - 5:00 P.M. and Saturday, May 24 from 9:00 - 1:00 P.M. Camp Okoboji volunteers are planning to pot plants and do some gardening at Camp Okoboji. If you are available… more...
VOLUNTEERS WANTED
Camp Okoboji is looking for a couple of volunteers to help count and sort silverware in our cabins during the week of May 12-16. If you can assist with this task, please call Kim at… more...
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are still needed at Camp Okoboji this week (May 7-10) to pick up sticks, rake leaves, and haul them away. We need at least one volunteer who can drive a pickup and pull a trailer. We… more...
WHAT A WEEKEND!
What a wonderful Spring Volunteer Weekend with a tremendous group of volunteers at Camp Okoboji! Our volunteers came from Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. It is amazing what our hands, feet,… more...
THANK YOU!
The Board of Directors Meeting and the Annual Meeting at Camp Okoboji was a success this past weekend. On Friday, volunteers set up tables and chairs in the Christian Life Center. Thank… more...
SPRING VOLUNTEER WEEKEND
May 2 - 4 has been designated as Spring Volunteer Weekend. Let's join together to serve the Lord in many ways.
Come and help us ready Camp Okoboji for the busy summer season.… more...
Volunteers Needed
Let's join together to serve the Lord in many ways.
May 2 - 4 has been designated as Spring Volunteer Weekend. Come and help us ready Camp Okoboji for the busy summer season. Rev.… more...
WHAT A WEEKEND!
This past weekend, April 4, 5, and 6, Camp Okoboji became "home" to over 350 middle school youth, their counselors, and their chaperones. A big thank you to Ellen Essick, Lynda "Jo" Hoermann,… more...
WE DID IT!
The Ginny DeWall Dining Hall now has new tables and chairs! A very big thank you to volunteers Les Buchholz, Virgil Karstens, Dale Langner, Charlie Schroeck, and Dave Schultz for coming to Camp… more...
Volunteers Make Things Happen
Thank you to all of the volunteers who showed up at Camp Okoboji the week of March 10-13 to clean and prepare the Ginny DeWall Dining Hall for the upcoming season. You are all a great group of… more...
WELL DONE!
Well done, Volunteers! We finished the large 2-day mailing today. Thank you. It is a pleasure to work with all of you. You are a hardworking group of people, and you make things… more...
Wow!
What a great day of work today! For those of you helping with the bulk mailing, we will finish the mailing tomorrow, Friday, February 14. Our workday will begin at 8:30 A.M. and end when… more...
Thank You!
•Thank you to all of the men, women, and boys who came to Camp Okoboji to volunteer last weekend! We had a great turnout and accomplished great things! Everyone worked hard, and we… more...
Camp Okoboji hosts family reunions, youth group retreats, marriage enrichments, congregational board retreats, and weekend getaways for couples, singles and families! Consider Camp Okoboji when planning your next retreat or vacation! View Cabins
