Summer Camp: Our Staff, Part 2...

A few weeks ago we started a series of articles featuring our “Senior Staff” members. True to our word this is the second installment. They are a passionate group of caring and talented individuals who love what they get to do for “work”. Our counselors always enjoy greeting old and new friends/campers as one summer camp session rolls into the next. The Lutheridge+Lutherock Senior Staff members believe summer should be a much longer season! To find out more about signing up for this years Summer Camp Sessions, log onto our website.

Hey! This is Drew Yoos, the Pioneer B Area Director for Summer 2009 at Lutheridge! Right now I am a senior at Furman University about to graduate with a degree in History and Philosophy. I am so excited about returning to Lutheridge for another summer! It is just a place where my creativity comes alive so I can share God's love with kids in different ways than what they are used to. Lutheridge is a place where kids can truly connect with God's creation and with others through games, fun, singing, and laughing. It's my hope that you or your child will share my excitement and join an incredible staff and me for a week of unforgettable times at Lutheridge.

Hi, I'm Jenna Quigley and will be a Lutheroad Area Director this summer. Currently, I am Junior Public Relations major at the University of South Carolina. I'm looking forward to this summer because I have the opportunity to spend it on top of a mountain, be surrounded by wonderful people, and have the chance to be a part of so many walks of faith. To me Lutheridge is a place that offers a place for fun, peace, and self-reflection. Lutheridge is a place where a mix of silliness and growth enables a week of learning in love and joy in Christ. A "place a-part" that is reminder of how a perception of life can be lived everywhere.

Greetings! My name is Ben Witcher and I'm going to be the Hill Top Area Director for this summer. I'm from Augusta, Georgia and I'll be graduating from Lenoir-Rhyne in May with a degree in Political Science. In all my summers as a camper, Lutheridge always offered me a time to recharge my spiritual batteries and rediscover the joys God's grace. I am excited about the opportunity to help build Christian communities with the campers and staff from week to week, and I pray that we can help each camper grow in their faith and relationship with God.

Hi - My name is Kyle Bates and will be the Pioneer A Area Director. Currently, I am senior Theology major at Lenoir Rhyne University. I'm looking forward to this summer because I can't wait to meet and help share the joy of Christ with campers! To me Lutheridge offers a week of lots of fun and faith with new friends!







Hi - I'm Kevin Kraus and will be the Dining Hall director for the summer of 2009. Currently, I am a senior at the University of Georgia, hoping to graduate soon with a degree in Geography, Atmospheric Science concentration. I'm looking forward to this summer because being at a place apart such as Lutheridge with tons of wacky, crazy kids just gives a big thrill to me, and I can't think of any better way to spend a summer. To me Lutheridge offers a week of pure crazy fun, friendship, laughter, and most importantly, some time with God and His creation.

See you this summer!

Faith Alive! Summer Program...

FAITH ALIVE! is a very popular Spring and Fall program here at Lutheridge. It is always a joy to see a group of happy and vibrant participants who are learning, sharing and enjoying their time here at camp. With this very special summer FAITH ALIVE! we combine learning about the faith of the Lutheran Tradition with the fun and creativity of camp. Each day includes teaching time with Bishop Gordy or Pastor Christensen and camp activities like crafts, swimming, games, singing, and camp music. Congregational leaders may come to participant in the teaching sessions as well as interact with youth during some camp activities.

FAITH ALIVE! campers are put in cabin groups with other youth from around the Southeastern Synod. The staff at Lutheridge provide supervision staying with the campers and sharing their unique faithful witness. FAITH ALIVE! is for Confirmation Classes, Middle School Youth Groups, as well as individual campers. Don’t miss out, if you sign up prior to May 15th you can save $35.00. Sign up today.

The Buzz-What our Campers/Participants are saying…

The staff who stay with our campers and guide them through the weekend are priceless. ~Ellen K; Adult Participant

I want to share with my congregation what I learned.
~Katie; Camper

Seeing the impact of this camp on our church children first hand was amazing. ~Sandy F; Adult Participant

Lutheridge is a great place to express your faith! ~Cosmo; Camper

Very well organized, wonderful content, loved to see our children “connecting” with other
young Christians. ~Susan, Adult

I was struggling with my faith when I came here; now I feel strong in God due to the worshipping here at Lutheridge. ~Stanley, camper

I could feel Him around me everywhere! ~Jordan, camper
What are you waiting for? Sign-up today, we look forward to hearing from you.

Summer Camp: Our Staff, Part 1...

We thought with summer fast approaching you would like to get to know our senior staff members. These are the folks that make our Summer Camp Program so fantastic. We know you will not only enjoy their company but the breadth of knowledge, skills and passion they bring to our summer Camp Program is remarkable.


My name is Travis Gamelin, and I will be one of the Craft Directors at Lutheridge this summer! I graduated from UCF with a degree in Radio/Television in 2005, and now teach Video Productions at a private Christian school. I also freelance for various types of video. I'm looking forward to my 5th summer on staff at Lutheridge after 3 great years as a counselor, and directing crafts last summer. I am so excited to be a part of this ministry, and to have the chance to create an environment for campers to grow and realize their creativity in a fun, safe place.

I'm Jacob Ridenhour and I'm currently working in Guest Services at Lutheridge. I will be one of two Outdoor Adventure Program Area Directors at Lutheridge for Summer 2009. I'm looking forward to the summer because I truly love spending time in the outdoors and seeing the benefits that the outdoor adventure program can bring to the lives of campers. The OAP program at Lutheridge offers challenges and adventures in a safe, Christian community where campers can bring home new experiences spent in God's creation from activities like rock climbing, white water rafting, and canoeing, along with a lifetime of memories and friendships.

Hi! My name is Maressa and will be the General Duty Area Director at Lutheridge. Right now I am at High Point University working on my Masters in Sports Studies (It's so fun!). I am really excited about this summer because I feel like every day at camp is the best day of my year; I am so blessed to get to work at Lutheridge! To me, Lutheridge offers a chance to meet some truly wonderful and gifted people, have OH so much fun and grow daily in my faith. I feel like it is my second home. Sometimes...I get “campsick” (it's true...).

Hi - I'm Elizabeth Sanders and I will be the Lakeside Area Director at Lutheridge. Currently, I am a junior at College of Charleston majoring in Media Communication. I'm excited for this summer because I love spending the summer with awesome kids and seeing campers and staff grow with God. To me Lutheridge offers a new and different experience every year. It is a place where campers can grow, reflect, learn, play, and just get away from it all for a week.

If you have not signed up for Summer Camp now is the time. www.llmi.org
In this, the first of a four part series, you
will get to meet each of our wonderful senior staff members.

Crosstraining, Lenoire-Rhyne University & Lutheridge+Lutherock...

Lenoir-Rhyne University and Lutheridge+Lutherock Ministries will be offering Crosstraining, a Christian Outdoor Leadership Expedition, for all current students and incoming freshmen, earning you 3 hours of college credit under HES 140. Crosstraining combines Rock Climbing, Team Building, Backpacking, Whitewater Rafting, and a 30 hour “Solo” self-reflection experience. Crosstraining is three hours of college credit before the Fall 2009 semester begins. During your course you will travel on foot over some of God’s most beautiful country. You’ll learn how to pack all your gear in your backpack, cook a backcountry meal, and camp without leaving a trace.

We’ll start off learning skills for rock climbing such as tying knots, belaying, and rappelling, which fosters trust, confidence, and new skills. We’ll pack up from there and travel in the backcountry learning how to live in the wilderness using only what we have with us.

From there we will take time to learn how to read white water as well as learn paddle strokes and travel on whitewater. You will be emerged in a safe Christian setting where we will discuss leadership, participate in Bible study, and learn more about our Natural Surrounding. You’ll travel deep into the wilderness at the same time, learning how to get along with your peers and become a competent leader, not only in the outdoors but at home.




So here is the deal...

When July29-August 14 2009.
Cost-$250 for Lenoir-Rhyne Students (Call for non Lenoir-Rhyne student price)
Any College age student may take this course; credit can be negotiated with your school.

How to register: For Lenoir-Rhyne students, just register for HES 140 for the fall 2009 semester. All non Lenoir-Rhyne students, may contact one of the following for more information on how to register by sending an email to:
Pastor Tim C-K
Kara Ridenhour
Jacob Ridenhour

Conference or Retreat, Easy as 1, 2, 3…

Do you have a meeting, conference or retreat you need to schedule? Is your Company, Church Group, Women’s Organization or Youth Group looking for a spot to hold your Corporate Retreat, Conference, General Meeting or Function? Tired of the same old options? In this time of downsizing and shrinking budgets you may want to consider Lutheridge+Lutherock Conference Center. We offer a multitude of options and experiences.

A total of 11 different meeting rooms, some in the housing areas, are available at Lutheridge+Lutherock for business needs and retreat gatherings. Many activities including swimming, games, hiking as well as community buildings are available. Our chef provides nutritious and delicious meals, which can be adapted to specialized dietary needs.

At Lutherock “The Crow's Nest” is not what you might expect to find at a wilderness camp. This year-round, two-story retreat center has fifteen rooms with private baths! There is a meeting room, large lounge area with a wood-burning fireplace, large windows overlooking the mountains, a dining room, and a light industrial kitchen. The center is handicapped accessible. (A two-night minimum stay is required for weekend retreats.) Lutherock also features “The Founder's Lodge” which is a dormitory style facility with two sleeping areas (accommodating 24 each). There is a main room with a wood burning fireplace and light industrial kitchen. The Founder's Lodge is not heated and is open seasonally: April 1st through November 1st. An open-air pavilion with a built-in grill is located off the back of the Founder's Lodge. Rustic and a lot of fun!

“The Kohnjoy Inn” is the most comfortable and private of all lodging options at Lutheridge. With a sleeping capacity of 32, the Kohnjoy has sixteen individual rooms with private bathrooms. Rocking chairs are situated on the deck for quiet time.
A cozy two-story house, Bacot is also a wonderful housing option for small groups wishing for a more secluded, intimate ambiance. This eight-bedroom house is equipped with a full kitchen, two gathering areas, and four bathrooms. The central gathering area upstairs is perfect for small group meetings as well as lounging around the stone fireplace.

At Lutheridge+Lutherock we can help you with team-building, or we can just give you a great place to hold your meeting. High comfort lodges, state of the art meeting facilities, and a staff that will take care of all your needs. All this, and you'll save money. Now, that is what we call “Meeting Responsibly”! Give us a call @ 828.684.2361, drop us an email or log onto our website to schedule your next event. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

The Buzz- "The retreats were wonderful! We could not
have had any better service and the Conference Center is beautiful! The
food was good, the rooms were clean, and the staff were great! Matt went
out of his way to ensure that everything was perfect. Everyone
complimented us on the retreat choice."

Why A Christian Camp...

Why a Christian Camp? Lutheridge+ Lutherock Summer Camp will welcome thousands of campers this year. We will teach them concrete skills for Christian living, skills that they will use for a lifetime. We will affirm their gifts and coach them to affirm each other. Our staff supports and encourages our campers to stretch and grow, rejoicing in accomplishments and seeing failure as a chance to try again. Our goal is that every camper who comes to Lutheridge+Lutherock goes home closer to Jesus, knowing Him better and loving Him more.

Why choose our Christian Camp? Other camps boast improved skills in concrete, measurable areas: shots on goal. Most offer the chance to build self-esteem and develop teamwork through practice drills and competition. This is fine and can be valuable, but it is easy to be fooled into thinking that secular camps teach “real-life” skills that kids can use, and Christian camps do not. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The skills that campers will learn at Lutheridge+Lutherock this summer are just as tangible and useful.

Self-esteem and teamwork are emphasized, but will not be taught through drills and competition. Each camper will be supported and encouraged to try new things, to stretch and grow in ways that are appropriate. For some first-time campers, that will mean cutting their own meat or sleeping in a cabin. For high school youth it may be hiking 20 miles on the Appalachian Trail or putting a new roof on a Habitat cabin. Campers go home amazed at what they CAN do, not only by themselves, but as a team. Throughout the week, campers learn to live and work and play together. Middle school and high school campers spend time on the Group Interaction Course, a low ropes adventure that teaches campers problem solving and leadership skills. Campers are taught HOW to be encouraging and affirming of one another. Every child goes home feeling like a winner.

For parents and baptismal sponsors, sending a child to church camp is an excellent way to show commitment to the promises made on the child’s behalf at the baptismal font. A week at Lutheridge+Lutherock in no way replaces regular worship or involvement in a home congregation, but it does give youth a broader and deeper understanding of the church and of the faith which the church proclaims.

Our counselors are also important role models for campers. Talented college students, committed to Christ and excited about sharing their faith and love for children, receive two full weeks or more of intensive training before campers are entrusted to their care. They show campers that a life of faith is not only fulfilling, but also fun! They hear problems and offer advice to situations that campers just would not share with the “grownups” in their lives. And over and over, throughout the summer, they point to Jesus as THEIR counselor, their strength and joy. Young people expect parents, teachers, and pastors to do that, but when “cool” college counselors live their faith and mean it…then campers believe it can be true in their own lives…here and now.
At Lutheridge+Lutherock these are skills and attitudes that can be put to use tomorrow and will last a lifetime. Few of today’s children will still be leading cheers or playing soccer when they are fifty. But they will still be relating to people in their family, workplace and neighborhood. They will still be children of God living out the covenant of their baptism.

Take a moment and check out our different Summer Camp Curriculum's, you will be inspired to have your child join us this summer.

Springtime in the Mountains...

Winter is almost behind us and it is time to make plans for some “Springtime Fun”.
What better tonic to get into the groove of a new season than a Retreat at Lutheridge?
Have you been to the Biltmore Estate lately? Imagine spending the day at one of America’s premier historic Estates, during the “Biltmore Festival of Flowers”.


The gardens will be in full color; come and walk the extensive grounds and enjoy the beauty of the Wisteria, Roses, Tulips and Azaleas. The gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmstead with such brilliance and foresight that they are as magical today as they were almost 100 years ago. Olmstead is considered the father of American landscape architecture and designer many well-known urban parks such as Central Park in New York City. The Festival of Flowers is an experience not to be missed.
So here is the deal.
Arrive at Lutheridge on Monday. Your housing will be ready and if your group would like a space to have time together, we can provide that. Enjoy time on your own at Lutheridge, or visit the North Carolina Arboretum, take a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, visit the Folk Art Center, or any activity that will bring you joy! Lutheridge staff will greet you at dinner to let you know about your time here.
After breakfast at Lutheridge on Tuesday you depart for the 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate. We will provide you with directions and ideas of what to do while at Biltmore. Lunch is on your own at one of the Estate's dining establishments. Meet us back at Lutheridge for dinner and devotions.
On Wednesday, feel free to wander around Lutheridge after we say goodbye to you at breakfast. Enjoy the rocking chairs, have a meeting with your group, or visit the towns of Asheville or Hendersonville. Make your time at Lutheridge+Lutherock Retreat Center be exactly what YOU want it to be.
The Details….
Cost for “Spring in the Mountains” is a very affordable $144 per person. This price includes 4 meals, double occupancy housing, evening singing and devotions, and a one-day general admission ticket to the Biltmore Estate. Children 12 and under: $75 (includes Biltmore one-day ticket). For questions about housing and cost, contact Stacey at scoleman@llmi.org or 828-684-2361 ext. 335.
Register today, this retreat is filling up fast.