New Wapo Program Director

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We are so excited to welcome Mari Shumaker as the new Program Director at Camp Wapo. Mari’s love for outdoor ministry started young as the child of a camp director, and has continued throughout college, serving on summer staff at Camp Wapo (2019, 2020) and in a leadership position at Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp (2022, 2023). Upon graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College in May, Mari continued to explore how outdoor ministry might be a part of her call and vocation. We are excited to welcome her back to Camp Wapo to see how her energy and passion for outdoor ministry will bring new life to the program team. Join us in welcoming her!

New Wilderness Canoe Base Director

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We are excited to welcome our new Wilderness Canoe Base Director! Stephanie Carpenter is a highly skilled leader in non-profit organizations and Lutheran outdoor ministry. With a profound appreciation for Lutheran theology, she embodies a focus on grace and inclusion driven by God’s love. Stephanie’s belief in the transformational power of outdoor ministry spans all age groups, making her a great leader for Wilderness Canoe Base. Her extensive experience includes not only fundraising and volunteer management but also seamless collaboration with congregations, communities, government agencies, and private sector corporations, most recently as Executive Director at Holden Village and Program Director at Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center.

Known for her inspirational leadership style and dynamic public speaking skills, she has an impressive track-record of creative program development.  Stephanie is a catalyst for positive change in the realms of faith, community, and outdoor engagement.  She’s probably not a stranger to many of you since her love for Wilderness Canoe Base started when she was on staff in the 90’s. Join us in welcoming Stephanie to the team!

2023 Boat-in Worship Survey

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New Address Alert!

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We had to say goodbye to our beloved Hickory Point Lane 😢.  Camp Wapo can be found in the same place 🌞 but with a new address – 1204 74th Ave, Amery WI 54001. (we know – it doesn’t have the same charm).
It’s a good thing that everything that makes Camp Wapo so special can not be changed. We remain a place of grace forming people of faith, inspiring faith through the wonder of community and creation.
Camp Wapo
1204 74th Ave
Amery WI, 54001
Although Google maps still shows Hickory Pt Ln, the road sign says 120th St. Follow 120th to the end and take a RIGHT into camp. 🌈✝️

All the Stars

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This year marks 75 years of outdoor ministry at Camp Wapo and 66 years at Wilderness Canoe Base. We are deeply grateful for everyone who has had a part in making these sites meaningful to so many, and for sharing the light of the Gospel with the next generation. The summer staff have arrived at Wapo and Wilderness Canoe Base and they are just beginning to uncover the many blessings a summer at camp holds.

For 75 years camp has been inspiring faith in the wonder of community and creation. Just think of the tremendous impact on the lives of every individual that has experienced camp here. The echoes of songs sung around the campfire, the millions of prayers lifted in every imaginable and creative way, the stillness of a morning paddle on a calm lake, the shriek of laughter while playing Capture the Flag, the spiritual centering that happens at First Word, Last Word and everything in between. As a supporter of Camp Wapo, Wilderness Canoe Base, and Ox Lake we invite you to join us in honoring the rich history of this outdoor ministry with your contribution this year.

In celebration of the important work of camp and developing leaders, and to spark generosity, a close friend of camp and generous donor has given us a $50,000 gift for a matching challenge. Your gift today will ensure a superior quality camp experience for everyone at Camp Wapo, Ox Lake and Wilderness Canoe Base. How can you help us reach this $50,000 challenge goal?

This summer’s Bible study theme is “All the Stars,” inspired by Isaiah 40:26. Campers will be exploring how, as a child of God, each of us has been beautifully and wonderfully made. Like all the stars in the sky, we are called by name and cannot be lost. No matter where we are in life, we belong to God.

We will be honoring all gift challenge donors with a wall of stars at Camp Wapo. We’ll include your name or the name of someone you’d like to give in honor or memory of…maybe someone who has inspired your faith!

Thank you for your consideration and generosity! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see our progress.

Click here to share a gift!

Camp Wapo participates in USDA Milk Program

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Media Release May 23, 2023

Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp Inc, announces its participation in the Special Milk Program at Camp Wapo. Read full details here.

Amazon Wish List for Summer

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We are just two weeks away from our summer leadership team arriving at camp to prepare for staff training! Check out our Amazon Wishlist…
It’s full of stuff we can use for staff training and summer programs and it’s an incredibly easy and fun way to support camp.
1. Pick your items.
2. Include your contact info so we can say Thank You!
3. Items are shipped directly to camp.
4. We shout “Whoop Whoop” when items arrive, and immediately put them into service!

An inheritance will become a lasting legacy

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Dave Assmus has a lifelong connection to Wilderness Canoe Base (WCB). Now, thanks to some intentional and thoughtful planning, he will be turning a plot of pastureland in South Dakota into a lasting legacy for the camp that has had a significant impact on his life.

“I’m grateful to be able to have an impact on a place that’s so meaningful to me, and that will extend beyond my lifetime,” Dave says. While the gift may seem complex at first, the result will be a significant gift to create an endowment fund providing annual revenue for the ministry of Wilderness Canoe Base.

Working with an advisor from the ELCA Foundation, Dave and his spouse Ruth created a Charitable Remainder Unitrust from the proceeds of the sale of land he inherited from his parents. That trust will provide annual income to the Assmuses through their lifetimes, then will benefit their children for a set number of years, after which the trust will be transferred to Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp Inc., designated to benefit Wilderness Canoe Base.

“We truly appreciate Dave and Ruth’s vision and desire to make this amazing commitment to future Wilderness campers and staff!” says Nate Berkas, WCB Director. “This gift will impact Wilderness Canoe Base for generations to come!  Even thinking about that is hard to comprehend, but so exciting!”

By sharing their story with you, Dave and Ruth hope to inspire other friends of Wilderness to consider similar legacy gifts. These can range from a simple bequest (naming the organization in your will) to a more structured gift like theirs. “This gift took some time, but it wasn’t difficult to set up,” Dave says. He emphasizes that “it’s important to start planning now for what you want your legacy to be!”

Executive Director, Heather Eggert adds, “We are deeply grateful to Dave and Ruth, not only for this legacy, but for a lifetime of friendship, philanthropy, and dedication to outdoor ministry. We also appreciate the partnership and expertise provided by the ELCA Foundation to structure this gift in a way that will benefit both the family and Wilderness Canoe Base. It’s beyond any gift we could have imagined.”

If you have questions or would like more information about ways to make a legacy gift to Camp Wapo, Ox Lake or Wilderness Canoe Base, please reach out to our director of donor engagement, Gay Gonnerman, gayg@campwapo.org or 715-883-0411.

Camp Wapo is celebrating 75 years!

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Welcome Megan Meyer

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We are pleased to announce the addition of Megan Meyer to the year round staff at Wilderness Canoe Base! Megan will serve as the Food & Hospitality Director.
Anyone who has been to Wilderness Canoe Base in the past few years (whether it be summer, fall or winter) has likely had an opportunity to eat food that has been prepared by Megan. This is a new year-round position for Wilderness Canoe Base and we are so excited to be able to add additional skills and experiences to our team. Help us in welcoming Megan!