Admissions News - July 2011

Camp Day prepares 200 camp staffers for a summer of leadership

On June 2, Luther Seminary welcomed 200 staff from six Bible camps to the seminary for its third annual Camp Day. The Seminary's Office of Admissions; Center for Children, Youth and Family Ministry; and a number of professors have partnered with Midwestern outdoor ministries since 2009 to educate and energize camp counselors and prepare them for their various leadership roles at camp.

Some former Camp Day attendees have returned to Luther Seminary as current students. They include Master of Divinity students Jerod Freeberg, Julia Perkins, Josh Toufar and Kim Cassidy.

Led by Luther Seminary faculty, staff, students and alums, Camp Day featured a theme of vocation. Camp staff attended workshops with topics ranging from leadership to culture, spiritual practices to the environment and of course Bible and theology.

"Throughout the worship, workshops, games, plenary sessions and discussion, the camp staffs learned about what it means to be a Christian public leader in our world today," said Andy Jolivette, associate director of admissions and one of Camp Day's project managers.

"This year our focus expanded beyond just the summer in that we encouraged these students to be faithful leaders and people whose faith matters to them for the rest of their lives," Jolivette said.

Here's a look at Camp Day by the numbers:

  • 200 camp counselors from six camps attended Camp Day at Luther Seminary
  • 30-plus faculty, staff and students helped lead the event
  • 3 Luther Seminary students will continue the work started during Camp Day, visiting at least eight camps across the Midwest
  • 10 camps will be visited by admissions staff this summer
  • 5,000 total miles will be traveled by Luther Seminary staff and students during their visits to support the ministries of Bible camps this summer

To learn more about Camp Day, visit www.luthersem.edu/campday. To view photos from this year's event, visit www.flickr.com/photos/lutherseminary, and then choose 2011 Camp Day.