FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
The Rev. David W. Clark
Director of Development
Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania
PO Box 459
Arendtsville, PA  17303-0459
717-677-8211 (Office)  717-677-7597 (Fax)

Midstate Lutherans Expand Outdoor Ministries

JANUARY 2008, ARENDTSVILLE, PA — Lutherans in Central Pennsylvania began a program of outdoor ministry emphasizing leadership training back in the late 1920’s.  Now, almost 80 years later, the Lutheran Camping Corporation of Central Pennsylvania (LCC) has announced the purchase of 221 acres adjacent to its Camp Nawakwa, located in Adams County near the village of Arendtsville.  The additional land will increase Nawakwa from 115 to 336 acres, enhancing present programs by its rich biodiversity.  The larger site will also enable the LCC to offer an expanded variety of hosted retreats and sponsored adult/family programs. 

In November 2006, the LCC completed a strategic planning process with a number of recommendations to expand and enhance its ministry.  One of the key conclusions was the necessity of securing additional land on which to offer new and/or enhanced programs. Speaking about the recent purchase, Marianne Brock, Nawakwa’s camp director and Associate Executive Director of the LCC said, “This is a very exciting accomplishment.  Adding this land to Nawakwa opens all kinds of new ministry opportunities for the Lutheran Camping Corporation.  Campers of all ages will enjoy roaming through this new land, seeing God’s handiwork in the woodlands, farm fields, rolling meadows, mountain stream, and small pond.”

With the land purchase accomplished, the LCC plans to move forward with another key recommendation from the strategic plan: to build new adult/family facilities with private bathrooms and higher comfort fellowship and meeting spaces.  “Successfully negotiating this purchase has been a long and challenging process, and we are thrilled with this outcome and the many possibilities it presents for the LCC,” said Michael Youse, LCC Executive Director.  He added, “Now we have the opportunity to share this excitement through the IMAGINE… Capital Campaign, which will finance the purchase as well as provide new retreat facilities that will offer more comfortable accommodations than we presently have.” 

The IMAGINE…Capital Campaign has already received $120,000 in contributions and another $93,000 in pledges.  The three-year $2.5 million Celebration goal includes $1.6 million to acquire the land and $900,000 to build the new facilities.  The contributions will come from past campers and staff and other individuals who are committed to outdoor ministry, Lutheran congregations of the Lower Susquehanna synod of the ELCA, and their individual members.  More information on the IMAGINE… Campaign and the Lutheran Camping Corporation is available at www.lutherancamping.org.

###