Family Camp
Join us for a family vacation your whole family will love- one that’s full of fun and excitement and one that will create lasting memories for years to come! It’s an opportunity to grow in faith in Jesus Christ as a whole family through chapel times, prayer, family devotions, mealtimes, and all the fun activities.
Each day the kids will divide up into their age groups for “Two Hours of Power”, which includes Bible study, recreation time, snacks, crafts, and singing. During this time the adults will enjoy two hours in the chapel digging deeper into the summer’s theme or another topic selected by the week’s speaker. Each family will be paired with one of our well-trained, enthusiastic, and Christ-Centered summer counselors for the week.
Our kitchen prepares hearty menus with a well-balanced diet in mind. Please contact us regarding special dietary restrictions or allergies so we can accommodate you to the best of our ability. Meals included are supper on Sunday through lunch on Friday. Wednesday supper is on your own as Wednesday afternoons are free for families to enjoy the attractions of the wonderful OKOBOJI area.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get away and experience camp as a whole family. Not only will this impact your kids, but your whole family, your church, and your whole community can experience transformation. So grab your neighbors, relatives, friends, and anyone you consider family, and make your reservations for one of our family camp weeks right away!
HOW TO REGISTER FOR FAMILY CAMP!
1. Choose a Week!
2. Call Sara, our friendly Registrar, @ 712-337-3306 and ask about available housing.
3. Reserve housing and pay housing deposit.
4. Complete Registration Form and email it to registrar@okoboji.org OR mail it to 1203 Inwan Street, Milford, IA 51351
PLEASE NOTE: Online Registration is available ONLY by clicking the link on this page. It is NOT Available through our youth camp registration system.
Call 712-337-3306 to see what available housing will best fit your family's needs today!
Family Camp 2024 Speakers!
Scroll down to see 2025 dates and speakers!
Family Camp #1 - Rev. Mark Vander Tuig
June 16-21, 2024
Mark Vander Tuig is the part-time Ministry Coordinator for Lutheran Asian Ministries, with unforgettable experiences on his 5 trips to Southeast Asia. He was a pastor for 30 years, serving 3 churches followed by 10 years as the Service Coordinator for Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ. Today, Mark’s full-time profession is that of a Realtor in the Des Moines, Central Iowa market, as a team member of the Pennie Carroll and Associates Brokerage. Mark and Candice were married in 1974, have two grown daughters who are both married with children. Mark and his wife Candice live in Altoona, Iowa and are celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2024!
Family Camp #2 - Rev. Jeremy Johnson
June 23-28, 2024
As the lead outreach pastor at Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, Jeremy Johnson is focused on preaching and overseeing many of Hope’s ministry areas. He came to Hope as an intern in September, 2009. Jeremy and his wife, Briget, have two kids - Trey and Jade. They are a family who loves sports, time outdoors and great relationships.
Family Camp #3 - Rev. Dr. Paul Sorensen
June 30-July 5, 2024
Paul and his wife Carol both grew up in Iowa with many connections with OLBC, including getting engaged at the camp! Since graduating from Luther Seminary, Paul has served as a pastor for 34 years, and is currently serving a mission church, Hope Church, in Phoenix, Arizona with a vision to be God's family on mission among new generations of new people in new places. Paul also serves as an adjunct faculty in the Colleges of Theology and Business at Grand Canyon University. He loves being married to Carol for 42 years, and enjoys hanging out with his three adult children and their families.
Family Camp #4 - Rev. Roger and Cathy Twito
July 21-26, 2024
Roger and Cathy Twito are from Ames, IA, where Roger serves as the Pastor of Ascension Lutheran Church. The Twito’s both graduated from Valparaiso University with degrees in youth ministry. Roger served as the Program Director at Okoboji in 1978 and during high school week asked Cathy, who served as a counselor that week, to marry him. They have six children and twelve grandchildren. Cathy is a co-founder of, and serves at, Overflow Thrift Store - a non-profit store benefiting vulnerable people locally and globally.
Family Camp #5 - Rev. Paul Cross
July 28-Aug 2, 2024
Over the past 35 years, Pastor Paul Cross has served congregations in North Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and West Virginia. He has also served on the faculty of The Master’s Institute, teaching Inductive Bible Study methods, preaching, and the Lutheran Confessions. Prior to ordained ministry, he worked 10 years in the automobile repair industry and was a lay Bible teacher in his home congregation. Encouraging people to study God’s Word remains one of Pastor Cross’s chief passions. Paul and his wife, Rhonda, have four adult children and two grandchildren. His non-ministry interests include visiting National Parks, places of historical interest, and watching NASCAR racing.
Family Camp #6 - Susan Kliment
Aug 4-9, 2024
Susan Kliment serves as the Children's Ministry Director and the Assistant Director of Discipleship at her church in Albert Lea, MN. Her ministry career started at OLBC and her passion for knowing Jesus and making Christ known to all was fanned into flame during her years at camp. Susan is married to Darrin and they live in rural Northwood, IA. Darrin and Susan have 3 grown (how can that be?) sons - Caleb, Samuel and Josiah.
Family Camp 2025 Speakers!
Family Camp #1 - Pastor Lee Laaveg
June 15-20, 2025
Throughout his ministry, Lee has enjoyed the privilege of serving churches and teaching the Word of God throughout the Midwest. He has also served several years as a radio teacher for the Christian Crusaders, a weekly radio ministry. Lee’s passion is to invite people to live in the grace of God through a faith relationship with Jesus Christ. Presently, he lives with his wife, Denise, in Bemidji, MN and serves a country church, Vernes Lutheran, north of Fosston, MN. He is also honored to be the Development Director for the Friends of Madagascar Mission and serves on their board of directors. Lee and Denise have four adult children and eight grandchildren.
Check out Christian Crusaders by clicking HERE! Check out Friends of Madagascra by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #2 - Pastor Scott Rains
June 22-27, 2025
A native Iowan, Scott Rains has been the Lead Pastor at Lutheran Church of Hope’s Ankeny campus since 2006. Scott and his wife Wendy have six children (Dalton, 25, Hadley 23, Kiley 21, Kemble, 19, Shayden 18 and Saphron 13). The Psalmist says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. As we grow in our understanding of how God has uniquely created us, we can grow in our understanding of God’s never-ending faithful love for us. Scott loves to tap into ideas from church history, neuroscience, business principles, movies and more to connect us to the transformational power of the living and active Word of God!
Check out Scott's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #3 - Pastor Mike Housholder
June 29-July 4, 2025
Mike Housholder has served as the senior pastor for Lutheran Church of Hope since 1993. Hope is a multisite, multigenerational, and outreach-focused church with six campuses and eight local sites throughout the Midwest. A gifted communicator and visionary leader, Mike hosts Pastor Mike Drop which is listed as a ‘religion & spirituality top show’ on Apple Podcasts. He’s a frequent keynote speaker at church conferences and was inducted into the Taft High School (Chicago) Alumni Hall of Fame. He served on the Alpha USA Advisory Board and the Wartburg College Board of Regents. He’s happily married to Sally, a proud dad and grandpa, an introvert who loves people, and a diehard fan of the Cubs, Bears, and Bulls.
Check out Mike's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #4 - Pastor Paul Hennings
July 13-18, 2025 - NEW WEEK!
Pastor Paul Hennings lives in Cedar Rapids, IA with his wife Ellie and their two sons, Theo and Toby. Paul is the Lead Pastor at FaithLife Church where he loves teaching, preaching, and seeing people come to know Jesus in new and life-changing ways. He also tends to be a voracious reader. His life verse is Romans 8:28.
Check out Paul's church (which is in the process of changing their name from St. Mark's) by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #5 - Pastor Jason & Julie Van Hove
July 20-25, 2025
Jason and Julie have been married for 23 years, have 3 kids, and live in Story City, Iowa. Jason is a pastor at Harvest Vineyard Church in Ames. Julie is the founder of Defined Ministries where she champions people toward living fully free and transformed lives defined by God alone. They love to travel anywhere (but especially with family to National Parks), spend time with friends (but especially with a fly rod in hand for Jason and an iced latte in a kayak for Julie) and engage in their kids' lives (but especially witnessing who they are becoming and pointing them to Jesus).
Check out Jason's church by click HERE! Check out Julie's ministry by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #6 - Pastor Mark Brandt
July 27-Aug 1, 2025
Mark Brandt is the Digital Outreach Minister for Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines, IA. Prior to transitioning to the online role 9 years ago, he served in Student Ministry for over 20 years. He describes himself as someone who, “takes God very seriously and not himself." He is a husband to Michelle and father to twin boys Luke and Noah who are 19 and a 15 year old son named Seth. When not doing ministry things, Mark enjoys copious amounts of ordinary Lutheran coffee, playing golf, cheering on the Cubs and Broncos, reading, and is a mediocre high school basketball referee. He also thinks that JAWS is the greatest movie of all time. He has a passion for people for whom church doesn’t always make sense and thinks the Gospel is the greatest story of all time!
Check out Mark's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #7 - Pastor Nathan Anenson
Aug 3-8, 2025
Nathan is married to Lisa, and they have two boys (Luke and Levi) who keep them moving and laughing. Nathan has served Lutheran Church of the Cross in Altoona, IA since 2012 as the Senior Pastor. He enjoys golfing, hanging out with friends and going on adventures with his family. Nathan loves seeing Jesus transform lives and is passionate about training leaders to be catalysts for the Church living into God’s mission in the 21st Century.
Check out Nathan's church by clicking HERE!
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