Camp Arcadia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Walther League Camp – Camp Arcadia
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The Wigwam in 2018
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3046 Oak Street, Arcadia Township, Manistee County, Michigan |
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| NRHP reference No. | 100000884 |
| Added to NRHP | April 17, 2017 |
Camp Arcadia is a special summer camp for kids and families. It's a Lutheran camp, which means it's connected to the Lutheran Church. The camp is right on the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan in a small town called Arcadia, Michigan. Camp Arcadia has been open and welcoming campers every year since 1922!
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Where is Camp Arcadia?
Camp Arcadia is located in Arcadia Township. This area is part of Manistee County, Michigan. You can easily get to the camp by taking M-22, which is a main road in Michigan.
The Story of Camp Arcadia
How Camp Arcadia Started
Camp Arcadia first opened its doors in 1922. It was started by a group called the Walther League. This group was for young adults in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. From the very beginning, a man named William "Chief" Wieherman ran the camp. He worked alongside his wife, Hildegard, who everyone lovingly called "Mom." They led the camp until Chief Wieherman passed away in 1963.
A New Chapter for the Camp
After the Walther League stopped operating in 1968, the future of Camp Arcadia was uncertain. But a group of people who loved the camp decided to save it. They formed a new group called the Lutheran Camp Association (LCA). This group bought all 110 acres of the camp. The LCA is a non-profit organization, which means they use any money they make to help the camp. They have been running Camp Arcadia ever since. In 2017, Camp Arcadia was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Camp Life Today
Who Runs the Camp?
Today, Camp Arcadia is still run by the Lutheran Camp Association. The current president is Ali Franke. Every summer, about 39 college students come to live and work at the camp. These amazing young people do everything from cooking meals to cleaning cabins. They also lead all the fun programs for the campers.
Year-Round Team
Besides the summer staff, Camp Arcadia has a team of people who work there all year. This team makes sure the camp is always ready for visitors. The executive director is Chip May, and Shelly Gallo is the assistant director. Kyle Toms is in charge of food, and Rachel Catanese handles the business side. Franco Marano takes care of the buildings and grounds. Sarah Olson helps with fundraising, and Stephanie Jass plans the programs. Ryan McKenna is the archives director, keeping track of the camp's history.
When to Visit Camp Arcadia
Camp Arcadia usually opens for the season around Memorial Day weekend. During this special weekend, campers can stay for free! All they have to do is help get the camp ready for summer. After a week of training for the summer staff, the camp starts its summer retreats. Most of these are "family weeks," where families can come and enjoy time together. After Labor Day weekend, the camp continues to host retreats through October. Then, it closes for the winter season.
Images for kids
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A beautiful sunset over Lake Michigan from Camp Arcadia
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The Wigwam building at Camp Arcadia, Michigan, facing east.
