Outdoor Ministries
Live and Worship in God’s Glory
The ELCA's outdoor ministries put the beauty of God’s creation on full display. Through a wide variety of summer, year-round and other programs, we offer life-changing experiences for people of all ages and groups of all sorts in settings that inspire spiritual growth. Located in beautiful mountain, lake, prairie, ocean and desert settings, ELCA-affiliated facilities range from rustic summer cabins to retreats for youth and adults and high-end conference centers for important gatherings and meetings.
There are 121 ELCA-affiliated camp, retreat and conference center sites in the United States and Puerto Rico that present endless opportunities for worship, study and activities that lift up the body of Christ, even leading some to become leaders in the church and their communities.
Summer is the perfect time for everyone to explore and build their faith, and our camps, retreats and conference centers deliver rich, spiritual adventures. Young people especially can benefit from programs that help them increase their confidence, gain independence, make friends, and engage in new activities and learning. Many of those same facilities also host year-round programs that provide enriching places for weekend retreats, outdoor schools, conference meetings and older adult programs.
