Page Contents Headline News Camps Caroline Furnace Camp Luther Camp Agapé Camp Melanchthon Lutheran Summer Music Academy Scouting

Headline News

Free Scouting for Foster and Kinship Care

Jambo 2026

Scouting in the Lutheran Church

National Lutheran Association on Scouting is holding an event this July for anyone who like to learn more about scouting and how to connect it to the life of Lutherans and their congregations. Click here for more.

Summer Program Announcements

Information related to summer camp programs and staff applications are posted under each camp.

Even When It Is Not Summer

Don't forget that Caroline Furnace and Camp Agapé have winterized facilities and are available for retreats and meetings.

Camps

Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center

Established in 1957, Caroline Furnace provides year-round retreat center services and eight weeks of summer camp, including traditional church camping and specialty camps. Caroline Furnace's primary facility is located in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley in Fort Valley, VA. Enumerating everything Caroline Furnace offers on this page would be difficult. Explore the surprising options at CarolineFurnace.org.

Caroline Furnace is a constituent camp of the WV-WMD Synod, i.e., there is a formal relationship, and people from WV-WMD Synod have seats on the Caroline Furnace Board of Directors. This relationship has its roots in pre-ELCA days. The Eastern Panhandle of the WV-WMD Synod was part of the Virginia Synod of the LCA. When the CNLC proposed that those congregations be part of the newly forming WV-WMD Synod (called "West Virginia Synod" at the time), the Eastern Panhandle congregations asked that their historic support of Caroline Furnace (their church camp) be continued in the new synod. Part of that support is maintaining financial support for Caroline Furnace in the synod budget.

2025 Summer Program

Caroline Furnace's summer 2025 program is posted here. Registration form and scholarship information is posted on the same page.

2025 Summer Staff Application

You'll be signing up for a few weeks of staff training and 5 weeks of summer camp programs from June - August.  There may be opportunities to begin a couple weeks early and stay a week or two later, and opportunities for internships as well!

Flexible academic internships and college credit are available.

​Base pay is $3,000 for the summer plus lodging and meals. Higher pay available for experience at any camp, years in college, and certifications.

More information, including application, is posted here.

Camp Luther

Camp Luther has met for over seventy-five years at Camp Caesar, the Webster County 4H camp. Camp Luther may be unique in the ELCA church camping world in that it is in session only one week out of the year (invariably beginning on Fathers' Day), hosting campers from 3^rd grade through 12^th in three camping departments (junior, intermediate, and senior). Its counseling and program staff is entirely volunteer lay persons and pastors. Learn more by visiting CampLutherWV.com.

Camp Luther is a constituent camp of the WV-WMD Synod. The relationship has its roots in the West Virginia Synod of the ULCA.

Work Weekend

Camp Luther Work Weekend is scheduled for 25-27 April 2025. Director Karen Erskine-Valentine invites you to join her and other for a weekend were we give a helping hand to Camp Caesar. Some can help with their Ramp Dinner and others will rake and shovel and do whatever odd jobs need to be done. Who's in? You can give notice of your intent to participate (or ask for more information) on the Camp Luther Facebook page or contact Director Erskine directly at the Shepherdstown Lutheran Parish.

2025 Camp Dates

Camp Luther will convene at Camp Caesar, Cowen, WV, 15-21 June 2025.

Camper Registration Open!

Camper registration for Camp Luther is now open. Click here for access to form and cost and scholarship information.

Camp Agapé

Camp Agapé, a Lutheran camp located in Pennsylvania just over the line from the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia in Hickory, PA, offers year-round retreat center services and several weeks of summer camp. It has become known for offering children living in the urban environment an opportunity to get out in the country. It has also become known for its educational programming designed to enhance academic achievement.

Camp Agapé has historic ties to the some of the congregations of the Northern Panhandle. WV-WMD was not included as a constituent synod when redistricting took place at the formation of the ELCA. Nevertheless, WV-WMD is happy to share information about Camp Agapé's offerings. Learn more by visiting https://www.campagape.org.

Summer Camp 2025

This year’s Bible study curriculum, Rooted in Faith, encourages campers to explore their relationship with God while fostering growth, deepening faith, and building a supportive community. Each day focuses on a unique theme:

• Covenant Building
• God’s Creation
• Brave Spaces
• Young Voices
• Love and Acceptance
• Service and Stewardship

For details, including registration, click here.

Staff Positions

Summer and year-round staff positions are posted on Camp Agapé's employment page. You'll find openings there for

• Cabin Leader,
• Senior Cabin Leader,
• Junior Cabin Leader,
• Lifeguard,
• Food Service Manger,
• Assistant Cook, and
  
• Camp Chaplain

Camp Melanchthon

Camp Melanchthon operated from the late '90s into the late '00s. It provided a camping ministry to collegiate-age young adults during the Christmas recess. Throughout its history, it met in Garrett County, MD, moving between Herrington Manor and New Germany State Parks. Nearly twenty collegians attended at its zenith. Its educational ministry, the hallmark of the camp, centered on a different book each year, including Bonhoeffer's Life Together, Ralph C. Wood's The Gospel According to Tolkien: Visions of the Kingdom in Middle-Earth, and Karen Armstrong's A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Worship, common meals, recreation (including rather cut-throat games of Scrabble) and a continually burning fire were all part of the camp. Camp Melanchthon ceased operations when shifts in the economy, society in general, and WVU's football fortunes changed the collegiate culture surrounding Christmas recess. Camp Melanchthon was a constituent camp of the WV-WMD Synod. For more information, contact +Riegel.

Lutheran Summer Music Academy

Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) is the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school students. In addition to advanced musical instruction and numerous performance opportunities, LSM students form an intentional community, living together for four weeks on a Lutheran college campus. Since 1981, this unique and immersive program has guided the lives of thousands of young musicians, many of whom credit LSM as the starting place for their future careers and vocations.

The "full session" for this coming summer will be held June 22-July 20. Application for regular enrollment is due 1 March 2025.

To learn more about LSM, visit its website: https://www.lsmacademy.org/

Scouting

Developing the Next Generation: Supporting children in foster and kinship care to join scouting programs for FREE.

An initiative organized by the West Virginia Council of Churches, Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council, and Scouting America Buckskin Council, with the support of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the Bernard McDonough Foundation, this program allows children in foster and kinship care to join scouting programs for free and pays for associated costs, including uniforms and field trips.

Children in foster and kinship care can benefit greatly from structured programs that teach life skills, build confidence, and create a safe, caring environment. That’s why joining a scouting program can change the trajectory of their lives. Through camping, coding, community service and so much more, children in foster and kinship care develop a deep sense of belonging—and a deep sense of belief in themselves. West Virginia has more children in foster and kinship care per capita than any state in the nation. These children often face hardships during adult life, including homelessness, incarceration, and substance use disorders. For more information, including how to help a child join a scouting organization and how to support the work, visit WVCC | Developing the Next Generation.

The Girls Scouts have also provided downloadable materials for sharing in your community and congregations: bulletin insert; 5x11 poster.

National Lutheran Association on Scouting

The National Lutheran Association on Scouting. describes itself as "a resource for youth and adults who wish to know more about the religious emblems program, endorsed by the Lutheran Churches for members of Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts USA, American Heritage Girls, 4H and Camp Fire USA." It also coordinates Lutheran chaplaincy services during jamborees.

The NLAS Facebook page featuring news of particular interest to Lutheran scouts and leaders.

If you are interested in Lutheran Scouting, contact the synod office.

Scouting in the Lutheran Church

NLAS is holding Scouting in the Lutheran Church at the Philmont Training Center, 6-12 July 2025. This course is for Scouters, clergy, and congregational leaders who want to learn more about using Scouting as an outreach ministry for young people and their families.  Lutherans from across the country will share ideas and best practices regarding relationships with chartered partners, membership, Religious Emblems, and how to best serve our youth and our churches. Bring your family and be part of the fellowship unique to Philmont. Relax as we grow in faith and renewal with like-minded, dedicated and experienced Scouters. Join us in the celebration of PTC’s 75th Anniversary! To register, log on at: www.philmontscoutranch.org/PTC. Topics include:

• The National Picture: Duty to God and Scouting America
• The Local Picture: Duty to God in Your Council
• The Local Picture: Scouting in Your Congregation
• Organizing Scouting Units and Selecting Quality Leaders
• Duty to God in Scouting Advancement
• Sharing Our Faith with Scouts
• Conducting Worship Services
• Unit, Council, Event Chaplaincy
• P.R.A.Y. Resources / Programs
• Bible Basics RP-3
• Religious Emblems Detail – basic look at each level
• Unit and Adult Recognitions
• Effectively Using Social Media
• Venturing – Scouting America’s Best-kept Secret
• Staffing the 2026 National Jamboree

Jamboree

Jambo returns to WV in 2026, and chaplains are needed. Scouting America's chaplaincy team is particularly anxious to recruit younger and female people toi serve as chaplains. The "young" can also be seminarians or others pursuing education in pastoral or counseling areas (appropriate for Chaplain Assistant role, in which case Scounting America can help obtain education credits by using your Jamboree experience as a 'practicum' with doctoral level supervisor for your experience). Talk to The Rev. Rick Egtvedt for details.

Bishop Riegel participated in the 23 July 2023 Lutheran service at the Jambo. 475 scouts and scouters attended. We have a picture here, but, if you would like to see more, visit the NLAS Facebook page.

.