The Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp is ready for another fantastic summer. We are looking forward to morning wake up calls, afternoons at the Lake, evenings around the campfire, and everything in-between. For over a century, campers have been coming to Lake Okoboji UM Camp. We know this summer will be the best one yet!
Week-long campers ages 9-17 can experience the famous Adventure Camps, the biggest and best way to experience camp. Adventure Campers take part in the exciting Okoboji Journey Program each full day of camp. If you’re looking for a little something, extra make sure to check out the Adventure Camp Upgrades (Go-Karts, Amusement Park, Teen Week, and Aerial Park) that allow you to take your event to the next level.
For younger campers aged 6-9, Short Stacks camp is a huge hit! Two action packed days and nights at camp filled with classic camp activities. We also offer Day Camp events for a fun-filled day of activities and faith development.
You’ll find opportunities for the entire family at Okoboji, too! Guardian & Angel overnights are a long-standing and ever popular choice for our youngest campers to experience Okoboji with a special adult Guardian. The Okoboji Family Camp is for families of all ages and sizes to come together for an exciting two-night adventure that will create lifetime memories!
You won’t want to miss out on some of the exciting year-round events like the annual Sled Head Breakfast during the Okoboji Winter Games. Come get a taste of what camp is like, at our Neighbor Night Summer Kickoff, where we start the summer off in style.
Generations of youth and adults know that the Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp has been a place set apart to make new friends, learn new skills, develop self-confidence, and grow together in faith while amongst caring, Christian staff. Come see for yourself why Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp is the place to be this summer!
Adventure Camps
Upgrades
Teen Leadership Trainings
Short Stacks
Day Camps
Family Camps
Affiliate Camps
Special Events
Journeys
Adventure Camps
ADVENTURE CAMP | Ages 9-17
Say goodbye to the school blues and hello to summer adventure! At Adventure Camps, campers can choose from a variety of activities for morning Journeys like these camp favorites: archery, canoeing, crafts, or climbing. Let’s not forget the fun spent at the waterfront – swimming and playing in the sand. Each day is full of faith formation, songs, and connection with friends. We finish out each day with a themed Evening Camp Activity and campfire. Not seeing a special theme this year? No need to worry! Camp will be sharing hints and sneak peaks throughout the school year on social media. So, keep your eyes peeled for what LOUMC has in store! Drop off from 3:00-3:30pm, Closing Program at 10:30am.
Adventure 1 | 3-3:30PM – 10:30AM
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Adventure 1: | June 16 – June 21 | $560 | ||
| Adventure 1: w/Go-Karts* | June 16 – June 21 | $600 |
Adventure 2 | 3:00-3:30PM – 10:30AM
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Adventure 2 | June 23 – June 28 | $560 | ||
| Adventure 2: w/Aerial Park* | June 23 – June 28 | $600 |
Adventure 3 | 3:00-3:30PM – 10:30AM
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Adventure 3 | July 7 – July 12 | $560 | ||
| Adventure 3: w/Go-Karts* Adventure 3: w/Amusement Park* | July 7 – July 12 July 7 – July 12 | $600 $630 | ||
Adventure 4 | 3:00-3:30PM – 10:30AM
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Adventure 4 | July 14 – July 19 | $560 | ||
| Adventure 4: w/Teen Week* | July 14 – July 19 | $630 | ||
Adventure 5 | 3:00-3:30PM – 10:30AM
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Adventure 5 Adventure 5: w/ Aerial Park* | July 21 – July 26 July 21 – July 26 | $560 $600 | ||
Adventure 6: Beyond the Stars | 3:00-3:30PM – 10:30AM
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Adventure 6 | July 28 – August 2 | $560 | ||
| Adventure 6 w/Go-Karts* | July 28 – August 2 | $600 | ||
Upgrades
ARE YOU READY TO STEP IT UP A NOTCH?
These super-charged additions will take your Adventure Camp to the next level! Available for an additional fee, campers who choose an upgrade will have access to specialty activities beyond normal camp programming. Adventure Upgrade events/costs are marked with an *. Additional upgrade fee applies to original cost of the event. Example: Adventure 1 w/ Go-Karts is $600 ($560 + $40 for the upgrade).
GO-KARTS | Ages 9-17 | $40
Buckle up, this extra is all about speed! Every full day of your Adventure Camp you’ll put the pedal to the metal during Journey time on the famous Okoboji Go-Kart Track. Get ready to travel up and down hills, around sharp turns and through the open prairie. Are you ready to roll? (Available Adventure Sessions 1, 3, 6)
AERIAL ADVENTURE PARK | Ages 11-17 | $40
Experience the excitement of the 40 foot tall Aerial Adventure Course right here at the Lake Okoboji U.M. Camp! During Journey times you will climb high into the air and work your way across this state of the art 13 element course. Come see why this is truly the most high flying Upgrade around. Register quickly, limited space available! (Available Adventure Sessions 2, 5)
TEEN WEEK | Ages 13-17 | $40
Hey Teens, this Upgrade is just for you! Have extra beach time, hit up the Nutty Bar Stand and even your own personal pizza party. The best part? Getting to see your favorite camp friends year after year, and making new ones, too! (Available Adventure 4)
AMUSEMENT PARK | Ages 9-17 | $60
Roller coasters, waterslides and so much more, make this the most extreme Upgrade! You’ll visit Arnold’s Park for an afternoon of excitement, on thrill rides, like the Tilt-A-Whirl or Roller coaster, or relaxing rides like the Farris wheel or Log Ride. We end the week at the waterpark where you can race down the waterslides, or relax on the lazy river. Be sure to register quickly, limited space is available! (Available Adventure 3)
Teen Leadership Trainings
Leaders in Training | AGES 14-15
Leaders in Training (LIT) welcomes emerging high school students to experience camp in a new way. With the support and mentorship of the camp team, LITs will have a week full of service, faith, and fun. We will take the LITs behind the scenes of camp to help in the kitchen and with programs to develop teamwork, time management, and communication. LITs will dig deeper into faith formation with a special devotion all their own to learn more about their relationship with God. And yet, camp is still camp – our LITs will be able to enjoy many of the camp activities that they have come to love over the years! Join us this week to experience camp in a way that you have never experienced it before! Drop off from 3:00-3:30pm, Closing Program at 10:30am. Contact Camp Staff for more details – [email protected]
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Leaders in Training | June 23 – 28 | $300 |
Junior Staff | AGES 16-17
The intent of the J-Staff program is to provide leadership opportunities for the participants by volunteering directly or indirectly with campers, summer staff, full time staff and volunteers on grounds. By giving them responsibility, we allow them the chance to succeed, build confidence, and discover who God created them to be. We give them a glimpse of all the roles at work and where they might find their passion at camp. By serving alongside summer staff, we build Christian relationships that the J-Staff can take with them. They can ask questions of the summer staff and learn how to live a Christian lifestyle on college campuses and gain insight into facing the challenges and opportunities of high school life in general. This is a wonderful opportunity for youth to grow and share their faith! Post training, Junior Staff are encouraged to sign up to volunteer for event(s) throughout the summer. Drop off at 10:30am, pick up at 3:00pm – overnight training. Contact Camp Staff for more details – [email protected]
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Junior Leaders | June 9 – 10 | $50 |
Short Stacks
SHORT STACKS – MACH 1 | AGES 6-9 | SEE TIMES BELOW
Get ready for an action-packed 48 hours with the Short Stack’s Mini Adventure Challenge! This camp is designed for kids who want to add a little extra thrill to their summer. Campers will test their physical skills, problem-solving, and teamwork with all the favorite camp activities like archery and swimming. MACH 1 provides a taste of adventure and a chance to push your limits in a supportive, faith-filled, and fun environment. See below for date specific drop off and pick up times.
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Short Stacks 1(2:30-3:00pm Drop off, 2:00pm Pick up) | June 16 – 18 | $275 | ||
| Short Stacks 2 (11:00am Drop off, 11:00am Pick up) | June 30 – July 2 | $275 | ||
| Short Stacks 3 (2:30-3:00pm Drop off, 2:00pm Pick up) | July 7 – July 9 | $275 | ||
| Short Stacks 4 (2:00-3:30pm Drop off, 2:00pm Pick up) | July 28 – July 30 | $275 | ||
Day Camps
LIL’ EXPLORERS DAY CAMP | AGES 4-6 | 8-8:30AM – 5PM
A special day for our youngest campers. Come to camp, take a wagon ride, play games, hear a Bible story, make a craft, and much more! Our caring staff can’t wait to spend the day with you! Check-in from 8-8:30am, closing program/check-out at 5pm. Lunch provided at camp.
| Event Name | Ages | Dates | Price | |
| Lil’ Explorers 1 | 4-6 | June 19 | $90 | |
Lil’ Explorers 2 | 4-6 | July 24 | $90 |
LAKE OKOBOJI EXPLORERS DAY CAMP | AGES 6-13 | 8-8:30AM – 4:30-5PM
Join The Party at LOUMC! We are throwing one of the biggest parties of the summer! Get ready for music, laughter and party games. Don’t forget about camp favorites either! Archery, crafts, and the lake are all waiting for you. Don’t forget about the special adventure outside of camp in the middle of the week. Bring a friend and sign up today! Daily check-in is 8-8:30am, check-out from 4:30-5pm. Lunch provided at camp.
| Event Name | Ages | Dates | Price | |
| 4-day Camp | 6-13 | June 24 – 27 | $200 | |
5-Day Camp | 6-13 | August 4 – 8 | $250 |
Family Camps
GUARDIAN & ANGEL CAMPS | AGES 4-6 W/ADULT | 10:30-11:00AM – 10:30AM
Bring a special person in your life to camp this summer! Okoboji’s Guardian & Angel camps provide an opportunity for young campers to come to camp with their favorite adult family member or friend. You will spend the whole day together as you swim in the lake, shoot archery, hear Bible Stories, ride the go-karts and have a campfire complete with roasted marshmallows! Adults, don’t forget to register yourselves! Check-in from 10:30-11am Friday, check-out at 10:30am Saturday.
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Angel 1 (Youth) | June 20 – 21 | $130/person | ||
| Guardian 1 (Adult) | June 20 – 21 | $130/person | ||
| Angel 2 (Youth) | July 25 – 26 | $130/person | ||
| Guardian 2 (Adult) | July 25 – 26 | $130/person |
OKOBOJI FAMILY CAMP | 6-12 W/ ADULT (REQUIRES 1 ADULT) | 11:00AM – 11:00AM
Experience the excitement of camp with your whole family! Enjoy games, campfires, swimming, go-karts, and archery. Programming times for the whole family make this a fun-filled adventure that will help bring your family closer together. Adults, don’t forget to register yourselves! Check-in at 11:00am on Monday, check-out at 11:00am Wednesday.
| Event Name | Dates | Price | ||
| Family Camp 1 (Youth) |
June 30 – |
$150/person | ||
| Family Camp 1 (Adult) | June 30 – July 2 |
$150/person | ||
Affiliate Camps
Is your youth camp looking for a site to partner with during the summer? Reach out to our office for more information about hosting your camp at Lake Okoboji this summer. Please contact the office at 712-336-2936.
Special Events
LOL – 4 CHRIST | 5TH – 12TH GRADERS | 5:30PM – 8:00PM
LOL (Living our Loud) – 4 Christ and LOUMC are excited to unite area youth groups and youths of all denominations through Faith, Fellowship, Food and Fun! Join us monthly at Lake Okoboji UM Camp!
- September 8, 2024
- October 13, 2024
- November 3, 2024
- December 15, 2024
- Spring dates coming soon!
COFFEE AT CAMP | ALL AGES | 9:00 – 10:00AM
Join the year-round staff for a hour (or more!) of coffee, snacks and conversation. Come to learn more about staff, about LOUMC, for the conversations or just to relax. All are welcome! Coffee and snacks provided. – Contact Rachel if you have any questions.
- FALL DATE : OCTOBER 25, 2024
WINTER GAMES SLED HEAD BREAKFAST | JANUARY 25 | 8:00 – 11:00AM | FREE WILL OFFERING
While you are in the Iowa Great Lakes celebrating the Okoboji Winter Games, swing by camp on Saturday morning for the Annual Sled Head Breakfast! We’ll be cooking up some delicious tasting breakfast for this big winter event. Come and go as you please – find out why camp is the place to be, even with snow on the ground!
NEIGHBOR NIGHT & SUMMER KICKOFF | ALL AGES | JUNE 6 | 5-8PM | FREE WILL OFFERING
Help kick off this summer of ministry at camp by joining us for our annual open house. Celebrate along with us as we begin our summer season with a grill out, camp tours, campfire with s’mores, and great fellowship. It’s a terrific way to kick off another summer at the Lake Okoboji U.M. Camp! Food served from 5-7:30pm.
Journeys
JOURNEY SELECTIONS
Adventure Campers get to experience more activities and programs compared to other events. Some of these Journeys would be: canoeing, archery, climbing tower/zip line, crafts and sports. We are currently working on the Journey list for this coming summer so check back later this spring to see what we have going on this summer.
2025 Journeys:
Upgrade: Aerial Park** & Go-Karts
Specialized Activities: Archery, Canoeing, Mountain Boarding*, Climbing Tower & Zip line**
Standard Activities: Backyard Sports, Crafts, Creation Exploration, GameZone, Great Outdoors*, Hangtime**, Adventure Journey*
*Select Weeks **Ages 11+
