Camp Emmaus
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Camp Emmaus is an outdoor ministry that seeks to create a welcoming space where all can experience the healing powers of creation and be called to live a life of service, peace, and deep connections with one another.
Emmaus is an outdoor ministry of the Illinois/Wisconsin District of the Church of the Brethren since 1948.
April 19
Escape to Emmaus: Primitive Shelter Day Spring Into Camp Memorial Day Family Camp Camp Cleanup CIT Training Elementary (K-Grade 2) Survivor Camp at Camp Mack (Grade 6-8) Senior High(Grade 9-12) Middle School (Grade 6-8) Intermediate (Grade 3-5) YAAYAH (Age 18+) Target Sports Camp (Grade 5-7) Women’s Camp Labor Day Family Camp Check the schedule page for rates and other details.
Note that fees will go up after June 1st.
Registration for Emmaus' 2025 Summer Camp Programs are officially OPEN!!
What will your Emmaus adventure be this year?An epic cannonball at the pool at Middle School Camp? Creating new memories with a parent at Elementary 1 Camp? Perhaps it's the belly laughs that come with Kiddie Pool Kickball at Intermediate Camp? Maybe it's the movement of God's Spirit felt at Senior High Camp? Or the chance to hit the bullseye at Target Sports Camp or learn how to live more connected to God's earth at Survivor Camp? And you can't go wrong with the fellowship that happens at YAAYAH or Women's Camp...There are plenty of options and plenty of time to decide which camp is best for you... but don't wait too long! This year there is an early bird discount if you register by June 1. So, get those registrations in!Tell your friends! Tell your church! Tell your family! It's time to start planning for your next adventure at Camp Emmaus.
Please register in a timely manner to receive important information from the Director before camp.
Registration Fees for 2025 are:
Middle School and Sr. High- $400 before June 1, $450 after
Intermediate- $300 before June 1, $350 after
Elementary- $100 before June 1, $125 after
Women's and YAAYAH- $125 before June 1, $150 after
Survivor Camp (offsite)- $450 before June 1, $500 after
Target Sports- $250 before June 1, $300 after
Let us know what you think!
Hello everyone! Please vote for your favorite shirt design by April 1st.
The top one or two designs will be used on shirts for this summer.https://form.jotform.com/250816016173148
Imagine stepping back in time and learning the skills our ancestors used to survive in the wild. Primitive Shelter Building Day is not just about constructing shelters; it’s about building confidence, fostering teamwork, and connecting with God’s creation. It’s an unforgettable experience that will leave participants with new skills and lasting memories. Join us for a day of adventure, creativity, and teamwork as we dive into the art of primitive shelter building!
Available to anyone 8 years and older (under 18 must be accompanied by adult)
Date: April 19, 2025 10:00a-2:00p
Cost: $10 per person
Registration Deadline: April 16, 2025Location: Camp Emmaus, 3011 W. Camp Rd., Oregon, IL 61061
We will be constructing our primitive shelters near camp picnic shelterHow to Register:By email: manager.campemmaus@gmail.com
By text: 815-297-4435 (Manager’s Phone)
By phone: 815-734-4268 (Camp Phone)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CampEmmaus
Volunteers are always needed for camp cleanup. Contact your church’s camp representative or a camp board member to help.
In the winter, camp can be a lonely place. In nearly two decades in outdoor ministry, I’ve come to observe that folks spend most of their time at camp from April to October. It’s the November through March months when we who live at camp get to experience the unique gift of camp when it’s quiet.
The spirit of God does something new when camp is quiet. And I can only liken it to an archaic word, apricity. It’s derived from Latin, meaning “the warmth of sunlight during the winter.” There’s something invigorating during the cold, wintry days when you get a day where the sun breaks forth from the gray sky, and you can feel the warmth of the sunlight as it reflects off the snow and creates silhouettes amongst the bare trees. I’ve had times where the sunlight on a midwinter’s day was so luminous that it felt as though I was swimming in it—or better yet, that I entered another realm within winter’s wonder. So, lonely yes; but not alone.
It’s in those glimmers of warmth where I can be transported into another realm that holds the mystery of what God has in store for the ministry at Emmaus. This is the time of year where we begin dreaming about what the coming year will be. Our camp board will be meeting again this month to better clarify our vision and mission so that we may continue the work of providing apricity to a cold, and broken world.
In the coming days, we’ll be posting on Facebook and the camp website some seed questions for the camp community. Those questions will invite us to “hivemind” the possibilities for Emmaus’ future. So be on the lookout for that. And in the meantime, in your prayers, keep Emmaus in your hearts and minds and give space for the Holy Spirit to cultivate some new dreamings for the next chapter in Emmaus’ story.
Respectfully in Christ,
Randall Westfall
NEWS & NOTES
- The third annual Illinois/Wisconsin District campfire took place Oct. 12, bringing together about two dozen people from half a dozen congregations for singing, snacks, and s’mores.
- Firewood is available for sale at the camp. For information, contact the camp at 815-734-4268.
- Volunteers are always needed for camp cleanup. Contact your church’s camp representative or a camp board member to help.
- Give to camp: https://campemmaus.churchcenter.com/giving.
With the start of 2025, the Camp Emmaus board members are curious about what your hopes and dreams are for the ministry at camp.
- What do you imagine and envision as you think about camp in 2030 or 2048?
- What programs would you like to see camp providing?
- What partnerships do you think would be good for camp?
- What kinds of updates or new facilities/amenities would you hope to see?
- What kinds of outreach do you see camp making in the local communities (Oregon, Mt. Morris, Ogle County)?
What new thing is God doing in our midst that we can co-create with the Spirit?Dream big people!We're looking forward to reading your responses. Just post.As always, your gifts help support the ministry at Emmaus and we look forward to partnering with you in 2025 and beyond.
About Emmaus
Camp Emmaus is so named because it was on the road to Emmaus that the disciples encountered the living Christ. Because of this experience, the disciples continued on in their lives with a new vision, a new message, and a new hope for those back home. In this outdoor setting, Board programming seeks to strengthen our faith in Christ, develop stewardship of God's creation, strengthen future Christians by nurturing mature decision making, look beyond ourselves independently in intercultural experiences, and develop strong Christian leaders. We seek to provide good quality year round facilities for use by a variety of groups, both religious and secular as a service to the local community and region. May God guide our direction!
Enjoy the beauty and serenity of creation at Camp Emmaus. Located on 97 acres of rolling wooded countryside, Camp Emmaus is surrounded by nature's splendor. The seasons dictate the color and characteristics of the camp, as well as the activities such as swimming in the outdoor pool, hiking, cross country skiing, fishing, bird watching, picnics and campfires.
Opportunities are provided for family tent/trailer camping with a nearby picnic shelter and the retreat lodge are available year round. Note that there are no RV hookups and no facilities to dispose of trailer waste at this site.
The camp is utilized during the summer for Church of the Brethren sponsored youth camps. These camps include Elementary through Senior High, as well as separate family camps. The Brethren camps are during July and August and the camp is otherwise available to be rented by other groups.
In addition to Church of the Brethren camps, Camp Emmaus accepts various groups, both religious and secular. Contact the camp manager at 815-734-4268 for more information.
Facilities
There are four girls' cabins and five boys' cabins. In addition to the cabins, there are the main lodge, craft cabin, retreat lodge and log cabin. Overall capacity of the camp is 185 campers.
The kitchen, dining hall, and camp store are located in the main lodge.
The retreat lodge, with its kitchen facilities, and the log cabin are available for use year round.
Recreational facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, basketball court, volleyball court, tetherball, ping-pong, and four-square.
Sara Garner, chair
Gary Baisden
Patrick Benassi
Michelle Bowman
Amanda Burch
Shannon McNeil Smith
Monica Rice Frye*
Mike Sondgeroth
Jonathan Stauffer*
Callie Surber
Randall Westfall, camp manager* new board members for 2025.
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Camp Emmaus
send mail to:
P.O. Box 128
Mt. Morris, IL 61054
ship UPS to:
3011 W. Camp Rd.
Oregon, Illinois 61061
To make a reservation or ask the Camp Managers a question please call 1-815-734-4268;
for summer camp related questions please contact manager.campemmaus@gmail.com
