East Battle Lake camp breaks ground on Education and Retreat Center expansion

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

The hub of one of western Minnesota’s most unique gathering locations will receive a major face-lift over the winter. Lutheran Island Camp, which is located on East Battle Lake in rural Henning, broke ground on September 16 on a new Education and Retreat Center expansion and remodeling project. 

Stacy Lung, who is the executive director at Lutheran Island Camp, said the goal is to complete the expansive project by June 2025, just in time for a new set of campers to come to the budding island in rural Henning. 

While there has been discussion of completing a remodeling project at the education retreat center going back to 2005, changes in how the camp operates post Covid-19 days have changed the project and put a renewed focus on accessibility for youth and adults of all ages. 

“Accessibility is one of the big emphasis of the project,” said Lung. “We want to make it more enjoyable for guests of all ages and abilities.”

For example, Lung said they are adding a lift to the Education Retreat Center to help with accessibility into the building, while also adding a patio in the back of the facility where there will be a new devotional space.

“Some of our devotion spots are beautiful, but you may have to walk across uneven ground,” she said. “Accessibility is a big emphasis of the project.”

The current version of the remodeling project began taking shape about three years ago. The camp and staff began raising the approximately $2.1 million in funds necessary to complete the project, which was funded through private donations, a $400,000 challenge and a $1 million grant. Some of the donors were past campers at the island camp whose experience has stayed with them well into their adult life. 

“Donors to Lutheran Island Camp are exceptional,” said Lung. “We have an exceptional donation base and they really care about this place.” 

  As part of the construction project the exterior of the Education and Retreat Center will include new siding, freshly installed windows in the dining hall, an outdoor fireplace and patio entrance. The interior of the project will include a new commercial kitchen, dining hall expansion with a view of the lake, a fireplace in the dining hall, expanded office spaces, an elevator, overflow seating in Birr Hall complete with windows overlooking the dining hall. 

In addition to the modern upgrades, the project will also help to put a renewed focus on the unique aspect of life on the island. For example, Lung said the remodeling project will emphasis life on the island to ensure people know they are a part of a fairly rare experience of living and worshiping on an island in the middle of lakes country. 

“One of the goals is people will know they are on an island wherever they are on the property,” she said. 

The entirety of the $2.1 million project has been raised, but other projects are on the horizon as well. For example, Lung said the camp updates one cabin a year and looks at roofing at the cabin as well.

While the current project is currently funded, Lutheran Island Camp still has a challenge unveiled by a donor who has given the facility a $400,000 matching grant. Donations between now and November will be put towards that matching grant. Donations to Lutheran Island Camp can be made online at www.islandcamp.org or mailed to 45011 230th St., Henning, MN If mailing in a check make sure to specify that it’s for the ERC fund in the memo line.

Lung said in addition to any monetary donations, prayers that the project will be completed as smoothly as possible will also be appreciated.

“Just prayers that the project goes smoothly and we can start camp next year with a beautiful new facility,” she said.