Family Camp
Join us for a family vacation your whole family will love- one that’s full of fun and excitement and one that will create lasting memories for years to come! It’s an opportunity to grow in faith in Jesus Christ as a whole family through chapel times, prayer, family devotions, mealtimes, and all the fun activities.
Each day the kids will divide up into their age groups for “Two Hours of Power”, which includes Bible study, recreation time, snacks, crafts, and singing. During this time the adults will enjoy two hours in the chapel digging deeper into the summer’s theme or another topic selected by the week’s speaker. Each family will be paired with one of our well-trained, enthusiastic, and Christ-Centered summer counselors for the week.
Our kitchen prepares hearty menus with a well-balanced diet in mind. Please contact us regarding special dietary restrictions or allergies so we can accommodate you to the best of our ability. Meals included are supper on Sunday through lunch on Friday. Wednesday supper is on your own as Wednesday afternoons are free for families to enjoy the attractions of the wonderful OKOBOJI area.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get away and experience camp as a whole family. Not only will this impact your kids, but your whole family, your church, and your whole community can experience transformation. So grab your neighbors, relatives, friends, and anyone you consider family, and make your reservations for one of our family camp weeks right away!
HOW TO REGISTER FOR FAMILY CAMP!
1. Choose a Week!
2. Call Sara, our friendly Registrar, @ 712-337-3306 and ask about available housing.
3. Reserve housing and pay housing deposit.
4. Complete Registration Form in 1 of 3 ways!
- Print and email it to registrar@okoboji.org
- Print and mail it to 1203 Inwan Street, Milford, IA 51351
- Click on the BLUE "ONLINE Registration" button to complete form electronically.
PLEASE NOTE: Online Registration is available ONLY by clicking the link on this page. It is NOT Available through our youth camp registration system.
Call 712-337-3306 to see what available housing will best fit your family's needs today!
Family Camp 2026 Speakers!
Family Camp Housing for 2026 is now open!
Call 1-800-OKOBOJI or 712-337-3306.
Family Camp #1 - Pastor Ben and Faith Worley
June 14-19, 2026
Ben and Faith have been married for 16 years, and are midstream in raising their four children: Benjamin (14), Abigail (13), John (11), and Adelaide (9). They live in Lytton, IA where Ben is the pastor at Emanuel-St. John Lutheran Church and Faith homeschools the kids, though it’s more accurate to say that they both do both. Ben loves reading murder mysteries, writing songs, and building lego sets (guilty pleasure). Faith loves making things more beautiful and supporting people in their identity as God's adored children, and has decided to enter her grandmother era early. Together, Ben and Faith love to travel, play cribbage, and discuss theology.
Check out Ben's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #2 - Pastor Steve Olcott
June 21-26, 2026
Pastor Steve Olcott grew up in southern New Jersey and moved to Hutchinson MN in 2003 to continue ministry. He has been at Christ the King Lutheran Church since that move, serving first as Youth Director and then later being called as Pastor. He loves Philly Sports, a good cup of coffee and his family. Steve is married to a ballerina and they have 3 daughters and a granddaughter. Steve gives thanks to God for the blessings that flow each day.
Check out Steve's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #3 - Pastor Pat Quaid
June 28-July 3, 2026
Pat is excited to return to camp this summer with his family and all of you! He lives in Urbandale, Iowa, with his wife, Missy, and their four sons: Kenan (18), Jude (16), Caleb (14), and Bode (10). Since 2003, Pat has served in a variety of roles at Lutheran Church of Hope and currently leads as the Evangelism & Outreach Pastor. Before this, he spent a decade launching and leading Hope’s Waukee campus. Deeply passionate about sharing the love of Jesus and caring for people, Pat volunteers as a soccer coach and serves with the Red Cross, supporting first responders through critical incident debriefings. He has also served as a first responder chaplain in Waukee for over eight years and has held leadership roles on several nonprofit boards.
Check out Pat's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #4 - Dr. Kyle Fever
July 12-17, 2026
Kyle Fever is currently the discipleship pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, IA as well as professor of New Testament/Early Christianity and Capstone Research Director at the Master's Institute Seminary. He has been married to Laura for 26 years, and they have four children. His passion is for people to know the experience of the risen Lord, and to creatively seek to be witnesses to the fulfillment of life with God.
Check out Kyle's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #5 - Pastor Brian King
July 19-24, 2026
Pastor Brian comes to us from Center City, MN where he now serves as the Pastor of Chisago Lake Lutheran Church after serving the previous 13 years as the Senior Pastor of Nazareth Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, IA. Born in Kokomo, Indiana, and raised in Mahomet, Illinois, he graduated from Wartburg College, and went on to earn his M.Div. at Wartburg Seminary in IA. He has been ordained for nearly 30 years and has been married to his wife, Jen, for over 32 years. They have 4 adult children and 1 grandson. He enjoys biking, weightlifting, history, the outdoors, watching movies, watching college football and wrestling, music (all types), service/mission trips, Mt. Dew, and ice cream. He doesn’t like hot weather or mosquitoes and he's not too fond of beets either! He is excited to teach into the B.L.E.S.S. model of discipleship, evangelism and outreach during his week of Family Camp.
Check out Brian's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #6 - Pastor Paul Cross
July 26-31, 2026 - currently full, call to be added to waitlist
Over the past 35 years, Pastor Paul Cross has served congregations in North Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and West Virginia. He has also served on the faculty of The Master’s Institute, teaching Inductive Bible Study methods, preaching, and the Lutheran Confessions. Prior to ordained ministry, he worked 10 years in the automobile repair industry and was a lay Bible teacher in his home congregation. Encouraging people to study God’s Word remains one of Pastor Cross’s chief passions. Paul and his wife, Rhonda, have four adult children and four grandchildren. In his off time he enjoys visiting National Parks, places of historical interest, air museums, and going to car shows.
Family Camp #7 - Pastor Jon Anenson
Aug 2-7, 2026 - currently full, call to be added to waitlist
Originally from Story City, IA, Jon spent many years on the Summer and year-round staff of Riverside Bible Camp, eventually serving on the board of directors. Jon has been involved with church planting, student, worship, and college ministry in Colorado and Iowa. In 2008, Jon joined the staff at Lutheran Church of Hope and led the launch of Hope’s urban campus, growing from a mobile campus to eventually merge with Elim Christian Fellowship to form Hope+Elim, a growing, multi-cultural church merger in Des Moines. In 2024 he became the lead pastor of Hope’s Waukee campus. Jon loves a good round of golf, cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and is passionate about helping people discover their purpose in God’s larger story. Jon is happily married to Tiffany and they have two children- Caleb and Everly.
Check out Jon's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp 2027 Speakers!
Family Camp Housing for 2027 is now open!
Call 1-800-OKOBOJI or 712-337-3306.
Family Camp #1 - Rev. Scott Rains
June 20-25, 2027
Scott Rains grew up on a farm outside of New Providence, IA. He earned a B.A. in Communications from Central College (1994) and his M.Div. from Portland Seminary (2001). Since 2006, Scott has been the Lead Pastor at Lutheran Church of Hope’s Ankeny campus. Whether in weekend worship, midweek classes, or one-on-one conversations Scott loves to incorporate ideas from the arts, entertainment, business, education, neuroscience, sports and more to connect the transformational power of God’s Word to the daily life of the people he serves. Scott and Wendy were married in 1997 and have six children: Dalton, Hadley, Kiley, Kemble, Shayden and Saphron. Check out Scotts' church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #2 - Rev. Phil Nielsen
June 27-July 2, 2027
Phil Nielsen grew up in St. Louis, studied theatre at Northwestern College in Orange City, and taught English in Japan. Phil serves as the pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa. He enjoys preaching and teaching and exploring the mysteries of Christian faith with children and nursing home residents and everyone in between. He has been involved in several mission trips to East Africa. Phil and his wife DeAnn enjoy any activity involving their 6 children and 3 grandsons, including over 20 years of family camp at Okoboji. Check out
Phil's church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #3 - Rev. Mark Walth
July 4-9, 2027
Mark Walth is presently a semi-retired Adjunct Professor at Grand Canyon University. A Lutheran preacher’s kid, Mark spent most of his time growing up in central Nebraska. His professional life has included various educational positions and a variety of ministries. They include public school music instructor, Youth Pastor, Worship leader/song writer, leadership in men’s, singles, pastoral care, and prayer and healing ministries. Important influences in Mark’s life include: His dad’s ministry for 54 years, his wife Lorane, and sons, Benjamin (deceased June 18, 2024), Isaac, and Aaron with wife Laura and grandson Jordy. IOLBC has been in their family’s spiritual DNA, as they have attended 33 of the last 35 summers. Education includes Bachelors in Music, Dana College (1981) Masters in Christian Studies – Grand Canyon University (2012), Masters of Divinity, Grand Canyon Theological Seminary (2021). Mark’s passion is worldview studies and college-aged young people (GenZ), biblical theology, and its relevant application of truth to today’s current challenges that face Christianity generally, and local churches.
Family Camp #4 - Toby Thomack
July 18-23, 2027
Toby and Joanna (Haese) Thomack are grateful and excited to be returning to Okoboji Lutheran Bible Camp, not only as family campers but also to serve again since they first met while on full-time staff together. They have been married since 2008 and are raising three children: Everett (15), Ellie (13), and Sam (13). Toby is one of the pastors at First Reformed Church of Oostburg where he has served for 15 years and likes to golf and hunt. Joanna works in the front office of the Oostburg Elementary School and enjoys gardening and using her gifts on the creative worship team. As a family, the Thomacks love cheering on the Green Bay Packers and returning to Okoboji for Family Camp. Check out Toby's' church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #5 - Rev. Jeremy Johnson
July 25-30, 2027
Jeremy Johnson serves as Lead Pastor of Outreach at Lutheran Church of Hope, where he has faithfully served for over 16 years. With a deep passion for sharing the Gospel, Jeremy is committed to helping people encounter Jesus and grow in their faith, both within the church and out in the community. He believes strongly in meeting people where they are and creating opportunities for life-changing connection with Christ. Jeremy and his wife, Briget, are grateful to be raising their two children, Trey and Jade. When Jeremy is not serving at Hope, you’ll likely find him enjoying sports or spending quality time with his family. Check out Jeremy's' church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #6 - Susan Kliment
August 1-6, 2027
Susan Kliment serves as the Director of Family Ministry at her church in Albert Lea, MN and loves working with the kids and volunteers! Her ministry career started at OLBC and her passion for knowing Jesus and making Christ known to all was fanned into flame during her years at camp. Susan is married to Darrin and they live in rural Northwood, IA. Darrin and Susan have 3 grown (how can that be?) sons - Caleb, Samuel and Josiah, 3 beautiful daughter-in-laws, and one sweet grandson with more on the way! :) Check out Susan's' church by clicking HERE!
Family Camp #7 - Rev. Nick Brannen
Aug 8-13, 2027
Nick Brannen serves as Pastor of Outreach and Adult Discipleship at Lutheran Church of Hope in Ankeny, Iowa. He is passionate about helping people take meaningful next steps in faith. Previously, he served as Pastor of Youth and Director of Internships at Hope’s West Des Moines campus. Nick holds a Master of Divinity degree and is known for Bible-centered preaching that blends passion, practical insight, and humor. In addition to his preaching ministry at Hope, he has served as a keynote speaker at Denmark’s ECHO Conference, Intervarsity’s UNITED Gathering, and many Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) events. Nick and his wife, Michelle, have been married for 15 years and are the proud parents of Elliot (8) and Emma (6). When he’s not at church, you’ll likely find him gardening, playing guitar, or making memories with his family. Nick is honored to be part of Okoboji Family Bible Camp and looks forward to opening God’s Word together. Check out Nick's church by clicking HERE!
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