BRIDGE BUILDERS

Participants who have completed grades 9-12 are invited to join us July 19 – July 24, 2026 for this unique camp experience. For campers from outside of Michigan interested in attending Bridge Builders, travel assistance is available.

OUR INTENT

It is our hope that raising young leaders in the faith formative community of camp can be a place where real change in the world and church can begin. By exploring systemic racism we hope to inspire campers to be change agents as they grow into adults of faith and leaders in the church and world. Our intent is to equip participants to see the world with new eyes of faith and to be able to evaluate where they currently or someday might serve as gatekeepers and people-in-charge. Time will be spent equipping campers on how to host or engage courageous conversations for the sake of the Gospel.

Participants are trained by blending peer ministry curriculum with anti-racism curriculum to create leaders equipped to listen, facilitate, and engage others about challenging & meaningful topics. Our Bridge Builders planning team is made up of camp professionals, pastors, educators, social workers, and youth ministry professionals.

TESTIMONIALS

NATIONAL REACH

Bridge Builders provides travel assistance to campers attending from outside of Michigan. Travel assistance can include up to the full cost of airfare if necessary. Our staff will reach out to families to provide more information about the program, to review logistics, and to set up travel arrangements. Since 2015, Bridge Builders has hosted campers from 14 states outside of Michigan!

AWARD WINNING

While the bulk of our campers come for more traditional programs, our Bridge Builders program (leadership development and anti-racism training) is blazing new trails in outdoor ministry in ways that are extremely innovative. Bridge Builders has received a great deal of recognition from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In 2015 and then in 2022 we received sizable grants to expand the program nationally. In 2016 we received the Innovative Program Award for Bridge Builders from the Lutheran Outdoor Ministry Network. In 2017 we were invited to Washington D.C. to present to the national church about Bridge Builders as part of their national celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.