A History of Camp
In 1967, Don Kuehle directed his first camp at Epworth Among the Hills in Arcadia, MO. Don was not a fireball, nor was he particularly charismatic; he was just a simple man with a vision and a love for the youth of Missouri. By the 1980s and into 1990s, our camp would have 150-200 kids registered every year and we would utilize 35-40 counselors. It was crowded, it was hot, it was cramped, and it was exciting. We filled the campfire circle to overflowing and the voices singing brought heaven to earth.
Following the closure of the Missouri Methodist campgrounds, we eventually moved to our current home at Wilderness Camping and Retreat Center in Lawson, MO. Over our 60+ years of camp, we’ve seen six camp grounds, eight directors, hundreds of counselors, thousands of campers, and one God, with us through it all.
Who We Are
The counselors who volunteer a week of their lives each year to make Sanctuary Kamp happen come from many walks of life. We are teachers and principals, youth workers and social workers, college students and parents. Our youngest counselors have just finished their first year of college, while some of us have been doing this for twenty or more years. And many of us were once campers ourselves, meaning we know just what it’s like to be heading to camp for the first time.
What we share is a passion for working with and building up the young people of Missouri. We believe kids deserve to be taken seriously; they deserve to be safe, welcomed, and treated with dignity. We want them to grow up not just knowing, but feeling, that they are loved, that they belong, and that grace is real. We call this feeling “the love of God”.
Our Values
Radical Belonging
Every camper who walks through our doors belongs here; we don't check doctrinal boxes or require the "right" background. Some campers arrive confident in their faith; others are encountering faith for the first time. Wherever they are starting from, our camp is for them.
Foundational Fun
We take fun seriously. Camp is a place where it's safe to be young, to play and to laugh until your sides hurt. Every deep, important moment of camp is earned through silly songs, absurd games and preposterous traditions.
Simplicity
In a world full of noise, we believe in the power of the “still, small voice”. We value presence over production, humility over hype, and the ordinary beauty of creation, in the woods, the firelight and the night sky.
Traditions
Sixty-plus years of camp have given us traditions that carry in them many summers of meaning. But when a tradition stops serving the campers in front of us, we let it go. We honor those who built this camp by staying faithful to the campers in front of us today.
One Small Part
Camp can feel like standing on top of a mountain, the stars close enough to touch, but the mountaintop is only one small part of the journey. Camp is a supplement to, not a replacement for, the families, churches and communities who will love our campers for the rest of their lives.