Impact Stories: God at work through the ministry of Fortune Lake

Accomplishing the Impossible

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Some Forest Park students brave the cool autumn waters of Fortune Lake.

Kids need camp more than ever, and Fortune Lake has been given the opportunity to extend the camping experience beyond summer. Many U. P. schools have the tradition of offering 6th grade camp – an overnight, communal, outdoor education experience – to their students. The pandemic brought both Washington Middle School (Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw) and Houghton Middle School to Fortune Lake for their long-standing school camps.  This fall we also welcomed our neighbors from Forest Park.

Due to a generous grant from the Forest Park Youth Fund of the Dickinson Area Community Foundation, Forest Park 7th graders were about to come to camp for 3 days. Traditional activities like saunaing and swimming, nature hikes, gaga ball, campfires, and skits were coupled with outdoor lessons with their teachers. Many of the students had never had an experience like this. As is often the case in 7th grade, peer groups were forming, and some students appeared to struggle to fit in, hanging on the fringes. Allowing everyone to feel included can seem impossible.

A community building activity called “blanket flip” presented a particular challenge. The activity is intended to seem impossible, yet it can be accomplished through perseverance, intentional teamwork and clear communication. Campers struggled, and one even threatened to run away! Eventually, all teams were able to accomplish the task, and we processed the activity to get to its practical application. Pausing to think, listening to one another, including everyone in the problem solving process, and considering outside-the-box ideas are all essential both in “blanket flip” and in life, especially when things seem impossible.

As the students were loading onto the bus on Friday afternoon, one who often hung on the fringes lamented about camp ending. He stated, “I wish we could come to school here every week and just go home on the weekends.” The fresh air and outdoor fun, the connections with teachers and peers, and the camp community had gotten to him.  His teachers will work to incorporate the important lessons – academic and social/emotional –  throughout the rest of the school year. For all these reasons and more, we need camp more than ever!

 

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A Spirit-Driven Moment, A Lifetime of Impact

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Bella (front) with the LIT group in Vagland.

Annabelle “Bella” King came to Fortune Lake by way of Hayworth, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom as an international summer staff member. Her first few weeks at camp brought about the apprehension that often comes with being in a new place far from home. During staff training, Bella quickly made friends and learned songs, camp traditions, and the flow of camp in general.

One of the first camper weeks, Bella was placed as a cabin leader for the Leaders-in-Training Program. The group was small with eight people creating a close knit community for the week. It was during this week in Vagland that Bella would experience a Spirit-driven moment that would impact her life in a profound way.

Midway through the week, Bella and her treehouse campers were enjoying some laid back time in Vagland. Some were playing guitars, some were taking a moment to rest their eyes, and still others were playing games or crafting. It had been raining all morning, but looked like it would let up soon. As the rain drew back, to the delight of the campers and the staff, the sky opened up to reveal a double rainbow. The group made their way out of the pavilion to bask in the sun and the majesty of the twin rainbow. As joy and wonder moved through the group, a mother deer and her twin fawns meandered their way into the clearing right in front of them, under the beauty of the now blue sky.

For Bella, whose favorite verse is Psalm 96:11-12, this display of the beauty of God’s creation was awe-inspiring and gave her confirmation that she was indeed in the right place for the summer.

The rest of the week brought deepening friendships, meaningful time with scripture, many more moments of beauty, and the construction of the Vagland cross, lovingly dubbed “Big Cross.” That week was one of many memorable weeks that Bella spent at Fortune Lake; it served as the foundation for a continued relationship with FLLC’s ministry.

Since that first summer at Fortune Lake, Bella has returned multiple times, as a staff member, friend, and retreat participant. Each visit only cements her connections to the God who called her here and the other people who also call this place home.

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Faith, Peace, and Family

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Christine (right) and her cousin during a hike to Horse Race Rapids at a Fall Wellness Retreat

While Christine Perry grew up in Crystal Falls, she never attended Fortune Lake as a camper. Her youth group at United Lutheran put on weekend retreats, where Christine heard about a sense of peace, time to bond with peers, and special moments apart from the busyness of regular life, but it never quite fit into her schedule. Little did she know, her relationship with Fortune Lake would eventually grow to impact not only her but her loved ones as well. 

Christine recalls that her time spent at Fortune Lake has varied through the years. She was married at Fortune Lake by former director, Pastor Cy Warmanen, and her daughter worked at camp. Eventually, after all those years, Christine became a camper with her grandson during Grandparents and Kids Week in 2019. As it turns out, this time away spent at Fortune Lake became invaluable to her family. Now, her daughter and grandson come for Intergenerational Camp, and Chris stays back to take care of things at home while her daughter gets time away. She highlights that family camps are a true vacation for guardians. They’re weeks where parents can say “yes” while knowing that the staff will be there to keep kids safe while having fun. She speaks fondly of the relationships that have developed between her daughter and her grandson and the Fortune Lake Summer Staff. These bonds, she says, are part of what makes camp so special. 

When Fortune Lake introduced our first Fall Wellness Retreat, Christine’s daughter suggested that she look into going with her sister and her cousin. The women hadn’t spent time together just the three of them in many years, and they decided to reunite at Fortune Lake. Now, years later, this has become a cherished tradition. Not everyone has made it every year, but those who do find peace and joy at camp and in being together. 

By leaning into the opportunities that interested her, Christine has made Fortune Lake a regular part of her faith and family life. She speaks candidly of her renewed and strengthened faith when she leaves camp. Her experiences here inform the way she not only navigates the world, but shares her love of God with others. 

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When the Spirit Goes You Up

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Heide (center) and a group of Vagabonds prepare a cooking fire

“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt – seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth…”

– Matthew 5:13, The Message

There comes a point in everyone’s life when they realize that suddenly they are the adult in the room. For Heide Gallagher, that moment came in a canoe, when a L.I.T. (Leader in Training) called her as such. That wasn’t the only moment when God stretched and strengthened Heide while on staff at Fortune Lake. The Spirit continually worked through her during the summer of 2021, bringing out the best in her, and in turn, blessing others through her.

Heide’s first step onto the grounds of Fortune Lake was in her godmother’s arms, when she was just an infant. Though she only knows of the memory through pictures, almost two decades later she would come full circle when that same godmother (Pr. Kelly Ylitalo) encouraged her to apply to summer staff between semesters at NMU.

Heide recalls being nervous, even terrified going into her summer at camp. She wasn’t sure she could do it, thinking, “I’m the adult, now?!” Her faith provided strength beyond what Heide expected; she describes how something ‘would just come over her’ when working with campers. She wasn’t scared of the dark. She could open any container. She could help a group of 1st and 2nd graders not only transition from one activity to the next across a huge distance for their small legs but also dance and sing while doing it. And she did it all, she says, with the support of God and the support of her fellow staff members.The Spirit works through lives at Fortune Lake, helping individuals see themselves in new and expansive ways.

There is an image from the summer that Heide takes with her into her life outside of camp. It is during a break in the action during a camp week. On the slope of a hill outside of the dining hall, at a certain time of day, the sun hits the grass at the perfect angle. Heide and some of the other staff lay back in the grass. They are entirely comfortable talking/laughing together there on the hillside, or sitting in silence. Camp is a place where the Spirit calls them beyond themselves to wildly bless the lives of campers, and then that same Spirit bathes them in the grace of radical acceptance, the capacity to show up just as they are.  

Heide has since returned for multiple summers on staff at Fortune Lake, and in her words, she remains so excited – excited for the kids, the community, and excited for that familiar feeling of belonging. In the meantime, she tries to take some of that grace from camp into her university life, in day by day interactions. We are grateful for Heide’s leadership at camp and have enjoyed watching God work through her grown up, yet ever youthful, Spirit-given gifts.  

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Boundless Growth

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Sean, rejoicing during a round of Camp Olympics

Sean Korpela started coming to Fortune Lake as a camper in 2013. He was a Leader in Training during the summer of 2021 and ultimately decided to join the staff for summer 2022. Although he had always enjoyed camp and being part of the community, he had no idea what the summer had in store for him.

When the summer started, Sean didn’t feel comfortable leading much in front of a group. At chapel and campfire worship, he stuck pretty close to reading scripture, avoiding leading songs and other elements of worship. The second week of the summer, Sean was assigned to the Day Camp team that was sent to Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock, MI. While there, Sean was empowered to try his hand at teaching songs, leading games, and more. By the time he returned to camp, he felt equipped to take the lead on those things all summer long.

The summer provided a perspective shift for Sean. Coming from a small town, he felt that he had a very small window of understanding of what the world was like. The community of Fortune Lake brought him together with campers and staff from many backgrounds. He listened to campers’ stories from home and learned about life in other countries while building relationships with international staff members. Sean believes that camp helped him cultivate communication skills, taught him how to interact with new people, and showed him how to demonstrate authentic welcome.

Both onsite and offsite this summer, Sean was subject to the tremendous growth that comes when we lean into where the Spirit is leading us. God works through the ministry of Fortune Lake in many ways. Sean left his summer job with new valuable tools and an expanded idea of what the world is like. We are so thankful for Sean and the entire summer staff for letting their light shine upon Fortune Lake this summer!

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Camp: A Cure for Isolation

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Jack, Violet, and Hazel Sever with their mom, Jody Eckloff

Jody Eckloff grew up on a farm in rural Upper Michigan, an upbringing that can be isolating. When she came to Fortune Lake as a child, it was an opportunity to meet new people from different places. She enjoyed canoeing, swimming, and singing songs around the cross. She appreciated the relationships that were built, often becoming penpals with a new friend from camp, exchanging letters long after camp had ended. Through this, her perspective broadened as her faith grew.

Fast forward a few decades, and Jody is a single mom raising three beautiful children in the Copper Country. As her children – Jack, Violet, and Hazel – have grown, it has become increasingly important to Jody to have them participate in the ministry of Fortune Lake. Although they don’t face the social isolation like she did as a child, during recent years, COVID-19 had limited opportunities for authentic interactions with peers.

When Jody dropped her son Jack off at High School Week, she couldn’t help but wonder if it would be for the last time, if perhaps he had outgrown camp. She couldn’t have been more wrong! Despite spraining his ankle early in the week, Jack made positive, lifelong memories. At closing chapel on Friday morning, Jody was greeted by an enthusiastic 15-year old who described an incredible week. Especially notable were the relationships formed with both campers and staff. Jack exchanged digital contact information – the modern version of penpals – as he had forged real friendships. He has plans to return next summer and to apply for the Leaders in Training program.

The middle sibling, Violet, who started the week feeling anxious, had a redemptive experience. Violet battled homesickness for the first few days, but Jody knew that her daughter was in good hands with the staff at Fortune Lake. She encouraged her: “We committed to this, and girl, you’re gonna love it!” Violet’s big moment came midweek. She was at the beach and on a whim, felt brave enough to attempt the swim test. Having struggled with it in the past, this was no small feat. Because the time was ripe, she jumped in the lake in her shorts and t-shirt and passed with flying colors! As the lifeguards cheered, Violet’s pride was tangible! She conquered her homesickness too and was seen smiling and participating in all that camp had to offer.

Hazel, the youngest child, had an all-around great week as a Vagabond camper. Having met the Cabin Leaders Olivia and Emma during Day Camp at Bethany, Mohawk, earlier in the summer, she was thrilled to reconnect with them. She loved sleeping in a bunk bed in a treehouse and jumping on the water trampoline.

Jody appreciates the opportunity to experience God through outdoor ministry at Fortune Lake, and she is especially grateful to share that tradition with her growing children. In addition to sending all three to camp, Jody also volunteered at her congregation’s Day Camp. Although she didn’t serve on staff herself, she believes one is never too old for camp. She finds joy in the countless stories shared by her children and the moments of connection with the kids in the local community through Day Camp. Jody has found that camp is a great cure for the feelings of isolation that often plague us, and she looks forward to seeing how these connections grow throughout the years.

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Holy Play

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Pr. Alex (right) leads Bible study during staff training.

Originally from Wisconsin, Pastor Alex LaChapelle first encountered outdoor ministry as an elementary kid at Camp LuWiSoMo in Wild Rose, WI. There he and his friends learned the songs, played the games, and encountered the college-age counselors each summer. As a young adult, Pr. Alex worked at several camps out West – from Idaho and Oregon to California – enjoying the different challenges and joys that came with each setting and each new role. When he took the call to Prince of Peace Lutheran in Marquette this past winter, he began looking for ways to connect with and support life-giving outdoor ministry once again. He found Fortune Lake, where he volunteered as Chaplain for staff training and helped teach the summer’s Bible study curriculum.

Pr. Alex admits that at first he questioned whether he had what it took to hang with the young adult staff: “Do I have the energy? Can I still do this?” But, within the first day, it all came back. Camp brought out something that bubbles in his spirit, the capacity for play. Camp is a safe place to let the inner child out, to play in creation, “to revert in a really beautiful way, and let the scales fall off.” Fortune Lake – as it does for so many – offered Pr. Alex a place of safety, joy, and renewal. “Camp’s going to make you more of who you are, part of creation,” he recalls.

Pr. Alex takes this posture of playfulness into his ministry at Prince of Peace. He thinks of children’s sermons as an opportunity for two minutes of camp right there in the middle of a Sunday service. He is convinced that adults can learn from this mini-camp experience too. He believes in camping ministry, for what it can do for the lives and spirits of campers, and for the leadership it fosters among its staff. He says, “Seminary made me aware theologically, but I think I’m the pastor I am because of camp.”

Pr. Alex believes Fortune Lake as having its own unique vibe, perhaps due to its smaller size, or perhaps just being in the UP. “Where else,” he asks, “do we say, ‘let’s do this old Finnish tradition and hop in the sauna?!” At Fortune Lake, where child-like faith and playfulness of spirit meet the U. P.’s laid-back vibe, kids, counselors, and pastors like Alex are renewed every day.

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New Connections, New Perspectives

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Sam (left) and a group of Summer 2022 Staff.

Sam Brink had never been to Fortune Lake before arriving for our Nurturing Wholeness: Young Adult Retreat, but soon found that the place would have a profound impact on his life. Amidst the busy life of a student, Sam was able to take the time to attend the retreat along with other students from his campus ministry group at Northern Michigan University. Throughout the weekend, Sam would find himself in a community of peers that was welcoming, uplifting, and supportive in more ways than one. 

As the weekend pressed on, Sam was enlightened on multiple occasions, an impact that has stayed with him since he left Fortune Lake. He experienced unmitigated and unfiltered joy in the form of favorite camp activities, learned more about the spiritual practice of meditation that has stuck with him into his home life, and was able to see God easily through the people around him, the content of the retreat, and the natural beauty of Fortune Lake. 

Despite knowing folks from his campus ministry group at NMU, the group’s stay at camp was an opportunity to build stronger connections and get to know each other in a more authentic way. Not only that, but he was able to meet and form relationships with others who he had not met before, a particularly gratifying experience given the past few years of global pandemic. After participating in an exercise during closing worship, Sam felt called to extend a hand to and invite conversation with the people in his life he had lost touch with. At camp, he saw the value in vulnerability and opening up to others. Despite apprehensions, any anxieties or doubts that Sam shared during the weekend were met with ungirding faith and support. In his words, the experience reoriented his perspective on relationships, and it has prompted changes in his life since returning home. 

The retreat that Sam attended was our first young adult retreat, and we are happy to say that it continues each winter with the hope of welcoming in and supporting more young adults like Sam. His weekend stay at camp has prompted a continued relationship with this ministry, and we are so grateful for him and his gifts. Fortune Lake offers different blessings to every person who visits. For Sam, it served as an affirmation of his sense of self, his wholeness, and the divine image that we all bear in our daily lives. As we continue to support the mission of Fortune Lake, may that ring true for all who come here. 

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Joyful Immersion

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Isaac Iverson experiences the waters of Fortune Lake for the first time.

A few summers ago, Pr. Joe Iverson watched his then one year-old son Isaac experience a lake for the first time.  Isaac crawled through the wet sand to reach the water’s edge and then relentlessly splashed and sputtered, seemingly fearless, giggling the whole while.  His family was nearby, soaking up Isaac’s pure joy.  Had they not made the commitment to set aside a week of their summer to be at camp, they would have missed this opportunity for renewal through immersion in the faith community – and the waters – of Fortune Lake.

Although Joe’s wife Brianna had attended intergenerational programs with their children for many years, this was the first time Joe was able to come along as a camper.  Like many young families, the Iversons lead a very full life.  Joe serves as a pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Galesville, WI.  Brianna is Zion’s Youth and Family Ministry Director while also working in the synod office.  Together the two of them parent Mary, Nora, and Isaac.  Their family is very intentional about faith formation, yet like many of us, they struggle to truly be together in the day-to-day busyness of life.  Joe states, “We are with our kids, but we’re often mentally somewhere else: doing housework, or thinking about our jobs.  At camp, we were able to truly be with our kids, to watch their joy as they experienced camp in ways that we remember as being so special to us as kids.”

Joe and Brianna were shaped through camping at other Lutheran Outdoor Ministry sites, both as campers and staff members.  When Joe was assigned to the Northern Great Lakes Synod as a pastor, the growing family quickly claimed Fortune Lake as one of their camp homes.  We’re so glad they did!  Joe acknowledges that being a camp counselor is probably the best job God ever created.  For him, the next best thing is to be able to share the beauty of God’s creation and immersion in the intentional faith community of camp with his own children.  May we all find those moments of reckless abandon at the water’s edge to sustain us through the busyness of life.

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Walking Together

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Wade with a group of Rocket Campers

Because he has a twin brother, Wade Crevier has seldom been alone.  However, like many campers and staff at Fortune Lake, Wade learned what it meant to truly walk with someone else through the challenges of life through his work at camp.

When Wade and his brother Lance had just graduated from high school, Pr. David Murphy of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peshtigo, WI encouraged them to apply for summer staff at Fortune Lake. It took them a full year to come around to the idea, eventually deciding on a whim to commit to work somewhere that they had only visited once before.  Wade recalls driving to camp that summer thinking, “Oh no. What did we do?”

But it didn’t take long for Wade to feel at home in this new place. He quickly realized that the summer was going to be a lot of fun, and that he could truly be himself at camp.  Although he didn’t yet know how, he found himself thinking that the summer was going to be a game changer.

A couple weeks later, with staff training under his belt, Wade was making his way from the duplexes to the pavilion with some Victory Campers.  The campers were tired from a busy day of activities, and one camper, Rodney, preferred to ride in a wheelchair rather than walk.  His friend was pushing him along through the rugged terrain, and Wade watched in admiration.  Suddenly, the camper pushing the wheelchair looked at Wade and said, “Do you know why I’m pushing Rodney?  Because I love him like I love Jesus.  I’m happy to be pushing him, and I’m happy to be here learning about Jesus.”

In that moment, Wade was caught off guard by the selfless love of a friend.  He felt as if he’d witnessed a glimpse of the kingdom of God in the here and now.

In the years since that impactful moment, Rodney has passed away.  When Wade recalls that trek across the field, he is hopeful that in his final hours, Rodney remembered the love of Jesus and that he had a family at Fortune Lake who loved him dearly.  

Wade leans on that moment – and others like it – as he prepares for his future as a pastor.  He is currently an M. Div. student at Wartburg Seminary.  Wade anticipates many more moments walking with people through the rugged terrain of life.  He hopes that he can walk with them exactly where they are, just as he witnessed two friends walking together across the Fortune Lake field.

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There are many meaningful ways to engage in supporting Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp!