Under a bright October sky, friends, donors, and partners of Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries gathered at Carol Joy Holling Camp to celebrate an exciting milestone—the groundbreaking for the CL and Rachel Werner Crystal Springs Lake renovation. The afternoon was...
If your camper came home buzzing about exciting changes coming next summer at camp, they weren’t exaggerating! This fall, we’ll break ground on major lake renovation and restoration projects at both Sullivan Hills and Carol Joy Holling Camps. At Carol Joy Holling...
The new yurts were a hot topic of conversation around The Grove site at Carol Joy Holling Camp this summer. Installed this spring, the circular cabins were a major upgrade from the canvas tipis used in past years. And campers noticed. “The yurts are pretty good...
Gathered under the shade (thank God!) of many trees, the 2025 Quilt Auction was a joyful day filled with fellowship, a fantastic lunch by our camp kitchen crew, and almost 400 quilts and specialty items all to support Faith: Alive! and the ministry of camp. The quilts...
This summer, 1,626 campers from nine different states made their way to Carol Joy Holling and Sullivan Hills Camps for a season filled with joy, growth, and Christ-centered community. With the guidance of 55 Summer Ministry Team members, campers explored the outdoors,...
By Lisa Stirtz, Volunteer Coordinator Volunteer (noun): a person who freely offers to take part in an enterprise or undertake a task (Merriam-Webster) The spirit of volunteerism is seen in so many characteristics. From being joyful and happy to help; to making work...
By Trish Haniszewski, Development Officer For years, Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries has been blessed by the generosity and steadfast support of the Rogers Foundation, with Mary Kay Jones at the heart of this partnership. Inspired by her father Rex Marquart’s...
By Dennis Pope, Manager of Adventure Programs We see it over and over. Someone is sitting at the edge of the zip line platform unable to step off. Frozen. In the uncertainty of it all the mind races with thoughts and emotions full of fear and anxiety: Can I handle...
By Farrel Aflagah, 2025 Ranch Camp Site Coordinator “Carol Joy Holling Camp is where we’re from” quickly went from just a slogan at my summer job to a cornerstone of my faith. Being a part of the Summer Ministry Team at Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries completely...
By Jessica Weltz, Adult Programs Specialist Eli’s first experience with the Jay Novicki program was five years ago, and it was a day his mom will never forget. Nervous and unsure, she left Eli at camp, worried about how he would handle being away from home. At first,...