Categories Chad Hershberger Good SOIL January 1, 2026

Looking ahead to 2026

By Chad Hershberger

We’ve come to the beginning of another new year. As I looked back on 2025, I realized that it was a pretty significant year in the life of Camp Mount Luther. The biggest accomplishment, of course, was the construction of the Maple Village Bathhouse. We also built upon the Synod Youth Initiative, in its third year, and started CaTALYST, our faith community designed by and for young adults. CaTALYST also was the winner of the latest Lutheran Outdoor Ministries Innovative Program Award. Our board adopted a new strategic plan that will guide our work in the next few years. And personally, I enjoyed celebrating my 25th year as executive director.

As I think ahead to 2026, I don’t want to make predictions, but I would expect that you’ll hear about the following:

  1. Work to attract new people to camp. The big push in our new strategic plan is to engage with new partnership and constituents to use camp. That would be through both programs and use of our facilities.
  2. Continued development of the synod youth program and CaTALYST. These are two exciting programs for young people in the church, and we want to put our time and talents into these programs to get even more people engaged in faith formation.
  3. A main theme of 2026 will be curiosity. We will be working with our summer staff and campers to help them get curious, about the Bible, about nature, and about their own life experiences. Coming up with questions can be just as good as having the answers. We want to lean into the God-given gift of curiosity and see what happens!
  4. Many leaders in the camp will be working to determine the next course of action in our capital improvement plans. The renovation of Maple Hall is the next big item on our list.
  5. Be on the lookout for an update on a refresh of the activities room in Evergreen Center. CaTALYST has started to paint, and we are working on some grant money to get new furniture. It’s also our intent to move summer crafts to that space, which may happen in 2026.

Exciting things are on the horizon in this new year. May God bless your next 365 days as we continue to spread God’s love to all we meet!