The Church in the Woods Confirmation Camp, serves a number of congregations primarily representing the North Lancaster and Lancaster conferences, held annually at Camp Kirchenwald in Lebanon County. Youth and their congregational advisors gather each year for one week in June (June 14-19, 2026), to explore the ways God is calling them into a life of discipleship in the world. One of the most important goals of camp is giving campers the confidence to grow in their faith, engage in authentic Christian community with peers and caring adults, and to know that Christ’s love is present in their lives.
Registration for camp 2026 will open soon! Visit: https://www.lutherancamping.org/event/church-in-the-woods-confirmation-camp/
About Church In The Woods Confirmation Camp
Church In The Woods is a collaborative youth ministry between congregations in North Lancaster and Lancaster Conferences, once known as the North Lancaster Conference Confirmation Camp. Congregational leaders and pastors share teaching responsibilities focused around an annual theme that emerges from tradional cathecism instruction. The theme in 2025 is ‘The Water of Life’ that focuses on what it means to be baptized and growing in discipleship in our 21st century context. Throughout their time at camp, campers will learn and grow with the same group of peers, creating relationships and bonds that last a lifetime.
Participants are mostly rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders or students who are currently involved in catechism in their home congregation or recently ‘confirmed’. However, there are situations where students who are a bit younger or older attend camp, sometimes in leadership development roles. While once limited to the Lancaster and North Lancaster congregations, Church In The Woods is now inviting congregations from any conference interested in working together, to consider sending their confirmation students and at least one adult leader, either a pastor, congregational youth leader or adult who might be involved in catechism instruction or who is accompanying young people in faith formation in their setting.
What sets Church In The Woods apart from the other Confirmation Camps in our synod is that they gather at Camp Kirchenwald. Participants can look forward to a truly ‘outdoor’ camp experience, reflecting the nature of Kirchenwald’s annual summer camp experience. While youth receive instruction based on the annual theme each morning, they can look forward to being immersed in a ‘typical’ camp afternoon and evening, with camp counselors and peers, including pool time, crafts, games, high ropes and climbing, and trips to places like the river for kayaking, or Chiques Rock for climbing. Fun, fellowship and outdoor worship all culminate in an environment where we strive to create a loving community that the Holy Spirit can move through.