We hope you enjoy the Together Series, where we are sharing stories and videos from this past summer about how Camp brings people together within generations through play, service, and faith.
For nearly a decade, the Hinz family has considered their time at Camp Arcadia to be the undisputed highlight of their year. At Camp, they experience the peace of God’s presence, genuine connection as a family, and renewal in spirit, mind, and body.
The family’s journey to Camp Arcadia began when Seth attended a fall retreat. Despite the stormy October weather and massive waves, he sensed something “set apart” about the Camp and knew he had to bring his family there. His wife, Rachel, arrived for her first visit with high expectations fueled by friends’ stories, yet even those were exceeded by her first night. “It was everything and more than I could have ever imagined,” she recalls.
Now an annual tradition, their trek from St. Louis with their three kids changes the moment the van turns onto Oak Street. As they approach the Camp turnaround, the excitement bubbles for the kids as they anticipate all the fun that they will have with friends and Staff. For the parents, they look forward to that immediate sense of calm that they feel when they arrive. “That wholeness of spirit, mind, and body really is present here,” Rachel shares. “Whatever is happening back at home, all those things are paused for a moment and we can truly hear from God and spend time with each other.”
For the Hinz family, the appeal of Camp life is the ability to embrace a slower pace with intentional time for family. Seth especially values the one-on-one time he gets with each of his children—whether they are kayaking, playing ping pong, or battling in box hockey. “We genuinely connect as a family here in a way that is not possible at home,” Seth explains. “These moments of connection are everything.”
Over the years, these moments have become lasting memories. Rachel vividly remembers watching a “parade of kids” on the patio one evening, where boys ranging from toddlers in galoshes to teenagers were chanting together as they returned to their parents for the night after playing together and looking out for each other. “Our kids grow up at Camp,” she reflects. “They are in a community of safety and trust.”
Seth finds similar joy in the simple, idyllic moments, like watching his kids wave sparklers by the campfire as fireworks lit up the sky. “We get to see our kids become themselves and see their joy come out,” he says.
This joy is reflected in the way the Staff serves at Camp. Rachel views them as role models who extend a genuine love to every guest. “I’m so thankful for them,” she says effusively. “Our kids are seen and loved exactly as they are. The Staff never ‘phone it in’—they are truly here to serve and connect with people.”
Ultimately, Camp Arcadia offers the Hinz family what Rachel describes as “a taste of Heaven on earth.” Whether they are worshiping together during Arcadia Evening Prayer or searching for rocks along the shoreline, these shared experiences help them grasp the blessing of family and soak in the peace of Christ’s presence in their lives.
Experience this peace on the shores of Lake Michigan in 2026 by registering here.
