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.
Camp Arcadia is a place where generations come together to delight in each other’s presence and draw closer to God. From the buildings to the programs, Camp provides the space and experience for families to connect on a deeper level and form lasting memories.
At Camp, grandparents can revel in their unhurried time with their grandchildren—pushing them on the swings, grabbing a TP treat, or creating in the craft shop—without the burden of having to prepare meals or clean up.
“Having that intergenerational connection is priceless,” shared Beth Kachube, a Family Retreat guest from Grand Haven, MI. For the last few years, her parents have joined them on their annual week at Camp Arcadia, making the experience even more meaningful. Her kids enjoyed discovering their grandparents’ competitive side as they participated in RKD Trivia Night. Their week was filled with time together, laughing at old family stories, sharing meals, and playing games.
Guests love seeing the next generation discover the fun of Camp. Hillary (Rechel) Kline, mom of three young kids, reflected, “It’s sweet watching your kids experience Camp the same way you did.” Now, as a parent, she understands why her parents loved attending each year. Camp is a safe place where kids are free to explore, and parents experience “true rest” and time to reconnect.
The Rechel family first came to Arcadia in 1993 with a group of friends. Now, they attend with their adult children and grandchildren. Camp is a place for them to deepen relationships and focus on their faith.
For 35 years, the Don and Joan Jones family from Glen Ellyn, IL, has made Camp Arcadia their vacation destination. Three generations come together each year to enjoy time on the beach, playing in tournaments, and having late-night campfires. Joan said, “Here the grandkids are all safe and having fun. I get to have quiet time with my son and daughter, which is huge for me at this stage of life.”
Originally from the St. Louis area, the Beumer/Allen/Carpenter family has been part of the Camp Arcadia community since the 1940s. This long-standing family tradition was delayed at the start because the Beumer family had to wait until their youngest child (Bob) turned 3. At the time, Camp did not allow children under three to attend.
Thankfully, this policy was changed, and Kathy Allen got to bring her daughter, McKenzie, to Camp as a three-month-old baby. McKenzie continued the family tradition this summer by bringing her nine-month-old son, Bryce, to Camp for the first time, making him a fifth-generation Camper. The thread of Camp connects all these generations with shared memories of softball games, square dances, and worship services.
This summer, Kirby Bruzek returned to Camp Arcadia for the first time without her dad, Don Lohrentz, who passed away in June 2024. Don started coming to Camp in 1941 at the age of five. Over the decades, he shared this special place with his children, grandchildren, and friends.
From 5 to 88 years old, Camp was a constant in Don’s life—a place to enjoy a Sodalicious, play games, and deepen his faith. During his last days, it gave him precious time with family while he experienced the beauty of God’s creation. The last picture on his phone was an Arcadia sunset.
It is incredibly rare to have a place like Camp that can be with you in all your stages of life. Reflecting on Camp’s role in her life, Kirby wrote, “In all these stages, there has always been an overriding sense that Camp is one of a kind. A gift that is hard to describe unless it’s experienced…A place of simple beauty lovingly supported and set aside for community, deep breaths, old-fashioned fun, and spiritual renewal.” (Days Filled with Sunshine: One Hundred Years of Camp Arcadia).
We give thanks to God for Camp Arcadia and the way it brings generations together, giving them much-needed time with each other while drawing them closer to God.
