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50th Anniversary Celebration

               of El Camino Pines

The celebration was a blast!  There were over 200 people present to look at the past and hear about the future. 

A Day to Remember, a Day to Look Ahead. Friends of camp, including current and former staff of Lutheran camping gathered on Saturday, November 7th to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of El Camino Pines.  And what a day to remember, as over 200 guests arrived at camp.  The day was highlighted by inspiring worship (led by Bishop Dean Nelson), a tearful and hilarious hour of stories from the past (led by Bishop Howie Wennes), a raucous quilt auction where great deals abounded, and a lunch that affirmed that the best camp food in the world is shared at El Camino Pines.  And the biggest laughs of the day came when the three ELCA bishops present (Dean Nelson, Howie Wennes and Paul Egertson) rose together to lead the camp community in a hilarious round of 'Bad Jokes - Bishop's Edition.'  Where else are you going to see that? 
 
ECP's rich history was on full display.  Former staff laughed as they sifted through old summer camp photos.  Pictures of the ECP Dining Hall being built clearly show that the same pine trees visible in the 1962 photos are still growing strong in 2009.  And new campers jumped in a bounce house, played Norwegian golf and enjoyed s'mores by the campfire.  Everyone saw first hand that camp is looking better than ever.  Countless guests commented on all the work that has been done in the last few years to clean up the camp, especially by volunteers (led by Pastors Carl Nielsen and Sam Platts) who have painted almost every building in camp.   What a joy to be part of the legacy of El Camino Pines.   
 
But the story doesn't end... In his sermon at the campfire ring, Bishop Dean Nelson challenged the gathered congregations to remember the great calling placed before us by our God and our church.  We can live best in the gratitude of God's grace by taking up the mission goals of evangelizing the next generation of campers who visit El Camino Pines.  It's a challenge that involves our hearts, minds, hands and wallets.  
 
In the end, the day long event raised close to $6,500 for the ongoing ministry of El Camino Pines.  As a reminder of this special day, a designated area below the ECP Chapel has been cultivated for reforestation.  So far, two donated trees have been planted, with dozens more to be planted in the near future.  And 50 years from now, perhaps our children will gather to thank God, and remember the legacy of a ministry that stretches back 100 years.
 
                               

 

 
 

 

 

 

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