Unplug and Connect With What Matters Most

Some of my favorite moments in ministry happen at family camp. Every year, I get a front-row seat to watch families slow down, unplug, and reconnect with each other and with God. I've seen tears turn into laughter, exhaustion turn into joy, and distant hearts draw close again, all because they took time to step away from the rush of everyday life and make space for what truly matters. 

Family camp at Lake Geneva Ministries isn't just a weekend away. It's an experience that helps families rediscover God's design for rest, joy, and togetherness. Whether it's beach days on the lake, silly games, worshipping in chapel, roasting marshmallows under the stars, or sharing morning coffee with new friends, families get to experience what it means to connect with what matters most. 

Why Family Camp Matters

In a world that is constantly moving with packed schedules and endless notifications, there is little time left for real, face-to-face connection. Family camp offers something rare and sacred. It gives families space to slow down, play together and draw closer to God and one another. 

Our programs are designed to help families refocus on what truly matters: faith, family, and authentic connection. Family camp intentionally slows the pace, removes distractions, and helps you focus on what's most important in life.

Through shared meals, lakeside conversations, engaging chapels, and unforgettable activities, families build stronger relationships with God and with one another. And often, the most meaningful moments happen between the scheduled events. Couples and families talk around a campfire, play together, or enjoy a quiet walk by the lake. 

Community Happens Faster Here

While weekly church attendance is vital for spiritual growth, something uniquely powerful happens when you step away from the routines of daily life. Research on community and team-building consistently shows that shared, immersive experiences, like a weekend retreat, build deeper relationships faster than short, weekly interactions. 

At family camp, you have time and space for meaningful conversation, reflection, and laughter without the normal distractions. That kind of focused, unhurried time together accelerates trust, creates authentic community, and leaves a lasting impact long after you return home. 

Many families even attend with others from their church, small groups, Bible studies, Awana Club and youth group, creating opportunities for deeper fellowship and stronger church communities. Retreats don't replace the local church, they strengthen it.

Programs for Every Season of Life

Family camp truly is for every generation. Families can bring infants in strollers all the way to grandparents. Across both of our campuses, Lake Geneva Youth Camp and Conference Point Center, we offer nine unique family programs throughout the year: 

• Unplugged Family Ski Retreat (NEW!) - Trade busy schedules and screen time for snow-covered adventures and intentional family connection. Spend the day skiing at Grand Geneva Resort, then return to cozy lakeside lodging at Conference Point Center for worship, fireside chats, and family fun.
• Mother Daughter Retreat - Two weekends to choose from to meet your scheduling needs, step away for laughter, crafts, worship, and memory-making designed to help mothers and daughters of all ages connect and grow closer in faith.
• Father Son Camp - A weekend built for dads and sons to laugh, play, and grow closer to God together. Adventure-filled days, campfire nights, and meaningful moments of faith, everything you need to connect and make memories that last.
• Unplugged Family Camp (4th of July Week) - One of our most beloved traditions, filled with beach time, fireworks, games, and Christ-centered teaching.
• Unplugged Labor Day Family Camp - A camp favorite for over 30 years! Enjoy a weekend of worship, games, and outdoor adventure as you close out summer with purpose and connection.
• Father Son Basketball Camp - For dads and sons who love faith and competition! Whether on the lake or on the court (in partnership with Higher Level Basketball), these retreats are packed with devotionals, teamwork, and quality time.
• Marriage Retreat - A special fall weekend that gives couples space to rest, reconnect, and renew their commitment to one another and to Christ. 

The Heart Behind the Marriage Retreat

If there's one retreat that's foundational to building strong families, it's the Marriage Retreat. Over the years, my husband Tom and I have had the privilege of ministering to countless couples who come to camp weary, some even on the brink of giving up. I'll never forget one couple who shared that attending this retreat was their last effort to restore their marriage. That weekend, God met them in a powerful way. They left with renewed hope and a deep sense of His healing presence. This retreat is now an annual tradition for them. 

Not every couple arrives in crisis, but every couple leaves changed. Between the laughter of silly games, the quiet moments of worship, and the biblical encouragement from our speakers, hearts are softened and connections are rebuilt. We've seen couples return home refreshed, renewed, and ready to take on what's ahead, together. 

If there's a family camp that could be called the foundation of them all, it might be this one. Because when we cultivate strong marriages, we grow strong families. And when we grow strong families, we build vibrant, thriving churches. 

Unplug to Connect

Our family camps remind us to disconnect from what doesn't matter like screens, schedules, and noise and reconnect with what truly does. Our faith, family, an community. At Lake Geneva Ministries, we're passionate about creating spaces where families can grow together spiritually, relationally, and personally. 

It's not about having a perfectly planned schedule or checking off activities. It's about slowing down long enough to hear God's voice and to see one another clearly. It's about making room for laughter, reflection, and the kind of conversations that don't happen when life moves too fast. 

For me, this ministry is deeply personal. I met Jesus at camp. I met my husband here. And now I get to raise my kids in the same environment. A place where faith comes alive and families grow closer. Every campfire, every chapel message, every shared meal is an opportunity for the Lord to work in ways that echo far beyond a weekend. 

Because family camp isn't just about fun, it's about eternal impact. One weekend being together can spark ripples that change generations. 

So what's it like to be at family camp?

It's laughter echoing across the lake. It's worship that feels alive. It's sun kissed cheeks that are sore from smiling and laughing, it's shared prayers, and most of all it's deep conversations that carry into the months ahead. It's families rediscovering joy in each other's company and growing together in Christ. 

And for so many who come it's exactly what they didn't know they were missing!