History Summer camp ministry officially started in South Dakota in 1934 when the South Dakota Conference sponsored a youth camp event in the Black Hills, answering the prayers of eight boys and three adults who had camped together for a weekend the year before in a primitive camp site near Redfield. This small group had fervently prayed that a larger camp with more youth could be held the very next year in the Black Hills. Their prayers were answered, and camp took place the following year and then in various areas until 1965, when the beautiful Flag Mountain Camp was provided for permanent Adventist camp ministry in the Black Hills of  South Dakota. In 1947, the North Dakota Conference ran a summer youth camp by renting sites at Lake Metigoshe State Park with 99 junior campers in attendance. Previously, summer camps had been held in various locations. In 1952, conference treasurer F. E. White purchased property on Lake Metigoshe without the permission of the executive committee. He reportedly told them he would pay for it himself if they decided not to go along with the unauthorized purchase. They voted to pay for it in the end, and it became Northern Lights Camp, situated on the northern border of North Dakota. Summer camp ministry remained a strong program in both of the Dakota conferences through the years with hundreds of young people enjoying nature and finding life-long relationships with each other and with Jesus. The hard work of both lay leaders and conference administrators ensured that young people throughout the conferences could experience camp ministry. In 1981, the two conferences merged, with the agreement that the combined Dakota Conference would maintain and continue both camps. This decision has been a huge blessing in a conference that spans such a large territory. These camps provide a sanctuary where people can meet and grow in Jesus. Campers grow up, return as staff, and then continue their leadership within the church. These two camps have been tremendous training grounds for church leaders. Why we exist Dakota Adventist Camps exist to bring young people closer to a life-long relationship with Jesus. It doesn’t matter if you are a camper, staff, or volunteer, our goal is to help each person who steps foot onto our camps have an experience that leads them closer to Jesus. Each year, we witness young people baptized in Castle Creek or Lake Metigoshe who view camp as a major part of their spiritual journey. Our prayer is to continue leading young people to Jesus until He comes. Dakota Adventist Camps Flag Mountain Camp 23071 Kinney Springs Road, Hill City, SD 57745 Northern Lights Camp 10851 17th Ave NE, Bottineau, ND 58318​ 2026 Camp Schedule Flag Mountain Camp CUB (ages 8-10) June 10-14 JUNIOR (ages 11-13) June 14-21 TEEN (ages 14-17) June 21-28   Northern Lights Camp CUB (ages 8-10) July 8-12 JUNIOR (ages 11-13) July 12-19 TEEN (ages 14-17) July 19-26 Website www.dakotayouthandyoungadults.org

Dakota Adventist Camps exist to bring young people closer to a life-long relationship with Jesus. It doesn’t matter if you are a camper, staff, or volunteer, our goal is to help each person who steps foot onto our camps have an experience that leads them closer to Jesus. Each year, we witness young people baptized in Castle Creek or Lake Metigoshe who view camp as a major part of their spiritual journey. Our prayer is to continue leading young people to Jesus until He comes. A mom’s testimony “I just don’t think I believe that God is real.” As a mom, these words fell on my heart with a thud and shattered like glass. How can our kids live every day in a God-worshipping, Bible-reading, praying, church-involved family and not believe that God is real? The decision to send our teen daughters to summer camp was probably the best decision we made that year, but at the time it felt like a gamble. You know how it is—if you listen long enough, you will always hear the good and the bad of everything. Camp is no exception. Not only were we total strangers to this area, we also heard words like, new directors, new program, it’s not like it used to be, and so on. We sent our daughters anyway. Fast-forward with me to the end of just one week of camp: She kept a detailed journal during the week of camp and recounted to us every activity, meal, recipe, worship, song, note, camper, and probably even every conversation she’d had, talking non-stop for nearly the entire six-hour drive home. She summed it up again and again—“Camp was amazing! Camp is where kids can meet Jesus every day, and it’s not weird….Every kid should be able to go to camp.” The next summer, both of our daughters applied to work at camp and made sure that their siblings would attend as campers, and even convinced a cousin to attend from four states away. “It’s so worth it,” she said, “you won’t ever be the same!” —Elaine Chism, parent A staff story I have experienced this camp both as a camper for many years and now as a staff member. That perspective has allowed me to witness how God works in lives not just during a single week, but across many summers. I have watched campers grow in confidence, maturity, and their willingness to engage with their faith, seeing fruit that develops over time. One thing I have consistently seen is how God uses this place to shape people beyond what is immediately visible. Campers grow through activities and challenges, but that growth continues after camp ends. I have seen campers, as well as fellow staff, return more grounded, patient, and intentional in how they live out their faith. Worship has been one of the clearest places where I have witnessed God at work. When campers and staff lift their voices together, there is something powerful happening that is hard to put into words. In those moments, it becomes easier to feel the Holy Spirit’s presence. I have seen campers become more open and more willing to reflect on their relationship with God. Having walked with this camp for many years, I am confident that God is actively at work here. I have seen Him provide through both easy and difficult seasons and work in ways that can only be described as miraculous when it mattered most. It has been a privilege to witness how He continues to move in our lives over the summers. —Baker Mitchell, DAC staff for 4 years, DAC camper for 9 years A volunteer story Dakota Adventist Camps is a treasured part of our family’s summer tradition. As a mother, I’ve watched my children build lifelong friendships while at camp. Camp is where faith comes alive—through laughter, outdoor adventures, meaningful worship, and unforgettable experiences both inside and out. Even the meals are a highlight. The food is nourishing, well-balanced, and genuinely enjoyed by the kids—it’s fun to see campers get excited about Asian tofu day or the Agape feast featuring fresh fruits, veggies and homemade bread!         As the camp’s medical director, I’ve also seen Dakota Adventist Camps from an operational and ministry perspective. The Christ-centered staff and intentional programming consistently prioritize both spiritual growth and camper well-being. One of the greatest blessings each summer is witnessing multiple baptisms. Just when we think we’ve reached everyone, God continues to bring new hearts ready to commit their lives to Him.         Because of my commitment to serving at camp, all three of my children spend their entire summers there—and eagerly look forward to returning each year. Each plans to serve on staff when old enough. Dakota Adventist Camps is deeply woven into the Bohlman family calendar, and we are grateful to continue this meaningful tradition. —Jaime Bohlman, volunteer Dakota Adventist Camps Flag Mountain Camp 23071 Kinney Springs Road, Hill City, SD 57745 Northern Lights Camp 10851 17th Ave NE, Bottineau, ND 58318​   2026 Camp Schedule Flag Mountain Camp CUB (ages 8-10) June 10-14 JUNIOR (ages 11-13) June 14-21 TEEN (ages 14-17) June 21-28   Northern Lights Camp CUB (ages 8-10) July 8-12 JUNIOR (ages 11-13) July 12-19 TEEN (ages 14-17) July 19-26 Website www.dakotayouthandyoungadults.org

At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be anything good about Good Friday. It’s a day filled with pain, loss, and darkness. An innocent man is betrayed by a friend. He is arrested in the middle of the night, put through an unfair trial, mocked, beaten, and sentenced to death. The crowd that once welcomed Him turns against Him. Leaders who should have stood for truth choose power instead. Even His closest followers run away in fear. Then comes the cross. Crucifixion was one of the cruelest forms of execution in the ancient world. It was slow. It was public. It was meant to shame. And that’s where Jesus Christ was led—carrying His own cross, already weak from the beating He had endured. If you were there, you wouldn’t call that day “good.”You would call it tragic. Unjust. Heartbreaking. And yet… Christians around the world still call it Good Friday. Why? Because what looked like the worst day in history was actually the turning point of hope. It Was Bad—Really Bad Good Friday reminds us of the reality of sin and brokenness in our world. And if we’re honest, that brokenness doesn’t just belong to the past. We see it today. In headlines. In communities. In our own lives. There are moments when it feels like things are getting worse, not better. Times when prayers seem unanswered. Seasons when God feels distant. Good Friday speaks directly into that feeling. It shows how quickly people can turn. It shows how fear can silence truth. It shows how power can be abused. It shows how cruelty can feel normal. But more than that, it shows something deeper: humanity’s need for saving. The cross is not just about what happened to Jesus—it’s about what is wrong with all of us. The injustice, the selfishness, the pride, the fear… all of it is on display that day. That’s why Good Friday doesn’t skip over the pain. It doesn’t pretend everything is okay. It meets us right where we are. But Jesus Chose the Cross Here’s where everything begins to change. Jesus was not forced into this moment. He chose it. He knew what was coming. He prayed about it in the garden. He even asked if there was another way. But in the end, He said yes to the cross. Why? Because of love. Not a weak kind of love. Not just words. But a love that acts. A love that sacrifices. A love that stays—even when it hurts. On Good Friday, Jesus didn’t just die.He gave Himself. And that means something for us today. Being a Christian doesn’t mean life will always make sense. It doesn’t mean we won’t face loss, confusion, or pain. But it does mean we are not facing it alone. When It Feels Like God Is Silent There is something else about Good Friday that we often overlook. From the outside, it looked like God was absent. Jesus was suffering. The sky grew dark. Hope seemed lost. Even Jesus cried out, asking why He felt forsaken. If you had stood there that day, you might have wondered, Where is God in all of this? That question still shows up today. Where is God when life falls apart?Where is God when prayers go unanswered?Where is God when the world feels unstable? Good Friday gives us an unexpected answer:God is right there—in the middle of it. Not distant. Not removed. But present in suffering. The Cross Wasn’t the End If Good Friday ended at the cross, it would still be a sad story. But it doesn’t. Christians believe that what happened on that cross made a way for something new. Forgiveness. Freedom. A restored relationship with God. The cross becomes more than a symbol of death—it becomes a symbol of hope. Because Jesus took on sin and its consequences, people don’t have to carry that burden alone anymore. The worst thing—death—was faced head-on. And that changes everything. What’s Good About Being a Christian? Good Friday quietly answers that question. What’s good about being a Christian when life is hard? It’s not that Christians avoid suffering.It’s that suffering is not the end of the story. It’s knowing that even when life feels uncertain, God is still at work.It’s trusting that even when we don’t see it, He hasn’t stepped away.It’s believing that pain can be redeemed, not wasted. Being a Christian means we have hope that is not based on circumstances. Good Friday Means You Are Not Forgotten One of the most powerful things about Good Friday is this: it tells us we are seen. Jesus didn’t die for a perfect world. He died for a broken one. That means your struggles, your mistakes, your doubts—they are not ignored. They were part of the reason He went to the cross. Good Friday says:You matter enough for God to step into your pain. Even when life feels unfair… even when things don’t make sense… even when you feel alone… the cross reminds us that God is not distant. He understands suffering because He experienced it. It’s “Good” Because of What It Brings So why do we call it Good Friday? Not because the events were good.They weren’t. We call it good because of what came from it. From betrayal came forgiveness.From suffering came healing.From death came life. And from a moment that looked like God was absent came the clearest picture that He was there all along. That’s what makes it good. Not the suffering.Not the loss.But the love that chose to stay—and still stays—with us today. By Hugh Davis (with Ai-assisted research and drafting)

Washing pots and pans probably isn’t anyone’s idea of a terrific summer job, but it was my opportunity to work at camp. I loved my years as a camper, and this was a chance to relive some of it—only to be involved in the campfire play instead of watching it. I would have taken any job just to be there. What was not evident on my first day was where it would lead. The next two summers, I was a camp counselor with added responsibilities and more complex leadership situations. My last summer, I was boy’s director and the leadership requirements were kicked up a notch across the board. This was especially true in terms of leading a group of counselors who were at or near my age, and a couple of whom could just as easily have been asked to be director instead of me. Summer camp gave me, by age 21, more opportunity to develop leadership skills than just about anything else I can imagine. In the course of providing an awesome experience—physically and spiritually—for young people that is unmatched anywhere, our youth departments do the vital work of developing the future leaders of our denomination. And that leadership comes at them fast because, for many, the year after they finish their camp work experience, they are in front of a classroom or standing in a pulpit or auditing the financial records of a church. The ones who developed leadership under the direction of an attentive and caring conference youth director are not as deep a shade of green when they take that first job out of college. Camp isn’t just the best summer a kid can have; it’s the best development a young adult could hope for. Doug Inglish is Rocky Mountain Conference vice president for administration.