Last January, during a campus chapel at Union Adventist University, a brief interview became a powerful reminder of what North Star Camp represents. Mallory, a former staff member, reflected on her summer experiences. While she remembered helping organize the Amazing Race during Extreme Camp week, what stayed with her most was walking cabin to cabin each night, praying with counselors and campers before lights out. The most lasting moments were not the public ones, but the spiritual ones.  Annika, once a camper and now a university student alongside former staff, described the continuity she now sees. The same young adults who once mentored her are now peers and classmates. “Working at a summer camp transforms the way you see Jesus,” she said. “It changes how you know God.” Her words capture something we witness consistently: camp shapes both campers and leaders.  At North Star Camp, leadership is entrusted intentionally. Young adults—many serving for the first time—are trained carefully, equipped spiritually, and empowered with real responsibility. After preparation, they are released to lead, supported but given room to grow. They guide small groups, resolve conflict, pray with confidence, and model integrity. Through mentorship and experience, leadership becomes stewardship—rooted in humility and strengthened by service. In that process, we see God shape character, confidence, and calling.  While staff are being formed, campers are discovering something just as significant. Removed from constant digital noise and cultural pressure, young people enter a rhythm shaped by worship, Scripture, outdoor challenge, and authentic community. Questions are asked openly. Faith becomes personal. By the end of the week, decisions are often made with clarity and conviction.  We continue to hear the same testimony from former campers and returning staff: camp is where they met Jesus in a real way for the first time. Not simply where they heard about Him—but where belief became personal.  This year is especially meaningful. Across North America, the Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrates 100 years of summer camp ministry. For a century, Adventist camps have helped shape faith, identity, and leadership in young people. North Star Camp rejoices to stand within that legacy, contributing each summer to the spiritual formation of children and the development of Christ-centered leaders in Minnesota.  Established in 1957 along the shores of Rice Lake near the Mississippi River, North Star Camp has become a sacred landmark in Minnesota’s spiritual landscape. During this time, thousands of children, families, and young adults have walked these grounds. Hundreds of retreats, spiritual gatherings, and summer programs have been conducted in service to our constituency in Minnesota and throughout North America. Its forests, waters, and natural beauty provide more than scenery—they create an environment uniquely suited for reflection, growth, and encounter with God.  In Minnesota, this mission aligns clearly with the conference’s guiding vision: Making Disciples. Camp offers an immersive setting for that process. Discipleship happens in mentoring conversations, shared responsibility, worship under open skies, and courageous decisions beside the water.  The 2026 summer program, titled UNSHAKEN, will center on faith under pressure and the stability found in God’s Word. In a generation navigating uncertainty, our goal is to anchor young lives deeply in Scripture. As Psalm 62:6 declares, “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.” Through biblical teaching, team challenges, and intentional spiritual mentorship, campers will be invited to build lives rooted in Christ—steady even when tested.  As we prepare for another summer season, we invite all families and young adults across North America to prayerfully consider camp as part of their spiritual journey.   We extend sincere gratitude to the parents who entrust their children to our care, to the administration of the Minnesota Conference for its clear vision and faithful support, and to the broader community whose partnership sustains this ministry—under the North Star, where faith is strengthened and lives are shaped.  —Pastor Daniel Borja, camp director  The dates for the 2026 sessions are:  DAY CAMP Date: 6/15 & 6/16 AGES: 7-17  CAMP ABILITIES Date: 6/17-6/21 AGES: 18+  CUB CAMP Date: 6/21-6/28 AGES: 7-9  JUNIOR CAMP Date: 6/28-7/5 AGES: 10-11  TWEEN CAMP Date: 7/5-7/12 AGES: 12-13  EXTREME CAMP Date: 7/12-7/19 AGES: 13-17  TEEN CAMP Date: 7/19-7/26 AGES: 14-17  FAMILY CAMP Date: 7/26-8/2 AGES: 1+   More info: https://www.northstarcamp.org 

There’s a reason people come back to Broken Arrow Ranch—and why first-time campers fall in love with this place and the people. Broken Arrow Ranch is a place where faith feels real, friendships form quickly, and families get a true break while their kids are safe, active, and deeply cared for. We offer camp experiences for every stage of life: Kids and Teen Camps (ages 7–17), Young Adult Camp (18–30ish), Family Camp (all ages), Parenting Solo, Blind Camp, and special gatherings like the Hispanic Youth Rally. Whether your camper is stepping into camp for the first time or returning for another summer, Broken Arrow Ranch is designed to be a “reset” in the best way—fresh air, meaningful worship, solid mentoring, and a community that helps young people grow. What makes Broken Arrow Ranch special is the combination of affordable fun and intentionally supported spiritual growth. Parents love that camp is a budget-friendly vacation option with strong staff support that makes the week feel safe and manageable. Campers love the energy, the activities, and the friendships. And everyone notices the setting: Kansas sunsets over the big, beautiful Tuttle Creek—a view that regularly causes people to stop, pull out their cameras, and remember that God still speaks through creation. This summer brings something new: two brand-new cabins that early registrants will get to enjoy first—along with continued upgrades across camp (including added bathrooms in the lodge and a new and expanded porch overlooking the waterfront!). And thanks to the generosity of our church family, scholarships and financial support help ensure that cost doesn’t keep a young person from this life-changing experience where many make their choice to enter the waters of baptism and move forward with Jesus. Why Camp Matters At Broken Arrow Ranch, we see it every summer: camp creates the kind of environment where faith becomes personal. Away from the pressures of school and work, the noise of social media, and the pace of everyday life, students begin to breathe again. They laugh. They try new things. They discover they are not alone. Camp is often where belonging is experienced before it can even be explained. But camp is more than a great week—it’s a place where Jesus meets students in ways that stick. A worship song begins to mean something. A counselor notices a quiet camper and makes room for them. A Bible message lands differently under the stars than it ever did in a classroom. Sometimes, a student realizes that God has been near all along. One teen came to camp her first year because her parents made her. She didn’t want to be there. She didn’t plan to engage. But she also didn’t want to stand out—so she joined in. What happened next surprised her—and it surprised us too. Here’s what she shared: “When I first sang Never Walk Alone on the first day of Teen Camp (our theme song), I felt like I was lying and sang quietly. That very day, I was angry at my life and I knew I was drifting away from God. I hoped camp would be a good time to get away from home and distract myself. I was wrong. On the first day, I realized how much God wanted me to confess how I had replaced my fear with anger. This camp reminded me how much God loves me. Now I sing that song with confidence that God has never left me—even in the valleys. Thank you for the camp, the music, the message, and the love.” That’s why camp matters—not because every student arrives ready, but because God is faithful to meet them where they are. That same teen returned the next summer not just as a camper, but as a leader, ready to encourage others and point them toward the God who had met her there. If you know a young person who needs a fresh start, a safe place, or a faith that feels real—send them our way. And if your family has loved Broken Arrow Ranch before, come back and bring someone with you. The simplest invitation can become the turning point in someone’s story. Spiritual Goal To help each camper take a meaningful step forward—daily—in healing, belonging, and purpose with Jesus. Location: Olsburg, Kansas (30 minutes from Manhattan / Kansas State University)   2026 Summer Camps Young Adult Camp — June 18–21 Ages 18–30ish Adventure Camp — June 21–28 Ages 8–10 Family Camp + Parenting Solo + Hispanic Youth Rally — June 30–July 5 All ages welcome This year, we’ll celebrate the 4th of July together, creating space for more families to attend with the help of some vacation time. Parenting Solo is designed for single parents and their kids—offering encouragement, support, and community. Hispanic Youth Rally returns with special culturally meaningful programming and opportunities for families to connect. Junior Camp — July 5–12 Ages 10–12 Earliteen Camp — July 12–19 Ages 12–14 Teen Camp — July 19–26 Ages 14–17 ⸻ Activities Basketball • volleyball • soccer • dodgeball • capture the flag • gymnastics • crafts • nature • mountain biking • horseback riding • swimming • archery + archery tag • go-karts • waterfront fun (tubing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, water skiing) and more. Website: brokenarrowranch.org  ⸻ Nick Snell is youth director/camp director for Broken Arrow Ranch.    

Broken Arrow Ranch has been an incredible blessing to our conference since its purchase in 1970 through its impact on young people and its year-round ministry of retreats and gatherings. More than a camp, Broken Arrow Ranch has become a sacred space where God consistently meets people in meaningful and life-changing ways. Summer camp stands at the heart of this legacy. Each year, Broken Arrow Ranch fills with the energy and hope of young people encountering God away from the distractions of everyday life. For many students, camp at the Ranch marks the first time their faith becomes personal. Decisions to follow Christ, moments of deep worship, healing conversations, and calls into ministry have unfolded in cabins, around campfires, and during powerful services. These experiences continue to shape lives long after summer ends. Beyond summer camp, Broken Arrow Ranch blesses our conference throughout the entire year. Retreats, leadership training, and ministry meetings held on the grounds provide space for renewal, vision, and unity. Pastors, leaders, and volunteers can step away, refocus, and be refreshed spiritually. The peaceful environment fosters prayerful discernment, honest conversation, and strengthened relationships. The natural beauty creates an atmosphere that invites reflection and openness to God’s presence. Whether hosting energetic youth events or quieter retreats, Broken Arrow Ranch offers a setting that supports both spiritual growth and genuine community. Its staff and leadership consistently serve with excellence, hospitality, and a heart for ministry, making every gathering feel intentional and well cared for. Broken Arrow Ranch has become a place of continuity and faithfulness, a place we return to again and again because of the fruit it bears. We are deeply grateful for the year-round blessing it has been, shaping young lives, strengthening leaders, and supporting the ongoing work God is doing among us. – Ron Carlson is president of the Kansas-Nebraska Conference. Website: www.brokenarrowranch.org  

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