Camp Friedenswald

the peaceful woods

Sustain Friedenswald

We are excited to share our plans to Sustain Friedenswald for the next generations of campers! Areas of focus of Sustain Friedenswald campaign include:

  • Lodge updates and renovation (Sycamore, Tamarack, Health Center/Family Suite)
  • Staff housing improvements
  • Expansion of solar energy
  • Endowment growth

Throughout the projects we are committed to:

  • Environmental sustainability – Improving energy efficiency and prioritizing “green” products and practices
  • Increasing accessibility
  • Improving spaces across Camp to better meet the needs of campers, guests, and staff today

Project timeline – 2023-2028

  • 2023 — Replaced Lakeview Lodge roof and added 6 inches of insulation ($150,000)
  • 2024 — Began construction on a new Fenwood Duplex (See below)
  • Next steps:
    • Sycamore Lodge addition and renovation
    • Health Center/Family suite renovation
    • Tamarack Lodge renovation
    • Tri-plex and Peace House updates

Funding goal – $2.5 million – Over$1.75 million has been pledged or given!

Diving Deeper: Fenwood Duplex
What we now call “Fenwood” was purchased by Camp in the early 1990s. At the time of purchase, it was a single-season summer cottage and improvements were made so that staff could live their year-round. It’s served camp well for over 30 years. As we surveyed the updates it needed in order to improve energy efficiency, it was determined that starting over with a new home made good sense.

Alongside the need for rebuilding Fenwood, we recognized the need for adding an additional staff house on-site. At the time the Guest House was renovated to Sandhill Lodge (in 2017), we “lost” space that had once been used to house staff in order to expand guest space. And thus the vision for a new duplex emerged! The old Fenwood home will come down and in its a place new, highly energy efficient duplex is being built.

We are excited to be working with a small residential builder, Abueva Builders for their commitment to building energy-efficient, beautiful spaces! One of their homes recently received a 2024 LEED home of the year award in an international competition. We also value Abueva’s openness to utilizing the skills of Camp volunteers.

Volunteers Phil Nyce and Joel Steinmetz help with the project
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Diving Deeper: Sycamore Lodge
Sycamore Lodge was built in the early 90s and is essential in the summer months to house volunteers and family campers and then as a lodge for churches and other groups throughout the rest of the year. While it can sleep up to 26 people, the gathering area in the lower level is small and has a “basement feel” (read: dark, damp). Our vision for Sycamore is to expand the gathering space through an addition that would open up the room for gathering and to let in the light and view of the east fen. Along with an addition, the rest of the lodge will receive significant updates that include roofing, siding, windows/doors, HVAC system, and more. See below for an image of what the new Sycamore will look like. We hope these changes will improve the experience of those staying here, will allow more people to experience Camp, and to ensure that the building will be able to serve campers and guests of the next generation.

Diving Deeper: Solar Energy
Camp currently has 180 solar panels on-site on the Dining Hall and is part of a community solar program (leasing 80 panels). Roughly 25% of our energy use comes from the sun! As part of Sustain Friedenswald, we are seeking to add additional solar on-site through an array that would provide power to Tamarack and Lakeview Lodges.  

Ariel view of the Main Dining Hall – 180 panels currently provide energy to this building and other parts of Main Camp.

Diving Deeper: Financial Sustainability
Camp Friedenswald currently has an endowment of over $600,000 whose earnings are available to help off-set the annual costs of operating Camp and to provide scholarship funds to campers with financial need. An endowment provides a steady, reliable source of funding each year that can help Sustain Friedenswald for future generations. As part of this project we are seeking to increase the endowment fund by $100,000.

Stay tuned for more photos, updates, and deeper dives into the projects as they unfold. Thank you for your support as we seek to Sustain Friedenswald!

Want to get involved? You can make a gift today by clicking here or contact Jenna Liechty Martin, executive director, for more information on financial giving. Interested in volunteering? Reach out to Jonathan Fridley, facilities director, to share your gift of time and skill.