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; completed in 2025 (See below) and read more here
• 2024: Began renovation and remodel of Sycamore Lodge; completed in 2025 (See below)
• 2025: 46 Solar panels installed to Lakeview Lodge Read more by clicking here
• Next steps:
  • 2025-26: Tri-plex (staff home) renovation
  • 2026-27: Health Center/Family Suite renovation
  • Tamarack Lodge renovation
  • Peace House (staff home) updates

Funding goal: $3 million with nearly $2.4 million 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.

 

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. (This project was completed in March 2025.)

Diving Deeper: Triplex / Hugel Haus
In late summer, 2025, the Triplex will begin its transformation from “the Triplex” to Hugel Haus, which is translated “Hill House” from German, named for its location on the west edge of Turtle Hill. The Triplex was constructed in 1990 and has served as a staff residence for staff and their families for the past 35 years. The current layout includes two small apartments on the lower level and one larger family home (3 bedrooms) on the upper level.

In addition to significant maintenance needs (i.e. new roof, siding, windows, HVAC, etc.), the house will also undergo modest remodeling to help meet the needs of staff today and into the future. Changes will include the reconfiguration of the lower level from two small units into one larger unit. The wraparound deck will be removed from the upper level in order to allow more light into the lower level, thus removing the feeling of “living in a basement.” A stand alone garage will provide the staff living in the home a place to park their car (which is a helpful feature when trying to prevent critter damage!) As has been done in previous projects, we will seek to make the building more energy efficient and will seek to incorporate more sustainable building materials, when possible.

Facilities director, Jonathan Fridley, will be leading the renovation and is seeking volunteers to assist with specific projects along the way. If you are interested in getting involved, please reach out!

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.