25 Years of Spirit in the Pines

Written by Sierra Luna (Former Camp Staff 2022-2023)

While they brought some games and traditions over from Camp Heartland, they made many of their own as well. The cabin signs that still hang on the cabins were brought to Camp Heartland and then to Spirit in the Pines. Crazy soccer — a high school olympic activity — was first played at heartland. The much beloved canteen store was also something they did at Camp Heartland that then continued at Spirit in the Pines. 

While the resort had the cabins that St. Andrew needed, it didn’t have a lodge. So they built one from the ground up. First they blessed the land and then broke ground. 

Spirit in the Pines didn’t officially hold its first campers until 2004. Jen Gruendler who was on staff at Camp Heartland then at Spirit in the Pines that very first year told me about that first day. “The first day of having campers at SIP was one for the record books. We were not ready for campers or to be open. We sort of knew what we were doing. Ise was brand new in the kitchen and only part time. It was Pirate Week with 8th/9th graders I think. We had a whole opening skit to introduce people to the week that went terribly wrong (including a motor boat going circles with no one in it in the lake). Campers had no idea what was happening. We laughed and cried and prayed (sometimes all at once) that day from sun up to long into the late night-but we made it. The campers had tons of fun. We learned a lot. We eventually ate dinner (so late). we depended on each other, worked really hard, and made it all about giving the campers the most fun and awesome first day of camp. Things can be so great and holy and also such a mess too.”

Over the 25 years since the camp property was bought, over ten thousand campers, counselors and staff have been changed for the better through the ministry of Spirit in the Pines. Camp has grown an incredible amount since that first summer. In 2010, two more cabins were built, followed by two more in 2012. In 2014 they built a Chapel in the place of the old staff house. Before the chapel, morning worship was held on the upper deck with song posters to sing along to. From 2015-2023 other buildings on camp also got a facelift. Bethlehem was and a new Nurse’s were rebuilt during that time. Burke moved from Babylon to the new directors cabin in 2015, and Babylon was turned into the boat house, until it was torn down in 2022 and a new boathouse and arts and crafts building was built in its place. Camp has seen many changes, with Sarah coming on as the new director in 2022. Through it all, the spirit of camp has always and will always remain the same. Every person that graces the property discovers that they are unconditionally loved and valued every single summer.

When I was asked to write this blog to culminate 25 years of ministry my first thought was how I wanted to highlight the voices of the people who amplify what camp is.

These are the people who have been touched through Spirit in the Pines, and many of them have personally made my years at camp unforgettable. I set out to interview as many past camp staff as I could, and I crafted my questions in a way to hopefully convey how much camp means to them and how much they mean to camp. What follows is a glimpse of camp through the eyes of some of the many people who have made camp the incredible place it is today. 

The questions were as follows:

• What was your role at camp?
• What is the first thing you think of when you think of camp?
• What is your favorite camp tradition? 
• What advice would you give to a nervous first time camper? 
• What from camp have you taken into your daily life?  (advice, sayings, games, jokes) 
• If you could relive one day at camp, what day would it be? 
• Most memorable prank, stunt or skit? 
• What about camp left the biggest impact on you? What story do you still share? 
• Favorite camp dessert? 

Jen Gruendler

What was your role at camp?

Role 1: Fun Squad – Summer 2002 (June/August at Camp Heartland and July Family camp at SITP), Summer 2003 (June/August at Camp Heartland and July Family camp at SIP), Summer 2004 (First full summer at SIP), and half of Summer 2005.

Role 2: Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry at St. Andrew (2008-2014). I spent a lot of weeks at camp with kids, lots of time with staff training etc, and lots of retreats. I think I have been up to camp at least for a family camp weekend (and often much more) every year since 2002 except 2020.

What is the first thing you think of when you think of camp?

The people of course – the hundreds of people my life is connected to now because of Spirit in the Pines – my friends who I met through camp staff so many years ago who remain close friends today. The staff and counselors who have come after me – who I have had the privilege of literally seeing grow up, and become amazing adults and some spouses and parents now. The 20+ years of campers also come to mind (kids and families alike) who know God’s love for them and the world better because of their time of camp. It all feels like a miracle.

What advice would you give to a nervous first time camper?

Just take one step at a time, have dessert at every meal, and know you are for sure not the only nervous human at camp! It’s okay to be nervous, it’s a feeling that comes and it goes. So use your brave muscles.

Most memorable prank, stunt or skit?

I will always be a sucker for the “holy water” skit–it’s so ridiculous and always makes me giggle when the kid (hopefully if they get the joke right) says, “forgive me I peed in the holy water”.

Favorite camp dessert?

Ise’s jello cake (sort of a love/hate kind of thing, ya know?) and watermelon from a fancy carved watermelon that we only brought out on fancy occasions like Lake Association meetings and the dedications of camp throughout the years.

Angie Elton

What was your role at camp?

My total years going to camp is 23 (I missed the first year and 2020). I was a counselor for 2 years, on Fun Squad for 2 years, on God Squad for 1 year, and I was a Squad Leader for 1 year. I also spent multiple years going up as a children’s minister. Then I was the Interim Camp Director for one 1 year.

What is the first thing you think of when you think of camp?

Friends that have become family is the first thing I think about when it comes to camp. I have an entire camp family. We share common experiences and still support each other as we walk through life. 

What is your favorite camp tradition? 

My favorite camp tradition is waving at the busses when campers leave. We do camp waves at our own house when someone leaves, we keep waving till we can’t see their car anymore.

What advice would you give to a nervous first time camper? 

The advice I would give to a nervous first time camper is to try all of the activities. Keeping busy and having fun makes the nerves go away. Also, the nurse can give magic freezee pops that make everything better.

What about camp left the biggest impact on you? What story do you still share? 

The relationships that I made have made the biggest impact on my life. I took chances and gained trust with the people I met. I’m the person I am because of the experiences I had a camp. I’m a better person with my students, friends and family. 

I was lucky enough to be called back to camp as an adult, to be a reserve camp director while Burke was injured. Kevin and I got called the first day of our summer vacation. Since Kevin had also previously worked at camp, it was a place we both shared a love for. We jumped right in to help. What makes it the most memorable and a story I get to share with others, is that we got to raise our then 3-year-old son at camp for a summer. Now, our son, Michael has the same love for Spirit in the Pines. First kid who was a camp director before he was an actual camper! 

Favorite camp dessert?

My favorite camp dessert was the corner piece of Ise’s s’mores bars. 

Kevin Elton

What was your role at camp?

My first role was Assistant (to the) Director. I worked at camp for 3 summers (2012-2014). Then I was the Interim Assistant/Program Director with Angie (and Michael) for one year (2019). 

What is the first thing you think of when you think of camp?

The turn into camp, all the trees, and the sense of calm that flows through my body as I drive towards the lodge and chapel.

What is your favorite camp tradition? 

The themed meals where staff would make up a ridiculous skit to introduce the next meal’s theme. “I hurt my knee…that knee? No, Dis-ney!”  

What about camp left the biggest impact on you? What story do you still share? 

It’s the extended family we choose. Most of the stories I still share involve Burke (diving into water with Dive playing, rewatching the end of a movie 5 times because he kept falling asleep, and pizza roll roulette).

Favorite camp dessert? 

Yes. All of it.

Hayley Olson-Motl

What was your role at camp?

I spent one summer on Life Squad, and 2 summers on God Squad! I spent my entire life at camp, from the second I could attend as a camper, through one year as a CIT, two years as a counselor, and then 3 on staff. 

What is the first thing you think of when you think of camp?

All the laughter – there was always so much happening. Joy. Campfire – how close it made me feel to God and everyone there.

What is your favorite camp tradition? 

“Goodnight Sweetheart” after every campfire. I sing that song to my daughter almost every night before bed. 

If you could relive one day at camp, what day would it be? 

It would be one of my last days at camp my third summer on staff. My brother was there as a counselor (he eventually was on staff for a year) along with other counselors who had been my campers. It had been a great day and we were prepping for the Olympics the next day. I gave a campfire talk about the people we are at camp being who we are all the time and how change is okay when you are being authentically yourself. There was something I said that I think about all the time and it was something like “I found who I am after 6 summers here, as a counselor and staff member. I am going to drive out of here, with my brother, in 4 days and know that I am stepping into the world as my most true self. I urge you all to do the same, because being here makes that big of a difference.”

What about camp left the biggest impact on you? What story do you still share? 

Camp helped me realize that I was meant to work with people and made to be a social worker. I am a whole lot more confident in myself as a human and in my career because of camp. I still talk about the end of summer ritual staff had and when we turned the affirmations from in-person to written, and that changed how close the staff were and how close we stayed after that summer.

Joe Orner

What was your role at camp?

Fun Squad 2012. God Squad 2013 and 2014.

What is the first thing you think of when you think of camp? 

All the awesome people I got to enjoy time with up there. I met some of my best friends at camp, and those friendships are still strong today, over 10 years later. 

What from camp have you taken into your daily life?  (advice, sayings, games, jokes)

As a staff member at camp, you learn to do a little bit of everything. Leadership skills for jobs and working with people. Social and relational skills for talking about real life issues in large groups, small groups, and personal conversations. Life skills like cooking, cleaning, and being a good roommate. Improvisation skills for when things don’t go how you originally expected!

Most memorable prank, stunt or skit? 

The legendary day that Ise got a stunt!

What about camp left the biggest impact on you? What story do you still share? 

We experience God’s love through people, places, and experiences. Spirit in the Pines combines those things to build up people personally, communally, and spiritually. Those things exist in daily life at home too, but being at camp takes you away from all the extra noise so that you can better notice how connected real life is with spiritual life.

Blake Wragge

What was your role at camp?

Fun squad (3 years), assistant director (2 years). 

What advice would you give to a nervous first time camper? 

I was a nervous camper, so nervous that I didn’t go until 8th grade. My advice would be to go and put your faith in God because this place will change your life. 

What from camp have you taken into your daily life?  (advice, sayings, games, jokes) 

Burke’s directions to campers at the start of each week, “If you focus on making sure everyone else is going to have a great time, then you will have a great time.” 

If you could relive one day at camp, what day would it be?

I have three, one as a counselor, one as a staff, and one as an assistant director. 

1. For High School Olympics I was on team Kamchatka and Caleb was on team Zantipi and it was the day it poured rain and all us counselors showered in the rain. Burke did a belly flop into a giant puddle at canteen. That night was the skits for the Olympics and we did “Burke-a-tar” and all the skits were top notch.

2. As a staff we had a group of rowdy 9th grade boys for devotions, and Caleb and Dan were the counselors. They did a devotion one night and every kid cried and spent hours talking about how they loved each other and prayed for each other. We were doing devotions till 1am and that group became so close for years to come. It was a total God moment. 

3. As assistant director Paul and I decided to carry a can of corn around for a week. There was a day that week that this can of corn dressed up for all the themes and he was the star of the blog. All the kids all wanted to hang out with a literal can of corn. 

What about camp left the biggest impact on you?

I would say the closeness to God and service to others. Camp is all about putting other needs in front of your own and when you do that you experience God’s love and strength, and it allows you to be His hands and feet for others. 

Anna Ewen

What was yoru role at camp?

Camp Staff: 2013-2015 on Life Squad. I sorted the mail. In total I’ve been to camp for 13 years, plus all the subsequent years that I visited after I had aged out of the system. 

What is your favorite camp tradition? 

My favorite Camp tradition is starting every Campfire with Big House. 

What advice would you give to a nervous first time camper?

Camp is the best thing that has happened to a lot of people. It’s probably going to be the best thing to ever happen to you. 

Most memorable prank, stunt or skit? 

I can’t remember if it was David Gatto or Brian Evans, but one of them got duct taped to the green kayak and then ripped himself out just with sheer force. 

What about camp left the biggest impact on you? What story do you still share? 

Camp saved me many times over. 

The three things I learned at Camp are: 1. Jesus loves you. 2. If you don’t look stupid, you’re not trying hard enough. 3. Don’t sink the raft. That is all the information anyone needs to navigate the world.

I still talk about Precious – the abandoned Orca that lives in Pleasant Lake. My favorite day on Camp Staff was when we had an impromptu all-camp swim in the middle of lunch. 

Leah Thomsen

What was your role at camp?

I was a staff member for two years on God Squad in 2014 and 2015, and before that a counselor for three years, and a camper for six years. 

What is the first thing you think of when you think of camp? 

When I think of camp I think of home! A place with spiritual richness where all are welcome. 

What from camp have you taken into your daily life?  (advice, sayings, games, jokes) 

I think about Sanjay’s hair far more frequently than I should – haha!

If you could relive one day at camp, what day would it be? 

I would want to relieve just an average Thursday – morning worship, followed by a day of fun with likely some olympic games, and our last camp fire. Everyone is settled and knows each other well. Everyone is reflecting on the positive week they’ve had. 

Most memorable prank, stunt or skit? 

The most memorable time I had at camp was throwing a Harry Potter high school triwizard tournament and then coming out at voldemort to defeat our final competitor. It was so fun to have the freedom to be creative and have all of our high school participants so into it!! 

Favorite camp dessert? 

Darlene’s banana pudding!!!!

Shane Boe

What was your role at camp?

Fun squad for 2 summers. Years at camp: just about every year since I was a baby but let’s just call it an even 20 years.

What is the first thing you think of when you think of camp? 

I honestly couldn’t say what the first thing is that I think of when camp is brought up. I try and all of a sudden a wave of memories, people, games, places at camp, they all come crashing in at once. The best one thing I could say for all of those is unforgettable happiness.

Most memorable prank, stunt or skit? 

Enacting a Billy Mays commercial for all the things campers can be used for. Seeing Blake Wragge and all the rest of staff laughing so hard was amazing!

What about camp left the biggest impact on you? What story do you still share? 

I don’t think it’s possible to say which part of camp had the most impact on me so I’ll just say this, Spirit in the Pines had an incredible impact on me, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

I still talk about the campfires, the times Nick Burtniss sang at the top of his lungs, the times I made staff laugh because I was so passionately into the songs while doing them blind because of the smoke, and the times I cried from the song Be Still. 

Favorite camp dessert? 

4th of July ribs! I don’t care if they aren’t actually a dessert, they’re delicious!!!

Nick Luna and Jackson Kohls

What was yoru role at camp?

Nick & Jackson: Life squad (2 years – 2024 and 2025). In total, 13 years of camp + family camps. 

What is the first thing you think of when you think of camp?

Jackson: The waterfront.

Nick: Caleb Wragge.

What from camp have you taken into your daily life?  (advice, sayings, games, jokes) 

Nick: Raptor.

Jackson: 67.

Most memorable prank, stunt or skit? 

Nick: Caleb’s hot dog 67 skit.

Jackson: The milk stunt.

Favorite camp dessert? 

Jackson: Cindy’s gooey bars.

Nick: Kay’s chocolate chip cookies.

Addy Ruth

What was yoru role at camp?

Camp programming staff and part time nurse for two summers (2024 and 2025). 13 years total of camp!

What is your favorite camp tradition?

High school week Olympics and last week counselor sendoff.

What advice would you give to a nervous first time camper?

My first time coming to camp, I went all by myself and had so much fun that I regretted only going for half a week! I became friends with people I’d never met and even ended up working on staff 11 years later with Becky Perkins, who was in my cabin that summer! Half weeks are a great start if you’re nervous and we have great resources for homesickness, you’re never alone!

If you could relive one day at camp, what day would it be?

The day where we had our smallest high school week and the staff created their own team to compete against the campers and counselors! We lost.

Most memorable prank, stunt or skit?

My most memorable skit was when Timmy tuffknuckles (Nick Benson), and his mother Sally Mae (Nolan Osborne) competed in the staff elimination skits during high school week. They had a very intense and hilarious character arch over the week that left the competition with some very clear winners.

What about camp left the biggest impact on you? What story do you still share?

The biggest impact camp left with me was how close you can get with people in one week, even those you’ve known for years! Talking about our faith in a nonjudgmental environment is such a special and binding experience that I have now started to practice everywhere else in my life. I still share so many stories from devos where campers have shared amazing insights and stories of their own lives that leave such an impact on us all. It’s truly amazing how smart and intuitive campers are, no matter their age, when you spend time listening and giving them a place to talk.

My Final Thoughts

Spirit in the Pines is a culmination of every single person who has walked onto its grounds. The last 25 years have been so incredibly blessed and I know in my heart that the next 25 will be even better and will double the amount of people this place has touched. I am who I am because of Spirit in the Pine, and so are all the other lovely people who have been on staff. I know we all can’t wait to see what the next 25 years has in store! 

Lastly, here are some pictures of camp & the staff throughout the years that were shared with me.